Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that manifests itself as a breakdown of the tissue structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. There are three types of osteochondrosis, depending on the part of the spine affected by the disease: lumbar, thoracic and cervical.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine
Thoracic osteochondrosis does not manifest itself immediately and can be almost invisible at first. Therefore, in order not to start the disease, you should not ignore its first symptoms and manifestations.
The main symptom is pain in the chest during movement, physical activity and also when maintaining a body position for a long time. It can manifest as sharp, sudden, intense pain that makes movement and breathing difficult (dorsago) or as moderate pain, gradually increasing (dorsalgia).
Symptoms similar to back pain do not always indicate the presence of spinal problems. Therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, it is advisable to undergo a comprehensive examination.
Symptoms may also include tension in the chest muscles, a feeling of constriction, a feeling of weakness in the limbs, and partial or complete loss of sensation in the limbs.
Symptoms can also manifest at the autonomic level, including as follows:
- headache;
- sleep disorders;
- pain in internal organs, which can be confused with the manifestations of other diseases (for example, pain in the stomach, heart and kidneys);
- local peeling of the skin, thinning of nails;
- feeling of chills in the arms and legs, chills;
- impaired sweating where nerve fibers are pinched by the affected vertebrae.
If you have discovered any of the listed symptoms and need to consult a doctor treating osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine or any other specialist, contact a professional medical center. The doctors will select a convenient time for your appointment and answer all your questions.
Since some symptoms are characteristic of both osteochondrosis and a number of other diseases (such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, kidney and heart failure, hypertension, migraine), it is recommended to undergo ultrasound and ECG to exclude these pathologies.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
The reasons for the appearance of the disease are numerous. More specifically, there are a number of factors that negatively affect health and can cause osteochondrosis. For each patient, all of these factors may be different, therefore, to identify and exclude them, we recommend seeking advice from a neurologist.
List of the most common situations that have a negative impact on the spine:
- excessive physical activity;
- passive lifestyle;
- poor posture and incorrect position of the body during sleep, when sitting at a table, etc. ;
- hereditary diseases;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- injuries;
- and a number of other factors.
Consequences of the development of thoracic osteochondrosis
Thoracic osteochondrosis, in addition to the similarity of symptoms with other diseases, is also dangerous in that it can cause the appearance of many different diseases due to compression of blood vessels and nerve endings by damaged vertebrae.
So, osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to diseases of internal organs (heart, kidneys, stomach, lungs, intestines), as well as pathologies of the respiratory system.
Diagnosis and treatment of the thoracic spine
A comprehensive examination, diagnosis and diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is possible only using an integrated approach. The doctor usually turns to diagnostic methods such as:
- oral questioning of the patient to identify symptoms and negative factors affecting the body;
- examination and palpation of the spine;
- check reflexes, skin and muscle sensitivity;
- x-ray to determine the localization of the disease;
- computed tomography (CT) scan to determine if spinal cord damage is present;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can evaluate all the tissues and vessels around the spine.
If you do not know which doctor to contact in case of symptoms, go to a specialized clinic to make an appointment, where they will tell you which specialist will help you solve the problem.
To treat spinal problems in the medical center, it is also possible to use an integrated approach. The combination of various treatment methods and modern rehabilitation procedures makes it possible to eliminate the manifestations of the disease and reduce the risk of relapse due to the overall health of the body.
Some methods that have proven effective in the treatment of spinal problems:
- physiotherapy;
- osteopathy;
- manual therapy;
- psychotherapy;
- drug therapy.
Please note that only a doctor can prescribe competent and effective treatment. If you are unsure about what tests or procedures you need, please contact specialists for advice.