Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that is manifested by degradation of the structure of the tissues 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 in the initial stages it can be almost invisible. Therefore, in order not to trigger the disease, one should not ignore its first symptoms and manifestations.
The main symptom is chest pain during movements, physical activities and also when maintaining a body position for a long time. It can manifest itself as a sharp, sudden and intense pain that makes movement and breathing difficult (dorsago) or as a moderate and gradually increasing pain (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 complete 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 feeling in the limbs.
Symptoms can also manifest themselves at the level of the autonomic system, namely as follows:
- headache;
- sleep disorders;
- pain in internal organs, which can be confused with manifestations of other diseases (for example, pain in the stomach, heart and kidneys);
- local peeling of the skin, thinning of the nails;
- feeling of cold in the arms and legs, chills;
- impaired sweating in the place where nerve fibers are compressed by the affected vertebrae.
If you have discovered any of the listed symptoms and need to consult a doctor who treats osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine or any other specialist, please contact a professional medical center. Doctors will select a convenient time for your appointment and answer any of your questions.
Since some symptoms are characteristic of both osteochondrosis and a number of other diseases (such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, renal and heart failure, hypertension, migraines), it is recommended to undergo an ultrasound examination and ECG to exclude these pathologies.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
There are some reasons for the occurrence of the disease. More precisely, there are several factors that negatively affect health and can provoke osteochondrosis. For each patient, the set of these factors may be different, therefore, to identify and exclude them, we recommend consulting a neurologist.
List of the most common situations that negatively impact the spine:
- excessive physical activity;
- passive lifestyle;
- incorrect posture and incorrect body position during sleep, when sitting at the 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 because it can provoke the occurrence of various diseases due to compression of blood vessels and nerve endings by damaged vertebrae.
Thus, 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 complete examination, diagnosis and diagnosis of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region is possible only with an integrated approach. The doctor usually resorts 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;
- radiography to determine the location of the disease;
- computed tomography (CT) to determine whether there are spinal cord injuries;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can evaluate all the tissues and vessels around the spine.
If you are not sure which doctor you should consult with your 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 back problems in the medical center, it is also possible to use an integrated approach. The combination of various treatment methods and modern rehabilitation procedures allows you to eliminate the manifestations of the disease and reduce the risk of relapse due to the general health of the body.
Some proven methods for treating back problems:
- physiotherapy;
- osteopathy;
- manual therapy;
- psychotherapy;
- drug therapy.
Please note that only a doctor can prescribe competent and effective treatment. If you have any questions about what tests or procedures you need, contact experts for advice.