The symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis depend on which vertebra has the dystrophic lesion, and its intensity depends on what changes it has undergone. An experienced specialist will be able to make a correct diagnosis after listening to the patient's chief complaint and advise where in the spine there has been serious change and destruction. The sooner a doctor diagnoses thoracic osteochondrosis and prescribes medication, the sooner it resolves.
Thoracic osteochondrosis is much less common than cervical osteochondrosis because the thoracic spine is less susceptible to stress and deformation. But, despite this, it can bring a lot of pain and discomfort, and it has a variety of symptoms.
Thoracic Osteochondrosis, Symptoms and Signs
The pain is mainly located between the shoulder blades or between the ribs. Typically, thoracic osteochondrosis presents as low back pain in the ribs of the body. Patients describe the pain as feeling "a stake in their chest" and their mobility is disrupted as the slightest careless movement can pierce the pain. Coughing, sneezing, taking deep breaths, and turning the torso can make the pain worse. Shortness of breath occurs, and breathing becomes shallow and frequent. It is difficult for patients to lift or tilt their hands because this causes severe and severe pain. The inconvenience is also due to the vibration of the body, i. e. riding a bike, driving on rough roads, and any jumps. Cooling the body can cause increased pain, and even with proper treatment, the disease can be rejuvenated.
Usually the pain is in the space between the ribs. This is due to compression of the nerve roots, causing intercostal neuralgia. The pain becomes more intense during the night, and when turning from side to side or changing posture, the patient wakes up from a sharp tingling, even with pain medication.
Sweating, fatigue, and rapid fatigue are accompanied by signs of pain, and sometimes the temperature of the inflamed part of the spine increases locally.
Back pain and signs of back pain
Intense and very severe pain is called back pain. With thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms of the dorsal spine occur in people who have been immobile for long periods of time in a forward tilted position. The body is pierced with sharp, severe pain with a sharp ascent or change of position. It's so intense and unexpected that it takes your breath away and makes it hard to breathe. The muscles in the chest and back become stone-like and sometimes cramp. Treatment can reduce pain and ease the burden on the patient.
Instead, back pain is of a painful nature. It's not very strong, but constantly reminds me of myself. With sudden and rapid movements, coughing, sneezing, or taking a deep breath, the body can also pierce with lightning-quick pain. There is also difficulty and pain in turning and tilting the body. The muscles in the back and chest are tense and feel dominant, as if the upper body is being pulled together by a belt.
To get rid of or temporarily relieve these pains, sometimes walking or light exercise is enough.
Signs of the neurological nature of osteochondrosis
In most cases, thoracic osteochondrosis, a neurological symptom, occurs. This manifests as a "goose bumps" feeling or loss of sensation in the abdomen or upper chest. Sometimes patients notice tightness or stiffness in the back muscles (mainly the upper part) and in the chest. In more severe and advanced cases, the work of the pelvic organs is violated.
In men and women, osteochondrosis of the chest progresses in almost the same way, and the symptoms are similar. The only difference is that women have a later presentation of the disease. Women are more prone to this disease during menopause. This is due to a reduction in the hormone progesterone, which protects the spine, or rather the discs, from wear and tear.
Women with osteochondrosis may experience strange symptoms, such as peeling skin and brittle nails. Women are more refractory to thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis due to low pain deficits in the weaker sex.
On the other hand, men turn to a thoracic osteochondrologist many times more than women, with an average age of around 30-40 years. Men may complain of decreased potency. The most important thing here is to confess intimate issues to the doctor, not to treat it yourself.
Signs of osteochondrosis that may be confused with other diseases
Because of the many nerve fibers and nerve endings in the thoracic region, pain behind the breastbone can radiate in any direction. The symptoms of osteochondrosis are very similar to those of other diseases, which can exacerbate the diagnosis. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment for osteochondrosis is very important for a more favorable outcome of the disease.
Many people confuse osteochondrosis with heart disease. But here are some differences worth keeping in mind. First, for thoracic osteochondrosis, the pain is prolonged and cannot be treated with cardiac drugs. The second sign is that blood pressure is not elevated, which often occurs in diseases of the cardiovascular system. Most importantly, the ECG results did not show any abnormality in the heart's work.
In women, the pain spreads to the breast, a common sign of thoracic osteochondrosis. In this case, it is necessary to consult a breast doctor and exclude breast disease.
Sometimes patients complain of upper abdominal pain, which can be confused with gastritis or stomach ulcers. Pain can also be localized to the right rib cage, and unqualified medical personnel may suspect cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Lower abdominal pain may suspect appendicitis. In this case, additional ultrasonography of abdominal organs, X-ray of the stomach and EGD, and of course clinical blood tests are recommended.
If the lower part of the thoracic spine is affected, the patient shows signs of bowel disease. But this does not depend on the food eaten, and physical exertion can exacerbate pain.
If osteochondrosis affects the upper part of the spine, the pain can spread to the pharynx and esophagus. Patients may experience signs of a foreign body in the throat and may have difficulty swallowing food, especially poor chewing.
Diagnosis and treatment should only be done by a doctor, not self-medication in this case.
The influence of occupation on the development of osteochondrosis
Certain occupational specific conditions can lead to osteochondrosis. This is due to sedentary lifestyles, especially in occupations such as truck drivers, pilots, mechanics, etc. Occupations related to weightlifting also fall into the risk group, such as loaders. With prolonged lifting and carrying heavy loads, friction and flattening of parts of the vertebrae can occur, which can also lead to osteochondrosis, not only in the thoracic but also in the cervical and lumbar vertebrae of the spine. In more advanced cases, the arm or back begins to numb in the area near the shoulder blade. This is a wake-up call to contact a specialist for examination and treatment.
Most office workers are prone to cervical sternal osteochondrosis. That is, not only the thoracic vertebral bodies, but also the cervical vertebral bodies are involved in the process of change and destruction. As a result of sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time, even in the wrong position, it can cause the muscles that support the spine to weaken and relax. The vertebrae begin to move, squeezing the nerves.
Furthermore, by being immobile in one position, the blood flow to the disc is disturbed, which leads to starvation of the disc tissue and its destruction. They experience pain in the head, shoulders, and chest. They have hearing loss and tinnitus. With sharp head lifts or movements, employees may lose consciousness as the work of the vestibular organs is disrupted. Vision is often impaired and flies appear in front of the eyes. The muscles in the shoulder girdle and chest start to hurt, just like after a long workout.
It happens that it pays to change your career after treatment, as frequent relapses in the old workplace are possible.