Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease manifested by a deterioration in the tissue structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. There are three types of osteochondrosis depending on which part of the spine is 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 in the initial stages. Therefore, in order not to trigger the disease, you should not ignore the first symptoms and manifestations.
The main symptom is chest pain during movement, physical activity and also when maintaining a posture for a long period of time. It can manifest itself as a sharp, sudden and severe pain that makes movement and breathing difficult (dorsago) or as a moderate, gradually increasing pain (dorsalgia).
Dorsalgia-like symptoms do not always indicate problems with the spine. A comprehensive examination is therefore advisable for an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms may also include tightness in the chest muscles, a feeling of tightness, a feeling of weakness in the limbs, and partial or complete loss of sensation in the limbs.
Symptoms can also manifest themselves at the level of the autonomic system, in particular as follows:
- Headache;
- Sleep disorders;
- Pain in internal organs, which can be confused with manifestations of other diseases (e. g. stomach, heart and kidney pain);
- local peeling of the skin, thinning of nails;
- Chilliness in arms and legs, chills;
- impaired sweating at the point where nerve fibers are pinched by the affected vertebrae.
If you have noticed any of the listed symptoms and need to see a doctor who treats osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine or another specialist, contact a professional medical center. The doctors will choose 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 (for example, stomach ulcers, gastritis, renal and heart failure, hypertension, migraines), an ultrasound scan and ECG are recommended to exclude these pathologies.
Causes of osteochondrosis of the thoracic region
There are a whole range of reasons for the occurrence of the disease. More specifically, there are a number of factors that have a negative impact on health and can provoke osteochondrosis. For each patient, the amount of these factors may be different. Therefore, to identify and rule them out, we recommend seeking advice from a neurologist.
List of the most common situations that negatively affect the spine:
- excessive physical activity;
- passive lifestyle;
- Poor posture and incorrect posture when sleeping, 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 in that it can provoke the appearance of many different diseases due to compression of blood vessels and nerve endings by damaged vertebrae.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine can lead to diseases of the internal organs (heart, kidneys, stomach, lungs, intestines) as well as diseases of the respiratory tract.
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;
- checking reflexes, skin and muscle sensitivity;
- Radiography to determine the localization of the disease;
- Computed tomography (CT) to determine whether spinal cord lesions are present;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can be used to examine all the tissues and vessels around the spine.
If you are unsure which doctor to contact about your symptoms, make an appointment at a specialist clinic. There you will find out which specialist can help you solve the problem.
A holistic approach to treating spinal problems is also possible at the medical center. The combination of various treatment methods and modern rehabilitation procedures makes it possible to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and reduce the risk of relapse due to the general health of the body.
Some methods that have proven effective in treating spinal problems:
- Physical therapy;
- osteopathy;
- manual therapy;
- Psychotherapy;
- Drug therapy.
Please note that only a doctor can prescribe competent and effective treatment. If you have any doubts about which tests or procedures you need, please consult specialists.