Osteochondrosis of the chest - symptoms that not everyone knows

Recently, doctors have been receiving more and more complaints about back pain, which young women often suffer from. If the discomfort is limited to the thoracic spine, it may be caused by a condition such as thoracic osteochondrosis, the symptoms of which are described in detail below.

Osteochondrosis of the chest - causes

Spinal osteochondrosis is a pathology in which the tissue of the intervertebral disc (the component of the spine located between two vertebral bodies) undergoes negative changes. An intervertebral disc is a flat, round pad composed of a gel-like core of collagen, connective fibers, and vitreous cartilage tissue. The main functions provided by these structures are:

• Connection and retention of adjacent vertebral bodies;
• Spinal shock-absorbing protection to prevent injuries due to gravity and load;
• Ensure mobility of adjacent vertebrae relative to each other.

If the intervertebral discs are in a satisfactory functional state, the spine has elasticity, mobility, and the ability to withstand various mechanical loads. When the cartilage structure changes shape, texture, loses strength and elasticity, these functions cannot be fully performed. Basically, this happens in the context of a metabolic disorder.The pathological changes in the intervertebral disc that lead to thoracic osteochondrosis can partly be explained by the fact that with age, the intervertebral disc receives nutrients through its own blood vessels, and the supply of nutrients can only be achieved through adjacent structures (ligaments, vertebral bodies). The exact cause of dystrophy of the intervertebral structures and their mechanisms of destruction are unknown, but doctors have identified a number of predisposing factors:

• Systemic metabolic disorders in the body;
• being overweight;
• Malnutrition, drinking habits;
• Inactive;
• Sedentary work;
• bad posture;
• flatfoot;
• Back and spine injuries;
• Strenuous physical labor or sports training;
• Pregnant;
• Wear uncomfortable shoes, high heels.

Degree of thoracic osteochondrosis

A condition such as thoracic osteochondrosis does not cause immediate symptoms because it develops gradually over a long period of time. In addition, osteochondrosis in the thoracic region does not appear until a later stage with obvious pathological changes due to the low mobility of the spine in this region. In total, four degrees of pathology can be distinguished depending on the deviation that occurs.

Grade 1 thoracic osteochondrosis

The preclinical stage is grade 1 thoracic osteochondrosis. During this stage, the central portion of the intervertebral disc undergoes partial dehydration and compaction, resulting in a decrease in height, elasticity, and hardness. The spine's ability to bear normal loads remains preserved. A herniated disc begins to form.

Thoracic osteochondrosis grade 2

When grade 2 thoracic osteochondrosis occurs, the disease is characterized by the development of cracks in the annulus fibrosus. The discs continue to sink (thinning), the amount of intervertebral fluid decreases significantly, and the vertebrae begin to rub against each other as the load on the back increases. This stage is sometimes called discogenic radiculitis.

Thoracic osteochondrosis grade III

Third degree thoracic osteochondrosis is accompanied by destruction and rupture of the fibrous tissue of the intervertebral disc, release of the core part, that is, disc herniation. The formation of a herniated disc occurs. As a result, nerve roots begin to become pinched, nearby blood vessels become pinched, and veins and arteries become pinched.

Thoracic osteochondrosis grade 4

The last and most severe stage of the disease is characterized by vertebral body displacement, twisting, deformation, further increase in area, and proliferation. The affected fibrous disc tissue begins to be replaced by a specific growth pattern of bone tissue (osteophytes) that compresses the spinal cord. As a result, the mobility of the spine is significantly reduced.

Thoracic Osteochondrosis - Symptoms

Due to the particularity of the location of the pathological process, the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis include both typical symptoms and atypical symptoms, repeating the manifestations of other diseases. This is because blood vessels and nerve fibers are compressed, the structure of the spine changes, and the function of nearby internal organs is disrupted.Let us list which are the typical and most common symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest:

• back and chest pain;
• A squeezing sensation in the chest;
• Tingling in the extremities;
• Numbness in arms, legs, neck, shoulders;
• Stiffness and pain in the back and limbs;
• Upper and mid-back muscle spasms;
• There is limited movement of the spine in this area (difficulty bending the body).

Pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis

When diagnosed with "thoracic osteochondrosis, " pain-related symptoms stand out among other symptoms. Their intensity and duration depend on the stage of the pathological process. The localization of the pain can rapidly change periodically, such as moving from one area of the chest to another, covering the entire chest. Pain is often felt in the area between the shoulder blades. The pain of chest osteochondrosis is dull pain, pressure pain, and sharp pain. Pain that worsens at night and is associated with:

• raise your hands;
• Neck rotation;
• moving heavy objects;
• sudden movements;
• Increase physical activity;
• Difficulty breathing, coughing, sneezing;
• Low temperature.

Will thoracic osteochondrosis cause shortness of breath?

Thoracic osteochondrosis often causes symptoms of shortness of breath due to vertebral body displacement, chest structure lesions, and nerve fibers and blood vessels related to the lungs being squeezed. In addition, because the chest area contains structures responsible for the innervation of the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and several other organs; in many cases, this disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Headache, dizziness;
• Pain in the heart area;
• Breast soreness;
• Rib pain (similar in appearance to pancreatitis or cholecystitis);
• Upper abdominal pain not related to eating;
• Pharyngeal and esophageal discomfort, foreign body sensation;
• Sexual dysfunction.

Heart pain in thoracic osteochondrosis is often caused by compression and squeezing, which may be misleading in diagnosis because it resembles angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. A hallmark of these sensations is their long duration and lack of effectiveness when taking heart-diluting drugs. There were no changes in the electrocardiogram.

Thoracic osteochondrosis syndrome

Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest in women are associated with a single pathogenic mechanism, but in many cases occur in a complex manner. There are two syndromes with a specific set of pathological conditions caused by thoracic osteochondrosis:

• back pain;
• back.

Thoracic back pain

Osteochondrosis of the chest in women can cause long-term, less noticeable pain, usually in the form of aching, pulling, that is inherent to back pain. Symptoms may last 2-3 weeks, and the discomfort may decrease slightly (especially when walking) or worsen (usually at night, when bending down, or when breathing deeply). In the presence of this syndrome, thoracic osteochondrosis may also present with symptoms related to dyspnea and muscle stiffness.

dorsal thoracic spine

Paroxysmal manifestations of the disease are called "back pain" or "thoracic and lumbar pain. "In this condition, the pain comes on suddenly, is severe, and often resembles the symptoms of a heart attack. Symptoms of chest osteochondrosis include:

• sharp, dagger-like pain;
• Pain in the area between the ribs and between the shoulder blades;
• Typically, an attack occurs after staying in a position for an extended period of time;
• Pain worsened when rotating torso;
• Difficulty breathing and severe muscle tension.

Thoracic Osteochondrosis - Consequences

If pathological treatment is not initiated promptly, thoracic osteochondrosis may have the following consequences:

• vegetative vascular dystonia;
• Migraine;
• Damage to the function of internal organs (liver, kidney, etc. );
• Hearing and vision loss;
• Epicondylitis of the elbow joint;
• Paresis and paralysis of the arms;
• Axial inflorescence;
• Loss of sensitivity of skin tissue;
• Disability, etc.

How is thoracic osteochondrosis treated?

If symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis occur, it is recommended to consult a neurologist, who can make a preliminary diagnosis after examining the patient's back and spine in multiple locations. To determine the extent of the damage, X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography scans are needed. Treatment strategies depend on the results obtained.Painful symptoms of spinal thoracic osteochondrosis can often be eliminated by taking NSAIDs. If the condition worsens and is accompanied by severe pain, a paravertebral block may be performed using an anesthetic solution. In addition, as part of conservative treatment, the following drugs can be prescribed:

• Muscle relaxants;
• Chondroprotectant;
• Corticosteroids, etc.

In order to improve metabolic processes, eliminate excessive muscle tone and prevent various complications, the following treatments are available:

• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• manual therapy;
• spinal traction;
• Physical therapy procedures (laser, ultrasound, etc. ).

If a disc fragment compresses the spinal cord, surgery may be needed. In this case, a laminectomy - the removal of the vertebral arch - can be performed, or a discectomy - the removal of part of the disc or its complete removal by installing a graft. In clinics with modern equipment, surgical procedures are performed using low-invasive methods through small incisions.