Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs with damage to the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. The symptomatology of the disease is similar to the manifestations of cervical and lumbar pathologies. Thoracic osteochondrosis is difficult and not often diagnosed.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women
This disease is rare in women, as there is less stress on the thoracic spine than on other parts of the spine. Thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine is quite difficult to diagnose, since the disease usually manifests itself at the stage of disease progression.
The main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis in women is pain. The pain can usually be localized to the back, sternum, and also radiate to the upper extremities. Also, a woman may feel tormented by stomach pain. The localization of pain depends, first of all, on the stage of the course of the disease.
Usually with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, a woman feels constant, non-intense pain of an aching nature. Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis also depend on the sensitivity and individual characteristics of the female body.
In the beautiful half of humanity, the symptoms of the disease are more pronounced: the woman's body is more sensitive, and all parts of the spine are thinner than those of a man. Degenerative and dystrophic processes in women are more likely to cause negative reactions.
With the defeat of the chest section of the ridge, the fair sex has the following symptoms:
- pain when raising your arm or bending over;
- pain in the mammary glands;
- discomfort in the sternum, aggravated by various loads or prolonged stay in a sedentary position;
- pain with deep breathing;
- severe pain between the shoulder blades in the ridge area;
- feeling of pressure in the chest;
- vascular dystonia.
The above symptoms are provoked by the processes that occur in the spine. In the case of the formation of intervertebral hernias, symptoms appear as a result of the development of vascular and neurological pathologies.
No less common manifestations in women with thoracic osteochondrosis:
- frequent appearance of "goosebumps" and numbness of the shoulders and arms;
- burning sensation, coldness or itching in the lower extremities;
- pain in the heart area;
- increased brittleness of the nails, peeling of the skin;
- pathologies of the functionality of the digestive organs: nausea, constipation or diarrhea, bloating.
Since osteochondrosis in the chest presents with symptoms similar to pneumonia, angina pectoris or cardiac pathologies, it is necessary to carry out a differential diagnosis. All of the above manifestations indicate the development of thoracic osteochondrosis. However, you should not self-medicate. Only a doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the chest in men
Osteochondrosis of the chest in men is often diagnosed when there is a very intense load on the spine (for example, the disease is often detected in builders, loaders, etc. ). Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis in this case occur gradually, while between the ribs and the vertebrae there is slow damage to the joints. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective the treatment will be.
In the early stages, thoracic osteochondrosis proceeds without special manifestations, and the man lives without knowing that his disease is progressing. Any discomfort is usually attributed to tiredness after a long job, or an uncomfortable posture.
Signs of thoracic osteochondrosis in a man in the early stages:
- as a result of compaction of soft tissues, elasticity decreases in the area of the joints, and a crunch occurs between the shoulder blades, in the region of the sternum, clavicle;
- due to the lack of flexibility of the shoulder girdle, it is difficult to raise the arms and place them behind the back;
- discomfort appears in the affected part of the chest;
- after prolonged physical activity or staying in a static position, there is a feeling of fatigue in the back;
- pain appears with deep breathing.
With further progression of the disease, the following symptoms are observed:
- the pains become more intense and continuous. Due to the constant pressure on the nerve endings, pain is observed even at rest;
- there is numbness, a tingling sensation in areas with decreased sensitivity;
- there are periodic reflex cramps of the abdominal muscles, proceeding with discomfort;
- a man can be tormented by false attacks of angina pectoris, renal or hepatic colic;
- possible disruption of the pelvic organs, as well as a decrease in potency;
- as a result of the formation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic crest, irritable bowel syndrome develops - a pathology of the functionality of the digestive organs.
Coma sensation symptom in thoracic osteochondrosis
The sensation of coma in the sternum occurs in many patients, but not all attach importance to it, since this phenomenon is characterized by a short duration and disappears very quickly.
What causes this phenomenon? Usually, a feeling of coma in the sternum occurs as a result of pathologies of the nervous system. However, sometimes the cause of these sensations is thoracic osteochondrosis, due to the fact that in the chest area there are a large number of nerve plexuses.
As a result of this pathology, intercostal neuralgia often develops. In this situation, the patient has pressure behind the chest, and pain also appears, which intensifies during body movements or when lifting weights. In this case, the pain is similar to a needle prick and intensifies during breathing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region most often develops due to the wrong lifestyle, sedentary work and impaired metabolism. Conservative drug treatment, manual and laser therapy will come to the rescue. Patients are encouraged to play sports or exercise.