Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine occurs with damage to the intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine. The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of cervical and lumbar pathologies. Thoracic osteochondrosis is difficult and often undiagnosed.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women
This disease is rare in women because there is less stress on the thoracic spine than on other parts of the spine. It is very difficult to diagnose thoracic osteochondrosis of the spine, because the disease usually manifests itself in the developmental stage of the disease.
The main symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis in women is pain. The pain can generally be localized in the back, sternum, and can spread to the upper extremities. In addition, a woman may suffer from stomach pain. The localization of pain depends primarily on the stage of the disease.
Typically, a woman with thoracic lumbar osteochondrosis experiences constant, non-intense pain of a painful nature. The symptoms 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: a woman's body is more sensitive, and all parts of the spine are thinner than a man's. In women, degenerative and dystrophic processes cause more adverse reactions.
With the defeat of the thoracic part of the chain, the fair sex has the following symptoms:
- pain when lifting or bending the arm;
- pain in the mammary glands;
- sternal discomfort aggravated by various loads or prolonged sitting;
- pain with deep breathing;
- severe pain between the shoulder blades in the chain;
- feeling of pressure in the chest;
- vascular dystonia.
The above symptoms are triggered by processes occurring in the spine itself. In the case of intervertebral hernias, symptoms appear as a result of the development of vascular and neurological pathologies.
Less common manifestations of thoracic osteochondrosis in women:
- frequent "goose shoots" and numbness of the shoulders and arms;
- burning sensation, cold or itching in the lower extremities;
- pain in the heart area;
- increased fragility of nails, peeling of the skin;
- Functional pathologies of the digestive organs: nausea, constipation or diarrhea, bloating.
Differential diagnosis should be made because thoracic osteochondrosis occurs with symptoms similar to pneumonia, angina pectoris, or heart pathology. All of the above manifestations indicate the development of thoracic osteochondrosis. However, you should not treat yourself. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in men
In men, osteochondrosis of the thorax is often diagnosed when there is a high intensity load on the spine (for example, the disease is often found in builders, loaders, etc. ). In this case, the clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis occur gradually, there is a slow damage to the joints between the ribs and vertebrae. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective the treatment.
In the early stages, thoracic osteochondrosis persists without any specific manifestations and the man lives without knowing that the disease is progressing. Any anxiety is usually associated with fatigue or an anxious posture after a long day of work.
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in a man in the early stages:
- as a result of compression of soft tissues, the elasticity in the region of the joints decreases, and a crisis occurs between the shoulder blades, in the region of the sternum, clavicle;
- due to impaired elasticity of the shoulder girdle, it is difficult to lift the arms and put them on their backs;
- discomfort appears in the affected part of the chest;
- there is a feeling of fatigue in the back after prolonged physical activity or being in a static position;
- The pain appears with deep breathing.
As the disease progresses, the following symptoms are observed:
- the pain becomes more severe and persistent. Due to the constant pressure on the nerve endings, pain is observed even at rest;
- there is a feeling of numbness, tingling in areas with impaired sensitivity;
- there are periodic reflex cramps of the abdominal muscles that continue with anxiety;
- a man may suffer from false attacks of angina pectoris, renal or hepatic colic;
- possible damage to the pelvic organs, as well as reduced capacity;
- Irritable bowel syndrome develops as a result of the formation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - a pathology of the function of the digestive organs.
Symptomatic coma in thoracic osteochondrosis
Coma in the sternum occurs in many patients, but not everyone pays attention to it, because this phenomenon is characterized by a short time and disappears very quickly.
What causes this phenomenon? Usually, coma in the sternum occurs as a result of pathologies of the nervous system. However, sometimes the cause of these sensations is thoracic osteochondrosis, because there are a large number of nerve plexuses in the chest area.
As a result of this pathology, intercostal neuralgia often develops. In this case, the patient has pressure behind the chest and pain is seen, which intensifies during physical activity or lifting weights. In this case, the pain is similar to a needle sting and intensifies during breathing.
Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region most often develops due to improper lifestyle, sedentary work and impaired metabolism. Conservative drug treatment, manual and laser therapy will help. Patients are advised to do sports or fitness.