Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

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 the pathologies of the cervical and lumbar spine. Thoracic osteochondrosis is difficult and not often diagnosed.

doctor examines the back with thoracic osteochondrosis

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis in women

In women, this condition is rare because the thoracic spine is under less stress than 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. Pain can usually be localized in the back and sternum, and may also radiate to the upper limbs. In addition, a woman can be tormented by stomach pains. The localization of pain depends primarily 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 delicate, and all parts of the spine are thinner than that 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 sitting position;
  • pain when breathing deeply;
  • severe pain between the shoulder blades in the crest area;
  • feeling of pressure in the chest;
  • vascular dystonia.

The above symptoms are caused by the processes taking place in the spine itself. With 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 occurrence of "goosebumps" and numbness of the shoulders and arms;
  • burning, cold, or itching in the lower extremities;
  • pain in the area of the heart;
  • increased brittleness of nails, peeling of the skin;
  • Pathologies of the functionality of the digestive organs: nausea, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence.

Since osteochondrosis occurs in the chest with symptoms similar to pneumonia, angina or heart disease, differential diagnosis is required. All of the above manifestations indicate the development of thoracic osteochondrosis. However, you should not self-medicate. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment.

Symptoms of breast osteochondrosis in men

Osteochondrosis of the chest in men is often diagnosed when the spine is subjected to high-intensity loads (for example, the disease is often noted in builders, loaders, etc. ). Clinical manifestations of osteochondrosis in this case appear gradually, while slow damage to the joints occurs between the ribs and vertebrae. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective the treatment will be.

In the early stages, thoracic osteochondrosis proceeds without any special manifestations, and the man lives unaware that his disease is progressing. Any discomfort is usually attributed to fatigue resulting from long hours of work or an uncomfortable posture.

Signs of early-stage thoracic osteochondrosis in a man:

  • as a result of the compaction of soft tissues, the elasticity in the area of \u200b\u200bthe joints decreases and there is a crunch between the shoulder blades, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe sternum, collarbone;
  • due to the limited flexibility of the shoulder girdle, it is difficult to raise the arms and place them behind the back;
  • Discomfort occurs 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 occurs with deep breathing.

With further progression of the disease, the following symptoms are observed:

  • Pain becomes more intense and persistent. Due to the constant pressure on the nerve endings, pain is observed even at rest;
  • there is numbness, a tingling in areas of reduced sensitivity;
  • there are periodic reflex spasms of the abdominal muscles, which continue with discomfort;
  • a man can be tormented by false attacks of angina, 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.

Symptom of coma in thoracic osteochondrosis

The feeling of a coma in the sternum occurs in many patients, but not everyone attaches 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 in the nervous system. However, sometimes the cause of these sensations is thoracic osteochondrosis, since there are large numbers of nerve plexuses in the chest area.

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 with body movements or lifting weights. In this case, the pain resembles a pinprick and intensifies when breathing.

Osteochondrosis of the chest region most often develops due to improper lifestyle, sedentary work and impaired metabolism. Conservative drug treatment, manual and laser therapy will come to the rescue. Patients are encouraged to engage in sports or fitness.