The disease-chameleon is often called osteochondrosis of the chest. It is quite difficult to diagnose, it is often confused with other diseases. At the same time, osteochondrosis appears in the chest region rarely and is a lesion of the intervertebral discs.
How does the disease appear?
Osteochondrosis, which affects the thoracic spine, is often disguised as a pathology of internal organs. Appears with pain in the heart, shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air during inhalation, panic attacks. Therefore, the diagnosis of thoracic osteochondrosis is somewhat difficult.
The intervertebral discs of each section of the spine consist of a nucleus pulposus and a harder anulus fibrosus. The latter protects the semi-liquid core and prevents its damage.
However, for certain reasons, there are situations when metabolic processes slow down and, as a result, there is increased pressure on the discs. In this case, the disc is deformed, its structure is disturbed.
If treatment is not started at this stage, the symptoms become even more pronounced. The annulus fibrosus may rupture and the nucleus dry out.
The disease leads to damage to the spinal nerves, destruction of joints.
Causes of the disease
Various reasons can provoke the appearance of osteochondrosis in the chest region, the most common of which are:
- chest trauma;
- inactivity, sedentary work (applies to those who work on the computer or are drivers);
- scoliosis.
In addition, problems with the chest region are associated with its structure. In this range of the spine, there are many more crowded discs than in the lower back or cervical region. Due to the presence of ribs and muscular corset, the chest region moves less.
There are cases when the main cause of osteochondrosis in the thoracic region of the spine is osteochondrosis of other departments.
What is the risk of osteochondrosis?
If, despite the symptoms, treatment is delayed, osteochondrosis in the chest region can lead to a number of complications and problems, including:
- intercostal neurology - when the intercostal nerves are compressed;
- spinal cord compression;
- shortness of breath, heart problems;
- problems with the functioning of the intestines, liver, kidneys;
- stool problems;
- hernia.
What diseases can be confused with osteochondrosis?
As mentioned above, the symptoms of osteochondrosis do not always make it possible to quickly establish a diagnosis. That is why osteochondrosis of the chest can be accidentally confused with:
- mammary gland pathologies;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- pneumonia (two diseases are distinguished by dry cough, shortness of breath and fever with pneumonia. In the case of osteochondrosis, such symptoms are not observed);
- heart attack (in this case, osteochondrosis can be detected through a cardiogram);
- renal colic.
Symptoms
With osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, symptoms of radiculopathy appear most often, that is, those related to the compression of nerve trunks and the appearance of a hernia between the vertebrae. In this case, severe pain manifests itself after physical work, training. Symptoms over the following weeks become more pronounced, depending on the location of the hernia. If in the upper part, then the liver, heart, stomach suffer. If lower, then the problems are related to the kidneys.
The location of the hernia also has a significant impact on symptoms. So, if it is located closer to the middle, the pain becomes stronger, continues for several weeks continuously and does not decrease after taking medicine. Lateral hernia is manifested by periodic and mild pain, local loss of sensitivity is possible.
Osteochondrosis of the chest, which is accompanied by compression of the spinal cord, has the following symptoms:
- strong pain;
- numbness of limbs;
- the pain radiates to the stomach, groin, leg;
- dysfunction of the pelvic organs.
In addition to the above, osteochondrosis can show additional symptoms, in particular:
- numbness of individual skin areas;
- feeling of "goosebumps" in the thoracic spine;
- fragility of nails;
- dry skin, skin;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea or, conversely, constipation);
- giving pain in the throat;
- itching or cold feeling in the lower extremities.
Dorsago as a result of osteochondrosis of the chest region
Osteochondrosis in the thoracic spine is characterized by the presence of dorsago. This is one of its main symptoms. In fact, the word "dorsago" should be understood as a very strong and sudden pain in the chest. It is often called "shot", as the sensations in this case are the same as with a knife wound. A severe attack of dorsago makes breathing difficult and makes free movement impossible. This happens after prolonged physical exertion in people who already suffer from osteochondrosis and joint diseases.
Mild, but increasing and prolonged pain in the chest region is called dorsalgia. The most pronounced symptoms when a person bends over. The pain can also intensify at night, especially often this happens in women suffering from osteochondrosis who wear shoes with heels.
Diagnosing
With thoracic osteochondrosis, effective treatment should be carried out. Symptoms without it will only intensify and interfere with normal life.
After discovering the symptoms, the doctor directs the patient for additional examination. Among the diagnostic methods that are most often used for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, the following are distinguished:
- MRI. Tomography makes it possible to obtain a clear three-dimensional image with contrast of the area of the human body being studied. Therefore, the doctor can see the condition of the vertebrae of the chest region, assess the health of the joints. The procedure does not take much time (from 20 to 55 minutes) and is painless. The patient should expose the spine and lie on a special bed. The scanner, which is placed on top of the person, at this time takes a photo of the sections.
- Ultrasound procedure. Before carrying out the treatment, it is worth making sure that the osteochondrosis of the chest region is not accompanied by tumors. For this, an ultrasound method is suitable. The device clearly shows the condition of soft tissues, joints, intervertebral discs. As in the first case, the procedure does not take much time and is painless. With the help of an ultrasound examination, the chest region of pregnant women and even children can be examined.
Of course, no treatment is offered by the doctor until the patient has passed the general clinical blood and urine tests, and until the results of the electrocardiogram are available. The latter enables the doctor, with similar symptoms, to distinguish osteochondrosis of the chest from a heart attack or other heart problems.
Treatment
Referring to a neuropathologist, a patient with thoracic osteochondrosis will receive a recommended course of treatment. Methods and drugs, as well as the duration of their use, is determined by the doctor in each individual case. As a rule, when osteochondrosis is detected in the chest, doctors recommend:
- drug treatment - its purpose is to relieve pain, muscle spasms, reduce the inflammatory process, restore tissues around joints and vertebrae;
- physiotherapy - aims to use ultrasonic waves, electric current or laser to relieve sharp pains in the chest region and reduce the negative effects of osteochondrosis, provides treatment for joints;
- manual therapy - thanks to the massaging movements of a specialist, it is possible to align the position of the discs in the chest region, relieve spasm;
- isometric kinesiotherapy (gymnastic treatment) - helps to improve the mobility of the chest region, relieves pain.
In addition to the methods described above, the treatment of osteochondrosis can be carried out using hirudotherapy, millimeter wave therapy, apitherapy, magnetic therapy and other methods.