Cartilage degeneration is a chronic disease characterized by degeneration of the tissue structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. There are three types of osteoarthritis, depending on which part of the spine the disease affects: lumbar, thoracic and cervical.
Symptoms of thoracic osteoarthritis in the spine
Osteochondrosis of the chest does not manifest itself immediately and in the early stages can be almost invisible. Therefore, in order not to cause the disease, you should not ignore its first symptoms and manifestations.
The main symptom is chest pain during movement, physical activity as well as when maintaining a position for a long time. It can present as sharp, sudden, and severe pain that makes movement and breathing difficult (back pain) or as moderate, progressive pain (back pain).
Symptoms similar to back pain do not always indicate the presence of problems with the spine, therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, you should undergo a comprehensive examination.
Symptoms may also include chest muscle tightness, a feeling of constriction, a feeling of weakness in the limbs, and partial or complete loss of sensation in the limbs.
Symptoms can also manifest at the autonomic system level, specifically as follows:
- headache;
- sleep disorders;
- pain in internal organs, which can be confused with manifestations of other diseases (for example, pain in the stomach, heart and kidneys);
- local skin peeling, thin nails;
- feeling of chills in the limbs, chills;
- decreased sweating at the site of nerve fibers compressed by the affected vertebrae.
If you detect any of the symptoms listed and you need to consult a thoracic spondylosis doctor or any other specialist, contact a professional medical center. Doctors will choose a convenient time for your appointment and answer any of your questions.
Since some symptoms are characteristic of both osteonecrosis and some other diseases (such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, kidney and heart failure, hypertension, migraine), an ultrasound examination should be performedand electrocardiogram to rule out these diseases.
Causes of osteoarthritis in the chest area
There are many reasons leading to the appearance of the disease. More precisely, there are a number of factors that negatively affect health and can cause osteoarthritis. For each patient, the set of such factors may be different, therefore, to identify and rule them out, we recommend that you seek advice from a neurologist.
List of the most common situations that have a negative impact on the spine:
- excessive physical activity;
- passive lifestyle;
- Incorrect posture and incorrect body position when sleeping, sitting at the table, etc. v. ;
- Genetic diseases;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- injury;
- and some other factors.
Consequences of the development of osteonecrosis of the chest
Thoracic osteoarthritis, in addition to having symptoms similar to other diseases, is also dangerous in that it can cause many different diseases due to blood vessels and nerve endings being compressed by damaged vertebrae.
Therefore, thoracic spondylosis can lead to diseases of internal organs (heart, kidneys, stomach, lungs, intestines), as well as diseases of the respiratory system.
Diagnosis and treatment of thoracic spondylosis
Full examination, diagnosis and diagnosis of thoracic osteoarthritis can only be achieved using an integrated approach. Doctors often turn to diagnostic methods such as:
- Ask the patient orally to identify symptoms and negative factors affecting the body;
- examine and palpate the spine;
- Check reflexes, skin and muscle sensitivity;
- X-ray to determine the location of the disease;
- computed tomography (CT) to determine whether spinal cord damage is present;
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can evaluate all the tissues and vessels surrounding the spine.
If you are not sure which doctor to contact about your symptoms, go to a specialist clinic to make an appointment, where they will tell you which specialist will help solve the problem.
To treat spinal problems at a medical center, a fusion method can also be used. The combination of various treatment methods and modern rehabilitation procedures helps to eliminate the manifestations of the disease and reduce the risk of relapse due to the overall health of the body.
Some proven methods for treating spinal problems:
- physical therapy;
- osteopathy;
- manual therapy;
- psychotherapy;
- drug treatment.
Please note that only a doctor can prescribe competent and effective treatment. If you have any doubts about which tests or procedures you need, please contact our experts for advice.