Symptoms and treatment of osteochondrosis of thoracic region of the spine.
Thoracic segment of the spine is less mobile than the cervical and lumbar. This is due to anatomical and functional characteristics of this region of the spine. Thanks to the coasts it has a high rigidity and therefore is less prone to injury as a result of external actions. Protrusion, hernias, vertebra dislocation in the thoracic segment of the spine is rarely encountered. The favorable conditions for their occurrence could be: atypical bearing, scoliosis, etc. Thoracic osteochondrosis symptoms are marked by the same causes as the symptoms of cervical and lumbar osteochondrosis: root structures compression (radiculopathy), spinal cord compression (compressive thoracic myelopathy) spinal cord injury due to disturbance of blood supply due to compression, narrowing of the arteries and veins (compressive-vascular mieloishemia).
Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis.
The symptoms depend on the location and mechanism that caused the disease process. The most frequently encountered the spinal roots compression. The spinal cord compression of this segment is encountered significantly fewer.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of thoracic segment of the spine caused by compression of root structures (radiculopathy).
Radiculopathy is most often caused by the hernia of spine, which in principle can occur at any level, but significantly more frequently are encountered the hernia of the lower mobile segment. The symptoms occur immediately after excessive exercise and gradually are developed within a few weeks.
Hernia, located at the top of thoracic segment: the pains may be in the zone of shoulder, scapula, shoulder joint, thorax and peritoneal cavity.
Hernia, located in the low of thoracic segment: loss of sensation at this level, disturbance of pelvic organs functions and reduction of mobility in the hips.
In this case, the symptoms of osteochondrosis of thoracic segment of the spine are highly dependent on the direction of hernia – lateral or median. In the case of lateral hernia the pains are unilateral, there may be the loss of local sensitivity, there may be pains as on the hernia. The pains are intensifying when the spine movement, in the case of cough and deep breathing. In the case of lateral hernias the compression symptoms are minimal and reversible. In the case of median hernia the pains are lasting, imperishable, can persist for several weeks.
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Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis caused by compression of spinal cord (thoracic compressive myelopathy).
The myelopathy is relatively rarely found in this segment. This is due to anatomical and functional characteristics of this segment of the spine. The symptoms include local pain or circular pain; there is possible weakness in the legs, numbness, and disturbances of functions of the pelvic organs. The pain may be in the intercostal spaces, groin, abdomen or spread to the legs level.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of thoracic segment of the spine.
The means and methods for treating the osteochondrosis of thoracic segment of the spine are described in detail in the part “Osteochondrosis and Treatment.” Before treatment you should pay attention to the fact that the symptoms that occur in this disease have much in common with symptomatic heart symptoms, ischemic heart diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, etc. That’s why for proper diagnosis is very important to make differential diagnosis.