Система Orphus

Symptoms of disease - pain in the thoracic spine

Thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae. It is normally looks in the form of the letter "A ", facing bulge back (normal kyphosis). Thoracic spine is involved in the formation of the back of the chest wall. The bodies and cross branches of thoracic vertebrae with the help of joints are attached ribs. In front of the departments of the ribs are joined in a single rigid frame with the help of the sternum, forming the chest. The intervertebral discs in the thoracic region have a very small height, which greatly reduces the mobility of the spine. In addition, the mobility of the thoracic limit the long spine processes of the vertebrae, located in the form of tiles, and also the rib cage. The spinal canal in the thoracic region is very narrow, so even small volume education (hernia, tumors, osteophytes) lead to the development of the compression of the nerve roots and spinal cord.

The main causes of pain in the thoracic region of the spine:
- pain muscle origin, as associated with the defeat of the thoracic spine, and a special (for example, pain in the intercostal muscles or muscle press prolonged coughing, sneezing, etc.);
- chronic pain in the thoracic region of the spine usually are symptoms of heart disease, respiratory organs, digestive apparatus.
- joint and bundled pain in the thoracic region of the spine (except joints and ligaments of the spine are of great value place ribs attach to the spine, as well as the transition of the ribs to the breastbone and the place of adhesion of cartilaginous parts of several of the lower ribs);
- skeletal problems (that is, first of all, various scoliotic deformation, which may affect both the spine and ribs, further post-traumatic changes in these same structures;
- in old age huge the value has osteoporosis.

Feelings: pain in the thoracic region of the spine arising when you inhale or exhale, and also tilts left and right, forward and back or curled. The pain may be in the region of the heart, liver, breast, under the shoulder blade.



Which diseases there is pain in the thoracic spine

List of causes of pain in the thoracic region of the spine:
- At the counter pain in the thoracic region of the spine and especially radicular shingles pain and signs of compression of the spinal cord should first of all to exclude other causes of primary or metastatic tumors of the spine or infectious diseases (tuberculosis spondylitis, epidural abscess).

- The cause of the encircling pain in the chest can be herpes zoster, the defeat of the nerve trunks in diabetes mellitus or vasculitis.

- Pain in the thoracic region of the spine are more likely to arise when distributing the degenerative process of the intervertebral joints, in the event of spondylarthrosis, and the development of osteoarthritis in in costal-vertebral joints and the cross-rib joints (joints, which neighbouring ribs are attached to each other). This process may lead to a narrowing of intervertebral holes. Then there is compression of the nerve roots of the spinal cord and sympathetic nerve fibers. In this case, develops pain syndrome in the area of innervation of the affected nerve. And in case of compression sympathetic nerve fibers, which regulate the work of internal organs, there are various disorders of the functions of these bodies.
Usually patients complain of pain in the interscapular region or in the course of the thoracic spine. Often the pain intensifies during movements and breathing. In case of compression of the nerve root pain becomes belting, often with one hand on the affected intercostal nerve. In the area of innervation of the nerve is violated sensitivity.
Occurs numbness, a feeling of pins and needles, or, on the contrary, the burning and the strengthening of sensitivity. As for disorders of internal organs, you may experience pain in the heart by the type of angina pectoris, pain in the liver, disorders of the stomach and intestines, can be broken urination and sexual function. For specification of the diagnosis of conduct x-rays in two projections. On the pictures you can discover the reduction of the height of intervertebral discs, bone growths of vertebral bodies. However, the changes are quite often found in people who have pain and other complaints on the part of the thoracic spine no.

- Intervertebral disc herniation of the thoracic spine are less than 1 % of all cases of hernia. In the thoracic region localization of intervertebral hernia is often only four of the lower thoracic disc. When hernias baby drives more often than in other departments, develops compression of the spinal cord (the reason - the narrowness of the spinal canal, mostly mid-hernia localization).

- Injuries of the thoracic spine. In elderly patients with frequent cause of pain in the lower chest department of the spine is osteoporosis of the spine with a compression fracture of the vertebral bodies.

- Manifestations of osteochondrosis of thoracic spine are extremely diverse, but neither one of the symptoms is not strictly specific. The main symptoms are determined by the location (location) of a painful process and the degree of its severity. After physical exertion or a long stay in one position the pain intensifies, what makes patients with ease even at night. Is quite characteristic of the burning, aching, or dull pain in the shoulder blade and interscapular space. Patients complain of a feeling of "iron clamp, squeeze back even at night. Effleurage on vertebral processes painful. The pain may spread in a different internal organs.

- In youth and young age of pain in the thoracic region of the spine often due to illness Scheuermann-Mau, which is manifested sharp strengthening of thoracic kyphosis and wedge-shaped deformation tel lower chest vertebrae.

- It is also important to eliminate the injury of the thoracic spine, ribs or chest, the myeloma disease, dissecting aneurysm of the aorta, thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery, pleurisy, pneumonia, lung tumors, ulcers stomach or duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, cholecystitis, phrenic abscess, as all of these diseases can be accompanied by pain in the thoracic region of the spine.



Which doctor should I contact if there is a pain in the thoracic spine

  • Neurologist
  • Traumatologist
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Oncologist
  • Vertebrologist
  • Doctor of medical physical training
  • Masseur
  • Chiropractor
  • Osteopath


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Do you feel thoracic spine hurts? You should be very careful approach to your health in general. People pay not enough attention to the symptoms of the disease and don't realize that these diseases can be critically dangerous. There are many diseases that in the beginning didn't manifest in our body, but in the end it turns out, unfortunately, it have already been treated too late. Every disease has its own specific features typical symptoms - called symptoms of the disease. Definition of symptoms is the first step in the diagnosis of diseases in general. You just need a few times a year to be screened by a doctor, not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in a body and the organism in general.

Pains by category

Pains by alphabet


Map of the symptoms and the types of pain is intended solely for educational purposes. We strongly recommend do NOT self-medicate; on all matters relating to the definition of the disease and ways of its treatment, contact your doctor. Md-tips is not responsible for the consequences of use information posted on the site.

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