The middle back is named as the thoracic spine in medical terms, compared to the cervical spine or the neck portion and the lumbar spine or lower back. Even a layman would know that the lower back and neck portions have a lot of mobility, while there is very little movement in the middle back. How then could back pain occur in the middle back portion? What could be the causes? Good questions. Let us find some answers.
Due to the inherent strength and stability in the middle back, the most common spinal disorders of disc herniation, degenerative discs, spinal stenosis and spinal instability are extremely rare. Further, MRI or CT scans seldom reveal much that could provide clues to the causes of middle back pain.
Sudden injury or trauma could cause upper middle back pain. Strain of the middle and upper back by poor sitting postures could also result in back pain in these portions. Persons working at computers all day come up with middle and upper back pain complaints. Upper back pain is invariably found in conjunction with neck pain or shoulder pain or both. The most likely causes of middle and upper back pain are muscular irritation called myofascial pain in medical parlance, and joint dysfunction. Anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, massage, injections, acupuncture and aerobic exercises could redress such middle back pain and restore normalcy at the earliest. School-going children sometimes develop middle and upper back pain by constant carrying of heavy school bags on their back.
Left side middle back pain could be indicative of an impending heart ailment. As such, such a pain should not be ignored at all and a physician has to be consulted at the earliest. Middle back pain between the shoulders causing numbness in the hand could be due to disc herniation or disc degeneration. The exact causes must be thoroughly investigated and diagnosed by a qualified physician before treatment methods are prescribed. Massages, acupuncture, injections and aerobic exercises are the most recommended remedies for such middle back pain.
More often than not, muscular irritation and the resultant upper back pain are due to the depletion of strength in the upper back muscles. Injuries due to repetitive motions (this happens mainly in sportspersons) or accident could also lead to upper back pain. Due to the immobile nature of the middle back, conservative physiotherapic treatments could not be used for the remedy of middle or upper back pain ailments. Under the circumstances, manual treatments like osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture and massage therapy are resorted to with considerable success in alleviating middle and upper back pains.
Two joints connect the ribs with the vertebrae in the thoracic spine. Upper back pain could occur due to dysfunction in these joints. Anti-inflammatory medications, a home exercise program for strengthening and stretching the shoulders along with the spine, and aerobic conditioning are prescribed for such upper back pain. A fracture of the thoracic vertebrae could take place due to an accident or trauma. An X-ray or MRI scan is taken to assess the damage and to plan for subsequent treatment methods.
Osteopathic manipulation is a very successful treatment for middle back pain