Thoracic Back Pain


Thoracic back pain is far less common than upper or lower back pain but no less distressing.

Thoracic back pain is often referred to as middle back pain as it is experienced in the middle area of the back below the shoulder blades. The thoracic region consists of the 12 vertebra behind the chest. As with all vertebra, the thoracic vertebra are separated by discs of cartilage - if one of these discs slip it may press on the spinal cord or a nerve causing either extreme pain or loss of sensation.

There may be a number of causes of thoracic back pain, including: congenital disease; injury; aging, fusion of the thoracic vertebra; bad posture; tumor of the spine; osteoporosis or rheumatism; or a totally unrelated illness.

Nerve disorders, like multiple sclerosis, stroke, poliomyelitis and meningitis, have also been known to cause severe thoracic back pain.

But it doesn’t have to be a life-threatening disorder that causes thoracic back pain. I found that sleeping on the hard ground during a camping trip gave me severe middle back pain - but I only started experiencing it after I had returned home three days later.

Considering there are so many possible causes, if thoracic back pain lasts for longer than a few weeks, you should visit your doctor. Often thoracic back pain is treated non-specifically, i.e., symptoms are treated rather than the cause.

On the whole, unless back pain - whether thoracic back pain or any other backache - is not found to have a cause, treatment may be a matter of testing various back pain treatments until you find something that relieves the backache.

Medical practitioners who may help you include: a general practitioner, osteopath, orthopedic surgeon, chiropractor, spinologist or rheumatologist.

It is inadvisable to consider surgery unless the cause of the thoracic pain is known and there is no alternative treatment. The importance of following a good diet, taking gentle exercise and considering natural treatments like heat treatments, massage and yoga, cannot be overemphasized.

Posture is to backs what a toothbrush and paste are to teeth and a healthy diet should always include a multi-vitamin with zinc and iron.

Interestingly, zinc is essential to about 80 body processes, including enzyme production and is recommended for depression, another unfortunate side-effect of chronic thoracic back pain.

Do speak to your doctor before trying complementary therapy. While pyramid power has been advanced as the cure-all for everything including backache, I personally don’t hold much truck with it. However, the efficacy of acupuncture, reflexology, osteopathy and yoga to alleviate thoracic back pain is sworn by many loyal followers of natural treatments.

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