What Is Mid Back Pain?
Mid-back pain is any pain or discomfort that affects the mid back or thoracic spine. The thoracic spine consists of twelve vertebrae that connect to the ribs and rib cage area between the neck and the diaphragm.
Pain or discomfort in the middle back can range from mild and brief to severe and chronic, lasting for months, and can feel dull, aching, or sharp. Mid-back pain can occur when inflammation or irritation in any part of the spine may be caused by injuries, structural changes, or diseases.
Symptoms of Mid Back Pain
Middle back pain symptoms vary depending on the cause of your back pain. Common symptoms of mid-back pain include:
- a burning sensation in the middle back
- achy muscles
- back stiffness upon waking up
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- dull, achy, or cramping pain
- intense back pain
- migraines, tension headaches, or cluster headaches
- muscle stiffness or tightness
- pain accompanied by tightness, stiffness, or tenderness
- pain that radiates to the neck, shoulders, or hips
- sharp or stabbing pain
- sudden back pain
Severe Symptoms with Mid Back Pain that Require Immediate Medical Care
Seek medical care as soon as possible if any of these more severe symptoms accompany your middle back pain:
- a tingling or numb feeling in your belly, chest, or extremities
- abdominal pain
- chest pain with pressure or tightness in your chest area
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- pain around your jaw
- weakening or numbing feeling or paralysis in your legs
- weakness in your arms
Causes of Mid Back Pain
Mid-back pain has many causes, including injury, trauma, overuse, and disease.
Five Common Causes of Mid Back Pain
- Herniated Disc: A herniated disc can cause intense middle back pain.
- Improper Lifting: Improper form when lifting weights or carrying heavy items can stress your middle back excessively.
- Inactive Lifestyle: Spending too much time sitting and lacking regular physical activity can lead to weak back muscles and mid-back pain.
- Overuse: Performing repetitive tasks can lead to muscle strain in the middle back.
- Poor Posture: Slouching or maintaining poor posture for prolonged periods can strain your thoracic spine.
Causes Related to the Spine’s Structure
- Muscle spasms affect the skeletal muscles.
- Scoliosis is a spinal disorder where the spine curves in an S or C shape.
- Kyphosis: a spinal disorder where abnormality affects the upper spine.
- Herniated disc: due to bulging or bone spur.
- Spine fracture: usually caused by a car accident or other traumatic injury that results in significant injuries to the spine.
Diseases That Can Cause Mid Back Pain
- Osteoporosis occurs when bones begin thinning and weakening.
- Osteoarthritis: happens when the cartilage breaks down.
- Osteomyelitis: infection or inflammation of the bones.
- Paget’s disease causes bones to grow larger and become weaker than usual.
- Spinal stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal, which places a lot of pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
Risk Factors for Mid Back Pain
Anyone can experience any of the different levels of middle back pain, but mid-back pain tends to affect people between the ages of 30 and 50. However, some factors can put you at greater risk of mid-back pain.
Risk factors for mid-back pain include:
- Congenital or acquired conditions such as kyphosis that cause abnormal curving of the spine
- Family history or disease
- Pregnancy
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Being overweight or obese
- Old age
- Smoking
- Stress
- Weakening of the abdominal muscles
Complications or Side Effects from Mid Back Pain
Depending on the cause of your mid back pain, your condition, and your treatment program, you may experience side effects or complications. Some of the most common side effects or complications experienced by those who have mid-back pain include:
- Chronic or severe pain
- Being absent from work or school most of the time
- Permanent nerve damage
- Disability
Treating Mid Back Pain
Middle back pain is treated in many different ways. Treatment plans depend on the type and cause of your middle back pain and can include home remedies or medical options like physical therapy.
Home Remedies to Relieve Mid Back Pain
Home treatments that can help relieve middle back pain include:
- putting ice on the area where you are experiencing pain and later applying heat, which can give immediate relief
- over-the-counter pain medications to reduce pain and swelling like ibuprofen and naproxen to reduce pain and swelling
- doing low-impact exercises like yoga and stretching to stretch and strengthen back muscles
- improving your posture to help relieve mid-back pain by:
- keeping your shoulders back when standing
- avoiding slouching
- taking breaks to stand or walk when you have been sitting for lengthy periods
- making adjustments to your keyboard and mouse positioning and desk chair and computer monitor height to make it easier to maintain good posture
Medical Options for Treating Lasting Mid Back Pain
If your mid back pain has lasted more than 72 hours and home remedies aren’t relieving you, see a doctor. Medical treatment options commonly recommended by doctors for middle back pain include:
- prescription pain relievers or muscle relaxers
- physical therapy
- steroid injections
- chiropractic care
Can Chiropractic Care Relieve Aching Mid Back Pain?
Whether your middle back pain has been caused by poor posture, spinal misalignment, or an injury, chiropractic care can reduce your pain, help strengthen the muscles surrounding your spine, and improve your posture.
Chiropractic care can be used alone or with other back pain treatment options like physical therapy or pain medication. Chiropractic care is a natural approach that can be used with other treatment options like physical therapy or pain medication.
Chiropractic care treatment options for the relief of middle back pain include:
- decompression techniques that can reduce compression in any areas of the spine that have been compressed
- stretching and yoga to increase circulation and flexibility and minimize middle back pain
- spinal adjustments to get your spine into proper alignment
- hot or cold therapy that can improve circulation and reduce inflammation in areas of your back
North Central Texas Chiropractor Can Help with Mild or Severe Mid Back Pain
If home remedies aren’t helping your middle back pain and you’ve struggled to find relief, A Family Chiropractic Clinic in Denton, Texas, can help. Our qualified chiropractors and physical therapists work together to create an effective treatment plan to relieve your back pain while improving your quality of life without the dangerous side effects of unnecessary medication.
If you have any questions about chiropractic care, therapies, and treatment options or would like to schedule an appointment, please get in touch with us at (940) 566-0000.
