If your upper spine or middle back hurts, you may be feeling thoracic back pain. This part of your back, called the thoracic region, is strong and stable. It protects important parts of your body, like your heart and lungs. But even though it’s tough, it can still get hurt. Understanding the common causes and symptoms of thoracic back pain is the first step toward finding relief.
At Summit Orthopedics, spine specialists in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area are experts at diagnosing and treating thoracic back pain. Often, we can treat its causes without surgery, but if you need surgery, we offer the latest treatments that get you back to life faster.
What Is the Thoracic Spine?
Your spine is made of many small bones called vertebrae. It’s divided into three main regions:
- The cervical spine in your neck
- The lumbar spine in your lower back
- The thoracic spine in your upper and middle back
The thoracic spine is the longest part of your spine. It has 12 vertebrae—the bones that make up your spine—and your ribs connect to all but the last two, protecting your lungs, liver and other organs in your midsection. The vertebrae and the muscles, ligaments and tendons that make up the soft tissues around them work together to help you stand, bend and twist.
Between each vertebra are soft pads called discs. These discs act like cushions, stopping the bones from rubbing against each other. When you have pain in the thoracic spine, it can make everyday activities difficult and uncomfortable.
What Are the Symptoms of Thoracic Spine Problems?
Thoracic back pain feels different for everyone. The symptoms of thoracic spine problems often depend on what is causing the pain. You might feel:
- Pain that gets worse when you sit
- Stiffness
- Tingling in your limbs or around your ribs
If a problem in your thoracic spine affects your spinal cord, you might have more serious symptoms, like weakness or numbness in your legs or problems with bladder control. If you have these symptoms, it’s very important to see a doctor right away.
Common Causes of Thoracic Back Pain
There are many reasons why your upper back may hurt. Some of the most common causes of thoracic back pain are related to our daily lives.
- Muscle strain: Lifting something that is too heavy or twisting suddenly can cause a muscle strain, leading to pain in the middle of the back.
- Overuse injury: Doing the same motions over and over, like when playing sports or doing certain jobs, can injure the soft tissues in your back.
- Poor posture: Slouching at a desk or looking down at your phone for a long time can strain the muscles in your upper back.
- Trauma: A fall or a car accident can injure the bones, discs and soft tissues in your thoracic spine. Sometimes, this can cause a compression fracture, which is a small break in one of the vertebrae.
Other medical conditions can also cause pain in the thoracic region. These include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis: This type of arthritis mainly affects the spine, causing severe inflammation that can lead to chronic pain and disability.
- Facet arthropathy: This condition can cause the facet joints (small joints that connect your vertebrae) to wear down.
- Herniated disc: This happens when one of the soft discs between your vertebrae pushes out of place.
Diagnosing Thoracic Back Pain
To diagnose thoracic back pain, we first need to find out what’s causing it. When you visit Summit Orthopedics, your doctor will start by discussing your symptoms and health history. They will also do a physical exam. Your doctor will check your back for sore spots and see how well you can move.
Your doctor may want to take a closer look at your spine with imaging tests, such as an X-ray or an MRI scan. These imaging studies help your doctor see the bones, discs and other parts of your spine to find the exact cause of the pain.
If you need an imaging test, we will set that up for you. You can have an X-ray on the day of your appointment, but we would need to schedule an MRI for a later date.
How to Improve Thoracic Back Pain
At Summit Orthopedics, we believe that surgery should always be the last resort. Our team will work with you to create a treatment plan just for you. Our goal is to reduce your pain and help you get back to your activities.
Nonsurgical Treatments
Summit Orthopedics offers a range of nonsurgical treatments for thoracic back pain. These may include:
- Changes to your activities: Your doctor might suggest ways to move that do not worsen your pain.
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers can often help with a muscle strain or minor overuse injury. Medications used for more severe thoracic back pain include prescription medications, like anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxers.
- Injections: In some cases, an injection of steroid medicine near the source of the pain can help reduce swelling and provide relief.
- Physical therapy: Our physical therapists can teach you exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in your back and shoulders. They can also help improve your posture.
Surgical Treatments
If your pain doesn’t get better with other treatments, or if you have a serious injury, surgery may be an option. Our experienced spine surgeons in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area will talk with you about the best surgical approach for your specific condition.
Care for Thoracic Back Pain at Summit Orthopedics
Don’t let thoracic spine pain keep you from living the life you love. If you have pain in your upper or middle back that doesn’t go away, or if your pain is severe, it’s time to see a specialist. Our dedicated medical team can help you understand the source of your pain and find the right treatment plan for your specific needs.
With the right care, you can get back to doing what matters most, whether that’s playing with your kids again or simply living with greater comfort and mobility. Don’t hesitate to seek an expert opinion to start on your path to recovery.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics spine expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
