Upper and Middle Back Pain

What is The Upper and Mid Back Pain?

Upper and mid back pain is less common than lower back pain, but it can still be very uncomfortable and disrupt your life. The pain can be so intense that it might keep you in bed for days or even weeks. That’s why it’s important to diagnose and treat it correctly, just like with lower back pain. There are many ways to treat upper and mid back pain, and chiropractic care is one option that can help reduce the pain quickly and effectively.

Instead of giving you pain medicine, T98 chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments along with other treatments. These adjustments focus on the root cause of the pain, helping to relieve it and strengthen the muscles around your spine. If you’re dealing with upper or mid back pain, visiting a T98 chiropractor could help you recover faster. Our chiropractors know that everyone’s pain is different, so they will create a treatment plan that’s just for you. Here’s some important information about upper and mid back pain and how T98 chiropractors can help.

About half of all working Americans say they’ve had back pain at some point. Upper and mid back pain can happen anywhere from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage. The ribs are attached to your spine in the back and to a bone in the center of your chest called the sternum in the front. If the nerves in this area get irritated, injured, or pinched, you might feel pain that spreads to your chest, arms, belly, and legs.

Upper and mid back pain isn’t as common as lower back pain because the bones in this part of your back don’t move as much as those in your lower back. The upper and mid back help keep your spine stable and protect important organs like your heart and lungs. This part of your back is called the thoracic spine, and it includes:

12 vertebrae (bones) that connect to your rib cage
Ligaments and muscles that hold your spine together
Discs between each vertebra that act like shock absorbers when you walk

Upper and Mid-back Pain Symptoms

Upper and middle pain symptoms largely depend on the underlying condition or disorders. For instance, if the pain is due to a severe condition such as arthritis, you may experience pain in the back and other body parts. Pinched nerve back pain may lead to bladder control problems. Here are the common symptoms of upper and mid back pain.

Pain that starts suddenly or worsens gradually
Pain that affects a single point or distributes from your neck base to the entire back
Dull, burning pain on the upper and middle back
Pain that occurs together with muscle stiffness
A pain that gets worse when you perform certain activities
Constant pain in one area or comes and disappears

Severe Symptoms that Might Indicate a Life-Threatening Condition

Sometimes, upper and mid back pain may also include other symptoms, indicating a life-threatening condition such as cauda equina syndrome or heart attack. Some of the severe symptoms that require immediate treatment include:

Loss of bowel or bladder control
Chest pain or tightness
Jaw pain
Numbness, weakness, or paralysis in your legs
Difficulty in breathing
Severe pain in the abdomen

Upper and Middle Back Pain Causes

The upper and middle back is a large area, which means there’s a higher chance of having problems there. Things like overusing your muscles, sitting with bad posture, tight muscles, working out, and straining can all cause pain in this part of your back. The pain can be mild or severe, depending on what’s causing it. Here are the most common causes of upper and middle back pain:

Repetitive Movements: Doing the same actions over and over that involve your middle and upper back can lead to stress, strain, or injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in this area.
Bad Posture: Sitting at a desk for long periods or standing for a long time can also cause upper and middle back pain.
Injuries: Any injury to the upper and mid-back can lead to pain. For example, you can hurt your back if you:
- Slouch when sitting or standing
- Over-exercise
- Strain your back doing yard work or playing sports
- Fall or slip and land on your back
- Get jolted in a car accident
- Lift heavy objects

Common Conditions that Cause Upper and Middle Back Pain

Osteoarthritis: This common condition happens when the cartilage between the joints in your spine wears out. When this happens, the bones rub together, causing damage and intense pain.
Vertebrae Fracture: Too much force on the spine can cause a vertebra to fracture. This can happen from a direct hit to the spine or a car accident. A compression fracture occurs when the spine’s bones break and collapse. Osteoporosis, which weakens bones, can also cause fractures from even minor injuries, leading to severe pain.
Herniated Discs: A herniated disc occurs when a disc in the spine breaks and presses on the spinal nerves. This can happen from aging or doing repetitive activities with lots of motion or vibration, like using a jackhammer. A sudden, heavy strain can also cause the discs to bulge or break.
Degenerative Disc Disease: As you age, the discs in your spine can start to wear down. The outer layer of the discs may tear, causing them to dry out. This puts pressure on the nerve endings in the discs, causing pain. The breakdown of discs can also lead to arthritis, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis. A sudden back injury, like from a car accident or fall, can speed up this process.
Odd-shaped Spine: Conditions like scoliosis or kyphosis can make your spine abnormal and cause back pain. A normal spine is straight, but scoliosis causes the spine to curve into a C or S shape. Kyphosis makes the upper spine round or humped. Severe cases can also make it hard to breathe.
Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal, the bone opening that holds the spinal cord, narrows. This can put pressure on the spine. Sometimes, bones, disc tissue, and ligaments can grow into the spinal canal and press on the spinal cord nerve, causing pain and inflammation.

Diagnosing Upper and Middle Back Pain

It would be best to visit a chiropractic care center to get a diagnosis for your upper and middle back pain. As mentioned, T98 chiropractors treat each patient differently to find the problem’s root cause. Here are some of the procedures that the chiropractor may use to help them make a diagnosis.

Collecting the Information

The chiropractor starts by collecting information such as your medical records, previous injuries, and medications. The chiropractor will also ask you about your lifestyle, what your works involve, your exercise routine, and so forth. He may also ask you about your family and whether other family members usually complain about the same problem.

Physical Exam

After gathering the information, the chiropractor will perform a physical exam. During the examination, the chiropractor will look at your spine, pelvis, head, arms, abdomen, and arms. If you were involved in an auto accident, an emergency responder might put a collar around the neck to stabilize your spine.

Testing

The chiropractor may also ask for some tests that help them make the right diagnosis. The tests usually include imaging and neurological tests. Neurological tests usually examine the interaction between your spinal cord and the brain. During the test, the chiropractor may prickle your toes or fingers to see how your nerve endings respond.

The imaging tests give the chiropractor a picture of your body structure. The test helps reveal any fracture, muscle damage, or bone degeneration that may cause the pain. The imaging tests include CT scans, X-Ray, MRI scans, and ultrasound.

When You Should See a Chiropractor for Upper and Middle Back Pain

Determining when to visit a chiropractic care center for upper and middle back pain varies from one person to the other. However, here are some of the things that should help you navigate through the process.

If your back pain is not severe and eases quickly, you probably do not need to seek chiropractic treatment. Pain, which does not distract your daily routine and does not come back, is easy to treat at home. In most cases, the pain is due to poor posture, a strained muscle, or fatigue. Putting some ice or heat therapy on the affected area brings fast relief.

However, if you have chronic, upper and lower back pain that gets worse with time or goes away but comes back often; visiting the T98 chiropractic clinic is a wise choice. Failure to get proper treatment will make the pain worse and risks further damage. While there are various chiropractic treatments for upper and middle back pain, you should avoid invasive treatments that involve injections, surgeries, and pain medication.

The chiropractic adjustments are safe and effective in treating back pain. The treatment addresses the root cause, helping you get back on your feet in a short period. Additionally, if you have upper or mid-back trauma, it is imperative to seek chiropractic care as soon as possible.

How Do T98 Chiropractors Help with Upper and Mid Back Pain

Chiropractic care is an excellent way to manage upper and mid back pain. T98 chiropractors provide a safe, non-invasive treatment that addresses the specific root cause, alleviating pain, and swelling faster. T98 chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments, which is a non-addictive and affordable procedure.

The procedure helps to minimize the joint restrictions and misalignment in the spine. It also helps in reducing the swelling, which may lead to low blood circulation. The chiropractor helps in increasing joint mobility and restoring the right posture. The procedures also stimulate your nervous system function and spinal health in general. T98 chiropractors also use other chiropractic therapies to get the musculoskeletal structure back into the right alignment.

Chiropractors deliver a gentle, non-invasive, non-addictive therapy, known as a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body to reduce inflammation and improve both the affected joint and nervous system’s function. By increasing joint mobility and improving your nervous system function and spinal health, your body can better manage symptoms caused by upper back pain.

When you visit the T98 chiropractic clinic, the chiropractor’s primary goal is to relieve pain in any of your muscles, bones, tendons, joints, and ligaments. The professional will check your medical history; perform the necessary examinations and tests to develop a specific diagnosis for your condition.

Main Chiropractic Techniques for Upper and Middle Back Pain

Chiropractors at T98 Chiropractic and Rehab Center mainly use a method called spinal manipulation to treat upper and mid-back pain. This involves making adjustments to your spine to bring it back to its natural position, which helps improve your nervous system. These adjustments not only reduce pain but also help ease muscle spasms, tightness, and swelling. Here are some of the main techniques used to adjust your spine and muscles.

Diversified Technique

The Diversified Technique is the main method used for adjusting the upper and lower back. It doesn’t require any special tools; the chiropractor uses their hands to make quick, gentle movements that realign your joints. This technique also helps improve blood flow, which can speed up healing.

Biophysics Techniques

Biophysics Techniques focus on fixing your posture, which is often the cause of upper and lower back pain. Realigning your back reduces pressure on your muscles, bones, and ligaments, which can relieve tension, spasms, and pain. The chiropractors at T98 may use different techniques depending on your specific needs, as each treatment plan is unique.

The chiropractor will decide the best treatment for you based on your condition. They may use one or a combination of the techniques mentioned to relieve pain and improve how well you can move. In addition to aligning your spine, the chiropractor may also recommend proper workstation chairs and tables to help prevent future issues.

Why T98 Rehab Chiropractic and Wellness for Your Lower Back Pain?

T98 chiropractic care is safe and effective for treating upper and lower back pain. If you have pain in your upper or middle back, even if it’s mild, don’t wait—contact us right away. Regular visits to our clinic can prevent your injuries from getting worse and reduce the risk of ongoing back pain. Our chiropractors will work to restore your back’s function and give you tips on avoiding future pain, including exercises to strengthen your back.

Back pain, especially in the upper and middle areas, is common, particularly for people who sit or stand for long hours at work. Sometimes, home remedies like ice packs or heat can help, but if the pain doesn’t go away or keeps coming back, it’s important to see a chiropractor, like Dr. Tran at T98 Rehab and Chiropractic. Listen to your body and any changes you notice. We’re open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and you can also schedule a weekend appointment.