Upper Back Pain or Thoracic Pain

Upper back pain is also known as “thoracic pain” is the pain felt between the top of the lumbar vertebrae and the bottom of the neck. The term thoracic refers to the chest. The thoracic spine is composed of the vertebrae that correspond to the chest. There are 12 thoracic vertebrae wherein 9 of which is connected to the breastbone or sternum as ribs. These ribs form the rib cage that protects the internal organs; the heart, lungs, and liver.

• improper posture
• back injury due to accident or trauma
• unhealthy activity like improper lifting and bending
• over strain
• exhaustion
• stress

Some diseases or condition also causes back pain like osteoporosis, slipped or spinal discs, even infection.  Having large breast for women also contributes to having upper back pain. Thoracic pain is also categorized as acute pain (if less than 3 months) and chronic (if more than 3 months). It can also be local or just in one location or it can radiate to other parts of the body.  The pain can radiate to your front for the spine is attached to the chest bone or sternum, or it may even go to the arms.

Back pain treatment depends on the condition and the site of the pain. If the pain arises from the muscles, the use of analgesics, ointments, and liniments and other topical may help soothe the pain. Physical therapy like the application of active and passive exercises also helps. Warm and cold compress alternately applied also helps by providing relaxation and constriction of the muscles. Massages, acupuncture and other conventional methods can also be utilized in alleviating the pain. If the pain arises from the joints or caused by health condition like the herniation of the spinal disc, surgery by a professional is commonly applied.

In chronic back pain, pain is already felt in more than 3 months. This already requires a serious, medical attention. Medical professionals would try to find out the real cause of the pain and why it lasts for that long time. Other diagnostic exams will be used to determine the cause of the pain. Such exams are the CT scan, the MRI and the X-ray. These exams will try to have a visual of the lumbar structure to reveal if there are any broken bones. The pain felt is surely a result of a certain underlying condition. That’s why a medical advice is greatly recommended if the pain lasts this long. Prevention and early detection also matter a lot.

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Created on Oct 28th 2018 10:48. Viewed 271 times.

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