If you have been diagnosed with “thoracic pain,” it means that you are experiencing pain in the mid-upper back in the area that corresponds with your ribcage. This type of pain is less common than neck pain and lower back pain, but it is still reasonably common. Older people and women are more likely to experience thoracic pain than other groups. However, it may also occur in teens, especially if they frequently carry a heavy backpack. Thoracic pain has several different possible causes; here are three of the most common.
Thoracic Facet Syndrome
Each intervertebral segment of your spine is made up of one large disc in front and two facet joints in the back. This “tripod” provides excellent stability, supporting your weight and allowing you freedom of movement in all directions. However, the facet joints can also become torn or worn out over time through repetitive motion. When these joints become inflamed or injured, they can cause pain and stiffness. Pain from thoracic facet syndrome may feel worse in the morning and improve throughout the day as you move around. It may also become worse if you sit or stand in one position for too long.
Conservative treatments for facet syndrome include postural correction and manipulation or massage of the affected areas. These methods may be combined with anti-inflammatory medications or muscle relaxers. If conservative treatments are not sufficient, other measures may be useful, such as facet joint injections or radiofrequency ablation.
Thoracic Radiculopathy
The word “radiculopathy” refers to a chronic condition that causes injury to the spinal nerves through irritation or compression. Thoracic radiculopathy, or a pinched nerve in the spine, produces a range of unpleasant symptoms including pain, numbness, and weakness. Each of the vertebra in your spine is cushioned from the one next to it by an intervertebral disc. When these discs become damaged (say, because of an accidental injury), they can cause nearby nerves to become compressed.
In some cases, there is no apparent cause of radiculopathy, or it may be caused by herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, or diabetes, to name a few. Symptoms of thoracic radiculopathy include numbness, tingling, or shooting or burning pain in the abdomen, side, or rib area; it may be misdiagnosed as shingles or a heart-related or abdominal condition.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition that involves a vertebra slipping out of place onto the one below it. If there is enough movement, the bone may compress a nerve, leading to pain and other symptoms. It is most likely to occur in the lower back. The specific symptoms vary; in some cases, there are no symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, the most common one is low back pain. This pain may spread across the lower back and feel similar to a strained muscle. People with this condition may also notice muscle spasms in the hamstrings, stiffness in the lower back, weakness or numbness of the legs, or even loss of bladder or bowel function due to severe nerve compression. Treatment depends on a few different factors and may include medications, physical therapy, and bracing; in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.