what could be the course of middle back pain

Common Causes

• Direct trauma — hitting or falling on the muscles in this area can damage them and cause pain. ...
• Lifting something while twisting.
• Bad posture — The muscles in this area are used to hold the body upright, and bad posture can strain or weaken these muscles, making them more susceptible to injury.
• Carrying heavy backpacks.

More items...

Related Conditions

William Blahd on WebMD says that some of the general causes of upper and middle back pain include: 1

• Overuse injuries from overstretching your back muscles and ligaments
• Injury to your rib cage, intercostal muscles, or ligaments in your thoracic back
• Damage to any of the discs between your spinal vertebrae
• Breakdown of cartilage caused by degenerative bone conditions
• Infections to organs in your upper abdominal and chest areas

What are common causes of middle back pain?

• Stretches and exercises.
• Rest.
• Pain medication.
• Therapeutic pain injections.

What causes pain in the middle of the back?

To perform it:

• Lie on a yoga mat on the ground and on the back. ...
• Squeeze the buttocks and raise up the pelvis toward the ceiling. ...
• Hold that position for five full seconds while continuing to squeeze the buttocks. ...
• Gently lower down the torso and let each vertebra touch one at a time until the back is flat and in the resting position again.

More items...

What are the treatments for middle back pain?

How to strengthen mid back?

When should I worry about middle back pain?

If your back pain wakes you up in the middle of the night or appears when you're in certain positions, such as lying down, then this could be a sign of a more serious problem. It could be a sign of a more systematic problem such as an infection, fracture, severe nerve compression or even cancer.

What is middle back pain a symptom of?

Middle back pain causes include sports injuries, poor posture, arthritis, muscle strain, and car accident injuries. Middle back pain is not as common as lower back pain because the thoracic spine does not move as much as the spine in the lower back and neck.

What organs can cause middle back pain?

Internal organs, such as the kidney or colon, can cause middle back pain to manifest in the lower left back. Patients may feel middle back pain when a stone moves inside the left kidney or moves through the thin tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder.

What causes middle back pain in females?

Upper and middle back pain may be caused by: Overuse, muscle strain, or injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support your spine. Poor posture. Pressure on the spinal nerves from certain problems, such as a herniated disc.

Why does my middle back hurt?

1. Poor posture. Repeated pressure on the spine can lead to middle back pain. In some cases, poor posture can cause this pressure. The muscles and ligaments in your back have to work hard to keep you balanced when you slouch. Overworking these muscles can lead to aches and middle back pain. 2.

How to treat a back pain in the middle of the back?

Because back pain is fairly common, most people first attempt to treat it at home using simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive treatment methods. If home remedies don’t help your symptoms, medical treatments or surgery may be required.

What is the disc in the spine?

Disks reside between them. The spinal column protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that allows the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. There are a number of ways the bones, muscles, ligaments, and disks in the spine can irritate or injure the nerves, causing back pain.

What happens if you sleep on your back?

If you sleep on your back, you risk misaligning your spine and causing middle back pain. There are some positions you can try to prevent this from occurring. Try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees and sleeping in the fetal position. Adjust your posture.

How to get rid of a swollen back?

This is one of the most common methods that can provide immediate relief. Consider taking over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), to reduce swelling and pain. Stretch and strengthen the back muscles by doing exercises such as yoga.

What is a herniated disk?

A herniated disk occurs when the inner, gel-like core of a disk in your back pushes against the outer ring of cartilage, putting pressure on a nerve. Herniated disks are also commonly called slipped disks or ruptured disks.

How do you know if you have mid back pain?

Some of the most common symptoms of mid back pain include: muscle aches. dull pain. a burning sensation. sharp or stabbing pain. muscle tightness or stiffness. Other more serious symptoms may include: tingling or numbness in the legs, arms, or chest.

Why does my middle back hurt?

Middle back pain is typically brought on due to the natural thinning of the bones, the loss of muscle mass, and a decrease in fluids found between the joints in the spine. This tends to happen after the age of 30 but most commonly after the age of 50.

What is the middle back?

What Is the “Middle Back?”. The middle back is the area below the neck to the bottom of the rib cage, also referred to as the thoracic spine. In this area are several backbones, called vertebrae, that are part of the spinal column. This area protects the spinal cord that allows your brain to communicate through the nerves ...

What causes a strain in the back?

4. Muscle Sprain or Strain. Sprains or strains in the back can happen after a sudden movement that causes pressure on the back. Sprains happen when the ligaments are stretched or torn, while strains occur when muscles and tendons are stretched or torn.

What is back brace?

Back Braces. There are two different types of back braces to choose from depending on what is causing your pain. One option aims to correct the curvature of the spine by straightening it. The other type of back brace assists in stabilizing the core muscles around the spine to promote healing.

How to heal a back muscle?

By massaging and stretching the back muscles, tension can be reduced in the painful areas. This allows for better blood flow and your muscles can heal naturally while you also enjoy improved flexibility.

Why does my middle back feel numb?

This pressure is what causes pain and numbness in the middle back and even the arms and legs. Since the nerve is having such pressure put on it, wherever the nerve travels to can experience a numbness sensation.

What is the best treatment for soft tissue pain?

7. Neuromuscular Therapy. This is a specialized treatment aimed to relieve pain in the soft tissue, which can lead to long-term relief. Neuromuscular therapy balances the nervous system with the muscular and skeletal systems, allowing your body to realign naturally.

What causes pain in the middle of the back?

Middle back pain can range in severity and be explained by a number of things, ranging from tight muscles to cancer. Some of the more frequent causes of pain in the middle of the back are: 1 Weak muscles that hinder movement and do not support the back properly 2 Frequent and incorrect use of knapsacks that are too heavy or weighted improperly 3 Trauma from a fall or car accident 4 Long periods of poor posture 5 Slipped or herniated disks 6 Repeated heavy lifting 7 Injuries due to sports

Why does my middle back hurt?

Some of the more frequent causes of pain in the middle of the back are: Frequent and incorrect use of knapsacks that are too heavy or weighted improperly.

How to stop back pain from lifting?

Try to sit up straight and stretch your shoulders often to keep the muscles in your back loose. Muscle strain: Whether your job involves heavy lifting or you practice weight-lifting in the gym, ensuring you do so using correct form is crucial to preventing middle back pain. The pain experienced in the middle back associated with lifting improperly ...

What is the best treatment for back pain?

Massage therapy: Middle back pain caused by a sports-related injury may be best treated by a registered massage therapist who specializes in back issues. Getting a massage not only helps to reduce stress, but it can relieve muscle tension and strains, aiding in a speedier recovery.

What are the risk factors for middle back pain?

Some risk factors of middle back pain are: Congenital or acquired back problems such as scoliosis and kyphosis. These risk factors may lead to complications such as chronic pain, disability, permanent nerve damage or paralysis, and a reduced quality of life.

What causes a burning sensation in the middle of the back?

Myofascial pain: Fascia is the tissue that connects the muscles, and when strained, it can cause a burning or tingling pain in the middle back. Knotty “trigger points” are also common with myofascial pain and they can be relieved through physical therapy, massage, trigger point therapy, or trigger point injections.

How to prevent vertebral fractures?

Prevent vertebral fractures by eating a calcium rich diet and taking the appropriate medications to help strengthen your bones. Herniated spinal disk: Herniated disks can press on spinal nerves and result in pain in the middle of the back. These bulging disks sometimes require surgery to remove.

What is the pain in the middle of the back?

Middle back pain refers to pain or discomfort in the thoracic spine — the region of the back between the rib cage and the base of the neck. In this region, there are 12 spinal disks, several vertebrae, and many muscles and ligaments. Any of these structures can become irritated or damaged, leading to middle back pain.

Why does my middle back hurt?

Causes of middle back pain. There are many possible causes of middle back pain, ranging from injury to poor posture. Potential causes include: 1. Aging. Share on Pinterest. Back pain is a common experience for many people over the age of 30. Pain in any part of the back becomes more likely as a person ages.

What is a herniated disk in the middle of your back?

The disks are filled with liquid and can rupture or bulge outward. This is known as a herniated disk, slipped disk, or ruptured disk, and it puts pressure on the surrounding nerves. A herniated disk in the middle back does not always cause symptoms, but it may result in pain, tingling, or numbness. 5. Kidney problems.

What is the name of the disease that affects the spine?

Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the back. Over time, it causes the vertebrae to fuse together, which can impact posture and mobility. 3.

What age does back pain occur?

Pain in any part of the back becomes more likely as a person ages. Back pain is typical in people aged 30 to 60, but it can affect people of any age. 2. Arthritis. There are a number of different forms of arthritis, some of which can affect the back.

What is the best treatment for back pain?

Possible medical treatments for middle back pain include: prescription medications, including painkillers, muscle relaxants, or steroid injections. physical therapy, such as exercises and massage.

What causes a fracture in the middle of the back?

Fractured vertebrae. A fracture or broken bone can occur in any of the vertebrae in the middle back as a result of a sports injury, automobile crash, or fall. Extreme deterioration of the spine over time, such as from osteoarthritis, can also cause a fractured vertebra.

Why does my middle back hurt?

This includes spinal arthritis, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and degenerated, ruptured, or herniated discs. Osteoporosis, or thinning bones, can also cause middle back pain.

Why is my middle back not as painful as my lower back?

Middle back pain is not as common as lower back pain because the spine is not as mobile in this section. The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae, discs that separate the bones from each other and absorb shock, and muscles and ligaments that hold the spine together.

How to prevent back pain?

To avoid back pain or to keep it from getting worse, there are some lifestyle changes that you can make: 1 Build strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back exercises condition your muscles to work together while maintaining flexibility in your hips and aligning your pelvis with your back. 2 Exercise. Low-impact activities, such as swimming or walking, increase your endurance and strength. 3 Keep at a healthy weight. Excess weight strains your back muscles, so losing weight can ease this pain. 4 Quit smoking.

How to stop back pain from sitting?

Quit smoking. It is also essential to keep a neutral spine when you are standing, sitting, and lifting. Avoid twisting or straining your back, or slouching.

What are the symptoms of a swollen middle back?

Signs and symptoms of middle back pain include: Pain that is sharp, stabbing, dull, achy, or cramping. Tight or stiff muscles.

Is back pain a risk factor?

Back pain is a widely experienced condition and has a broad range of risk factors. Anyone can experience it, including children, but it’s more common in older populations. Risk factors for middle back pain include:

What is middle back pain?

In middle back pain, you might feel pain or stiffness between your shoulder blades.

How can you prevent middle back pain?

You can follow various measures to prevent middle back pain including: