Treatment for Mid Back Pain

Having mid back (or thoracic spine) pain is a common condition that may also feel like discomfort, tightness or tension in the middle of your back. The thoracic spine has a much lower range of motion than the upper or lower back, which means it’s much less prone to injury than those areas. However, thoracic pain can still occur due to poor posture, overuse, or trauma to the area.

The main functions of the thoracic spine are to provide stability, protect the spinal cord and provide an attachment point for the ribs and various muscle groups.

What causes mid back pain?

Lifestyle factors:

These include poor posture, obesity, inactivity and smoking, which are all predisposing factors. Unfortunately, we can’t avoid ageing, which is both a predisposing and a causative factor.

Strain and sprain:

Caused by sudden, jerky movement such as a sports injury or improperly lifting something heavy can lead to stretching or tearing the muscles, ligaments or tendons, leading to mid back pain.

Injuries:

 car accidents falls, and sports can trigger mid-back pain. Although it’s relatively uncommon, pain in this area of the thoracic spine or mid back can be caused by inflammation of the costovertebral joints (the joint formed by the rib attaching to the spine), resulting in intense pain. Once diagnosed, it is effectively treated with acupuncture.

Bulging or Herniated discs:

Even more unusual is intense mid back pain caused by a disc bulge. If the spinal discs in the thoracic spine become compressed, ruptured or bulged, the pressure on the nerves can cause severe middle back pain. This can be treated in the clinic and will almost certainly include acupuncture to reduce local, protective muscle spasms and inflammation, plus very gentle spinal mobilisations. Occasionally it will be necessary for us to refer you back to your GP or consultant for reassessment with a view to you receiving a local injection of a steroid which your GP or consultant will do.

Osteoarthritis:

With ageing and repetitive activity, the cartilage covering the spinal joints degrades, leading to the space between the joints narrowing and their surfaces roughening. This can lead to the bones rubbing together to produce pain in the middle back. This can be helped with a combination of ‘hands-on’ treatment and acupuncture.

If you need further information, advice or reassurance, call the clinic on 07810 770347.

If you want to be seen straight away, book in online or call the number above if you prefer.

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What are the Symptoms of mid back pain?

The pain people experience in their middle back can be characterised in various ways, including tenderness, tightness or stiffness. Patients also describe their pain as dull, sharp or stabbing and can be accompanied by a burning sensation in the middle back.

Additional side effects that sometimes accompany middle back pain include:

• Muscle aches
• Pain radiating to other areas of your body, such as the shoulders, neck or hips
• Numbness or tingling in the chest
• Chest pain

Chest pain is most frequently the result of rib problems – your ribs attach to your spine at the back and in the front at your sternum or chest – rather like a bucket handle. Where there are symptoms of chest pain, we will always refer you back to your GP to make 100% sure that there is no other underlying condition.

Treatment options for Mid Back Pain

Osteopathy is a holistic healthcare approach that can be really helpful for mid back pain. Experienced osteopaths can use hands-on techniques to provide targeted relief and address the underlying causes of your pain. We understand that pain can come from different things like bad posture, muscle imbalances, joint stiffness, or even stress. By using gentle manipulation, stretching, and working on the soft tissues, osteopaths can ease tension, reduce inflammation, and improve the movement and alignment of your spine. We may also advise you on how to improve your posture, set up your workspace ergonomically, and suggest exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your mid back.

Acupuncture offers a safe and non-invasive approach to treating mid back pain. It can be used as a standalone therapy or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for mid back pain, providing relief and promoting your body’s self-healing mechanisms. Acupuncture helps by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals, and reducing inflammation. This can decrease pain, improve muscle relaxation, and increase blood circulation to the affected area.

Other treatment options include massage therapy such as deep tissue massage, and physiotherapy for regaining mobility and improving posture. 

There are a variety of ways we can help your mid back pain. It all starts with listening carefully and examining thoroughly, which leads to producing an individualised treatment plan.

We take the time to sit down and explain everything to you – the cause of your symptoms, what we can do to help you, how long it will take and how much it will cost. Once you are happy to proceed, then we will begin your treatment and give you your homework.

As a short-term measure to get some relief, you can consider any of the following (below). If they make your mid back pain worse, stop and seek help. If they do nothing and the pain persists, stop and seek help. If they provide transient relief, consider what else you can do to reduce your symptoms.

 Keep moving if you sit or bend forward a lot at work

• Foam rolling
• Stretches
• Massage
• Yoga classes
• Swimming

When should I worry about mid back pain?

Call your doctor immediately if your middle back pain is accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure in your chest radiating to your arms and shoulders, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and/or vomiting.