Author: MJT
Managing Your Life With Thoracic Back Pain
Back pain is unfortunately a common disorder with which
thousands of people struggle. The back
is filled with sensitive nerve endings due to the location of the spinal
column, in which millions of impulses travel continually. Stress, over exertion, or weak abdominal
muscles can cause a back injury, as well as diseases such as arthritis or
osteoporosis. Pain can be located in
several different spots on the back; upper, middle, or lower. Thoracic back pain occurs in the upper section
of the back and can cause a great deal of pain, yet there are ways in which
this condition can be helped and relieved.
Understanding And Overcoming Thoracic Back Pain
Thoracic back pain usually occurs within the backbone of a
person in the upper-middle section of the back.
There are 12 vertebrae consider the thoracic vertebrae, and they are
attached to the ribcage. Since these
vertebrae are located higher in the back region, they usually are not a cause
of disc problems, such as prolapsed discs, because they are not supporting much
weight at this location. Most often,
thoracic back pain is caused by a person’s poor posture over a number of
years. Strenuous and extended physical
labor can also contribute to this type of pain, such as heavy lifting.
The pain which occurs in the thoracic vertebrae can often
feel as though it is coming from the chest area as well, since the vertebrae
are attached to the ribs, causing pain to be radiated into the chest
cavity. Often, heart or lung problems
need to be ruled out as a source of pain before diagnosing thoracic back
pain. Other conditions can be related to
thoracic back pain as well, only on a smaller scale. Fibromyalgia can cause pain in the thoracic
vertebrae as well as inflammation. This
disorder affects the nerve impulses in the body and causes a great deal of pain
in joints, ligaments and muscles.
Gastrointestinal disorders, such as gallstones and acute
pancreatitis have been associated with bouts of thoracic back pain, as well as
osteoporosis, herpes zoster, and tuberculosis.
When the pain has been lingering for longer than 3 months, certain tests
are often ordered in order to make a correct diagnosis, such as the ESR and
x-rays. Often drugs are prescribed,
including Celebrex or over-the-counter medications such as naproxen or ibuprofen. With careful attention and professional
medical help, thoracic back pain can be successfully managed over time.
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