Thoracic back pain can be particularly complicated to diagnose given there are more sources of potential pain in the upper back including several muscle groups and internal organs in close proximity, and the ribs connecting at each level of the spine.

For this reason, thoracic back pain specialists use a multifaceted diagnostic approach to identifying the cause. The physician will begin by taking the patient’s medical history including discovering when the symptoms began and for how long they have continued, how the current symptoms feel if the pain is constant or temporary, family health history, and any recent injuries such as a fall that could be responsible for the back pain.

The physician will then conduct a fairly routine physical exam that hyper focuses on the area of pain but checks other areas of the body as well. Sometimes various clinical tests are performed to see if certain movements trigger symptoms. Several diagnostic tests may be performed to identify the source of the back pain including an X-Ray, MRI, bone mineral density exam, and a medical branch nerve block.

Thoracic back pain can be complex in origin and can be the sign of an underlying condition or injury ranging from mild to serious, for this reason, it is imperative to seek medical attention from a thoracic back pain specialist.

The treatment options for thoracic back pain are as varied as the potential causes. In cases where the back pain isn’t indicative of anything, serious patients will sometimes heal on their own without treatment. If there is an underlying cause that cause will need its own treatment. When the pain is emanating from a facet joint, an injection may be made under X-ray vision.

More serious conditions are treated with a variety of surgical procedures ranging from minimally invasive to major invasive surgeries. Whatever the condition, the patient’s physician will work with them to develop a treatment plan that best suits their concerns.

Thoracic back pain is back pain occurring in the thoracic spine which is located between the shoulder blades at the back of the chest. The thorax area extends from the beginning of the lumbar spine, around waist level, and extends to the bottom of the neck.

Thoracic back pain can be caused by many different factors and usually, isn’t cause for concern. However, patients are always best suited to seek professional medical assistance when matters of back or potential spinal health are concerned to rule out anything serious.

There are certain situations in which individuals should seek immediate medical attention when suffering from thoracic back pain: being involved in a serious injury such as a car accident and being under 20 or over 50 years of age when experiencing the pain. Additionally, individuals should seek fast medical attention when pain is accompanied by feeling generally poor, such as a fever or sickness, or when the pain is constant and doesn’t improve or gets worse, or other reasons. It is best to err on the side of caution for these matters, so get medical attention right away.

When non-serious conditions are causing thoracic back pain, relieving tension is the best solution. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, massage, and stretches can all assist with tension relief. Ice or heat therapy can also aid in the reduction of stiffness and muscle pain.

For patients with more serious conditions or for whom these methods of tension relief are ineffective, treatment is available at the Ramos Center for Interventional & Functional Pain Medicine. Reach out to us today through the pages of our website as we are here to help treat your thoracic back pain. We serve patients from Bradenton FL, Sarasota FL, Venice FL, Englewood FL, Palmetto FL, Laurel FL, Memphis FL, Port Charlotte FL, Cortez FL, and Dunedin FL.