Notes

Causes
Symptoms
treatment
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UPPER MIDDLE BACK PAIN

Upper middle back pain is one of the common pain for which people self-treat and seek medical care. It occurs below the neck and above the rib cage in the spine. Human body is featured with 12 back bones such as T1 to T12, where 'T' belongs to 'thoracic'.
There are several muscles, disks and bones that can disturb the spine which leads to back pain.
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1 Symptoms
Pain in your upper and middle back may be described as:
Aching
Stiffness
Sharp
Burning
You might have more serious symptoms, too. These can include:
Weakness in your arms or legs
Tingling or numbness in your arms, legs, chest, or belly
Losing control of your bladder or bowels
or. 2 Symptoms of middle back pain
There are several different symptoms that encompass middle back pain. Symptoms will depend on the cause of your 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
chest pain
weakness in the legs or arms
loss of bowel or bladder control
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Causes
There are any number of reasons your upper and middle back can hurt. Strainor injury to the muscles and ligaments that support your spine is sometimes the problem. This can come from overuse.

You might also have poor posture. When you sit, try to keep your shoulders back. When you stand, try to keep your back as straight as possible and your weight evenly placed on your feet.
Other possible causes include:
A pinched nerve. This could happen in your spine near your ribs.
A fractured vertebra
A herniated disc. When the area around the disc is damaged, the cushioning material pushes out between your vertebrae and can press on spinal nerves.
Osteoarthritis. Cartilage that protects your bones might wear down, leading to pain. Bone spurs can press on spinal nerves. This condition can hit many parts of the body, but the spine is among the most commonly affected.
Myofascial pain syndrome. This is an ongoing (or “chronic”) pain disorder. It’s usually triggered after a muscle has contracted over and over. Sometimes, it’s related to your job or a hobby that requires the same repeated motion.
Gallbladder issues. Gallstones can cause pain between your shoulderblades or around your right shoulder.
OR
Causes
What causes middle back pain?
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. Obesity
One meta-analysis of 95 studies on weight and lower back pain also showed a positive correlation between obesity and back pain. When weight increases, so does the risk of back pain.
3. Muscle sprain or strain
Sprains are the tearing or stretching of ligaments. Strains are the tearing or stretching of muscles and tendons. Regularly lifting heavy objects, especially without proper form, can easily cause a person to sprain or strain their back. Sprains and strains can also occur after an awkward, sudden movement.
4. Fall or other injury
The middle back is less likely to experience injury than the cervical spine (neck) and lumbar spine (lower back). This is because it’s more structured and rigid. However, it’s still possible to injure the middle back. These injuries most often occur as the result of:
a hard fall, like down the stairs or from a height
a car accident
blunt force trauma
sports accident
A thoracic spine injury can happen to anyone, but older people are at a higher risk. If you experience back pain after such an incident, contact your doctor immediately.
5. 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.
This pressure on the nerve can result in pain, tingling, or numbness in the middle back and in areas where the affected nerve travels, such as the legs.
6. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease. It occurs when the cartilage covering your joints breaks down, causing bones to rub together. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30 million adults have OA in the United States. It’s a leading cause of disability in adult Americans.
7. Aging
The older a person is, the more likely they are to experience back pain. According to the American Association of Retired Persons, back pain is most likely to occur in 30- to 50-year-olds. The aging process naturally wears on the body, including thinning bones, reduction in muscle mass, and a reduction of fluid between joints in the spine. All these things can cause back pain.
8. Fractures
Vertebrae fractures often occur following trauma, such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury. Fractures are also more likely in people with reduced bone density, such as people with OA.
Fractures can cause severe middle back pain that gets worse if you move. If you’re also experiencing incontinence, tingling, or numbness, your fracture may be impacting the spinal cord as well.
Fractures or bone breaks can be very serious injuries. They often require immediate treatment.
Treatment options may include wearing a brace, going to physical therapy, and possibly surgery.
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Am I Likely to Get Back Pain?
Several factors can increase your chances of having upper and middle back pain. Among them:
Age. Back pain starts for most people in their 30s or 40s, and it’s more common the older you get.
Being out of shape. The stronger the muscles in your back, shoulder, and abdomen, the lower your chance of injury.
Weight. If you carry extra pounds, you put more strain on your back.
Underlying conditions. Diseases such as arthritis and cancer can cause back pain.
Smoking. Smoker’s cough can strain your back. And if you smoke, you may be slower to heal, which can make your back pain last longer.

Or.
When to See a Doctor
If you’re like most people with upper and middle back pain, you’ll be able to manage your symptoms at home. Over-the-counter pain relievers, heat, or ice may be enough to ease your condition.
You should call your doctor, though, if your pain becomes too intense or starts to keep you away from your daily activities.
Certain symptoms require fast attention. They include:

Losing control of your bowels or bladder.
Fever along with pain.
Pain that starts after a fall, an accident, or a sports injury.

2. How is middle back pain diagnosed?
You must visit your doctor to receive a diagnosis for the condition causing your middle back pain. Your doctor may use the following to help them make a diagnosis:
Physical exam
During a physical exam, your doctor will look at your spine, head, pelvis, abdomen, arms, and legs. If you were in an accident, emergency responders may also put a collar around your neck during this exam to stabilize the spine.
Testing
Your doctor will likely run some tests to help them make a diagnosis. These include neurological and imaging tests.
A neurological test will examine the function of the brain and spinal cord. During this test, your doctor may ask you to wiggle your toes or fingers. This can indicate the status of the spinal cord and nerve endings.
Imaging tests produce pictures of the inside of your body. They may reveal fractures, bone degeneration, or other causes of middle back pain. Tests may include:
X-ray
CT scan
MRI scan
ultrasound
These imaging tests will allow your doctor to see any damage to your spine and determine an appropriate course of treatment.