Mid-Back Conditions
Thoracic Sprain/Strain Injury
Degenerative Disc/Joint Disease
Thoracic Sprain/Strain Injury
Sprains and strains to the thoracic region of the back are very common because the upper back supports such a great amount the body’s entire weight and maintains posture and stability while we walk, run, sit, or stand. The upper back muscles are responsible for keeping your body up straight and prevent slouching, from the lower back up to your head. The multitude of small muscles in our back, as well as the ligaments that connect these muscles to our bones, comprise a vast framework of muscles, ligaments, and bones that work together to support the spinal cord and allow for dynamic movements and flexibility. The small sizes of the muscles in the upper back make them vulnerable to injuries, which is another reason why sprains and strains are such a common occurrence. The chiropractors and other recovery specialists at 5280 Cryo can help.
The degree of severity of a strain can be classified into one of three groups:
First Degree Muscle Strain: stretched to a minor degree
Second Degree Muscle Strain: partial tear
Third Degree Muscle Strain: an entire muscle is completely torn
Common Symptoms:
- Spasm, swelling, and loss in range of motion
- Mid-back pain that radiates to neck and back
- Difficulty looking over the shoulder with driving
- Pain when taking a deep breath or coughing
Rib Injury
If you have looked through information on rib pain, you may have found that the condition of rib pain has been given many names: costochondritis, intercostal neuritis, and costotransverse sprain just to mention a few. Rib pain can be intense and very limiting physically.
The name intercostal neuritis, meaning inflammation of the nerve between the ribs, is often used if you have pain radiating along the ribs to the front of the chest. A costotransverse sprain is an injury that people often wake up with and is characterized by sharp, localized pain. Sometimes it is caused by an awkward sleeping position, by turning in bed, or something that happened the day before.
Common Symptoms:
- Sharp, dull, or achy rib pain
- Pain that radiates from back to chest
- Pain increase with deep breath or cough
- Increase in rib pain with rotation
Shoulder Blade Pain
Shoulder blade pain is a common symptom most everyone will experience in their lifetime. Neck, mid back, and shoulder muscles all attach to the scapula or shoulder blade. Chronic poor posture, sitting at a desk too long, or poor form with lifting can lead to a lack of blood supply to these muscles due to chronic muscle tension or spasm. This resulting ischemia (lack of blood flow) leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply) to these muscles. The result is cellular death and injury due to lack of fuel from oxygen.
The result is fibrosis and can result in trigger points that form in your shoulders, neck, upper, or middle back. The likely cause is a postural issue. For example, if you have rounded shoulders from sitting in an office, your back muscles are already overstretched because your shoulders are rounded forwards. When you complete some pull-ups or rows, your muscle will be stretched even further when lowering the weight, then, will forcibly contract when lifting the weight. This over-stretching combined with intense contractions can overstimulate your muscles causing trigger points or muscle knots to form.
Common Symptoms:
- Pain on top or inside of shoulder blade
- Increase in pain with moving the head
- Pain with driving or working on a computer
- Loss in shoulder, neck range of motion
Degenerative Disc/Joint Disease
While not as common as cervical or lumbar degenerative disc disease, thoracic disc disease is still just as painful. Thoracic degenerative disc disease results from wear and tear of the thoracic disc. This wear and tear usually is a process that comes with age. However, it may be initiated by injuries such as falls, motor vehicle accidents or injuries resulting from heavy lifting. The process often starts with minor tears and may progress to spur formation.
Back pain at the level of the disc is the most common symptom. While thoracic degenerative disc disease is considered a normal part of our body’s aging, this disease can also be brought on by genetics, trauma, injury, or illness. It can also cause stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal, over time.
Common Symptoms:
- Many patients with DDD do not exhibit symptoms
- Chronic thoracic pain with or without radiation to the chest/ribs
- Sensory changes such as numbness, tingling
- Muscle spasm and changes in posture in the thoracic area
Myofascial Disorder
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. In myofascial pain syndrome, pressure on sensitive points in your muscles (trigger points) causes pain in seemingly unrelated parts of your body. This is called referred pain.
Myofascial pain syndrome typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. This can be caused by repetitive motions used in jobs or hobbies or by stress-related muscle tension. Myofascial pain and fibromyalgia share some common symptoms such as hyperirritability, but the two conditions are distinct. In fibromyalgia, chronic pain and hyperirritability are pervasive. By contrast, while myofascial pain may affect many parts of the body, it is still limited to trigger points and hot spots of referred pain.
Common Symptoms:
- Deep, aching pain in a muscle
- Pain that can radiate, persist, worsen
- A tender knot in a muscle
- Difficulty sleeping due to pain
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. Scoliosis can be caused by genetic conditions or by mechanical means. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling when severe spinal curves reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.
Children who have mild scoliosis are monitored closely, usually with X-rays, to see if the curve is getting worse. In many cases, minimal treatment is necessary, but chiropractors do offer a unique skill set for such treatments. Non-surgical scoliosis patients can largely limit the progression with at home rehab, focused stretching, chiropractic care, and monitoring loss in the range of motion.
Common Findings:
- Uneven musculature on one side of the spine
- A rib prominence or scapular winging
- Uneven hips, arms or leg lengths
- Loss in thoracic range of motion