Middle back pain

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Middle & Upper back pain

 

Middle back pain - often refered to as upper back pain or lower neck pain - has become a symbol of our modern lifestyle. All too often, we take little or no exercise during our working week and then indulge in hectic weekend activities - the 'Weekend Warriors' syndrome, or we try digging the entire garden in one go, rather than a little at a time. The results are predictable!

The good news is that the pain can generally be relieved fairly simply. First though, lets take a quick look at the area in question.

The upper or thoracic spine is designed to be very strong and stable to support the weight of the upper body and to provide the space for the heart and lungs to function and to protect them. It comprises the upper portion of the spine that corresponds to the chest area. The upper spine includes twelve vertebrae, the upper nine being attached to a rib on either side of the spine.

Between the vertebrae are discs of cartilage which allow movement in the spine and act as cushions or shock absorbers. The vertebrae are held together and protected by a sheath of muscles and tendons.

The most common cause of upper back pain is straining or bruising of the muscles and tendons or ligaments. This can occur from lack of strength, poor posture, over weight, repetitive activities such as digging, or through trauma - perhaps a sports injury or motoring accident.

Rest is the first step for muscular strain since it is important to avoid activities which could make the condition worse. For this reason it is important to stop lifting and begin treatment which may combine:-

 

• Heat & cold (ice) packs
• Analgesics - usually medically prescribed anti inflamatory drugs
• Physical manipulation - typically osteopathy and chiropracty and/or massage
• Acupuncture
• A specific pain centre may respond to steroidal injections

 

A 'slipped' or herniated disc is another cause of middle back pain. It occurs when one of the discs bulges or partially slips into the spinal column. This can create severe pain, and it can cause a nerve in the spinal column to become pinched. When this happens you may experience pain right across the lower regions, not just in the middle back, but also radiating throughout the lower parts of the body including the hip joints and upper thighs.

 

Not surprisingly, age increases the likelyhood of upper or middle back pain. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints and it can be so severe as to cause nerves to be pinched. The pain may be so severe as to restrict movement.

General wear and tear - not surprising after 40, 50 or more years - can cause the discs to become worn and thin. When this happens, moving can become very painful. Especially for women over 50 who are suffering from upper back pain, a compression fracture of the vertabrae due to osteoporosis should always be considered possible. Osteoporosis is a disease which causes bone density to decrease. This increases the likeliness of bone fracture, even when lifting relatively light household objects. It may be possible to partially re-build bone density with supplements such as Glucosamine Sulphates.

Occasionally, surgery may be required for middle back pain. If non invasive treatment does not improve middle back pain after several weeks, or if the pain and symptoms worsen during that time, your consultant may decide that surgery is necessary. This might be the case if a nerve is pinched, requiring the pressure to be relieved. Fortunately, the majority of middle and upper back pain cases will recover without surgery.

Prevention of middle back pain is better than trying to cure it - something we usually appreciate after the event! Smoking increases your risk of middle back pain just as does lack of regular exercise. Regular exercise will help maintain proper body weight and also keep muscles strong and flexible which will help reduce your risk. Always warm up before sports or other heavy exercise by doing a few muscle stretching exercises.

And remember that good posture should be your way of life. Sitting, standing and lifting with a straight back will greatly reduce your middle back pain risks and if you do suffer then a straight back will speed your recovery.

Lift with your legs, not your back!

 

 

As always, seek medical advice early if your back pain occurs following an accident or if treatment doesn't seem to be working. Don't suffer unneccessary pain - see your doctor!

 

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