How to Stop Mid Back Pain Before it Starts
By Sara Butler
Do you suffer from mid back pain? You know, that area between your neck and your lower back? While mid back pain isn’t as common as low back and neck pain, it’s quickly catching up due to lifestyle factors. You may refer to mid back pain as upper back pain too, but whatever you call it, it’s something that needs to be addressed before it gets worse.
The Mid Back – What is it, Exactly?
Let’s get technical for a just a minute. The mid back is made up of 12 vertebrae, which are the small bones that make up your spine. These are called the thoracic vertebrae. This complex system of bone, discs, muscles, ligaments, and tendons support your body to help you stay upright and move around. Your ribs also attach to these vertebrae, wrapping around to your front where they attach to your breastbone. Aside from support, this whole structure works together to protect your internal organs, which is why this part of the back doesn’t allow for as much twisting or bending as the neck or lower back. This is also why wear and tear problems that impact the discs in the mid back are less common than in other areas of the back.
What Causes Mid Back Pain?
Most of the time, mid back pain is caused by malfunctioning joints or muscle strain in which the vertebrae and the ribs meet. This pain can be caused by:
- Obesity
- Maintaining poor posture
- Sleeping on your stomach
- Lifting too much weight
When the soft tissues that support the mid back are irritated, it can lead to inflammation that irritates nerves in the area. Or, if the joints are experiencing some kind of dysfunction or restriction, that can cause nerve irritation too. When the nerves aren’t able to function properly, then you experience pain and the natural communication within the body is disrupted.
Warning Signs
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you need to get checked out by a chiropractor as soon as possible:
- Problems breathing
- Chest pains when taking a deep breath
- Sensitivity in the ribs
- A tender spot in your chest
- Chest pain when coughing or sneezing
- Pain that radiates from your back to the front
- Restricted range of motion in your torso
- Pain along your ribs
Seeing your chiropractor regularly can help you to avoid mid back pain, as can practicing good posture when you’re at work and home. Talk to your chiropractor about the best practices for keeping this type of pain from striking you.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.