Doctors often call upper back pain thoracic spine pain or TSP. Common causes include the following:
Muscle deconditioning and poor posture
Poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle can cause muscles in the back to weaken or decondition.
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For example, slouching in a chair over a desk may cause a gradual loss of strength in the upper back muscles and increase the likelihood of strains. Over time, poor posture can also increase the curvature of the thoracic spine – leading to pain.
Muscle overuse
Overusing back muscles is another common cause of upper back pain.
Common causes of muscle overuse in the upper back include:
- throwing movements in sports, such as pitching in baseball
- repetitive lifting with poor form
- repetitive twisting motions in the upper body
Repeating these movements often over time, without giving the body ample time to recover, will gradually weaken the muscles and can eventually lead to :
- muscle strain
- tightness
- irritation
Traumatic injury
A traumatic injury can also lead to back pain. This may be the result of situations that include:
- car accidents
- slipping and falling
- work-related accidents
- lifting incorrectly
- working out too hard
The injury is sometimes obvious, and the pain appears just after the incident. At other times, the pain may not develop until later or the next day.
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Traumatic injuries can be severe, and issues from injuries, for example, fractured vertebrae, put a person at risk of lasting complications, including chronic pain, nerve damage, and paralysis.
Herniated disc
Herniated discs are more common in the lower back but may sometimes happen in the upper back, too.
Discs are the soft, rubbery cushions between each vertebra. Herniated discs occur when a piece of this cushion pokes through and puts pressure on the spine.
Even a small amount of pressure can result in significant pain in the middle of the back, as well as other symptoms, including numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.
Pinched nerve
A herniated disc can slip far enough out to compress a nearby nerve. A pinched nerve in the middle back may cause:
- numbness and pain in the arms or legs
- problems with controlling urination
- weakness or loss of control in the legs
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. This curvature can stretch and irritate nerves, and alter spinal disc placement. Both of these can cause pain in the area where curvature is most pronounced.
Osteoarthritis
The source of back pain is sometimes not the muscles but a problem in the bones and joints.
The cartilage that cushions and protects the bones may wear down as a person ages. The term for this is osteoarthritis. It is the most common form of arthritis among older adults.
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Osteoarthritis may eventually lead to cartilage between the bones completely wearing away, causing the bones to rub together. This can also put pressure on the nerves in the spine, causing numbness or tingling in the arms and legs.
Learn more about the different types of arthritis in our dedicated content hub.
Myofascial pain
Pain may also stem from problems in the connective tissue in the back, which doctors call the fascia. Myofascial pain may begin after an injury or overuse, but chronic myofascial pain may last long after the initial injury.
Spinal infection
Rarely, an infection may be the cause of upper back pain. A spinal epidural abscess is a collection of germs and pus that form between the spinal cord and bones of the spine.
The abscess can grow and swell, leading to pain. Early diagnosis is critical, and doctors will treat a spinal abscess quickly to avoid serious complications.
Lung cancer
In rare cases, back pain can occur when cancerous cells proliferate in the spine. This can occur in many different types of cancer, including breast and lung cancer.
Tumors between the vertebrae can compress spinal nerves and disrupt disc placement.
Learn more in our dedicated cancer hub.
Fibromyalgia
Fibomyalgia is a chronic condition that can cause widespread pain and sensitivity in the body. THe condition can affect any part of the body can can cause throbbing, aching, or burning pain sensations.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY
