Thoracic Pain Causes

The thoracic spine extends to the upper as well as the middle back. This area fuses with the cervical spine and then goes down to the near bottom of the shoulder blades to about five inches where it then joins the lumbar spine.

The thoracic spine column consists of twelve vertebrae that are known as T1-T12. The thoracic spine is built in a way to provide stability to the back which helps by safeguarding the important organs in the chest and also holding the body upright. The cervical column of the spine is built to provide flexibility and the lumbar column provides power and flexibility to the back that is required to lift heavy objects or to do other strenuous jobs.

SYMPTOMS OF THORACIC PAIN CAUSES

thoracic pain causesOne of the most common underlying thoracic pain causes is the presence of a herniated disc in the thoracic spinal column. This type of upper back pain may just be limited to the upper spinal column or may also continue to the other areas of the spinal column, such as the cervical or lumbar spine. This is type of thoracic pain becomes worse when the patient sneezes or coughs.

Sometimes upper back pain may be quite searing and it may feel like it reflects to the chest or belly. Apart from herniated disc there are other disorders that may lead to thoracic pain like vertebral fractures like osteoporosis, muscular problems and joint dysfunction. Sometimes the patient suffering from upper back pain due to above mentioned reasons may also suffer from sensory disturbances like numbness, complications in balancing and walking, losing control on bladder and bowel moments as well weakness in lower extremity.

CAUSES OF THORACIC BACK PAIN

The causes of upper back pain can be numerous namely:

  • Joint dysfunction
  • Muscular problems
  • Herniated Discs
  • Vertebral Fractures
  • Arthritis
  • Kyphosis
  • Scoliosis