Thoracic pain has many causes, some simple and some very serious. It can also be a symptom of a disease in an organ that shares the same nerve supply. These include the gall bladder, stomach or be vascular from a major artery. Thoracic pain is also associated with bone diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis. The most common cause however is spinal muscle imbalance.
Thoracic back pain is a common medical complaint, and can be one that reoccurs throughout one's life. However, even though thoracic back pain is such a common ailment it's nowhere near as well studied as neck pain or low back pain. Thoracic back pain is more likely to be due to serious spinal pathology than neck or low back pain. However thoracic back pain can also plague healthy individuals.
Thoracic back pain can be caused but trauma, strain or simply poor posture. Generally, thoracic back pain is caused by muscular irritation or some other soft tissue issue. The causes can also be due to a lack of muscle strength, poor posture, prolonged sitting at a computer or desk, carrying a backpack on a regular basis, repetitive motion, or some form of trauma, such as whiplash.
The thoracic spine is a relatively common area for inflammatory conditions to develop and when they do it can cause significant pain. However, just as often thoracic spine issues do not announce themselves with any discomfort at all. With increased use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) it has been established that as many as 15% of the population have a thoracic disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc. The discovery of these herniated thoracic discs using MRI was often incidental, meaning the condition was discovered while the patient was having the MRI for an unrelated issue. All of these people with slipped discs they were unaware of are potential candidates for thoracic spine problems.
Thoracic spine problems usually affect people between the ages of 40 and 60 years old, but can occasionally affect people a lot younger.
Thoracic Spine Pain Solutions
A Full investigation by a health professional with examination and imaging such as X-Ray, CAT scans and MR’s. If the cause turns out to be muscle imbalance then a reflex stimulating orthotic may be appropriate.