Middle Back Pain in Vacaville CA

Middle back pain in Vacaville CA is a pain or discomfort that can be felt between the upper and lower back. Healthcare professionals would refer to this area as the lower thoracic spine. The upper thoracic spine makes up a portion of the upper back and the lumbar spine makes up part of the lower back.

The middle back consists of the spine, spinal cord, discs, muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels. Mild to serious conditions can cause any structures in the back area to become inflamed or irritated. The common causes of middle back pain include arthritis, muscle strain, poor posture, sports injuries, and car accident injuries. However, middle back pain is not as common as lower back pain because the thoracic spine doesn't move that much compared to the spine in the neck and lower back.

Common symptoms in middle back pain in Vacaville CA

Middle back pain symptoms may depend on the underlying condition, disease, or disorder. If your back pain is due to arthritis, then you will experience joint pain in other parts of the body. A back pain caused by a pinched nerve can lead to a loss of bladder control. There are also instances where back pain is a major symptom of fibromyalgia, which is characterized by fatigue and sleep problems.

The other symptoms that come with middle back pain include the following:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Sleeping problems
• Neck, shoulder, or hip pain
• Redness or swelling of the back
• Morning back stiffness

Serious symptoms that could indicate a life-threatening condition

Some cases of middle back pain may come with symptoms that could indicate a serious life-threatening condition like a heart attack. When this happens, it is best to dial 911 for immediate medical care. The symptoms to watchout for are the following:

• Jaw pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Chest pain, pressure or tightness
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Numbness, paralysis, or weakness in the legs

Risk factors of middle back pain

Anyone can experience middle back pain but there are certain risk factors that makes the occurrence more likely. It can happen at any age and the most common one is between 30 and 50 years of age. The activities of this age group, along with the increasing age of the spine and surrounding tissues are the influential factors in back pain. Risk factors include the following:

• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Poor posture
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Weak abdominal muscles
• Anxiety and stress
• Congenital or acquired back deformities
• Family history of back pain or disease

Fortunately, middle back pain, just like any other type of pain, can be treated with the help traditional and modern treatments. It can vary from person-to-person or on how severe the condition is. For mild to moderate cases, you can always go to a chiropractor like Dr. Alex Tam to seek out the treatment for your middle back pain. Just visit his clinic at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville, CA. You can also call at (707) 474-5688 to setup an appointment as soon as possible.