Each day can feel like a battle when you live with chronic pain, and severe thoracic back pain is no exception. Many patients become desperate for any amount of relief after months or even years of suffering.
Thankfully, there is hope. Several advanced treatments are growing in popularity because of their rate of effectiveness in reducing or even eliminating chronic pain for many patients. Let’s take a look at what the latest developments are in treating severe thoracic back pain.
What Is Thoracic Back Pain?
Thoracic back pain refers to pain felt in the mid and upper back region, from the base of your neck down to the bottom of your rib cage. The thoracic spine encompasses 12 vertebrae in the mid and upper back region. Thoracic back pain extends from the base of your neck down to the bottom of your rib cage.Â
Unlike lower back pain, which is often related to issues like disc degeneration or herniation, thoracic back pain is typically caused by muscular irritation or joint dysfunction.
It’s important to differentiate thoracic back pain from other types of back pain because separate areas of the spine have different functions, mobility levels, and potential issues. Understanding the specific details of the cause of your pain can help guide treatment and management strategies effectively.
Symptoms of Severe Thoracic Back Pain
Common symptoms of severe thoracic back pain include a sharp or burning pain in the center of the back, stiffness or tension in the upper body, and limited range of motion. You may also experience radiating pain that spreads to your chest, arms, or abdomen.
When your daily activities become significantly impacted due to your pain level or if you start to experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your limbs, it may indicate that your thoracic back pain has become severe and requires immediate attention.
Diagnosis of Severe Thoracic Back Pain
Diagnosing severe thoracic back pain involves a comprehensive assessment by a medical professional. This often includes a thorough medical history, a physical examination, and possibly diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans.
These tests help to pinpoint any structural issues in the spine that could be causing your pain, while the physical exam assesses your mobility, flexibility, and the severity of your symptoms.
Treatment Options for Severe Thoracic Back Pain
There are several treatment options available for severe thoracic back pain. Medical treatments often include medications for pain relief, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants. In some cases, surgery might be recommended if there’s a specific structural issue causing the pain.
The big news for severe thoracic back pain sufferers, however, is related to minimally invasive treatments that have proven to be consistently effective for a majority of patients. These advanced medical therapies include:
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block is an injection of medication that numbs or blocks the nerves that are causing the pain. There are different types of nerve blocks that can be used for thoracic back pain such as facet joint blocks and intercostal nerve blocks.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are knots in muscles that can cause pain and referred pain, which is pain that is felt in a different area of the body than the trigger point itself. Trigger point injections involve injecting a local anesthetic or numbing medication into the trigger point. This can quickly help to relieve the pain and stiffness caused by the trigger point.
Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections are a type of medication that reduces inflammation. Inflammation is a common cause of pain and stiffness in the back. Corticosteroid injections can be injected into the epidural space, which is the area around the spinal cord, or into the facet joints, which are the joints between the vertebrae in the spine.
Radiofrequency Ablations (RFA)
RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to destroy nerve tissue. The heat is created by a thin needle that is inserted into the nerve.
RFA is typically used to treat pain caused by facet joints, which are the joints between the vertebrae in the spine. Facet joints can become inflamed or injured, which can cause pain. RFA can help to reduce pain by destroying the nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. RFA is a safe and effective procedure for treating severe thoracic back pain. Many patients receive extended relief from RFA treatments; however, it is not a cure and may need to be repeated.
Living With Chronic Thoracic Back Pain
Living with chronic thoracic back pain can be challenging, but it’s essential to remember that there are strategies to help manage your pain. This includes staying active, practicing stress management techniques, and maintaining a positive attitude.
Ensuring good mental health is as important as managing physical pain. Accessing resources such as support groups, counseling services, or educational materials can provide additional help and reassurance.
Treat Severe Thoracic Back Pain With HPM
At HPM, we understand the challenges of living with chronic pain and offer advanced medical treatments to help manage your condition. Our qualified specialists have extensive experience in treating a wide range of painful conditions, including severe thoracic back pain.
We operate pain clinics throughout the rural U.S. in a growing number of states. Don’t let thoracic back pain control your life. Contact us today to find a location near you and embark on your journey toward a more comfortable life.
Each day can feel like a battle when you live with chronic pain, and severe thoracic back pain is no exception. Many patients become desperate for any amount of relief after months or even years of suffering.
Thankfully, there is hope. Several advanced treatments are growing in popularity because of their rate of effectiveness in reducing or even eliminating chronic pain for many patients. Let’s take a look at what the latest developments are in treating severe thoracic back pain.
What Is Thoracic Back Pain?
Thoracic back pain refers to pain felt in the mid and upper back region, from the base of your neck down to the bottom of your rib cage. The thoracic spine encompasses 12 vertebrae in the mid and upper back region. Thoracic back pain extends from the base of your neck down to the bottom of your rib cage.Â
Unlike lower back pain, which is often related to issues like disc degeneration or herniation, thoracic back pain is typically caused by muscular irritation or joint dysfunction.
It’s important to differentiate thoracic back pain from other types of back pain because separate areas of the spine have different functions, mobility levels, and potential issues. Understanding the specific details of the cause of your pain can help guide treatment and management strategies effectively.
Symptoms of Severe Thoracic Back Pain
Common symptoms of severe thoracic back pain include a sharp or burning pain in the center of the back, stiffness or tension in the upper body, and limited range of motion. You may also experience radiating pain that spreads to your chest, arms, or abdomen.
When your daily activities become significantly impacted due to your pain level or if you start to experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your limbs, it may indicate that your thoracic back pain has become severe and requires immediate attention.
Diagnosis of Severe Thoracic Back Pain
Diagnosing severe thoracic back pain involves a comprehensive assessment by a medical professional. This often includes a thorough medical history, a physical examination, and possibly diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans.
These tests help to pinpoint any structural issues in the spine that could be causing your pain, while the physical exam assesses your mobility, flexibility, and the severity of your symptoms.
Treatment Options for Severe Thoracic Back Pain
There are several treatment options available for severe thoracic back pain. Medical treatments often include medications for pain relief, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants. In some cases, surgery might be recommended if there’s a specific structural issue causing the pain.
The big news for severe thoracic back pain sufferers, however, is related to minimally invasive treatments that have proven to be consistently effective for a majority of patients. These advanced medical therapies include:
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block is an injection of medication that numbs or blocks the nerves that are causing the pain. There are different types of nerve blocks that can be used for thoracic back pain such as facet joint blocks and intercostal nerve blocks.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are knots in muscles that can cause pain and referred pain, which is pain that is felt in a different area of the body than the trigger point itself. Trigger point injections involve injecting a local anesthetic or numbing medication into the trigger point. This can quickly help to relieve the pain and stiffness caused by the trigger point.
Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections are a type of medication that reduces inflammation. Inflammation is a common cause of pain and stiffness in the back. Corticosteroid injections can be injected into the epidural space, which is the area around the spinal cord, or into the facet joints, which are the joints between the vertebrae in the spine.
Radiofrequency Ablations (RFA)
RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to destroy nerve tissue. The heat is created by a thin needle that is inserted into the nerve.
RFA is typically used to treat pain caused by facet joints, which are the joints between the vertebrae in the spine. Facet joints can become inflamed or injured, which can cause pain. RFA can help to reduce pain by destroying the nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. RFA is a safe and effective procedure for treating severe thoracic back pain. Many patients receive extended relief from RFA treatments; however, it is not a cure and may need to be repeated.
Living With Chronic Thoracic Back Pain
Living with chronic thoracic back pain can be challenging, but it’s essential to remember that there are strategies to help manage your pain. This includes staying active, practicing stress management techniques, and maintaining a positive attitude.
Ensuring good mental health is as important as managing physical pain. Accessing resources such as support groups, counseling services, or educational materials can provide additional help and reassurance.
Treat Severe Thoracic Back Pain With HPM
At HPM, we understand the challenges of living with chronic pain and offer advanced medical treatments to help manage your condition. Our qualified specialists have extensive experience in treating a wide range of painful conditions, including severe thoracic back pain.
We operate pain clinics throughout the rural U.S. in a growing number of states. Don’t let thoracic back pain control your life. Contact us today to find a location near you and embark on your journey toward a more comfortable life.
