When it comes to spinal pain, most people think of either neck injuries or issues affecting the low back. However, the admittedly less common condition of upper back pain can be just as devastating as those affecting the cervical or lumbar spine.
In this article, we will review some ailments associated with upper back pain and show how chiropractic care can help you overcome these issues.
Common Upper Back Injuries
Also known as the thoracic spine, the upper back is particularly vulnerable to a few key conditions. Let’s take a look!
Upper Back Injury #1: Radiculopathies
When a nerve is pinched as it exits the spinal cord, this can lead to symptoms in the extremities. For example, the upper portion of the thoracic spine interacts with parts of the hand. Therefore, if one of these nerve roots is inhibited in some way (by a tight muscle or another issue), a patient may experience tingling, numbness, or weakness in his hand or arm.
This condition is known as a radiculopathy. Truthfully, radiculopathies rarely occur in the thoracic spine. They are much more common in the cervical or lumbar spine. That being said, there are instances of thoracic nerves being pinched that can lead to a thoracic radiculopathy.
Upper Back Injury #2: Pulled Muscles
Just like any other area of the body, one can experience pulled muscles in the upper back.
Often, athletes (or generally active individuals) can pull a muscle near the thoracic spine when rotating or lifting heavy weights. For instance, a baseball player may experience some upper back pain when he swings with incorrect form. This can lead to a long, laborious rehabilitation process before they are able to return to their sport.
Upper Back Injury #3: Rib Injuries
The ribs wrap around the trunk, starting in the spine and connecting to the sternum. Interestingly, most of our ribs originate at the thoracic spine.
When we suffer high-energy, traumatic injuries, we can often suffer from broken, bruised, or otherwise injured ribs.
Rib injuries are particularly tricky to deal with, as they are hard to stabilize when compared to an injury such as a broken arm or injured ankle. Often, patients with rib injuries are simply instructed to “take it easy” for a few weeks or months until the issue has resolved.
Upper Back Injury #4: Subluxated Vertebrae
Often, issues in the upper back or upper extremities will be due to subluxated vertebrae. This means that the vertebra has slipped out of its proper position. In minor cases, subluxated vertebrae can be repositioned easily. However, there are serious injuries that can develop due to subluxated vertebrae. For instance, spondylolisthesis is a major medical problem which can compromise the spinal cord.
One of the best ways to correct this issue of subluxations is chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care and Upper Back Pain
Of course, chiropractic care is an excellent solution for issues associated with lower back and neck pain. But, as was hinted at in the previous section, chiropractic care is often the ideal treatment for many cases of upper back pain as well.
Chiropractors examine the entire spine for any imbalances that may be present. If they find subluxations, imbalances, or other issues, they perform targeted treatments, known as manipulations, to correct the problem. Usually, this treatment involves quick, yet gentle pressure on the area in question. Afterward, many patients feel immediate relief which can last for very long periods of time.
Have you been experiencing upper back pain or any associated issues? If you have, you should think about setting up your first appointment with your Plano, TX chiropractor at Keystone Chiropractic. Book your session now!
