What Causes Upper Back Pain?
Among the less common spinal disorders, is the complaint of upper back pain. This condition can cause a lot of discomfort and soreness when it does take place. The most likely cause of pain in this region is myofascial pain, or in common parlance, muscular irritation which can stretch to joint dysfunction as well. An injury to the upper back like a herniated disc or degenerated disc in the area can also cause upper back pain, though this likelihood is significantly less.
Features of the upper back that defy frequent episodes of pain
The thoracic spine, which includes the upper and middle back, differs from the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower back) in form and function and it is important to understand it's working to know why the dysfunction occurs in the upper back. The neck and lower spine give us mobility while the upper spine is designed such that it provides us with strong, stable support to stand upright and also protects the vital organs in the chest and has little movement so usually chances of injury/degeneration due to time are less for the upper back.
The anatomy of the upper back refers to the part of the spinal column that corresponds to the chest. There are twelve vertebrae in the middle of the spine with ribs attached, which make up the thoracic spine and a side view of this section would show it to be slightly concave. Each of these is joined to a rib on either side at every level, meeting in front to attach to the breastbone and creating the thoracic cage, which is a structural protection for the heart, lungs and liver and a cavity for the expansion and contraction of the lungs, when it has to occur.
The nine ribs that are towards the upper back curve around and join in the front of the chest, but because they are strongly attached to the back/spine and also the front/sternum, these ribs can allow only limited movement in the spine. The additional twisting movement from side to side that the body is capable of, is a result of the joints between the bottom thoracic vertebra and the top lumber vertebra and this is the maximum mobility that the upper back is capable of granting the human body.
Occurrence of upper back pain and results of it
As there is very limited mobility granted to the muscles in this region and a great amount of stability to counter this drawback, the upper back or the thoracic spine, is that section which does not develop spinal disorders commonly, be it a herniated disc, spinal steno sis, degenerative disease of the disc or spinal instability; all of which are likely causes for upper back pain, but are exceedingly rare. Due to the stability and considerably limited movement, in most cases it is difficult to validate the anatomic causes of upper back pain as even an MRI scan or a CT scan will rarely show the problem that can get relief of any sort through surgery for the upper back pain.
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