Chiropractic Treatment For Mid Back Pain

Mid back pain isn’t as prevalent as neck pain or lower back pain; however, it has become more prominent in today’s society. The structures of you upper and mid back can become irritated or inflamed in response to a variety of mild to serious conditions.

The mid back is made up of twelve thoracic vertebrae, their interlocking facet joints and discs, along with muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the structure and allow movement. Attached to each vertebra are the ribs. The ribs wrap all the way around your body protecting your vital organs. This rigid cage does not allow your mid back to bend and twist as much as your neck and lower back so we see much less wear and tear type problems in this area.

Causes of Mid Back Pain

Mid back pain has many different causes, such as sports injury, poor posture, arthritis, disease, muscle strain, trauma suffered in a car accident, or can even radiate from neck injuries such as a whiplash injury. Other common causes can include:

• Incomplete rehabilitation of past injuries
• Lack of proper and periodic thoracic spinal alignments
• Presence of thoracic spine subluxations
• Improper lifting techniques
• Auto accidents
• Improper workstation setup
• Poor posture
• Prolonged sitting
• Prolonged use of non-ergonomically designed equipment
• Excessive repetitive torsal motions
• Scoliosis (lateral deviation of the spine)
• Physical inactivity
• Poor diet and nutritional practices
• Smoking

The Chiropractic Solution to Your Mid Back Pain

At Mountain View Pain Center our multidisciplinary team of chiropractor can help ease your pain and cure your mid back disorder. Our chiropractors are specialists in hands-on adjustments to the mid back muscles and upper back muscles, ligaments, and spinal bones. With our expert chiropractic doctors and physiotherapists working together, we will apply the latest techniques and use the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat your condition.

We will not only work hard to relieve your mid-back pain but, we will solve your upper back pains underlying cause. In conjunction with the Chiropractic care your receive  our massage therapists  will work hard to help relieve muscle spasms and fix any soft tissue damage that has occurred. We will also work with you to improve your exercise habits and return you to a pain-free active lifestyle.

If you experience pain in the mid back or upper back region, or suffer from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, call the specialists at Mountain View Pain Center. Our offices are state-of-the-art facilities with cutting-edge technology. You won’t need an outside referral to visit with any of our wonderful healthcare practitioners. We relieve your pain and cure its cause, all within the comfort and relaxation of our upscale offices. Call or email us today to make an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you today.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a pain syndrome that often affects the upper limbs.  There is usually sharp, burning or stabbing pain in side of the neck, the chest area below the collarbone, the upper back, or in the shoulder blade region.  Oftentimes people will also experience a loss of sensation or numbness and tingling in the arms, and hands.  There can also be accompanied muscle weakness in the arm and hands.  Some people who are more prone to developing TOS are people who have bad posture at a computer for extended period of time, athletes who frequently raise their arms above their heads, and those suffering neck injuries in auto accidents.

Types of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

There are 3 different types of TOS.

1) The first type is called Neurogenic TOS, which is usually caused by compression on nerves running between the neck region and shoulder region called the brachial plexus.  When these nerves are compressed, they will not send the necessary signals they are supposed to.  This can lead to a loss of muscle function as well as a feeling of numbness and tingling along the nerves path.  Tight muscles or muscles in spasm can cause compression on the nerve bundle as can structural abnormalities such as cervical ribs or first rib dysfunction.  Neurogenic TOS is the most common type of TOS.

2) The second type of TOS is called Arterial TOS, which is due to compression of the Subclavian Artery.

3) Venous TOS is the third type and is caused by compression of the Subclavian Vein.

If you are experiencing symptoms that may be similar to TOS, it is important to get those diagnosed by a healthcare professional.  Diagnosis is made after a complete history and examination including any relevant testing that may need to be performed.  Special orthopedic testing may be performed, X-ray evaluation and in some rare instances, referral for MRI.  Typically TOS will respond favorably to conservative care.

Chiropractic Treatment For TOS

At Mountain View Pain Center, our doctors will typically treat a patient using soft tissue techniques such as Graston, or massage therapy to help relax any tightened tissues.  Manipulative techniques to correct any structural abnormalities will also be used.  Physical therapy to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weak muscles will also be a key component of treatment.  In some extreme cases of TOS, surgery may be warranted to decompress any constricted structures, but surgery is the last resort should conservative care not relieve you of your symptoms.  If you think that TOS may be a condition you are suffering from, don’t hesitate to contact one of the chiropractors at Mountain View Pain Center in Centennial, Aurora, or Littleton.