Mid-Back Pain Clinic

Same-day Diagnosis Near You in New Jersey

The middle back is the least common level of the spine to experience pain. When a condition or injury occurs, however, the resulting discomfort can severely reduce a person’s quality of life. Kurdali Spine & Pain, led by Dr. Basil Kurdali, provides non-surgical middle back pain therapies at locations near you in New Jersey. Patients receive a same-day diagnosis and treatment, helping them get relief without waiting

Key Takeaways

Mid-back pain is pain that originates in the middle back, or thoracic spine.
Common patient complaints include pain around the back, ribcage, or shoulder blades, pain that gets worse when breathing or rotating, tingling sensations, and muscle weakness.
Common causes of mid-back pain include poor posture, muscle strains, arthritis, disc issues, nerve issues, overuse from sports or work, and scoliosis.
Kurdali Spine & Pain provides non-surgical relief for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain with same-day treatment at locations near you in New Jersey.

What Is Mid-Back Pain?

Mid-back pain refers to any pain in the thoracic spine or middle back. The thoracic spine is connected to the ribs and plays an important role in supporting and protecting vital organs. For this reason, it is the most stable section of the spine. The ribs provide structural strength, and the joints are tight enough to limit most movement. As a result, the middle back is less frequently injured than the neck (cervical spine) or lower back (lumbar spine).

The middle back has many interconnected tissues of different types and functions. All of them must work together for the body to stay mobile, stable, and pain-free. Middle back pain could be due to problems affecting any of these tissues, including:

Identifying which tissues are affected is the first step to getting relief.

What Are the Symptoms of Mid-Back Pain?

Mid-back pain is different for every patient. Different conditions are associated with slightly different symptoms, making the patient’s specific pain an important clue for developing a diagnosis. Hallmarks of middle back pain include:

Mild to severe back pain
Pain that gets worse when rotating the back or shoulders
Pain that spreads or travels into the shoulders or arms
Pain that gets worse when taking deep breaths
Muscle weakness in the shoulders or arms
Tingling, pins-and-needles, or numbness in the shoulders or arms
Pain around the ribs or shoulder blades
Stiffness or reduced range of motion in the upper back
Muscle tightness in the shoulders or upper back

Patients should pay close attention to their pain and other symptoms. The more information they can provide about the type of pain and when it occurs, the more easily Dr. Kurdali can identify its cause. Keeping a pain journal can be a useful way of documenting symptoms in detail to assist during the diagnostic process.

What Causes Mid-Back Pain?

The middle back is a complex structure, and pain comes in many forms. Some types of pain are acute, meaning that they occur suddenly and only affect the patient for a short time before going away. Others are chronic and don’t get better for months or even years. Kurdali Spine & Pain provides treatment and management services for both acute and chronic mid-back pain, including:

Poor Posture

Poor posture is the most common cause of mid-back pain. Correct posture keeps the spine in alignment for maximum stability. When a person uses poor posture, especially for prolonged periods, they force their back to support weight while sub-optimally aligned. This creates more stress on the spine than it can handle, resulting in pain.

Muscle Strains

Muscle strains, also called pulled muscles, occur when a muscle or tendon is injured. If the patient overworks their muscle, often while playing a sport or lifting a heavy object, muscle fibers may be stretched or even torn. Alternatively, the tendon may pull away from the bone. This results in irritation, tension, or pain until the muscle fibers can be repaired.

Trauma

Trauma refers to a sudden injury, usually caused by a fall or a direct, forceful blow to the back. Because the thoracic spine is rigid, trauma is most likely to cause muscle or soft tissue bruising. Bone fractures are comparatively rare. The ribcage is connected to the thoracic nerves, so ribcage injuries may also cause referred pain that is felt in the lower back.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries refer to injuries caused by repetitive movements. Instead of happening all at once, like trauma, this type of injury builds up over time. Repeated lifting, twisting, or bending may cause micro-injuries, or tiny amounts of damage that are mostly undetectable. Eventually, large numbers of micro-injuries gradually add up to a pain-causing condition.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative condition that affects joints in the spine. Over a person’s lifetime, everyday wear and tear causes the cartilage to break down. The degenerated cartilage is brittle, rough, and thin in crucial areas within the joint. The thinned cartilage allows bones to rub against one another directly, resulting in bone damage caused by friction, pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Herniated Discs

A herniated disc, also called a slipped or bulging disc, is a spinal disc injury. Spinal discs are pads of rubbery tissue that cushion each level of the spine. If a disc’s tough exterior becomes weakened or torn, its gel center may bulge or leak through the crack. The leaking material irritates nearby tissues, including ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerve roots, causing pain.

Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve)

Thoracic radiculopathy refers to a pinched nerve in the upper back. The nerves relay signals between parts of the body and the spinal cord. When a nerve is pinched or impinged by a herniated disc, inflamed tissue, or bone spur, these signals are interrupted. Severe radiculopathy may even cause permanent nerve damage if not treated.

Spine Deformities

Spine deformities refer to unusual shapes in the spine. There are multiple types of deformity. Scoliosis is when the spine bends or rotates abnormally to the side. It is usually present from birth but gets worse as the patient ages. Kyphosis is when the spine bends too far forward, creating a rounded appearance. It can be congenital or caused by lifelong poor posture.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) refers to a surgery that fails to provide adequate pain relief. Some patients do not experience relief after surgery because of scar tissue, incorrect treatment, or a second spine condition. Others have their pain come back due to continued degeneration or failed hardware. For some, the pain may even get worse after surgery.

When Should I Seek Care for Mid-Back Pain?

Not all mid-back pain is serious. Minor injuries may cause only mild symptoms that get better with home care. If the pain is severe, however, medical treatment might be necessary to get relief. Patients should visit Kurdali Spine & Pain if:

Kurdali Spine & Pain provides advanced, non-surgical therapies to address all types of spine pain, from pulled muscles to chronic pain and arthritis. When patients cannot manage their symptoms alone, we provide significant relief.

How Is Mid-Back Pain Diagnosed?

The first step on the journey to relief is diagnosis. Kurdali Spine & Pain performs same-day testing to provide answers as soon as possible. Dr. Basil Kurdali begins with a physical examination to assess the middle back and learn more about the patient’s symptoms. He will review their medical history for previous or existing conditions or surgeries that might be contributing to their pain.

When necessary, Dr. Kurdali follows up with medical imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses strong magnets to create images of soft tissue. X-rays, meanwhile, use high-powered beams to provide a detailed look at bony structures. Both types of imaging are valuable for examining the spine without surgery. Dr. Kurdali also performs nerve evaluations to check for nerve impingement, helping him identify and pinpoint the source of nerve-related symptoms.

What Are Mid-Back Pain Relief Options at Kurdali Spine & Pain?

Once mid-back pain is diagnosed, Kurdali Spine & Pain can apply the appropriate treatment. We take pride in a fast process that does not make patients wait for relief. Instead, we offer same-day care whenever possible to ensure that patients go home with their pain addressed. Non-surgical interventions offered at Kurdali Spine & Pain include:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy uses targeted stretches and exercises to improve strength in the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the spine. Not only does it relieve pain and restore mobility that was affected by a middle back condition, but it also stabilizes the back and reduces the risk of reinjury.

Medications

Medications may help with short-term pain reduction. Dr. Kurdali may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for everyday relief. He may also prescribe steroid medications for more aggressive pain management.

Injections

Injections apply corticosteroid medication directly into the painful area to relieve inflammation and reduce symptoms for months at a time. Kurdali Spine & Pain provides facet joint injections for joint pain and epidural steroid injections (ESIs) for nerve impingement.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses radio waves to create a tiny heat source. This source is used to burn the medial nerve roots, destroying them. This prevents pain signals from transmitting between an injured joint and the brain, providing significant and long-lasting symptom relief.

Why Choose Kurdali Spine & Pain?

Patients looking for fast and effective relief can get it at Kurdali Spine & Pain. Treatments at our office are performed by Dr. Basil Kurdali, a board-certified physician who specializes in pain management. His fellowship training and ‘Most Outstanding Fellow’ award signify his expertise. He is proficient in a wide range of advanced, non-surgical therapies, delivering same-day care to help patients get better as soon as possible.

Kurdali Spine & Pain is the premier choice for patients who wish to avoid surgery. Health, finances, long recoveries, and other factors mean that surgery is not always the preferred option. We do our best to keep patients out of surgery as long as possible, providing relief without an expensive procedure. If surgery is necessary, Dr. Kurdali has a trusted network of specialists he can refer patients to.

Get Mid-Back Pain Relief Near You in New Jersey

Don’t let middle back pain stand between you and your lifestyle. Get relief by visiting Kurdali Spine & Pain. We provide a full range of non-surgical relief options for neck, back, nerve, muscle, and joint pain, helping patients get back to pain-free living. Contact us to learn more about our treatment options for mid-back pain or to schedule an appointment at one of our locations near you in New Jersey.

Mid-Back Pain FAQ

When is imaging recommended for middle back pain?

Medical imaging is recommended if middle back pain does not change for four to six weeks, or when the patient has symptoms of nerve impingement.

What middle back pain symptoms are considered red flags?

Red flag symptoms are signs of nerve impingement or radiculopathy. They include pain that radiates through the chest, burning or tingling sensations, numbness, and muscle weakness.

How do you tell if mid-back pain is from spine- or rib-related injury?

Generally, mid-back pain from the spine is a deep, radiating pain that may cause tingling or numbness, whereas pain from a rib injury is often sharp, localized pain that may worsen with deep breaths, coughing, or twisting.