Back Pain Forum - Thoracic Back Pain: What Worked For You?

Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Thoracic Back Pain: What Worked For You?

What structures make up the spine? We review basic spine anatomy here...before identifying potential causes of back pain....

Q: Thoracic Back Pain: What Worked For You?

asked by: SeekingAnswersInOC on September 7th, 2007

New User

While waiting for replies to my first post (http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic10719 3.html) I thought I would throw out a 'general' thoracic back pain question. Maybe by saying 'thoracic' in the subject line it will get a few responses. It seems that most people have low back pain, followed by cervical. Thoracic pain is less common it seems. That makes getting info & networking with others that have thoracic pain difficult.

So, if YOU have Thoracic back pain, Please tell me what treatments you have had, what worked (if anything) etc. What type of pain you have, what your diagnosis is, if you know, would also be helpful. I am trying to understand Thoracic back pain in general & get ideas of what may help me based on what others have tried etc.

I have also considered using a brace to help support my upper back (limited time periods, I know it can do more harm by weakening muscles) thinking maybe it would help with the pain. The problem is that they are hard to find. Lower back braces are common, but anything for the upper back seems difficult to find. I did find a "posture support" brace, but it hurt my shoulders/arm pits the way it was made/worn. Has anyone tried a brace for the upper back, and if so, did it help, and what one did you use?

Thank You!!

Replies(15)

yogahoneybunny

replied on September 13th, 2007

Supporter

Sorry, but are you male or female? Might help in offering suggestions ...

SeekingAnswersInOC

replied on September 13th, 2007

New User

39 y/o female ('mom' of 3) LOL

yogahoneybunny

replied on September 13th, 2007

Supporter

I just saw a product called the BackPal ... out of the UK I think ... designed for men AND women.

samrella

replied on October 25th, 2007

New User

I have had mid back pain for aprox. 4 months and my doctors don't know what is causing it. They know I have mild scoliosis.Have you had a CT scan or MRI? Is your pain throbbing with your heartbeat? The only thing that helps me is pain meds.I also have a heating pad that vibrates. It seems to release muscle tension. Is the pain chronic?You probably don't sleep through the night like me.
I hope both of us find results
Take care and good luck!
Sandy

mgw1962

replied on November 5th, 2007

New User

Mid-upper Back/chest Pain

I've spent hours on the Web and with doctors looking for answers on what to do about the upper back pain that radiates through to the chest - only on one side - that I've have on and off now for over 20 years, it started after a pneumothorax (lung collapse) on that same side. The pain is constant, worse at night and in the morning, tender to the touch, and at times, consumes the entire left side of my body to where the aching is from shoulder and neck all the way through my hip - but again, only on one side. Any wrong movement of the upper body just aggravates it. I too have a case of very mild scoliosis, am very tall (over 6 feet) and female. The heating pad helps but only temporarily. I tried a chiropractor at the advice of my general physician and that simply made things worse, not to mention, those "adjustments" scared the hell out of me. If anyone has any idea of what this might be, I'm open for answers. Three different doctors can't seem to tell me what's wrong or how to treat it. I'm now trying forums like this one to see if anyone else has something similar and if/how they were able to get rid of it!
MEG

rollar64

replied on November 5th, 2007

Experienced User

Has anyone suggested that your scoliosis is the cause or has something to do with the pain that you are feeling. most doctors seem to think that mild scoliosis is not a problem however people with back pain often have some degree of scoliosis present.

good luck

jrtexas

replied on November 16th, 2007

New User

6 Months After Surgery

Had surgery 4/13/07 for herniated disc at T7-T8. Doctor entered through my back. Symptoms prior to surgery were mid-upper back pain radiating to my left front rib cage. It was so painful I could not sleep. Pain has lessened but still present so had another MRI 3 weeks ago. MRI showed that the herniation was not totally removed and still pressing against nerve. This explains continued pain. Scheduled for injection 12/5. If unsuccessful, then major surgery to follow (front/side entry to access herniation). Not a happy camper!!

lilkimkg

replied on March 5th, 2008

New User

pneumothorax, upper back pain

Have you had a CT scan of your lungs? I don't mean to startle you, but I have had pneumothoraces and was diagnosed with a lung condition called LAM. I have constant upper back pain since my lung collapses about 3 years ago. One relief I have found is lidocaine patches, which need to be prescribed by a doctor but are non-narcotic.

stacy1111

replied on April 10th, 2008

New User

Meg,

In many ways, i know exactly what you’re feeling. I am a 23 year old female suffering from upper thoracic and cervical pain for 9 years. It takes my arms and there are times I cannot move at all. I have had 7 MRI’s, blood work up the "ying yang" and have seen more than 10 different doctors. I am really curious about your chest pain as this seems to be a new symptom for me. I find it hard to take deep breaths. They have not been able to find what’s wrong with me. I hope you are feeling better and they figure out what all that pain can be caused from.
~Stacy

mlisagail

replied on April 6th, 2009

New User

thoracic herniated disc"s"

I hope someone out there can help me! I have three discs in my t spine that are herniated. The pain is so severe that I hardly function. On a good day i can be up for 5 - 6 hours but the pain causes such fatigue I sleep most of the time. My pain is on the right side, I am almost 40, lordy, lordy, and female. One doc says surgery, one says no surgery... pain goes around to front of chest & have severe swelling in chest. unable to wear hardly anything. I called Mayo Clinic. i faxed my reports/dr notes to them and they are referring me to the Barrow Neuro Clinic in Phoenix. In the mean time, ins is about to run out because i will not be able to return to work.... any suggestions out there???

mlisagail

replied on April 6th, 2009

New User

thoracic

test

Bikegirl

replied on April 8th, 2009

New User

Hi,

What worked for me and my thoracic back pain was to get thoracic manual therapy treatments with an advanced manual therapist (PT).

We found out that I had problems with 3 ribs (2 on the left side and 1 on the right). My PT worked on them and I had some stretching exercises to do at home.

I also had problems with muscles in my back (upper and lower) so we are still working on that.

Before getting to the ribs, we had to work on the internal oblique muscle and the diaphragm as they were hypertonic.

Everybody is different and reacts in a different way, only a very good advanced manual therapist or ostheopath can figure out all the articular and muscular problems.

I used to hate PT's with a passion before, since I was seen by at least 10 of them and they all made me worse ...until I met my current one. I took a lot time to find him. I called PT associations to verify credentiels and I spoke with him on the phone prior to dropping 100$ for an evaluation with him. My gut told me he was the one that would help me and it was right.

Good luck to you!
Bikegirl

Bikegirl

replied on April 8th, 2009

New User

Me again,

I forgot to mentionned that I went through all the medical exams: scans, MRI, nuclear medicine, visceral exams etc....

All the docs could tell me was to learn to live with it and get some cortisone shots in the back....YEAH RIGHT!!!!!

After I found a lot of people with the same problem as me, I learned that the cortisone shots were useless for that kind of problem.

So I think it is worth a try with the physiotherapist. You shall feel improvements within the first few treatments. Depending on what you have, it may take longer to completely heal, but improvements should keep on coming at every visit.

In my case, I have been in treatment twice a week for the past 6 months ....and I am almost there...almost!!!!!!!!

Bikegirl

carter

replied on April 9th, 2009

New User

rib pain upper back

I have had this pain for many years,all kind of test,xrays ect.My pain is worse when I sit down and better if I lay on my stomach or stand up. I wear a herina band and it seems to help some.Strong narco does not stop my pain. My doc is now talking abt. a facet inj.& maybe a pinched nerve. I am at he end of my rope. My pain has taken my life over and it also gets worse as the day goes on. I also have chest pains and arm pain,the ris is mostly the right ribs and sometimes into my left.At times even my middle stomach also hurts. What kind of pain is not helped with percodan,morphine,oxycotin no relief at all? I take ativan and after awhile if I get to lying just right I can go to slee. The next morning it starts usually on the right side when I first sit down and continues to get worse as the day goes on I just ask that someone please help me. I guess if I stayed in bed all day I might find alittle more relief but I can't do that nor do I want to. Thanking you in advance.

soonerbelle

replied on September 29th, 2009

New User

I'm a 24 year old female with a hemi-vertebrae at T9 and mild scoliosis. Recently they found that my spine "naturally" fused itself from T7 to T11. EVERYTHING HURTS!!! I've done PT for years and now they have me on 10mg hydrocodone 4 times a day. It barely touches the pain. Not to mention the numbness and tingling in my right arm, hand, leg, and foot. Has anyone encountered "naturally" occuring fusions?!?! I have to give myself a pep talk every morning that I'm not going to allow the pain to control me, I have to control it. Anyone?

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