Upper and middle back strain

Upper and middle back pain is pain that occurs anywhere from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage. Your ribs attach to the sternum and attach to and wrap around your back. If a nerve in this area is pinched, irritated, or injured, you may also feel pain in other places where the nerve travels. For example, you may have pain in your arms, legs, chest, and belly.

The upper and middle back is called the thoracic spine. Back pain in this area is less common than low back or neck pain. That's because the bones in the upper and middle back don't move as much as the lower back or neck bones.

Upper and middle back pain may feel like a dull, burning, or sharp pain or muscle tightness or stiffness. These symptoms may:

• Be felt at a single point or over a broad area.
• Start suddenly or slowly get worse.
• Be constant or come and go.
• Get worse when you do certain activities or move and sit in a certain way.

More serious symptoms that need to be treated right away include:

• Weakness in your arms or legs.
• Numbness or tingling in your arms, legs, chest, or belly.
• Loss of bowel or bladder control.

In most cases, people with mild to moderate back pain can manage their symptoms with:

• Over-the-counter pain medicines. These include acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and NSAIDs (such as Advil, Aleve, or Motrin). NSAIDs are also available in a cream that you rub over the sore area.
• Heat or ice.
• Exercise.
• Manual therapy, such as massage, mobilization, or spinal manipulation.

If your pain gets worse and you're having a hard time doing your daily activities, talk to your doctor.

Surgery is seldom used to treat upper and middle back pain.

• Try to stay as active as you can, but stop or reduce any activity that causes pain.
• You can try using heat or ice to see if it helps.
  • Try using a heating pad on a low or medium setting for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Try a warm shower in place of one session with the heating pad. You can also buy single-use heat wraps that last up to 8 hours.
  • You can also try an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Try to find a comfortable sleeping position.
  • Instead of your regular pillow, you can try a special neck pillow or a rolled-up towel under your neck.
  • Try lying on your side with a pillow between your legs. Or lie on your back with a pillow under your knees.
• Return to your usual level of activity slowly.