Upper Back Pain Treatment​

Upper back pain can be caused by several reasons, including:

Thoracic disc herniations
Thoracic disc bulges
Degenerative disc disease
Spinal cord impingement
To treat your upper back pain appropriately, it’s important for your Miami doctor to know what is causing it. Your doctor will conduct a full assessment with you at your initial appointment at our Miami offices. In addition to performing tests like x-rays, MRIs and CT scans, your Miami doctor will also discuss your lifestyle habits and your posture.

• Overuse injuries caused by poor workplace ergonomics
• Sports injuries
• Vertebral fractures
• Strain caused by poor posture
• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Nerve compression
• Pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots

Although rare, it is also possible that upper back pain can be caused by gallbladder disease, an infection like meningitis, or even cancer. We will test for these conditions to rule them out before proceeding with our other treatment options.

Upper back pain can be extremely uncomfortable and inhibit daily functions. Upper back muscle pain can cause symptoms of aching and tension. Other patients experience upper middle back pain or upper left back pain, which can radiate to the neck, low back, or cause chest pain. Thoracic herniated disc symptoms are very similar to the common upper back pains.

If you are experiencing middle back pain after a car accident, it may be indicative of a disc bulge or herniation in the thoracic spine. Contact Icon Medical Centers today for a consultation with an accident chiropractor who can diagnose your condition and provide a treatment plan to help you get back to living a pain-free life.

Different treatment plans will be appropriate depending on the cause of your pain. Physical therapy exercises for upper back and neck pain is often incorporated into treatment plans for this condition, and your doctor will refer you to one of the excellent physical therapists of Icon Medical Centers in Miami.

The goal of physical therapy is to strengthen the muscles in the area and help repair them if they are injured. By following your therapist’s instructions, performing your exercises as directed and making the appropriate changes in your lifestyle, you will see a huge improvement in the way you feel – and also decrease your risk of injury in the future.

Other treatment options that have been appropriate for our patients with upper back pain include massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, and electrical muscle stimulation.

Our therapists want to ensure that you remain pain-free even after you’ve completed your treatment at Icon Medical Centers. Our physicians and therapists will often prescribe a home exercise program for our patients to follow at home. The home exercise program may include physical therapy exercises for upper back and neck pain and stretching techniques.

Medications may be a part of your treatment plan as well, particularly if your current level of pain is making it difficult for you to enjoy life or perform your physical therapy program.

Some common medications used in treating back pain include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, COX-2 inhibitors, and muscle relaxants.

Corticosteroids may also be helpful, and these may be injected as well as taken orally. In some cases, a local anesthetic may be injected into trigger points to significantly improve your comfort level.

In some cases, spine surgery may be the most appropriate treatment option for your thoracic spine pain. If this is true in your case, your Miami doctor at Icon Medical Centers will discuss the different surgical options that are available and help you devise a plan for treatment. You may also be referred to a physician who is an expert in ortho spine in Miami.

With the care and support of your team at Icon Medical Centers in Miami, you’ll be back on your feet and living your life to the fullest soon.