Upper back pain can range from uncomfortable and temporary to more severe and long-lasting, depending on the condition or injury causing it. Patients with ongoing back pain may require treatment, which can involve seeing a specialist. Whether the upper back, mid back, or lower back is problematic, a spine specialist will diagnose the cause and start with conservative treatment such as NSAIDS and physical therapy.
Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) provides diagnosis and treatment of brain, spine, and nerve conditions and related pain, including upper back pain, mid back pain, and lower back pain. With a comprehensive care team of surgical and non-surgical specialists, CNSO is a trusted privately owned medical practice in New Jersey for upper back pain treatment as well as all other conditions of the spine. Learn more about the neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, pain management doctors, and physical therapists who diagnose and treat upper back pain.
Understanding Upper Back Pain
The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that help protect the spinal cord. The upper-middle part of the back, known as the thoracic spine, is the longest section of the spine with 12 vertebrae. It helps support the upper body, rib cage, lower back, and pelvis, along with protecting the spinal cord and internal organs. The thoracic spine, or upper back, is more resistant to injuries and pain than other parts of the spine. However, patients can experience upper back pain from various injuries and conditions. These include:
- Poor posture: Having poor posture can cause difficulty sitting up straight, leading to pain, tension, and stiffness in the upper back.
- Back injuries: Injuries to the back such as strains, sprains, fractures, and spine trauma can result in upper back pain.
- Degenerative conditions: Conditions like osteoarthritis and scoliosis lead to the bones in the spine wearing down over time, which can result in upper back pain.
- Disc problems: Disc disorders, like a herniated disc in the thoracic spine, can cause upper back pain if they put pressure on surrounding structures and nerves.
The cause of a patient’s upper back pain may impact their specific symptoms, but patients can experience sharp or burning pain, muscle tension or stiffness, throbbing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness.
Specialists for Upper Back Pain at CNSO
If a patient has ongoing problems with their upper back, it can lead to mobility issues and impact their daily life. It is recommended that patients with chronic upper back pain see a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon, to get a diagnosis and treatment plan and rule out serious conditions. CNSO is New Jersey’s most comprehensive brain and spine center and has the specialists necessary to evaluate, diagnose, and treat upper back pain. These include:
Physiatrists
A physiatrist is a medical specialist who is trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This branch of medicine focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating disabling diseases and injuries, including upper back pain, arthritis, sports injuries, etc. Physiatrists can help patients with upper back pain by providing diagnostic tests and using non-surgical treatment methods to provide pain relief. Treatments that physiatrists may provide for upper back pain treatment include:
- Trigger point injections: This type of injection uses anesthetic medication to relax muscle spasms.
- Medial branch block and RFA: This uses an injection to prove the cause of back pain is facet joint pain. If the diagnostic injection of local anesthetic stops the pain, the treatment of a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to block the nerve causing the pain signals will have long lasting if not permanent prevention.
- Rehabilitation medicine: This treatment helps patients with severe upper back pain increase their movement and function through a variety of physical therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
The physiatrists physicians at CNSO are also fellowship-trained interventional pain management physicians, who work closely with certified physical therapists, to provide the highest quality care that rapidly returns patients back to their lifestyle and preferred activities.
Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are medical specialists who help patients regain movement after an injury or diagnosis of a debilitating condition. They employ a wide range of modalities. Physical therapy techniques for patients with upper back pain can include:
- Massage
- Stretching
- Exercises
- Electrical stimulation
The CNSO physical therapy staff focuses on spine rehabilitation and has vast experience in treating patients with upper back pain.
Neurosurgeons and Orthopedic Spine Surgeons
Patients whose upper back pain is caused by a disc disorder or spine injury may need surgery. Both a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic spine surgeon perform spine surgery if there is a structural abnormality that if reconstructed, will provide pain relief and allow the patient to regain function. Depending on the complexity and length of the surgery, neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons may either perform the case with an assistant or work together on a spine surgery. Procedures may include:
- A discectomy to remove a herniated disc and release pressure that causes pain
- A laminectomy to remove bony arches (laminae) on the spine that can lead to pain and pressure
- A spinal fusion to rebuild unstable or weakened vertebrae or spine joints that cause pain
Whether a patient needs conservative care, steroid injection, or spine surgery, the comprehensive care team at CNSO can provide it. The team includes neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, pain management physicians, physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, and more who collaborate to provide customized care for every patient.
CNSO takes a conservative approach to pain management and treatment throughout a patient’s journey, recommending surgery only if non-surgical treatment methods have not been successful.
Get Upper Back Pain Treatment from the Specialists at CNSO
Patients with upper back pain do not have to live in pain or with restricted mobility — they can access upper back pain treatments from the specialists at CNSO. With locations throughout northern New Jersey, patients can access comprehensive medical care at CNSO, including physical therapy, pain management, and spine surgery. To make an appointment with a specialist for upper back pain treatment, contact CNSO today.
