Thoracic Back Pain

There can be many causes for thoracic back pain or pain that originates in the thoracic area and is referred to other parts of the body. Since spinal damage does not always readily indicate a specific problem area, patients can be misdiagnosed or suffer for years before finding the true source of their discomfort. It helps to evaluate a health history, genetic tendencies and lifestyle in addition to pain data when seeking the cause of nonspecific pain.

If a known trauma has been suffered or visible injury, such as a fracture, is sustained, thoracic back pain can be directly traced to a particular vertebra or joint. If the patient is over 40, degeneration of the spine may have set in, suggesting several possible causes, such as a slipped, compressed or ruptured disc. Bone spurs or spinal tumors may irritate the discs or crowd the nerves, creating pain that is chronic until the source is addressed.

Dissecting Thoracic Back Pain

Doctors have many evaluative tools at their disposal. When patients seek a diagnosis, they may encounter:

• Simple questions about a history of back problems in the patient's family
• Assessment of whether pain is dull, localized, shooting or radiating beyond the thoracic area
• Tests, such as X-rays, CT scans or MRIs, to find fractures, spinal deformities or tumors

Diagnosis is every bit as crucial as the course of treatment prescribed. If the pain center is not targeted, surgery or physical therapy will not be effective. The specialists at the Bonati Institute place an emphasis on responsible diagnosis. Their encyclopedic knowledge of pain patterns and thoracic procedures creates highly successful results for sufferers of chronic back pain.