Middle back pain isn’t always indicative of a serious condition, but there can be symptoms that might indicate a visit to a doctor. These include recent physical trauma (falling/getting hurt), persistent or worsening pain, accompanying numbness or weakness, unexplained weight loss, fever, loss of bladder control, or pain that radiates to other areas.
Is your middle back pain more than just an occasional discomfort? Middle back pain is often the result of muscle strain. Many musculoskeletal causes of middle back pain are treated with rest and recovery. However, certain red flags may indicate more serious underlying conditions that require medical attention. Ignoring key warning signs can put you at risk for serious conditions like viral infections, or a chronic neural condition.
It’s important to keep an eye out for these red flags and talk to a medical professional if you are experiencing multiple different symptoms of a severe middle back problem. Here are some warning signs that should prompt you to see a doctor:
Pain Associated with Trauma or Injury
If your middle back pain follows a fall, car accident, or any other significant trauma, it could indicate a fracture or spinal injury – especially if you have a history of fractures. A spinal fracture or other damage to the spine can result in long-term damage to the resulting nerves, and even cause a loss of feeling or mobility in the arms and back.
Adrenaline can delay the onset of severe pain for hours. If you’ve recently been in an accident but felt fine – until you didn’t – then it’s critical that you get yourself checked out. An immediate medical evaluation is always a good idea after a serious fall or injury.
Persistent or Worsening Pain
Back pain that does not improve with rest or gets progressively worse over time may point to something more serious than a muscle strain, such as an infection, tumor, or degenerative disc disease.
Muscle strains can take weeks to heal up, and progress in the first few days can be slow. Differentiating between a strained muscle and nerve pain in the middle back can also be difficult. Generally, if your pain doesn’t seem to improve within two weeks – or gets worse for several days in a row – then visit a doctor. It’s important to rule out other underlying causes for nerve or muscle pain, such as a bulging disc, an infection, or a strange growth near the spine.
Pain Accompanied by Neurological Symptoms
If your middle back pain is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms, this may signal a problem with the spinal cord or nerves, often caused by a herniated or bulging disc or some other form of nerve compression (radiculopathy). Some forms of radiculopathy go away on their own with time – others may require immediate treatment. It’s better to be on the safe side.
Unexplained Weight Loss
Unintentional weight loss along with back pain could be a sign of a serious underlying condition like cancer, infection, or systemic disease (e.g., tuberculosis of the spine). While much, much rarer, and not always a clear sign, the correlation between chronic middle back pain, a significant loss of appetite, or sudden weight loss is worth a visit to the doctor.
Fever or Chills with Back Pain
A fever (and the accompanying chills) generally means that an infection is at play. If your middle back pain is severe and accompanied by a fever or chills, then visit a doctor to rule out a serious spinal infection, such as osteomyelitis.
General muscle pain is a common symptom of other infections, even including a common cold. But sharp back pain alongside fever or chill symptoms is a greater cause for concern.
Radiating Pain
Pain radiating from the middle back to the chest, abdomen, or legs could signal a form of peripheral neuropathy, or in some cases, it could be a sign of other related conditions like an aortic aneurysm.
If your pain is radiating from the middle of the back to other portions of the body, then your doctor may perform imaging tests to check for signs of nerve compression, as well as other indications of related circulatory or organ health problems.
Difficulty Breathing
Severe back pain associated with shortness of breath or difficulty breathing may indicate a problem with the lungs (e.g., pulmonary embolism) or heart (e.g., heart attack), both of which are medical emergencies. Call a doctor immediately.
Middle Back Pain in Individuals with Osteoporosis
If you have osteoporosis, mild back pain could be caused by a compression fracture in the vertebrae, which can worsen if left untreated. Vertebral compression fractures can result in an unstable spine, loss of mobility, and spinal deformation, which can further cause muscle strains and chronic pain.
A doctor can help you ease the discomfort of a compression fracture while reviewing the area to check for signs of further spinal compression. Medication and certain lifestyle changes – especially mineral supplementation and light exercise – can slow or halt bone loss in many cases and improve bone density in some cases.
History of Cancer
If you have a personal or family history of cancer and experience unexplained middle back pain, it could be a sign of metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread to the spine).
It’s important to note that this is rare, and not all forms of back pain should be considered a sign that the cancer is back. However, frequent screening is still recommended to catch recurring forms of cancer as early as possible, especially if you’re experiencing pain with no clear reason.
Chronic, Unresolved Back Pain in Older Adults
In older adults especially, chronic middle back pain could be linked to degenerative conditions such as spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal cord canal), arthritis, or even compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. It’s recommended that older adults have a doctor check out their back pain, especially if it spikes in severity or doesn’t go away.
Conclusion
Middle back pain is often manageable with rest, but recognizing when it signals a more serious issue is crucial for your health. Ignoring red flags such as trauma-related pain, neurological symptoms, or persistent discomfort could lead to long-term complications.
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