Mid Back Pain Treatment in NJ & NY
You are three hours into your desk shift when a burning knot between your shoulder blades forces you to stand up and pace. Stretching gives you 10 minutes of relief before the ache locks back in. Metro Pain Centers identifies the thoracic structure behind that relentless mid back pain so you stop white-knuckling your way through the workday.
Understanding Mid Back Pain at Metro Pain Centers
Mid back pain refers to discomfort originating in the thoracic spine, the twelve vertebrae between the base of the neck and the bottom of the rib cage, an area that provides structural support for the rib cage and protects the organs of the chest cavity while permitting controlled rotational and flexion movement.
Costovertebral joint dysfunction, the impaired movement or inflammation at the joints where each rib attaches to a thoracic vertebra, is a frequently missed source of mid back pain. Metro Pain Centers evaluates costovertebral joint mechanics as part of every thoracic spine examination because these joints are a pain generator in up to 20 percent of mid back cases.
The thoracic spine is more rigid than the lumbar or cervical regions because the ribs limit its range of motion. This structural stability means thoracic pain is less common than low back pain, but more difficult to diagnose when it occurs.
Metro Pain Centers approaches mid back pain differently than most practices. Our specialists recognize that the thoracic spine interacts with the ribs, the shoulder girdle, and the cervical spine above it, so pain in one area often reflects dysfunction in another.
Understanding Your Condition
Our board-certified physicians use advanced diagnostic techniques to accurately identify the source of your pain, ensuring you receive the most effective treatment.
Symptoms of Mid Back Pain
A deep, burning ache between the shoulder blades that worsens with prolonged sitting or computer work is the most common presentation. Metro Pain Centers evaluates whether this pattern stems from muscular fatigue, facet irritation, or costovertebral joint dysfunction.
Sharp pain with deep breathing or twisting may indicate a rib joint or costovertebral problem. Our physicians test these movements during the physical examination to determine whether the thoracic cage is contributing to your pain.
Stiffness and reduced rotation in the mid back that worsens after inactivity suggest degenerative changes at the T6-T9 thoracic levels. Metro Pain Centers uses segmental mobility testing to identify which vertebral levels are restricted.
Referred pain into the chest wall, flanks, or upper abdomen can mimic cardiac or gastrointestinal conditions. Our specialists rule out visceral causes before attributing symptoms to the thoracic spine.
What Causes Mid Back Pain
Poor posture and prolonged forward head positioning place excessive strain on the thoracic extensor muscles. Metro Pain Centers sees this pattern most frequently in patients who work at desks, drive long distances, or spend hours on mobile devices.
Thoracic disc herniations are rare compared to lumbar herniations but can produce significant pain and neurological symptoms. Herniations at the T8-T10 levels may cause band-like pain around the trunk that patients describe as a tight belt.
Costovertebral joint inflammation from repetitive rotation, such as in golf or tennis, creates localized pain near the spine that worsens with breathing. Our pain management physicians use targeted diagnostic injections to confirm this specific source.
Osteoporotic compression fractures in the thoracic vertebrae are a common cause of sudden mid back pain in older adults. Metro Pain Centers uses X-ray and MRI to identify fractures that may benefit from vertebral augmentation procedures.
How Metro Pain Centers Diagnoses Mid Back Pain
Physical examination focuses on thoracic segmental mobility, rib excursion during breathing, and palpation of the paraspinal muscles and costovertebral joints. Our board-certified pain specialists isolate the symptomatic level before any imaging is ordered.
Thoracic MRI identifies disc herniations, compression fractures, and ligament abnormalities that plain X-rays cannot detect. Metro Pain Centers orders MRI when neurological symptoms or fracture risk factors are present.
Diagnostic costovertebral joint injections confirm whether a specific rib attachment is the pain generator. This fluoroscopy-guided procedure delivers local anesthetic directly to the suspected joint, providing immediate diagnostic clarity.
Thoracic medial branch blocks test whether the facet joints at a specific vertebral level are generating pain. Metro Pain Centers uses these blocks as a prerequisite for radiofrequency ablation at the thoracic level.
Treatment Options for Mid Back Pain at Metro Pain Centers
Thoracic epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation around irritated nerve roots in the mid back. Metro Pain Centers performs these under fluoroscopic guidance to target the T6-T10 levels where most thoracic pathology occurs.
Radiofrequency ablation of the thoracic medial branch nerves provides months of relief for patients with confirmed facet-mediated mid back pain. This outpatient procedure takes less than an hour with minimal recovery time.
Interventional pain management at Metro Pain Centers includes trigger point injections for myofascial mid back pain and intercostal nerve blocks for rib-related discomfort. Each approach targets a different pain generator.
Physical therapy emphasizes thoracic mobility, postural correction, and scapular stabilization exercises. PRP therapy supports tissue healing in degenerative disc or ligament injuries. Our team designs each program to complement your interventional treatment.
Schedule an appointment to explore your mid back pain treatment options.
Your Mid Back Pain Specialists at Metro Pain Centers
EXPERIENCE
Led by Dr. Rahul Sood
Led by Dr. Rahul Sood, Chairman of Anesthesiology at New Bridge Medical Centers, Metro Pain Centers delivers care in English, Spanish, Punjabi, and Hindi at all 12 locations.
Our physicians hold board certifications in anesthesiology and pain medicine, with training from Mount Sinai, Rutgers, and Thomas Jefferson University.
Related Conditions Treated by Metro Pain Centers
Mid back pain shares diagnostic overlap with several conditions our physicians treat. Upper back pain affects the region just above the thoracic spine and often coexists with mid back symptoms.
Back and spine pain provides an overview of spinal conditions across all regions. Scoliosis causes abnormal curvature that places uneven load on thoracic vertebrae and can produce chronic mid back discomfort.
View all conditions we treat at Metro Pain Centers.
Mid Back Pain Treatment at 12 NJ and NY Locations
Is mid back pain serious?
Most mid back pain results from muscular strain or joint dysfunction and responds well to treatment. However, pain accompanied by chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or neurological symptoms requires prompt evaluation at Metro Pain Centers to rule out fractures or disc pathology.
Why does my mid back hurt when I breathe deeply?
Deep breathing expands the rib cage, which moves the costovertebral joints where each rib meets the thoracic spine. Inflammation or dysfunction at these joints produces pain that increases with inhalation. Metro Pain Centers diagnoses this with targeted joint injections.
How is mid back pain treated differently from low back pain?
The thoracic spine has unique anatomy due to rib attachments. Metro Pain Centers uses thoracic-specific injection techniques including costovertebral joint injections and intercostal nerve blocks that are not applicable to the lumbar spine.
Can poor posture cause chronic mid back pain?
Sustained forward posture overloads the thoracic extensor muscles and compresses thoracic discs. Metro Pain Centers combines interventional treatment with posture-focused physical therapy to address both the symptom and the cause.
Does insurance cover mid back pain treatment?
Metro Pain Centers accepts most major insurance plans. Our team verifies your coverage before any procedures are scheduled.
Hear From Our Patients
The doctors actually listen to you and take time to explain everything. I finally found relief after years of back pain.
From my first visit, I felt like they genuinely cared about helping me get better. The staff is wonderful and the treatments changed my life.
After seeing multiple doctors with no improvement, Metro Pain Centers finally gave me a treatment plan that works. I can't recommend them enough.
Get Relief from Mid Back Pain Today
The burning ache between your shoulder blades does not have to be your constant companion. Metro Pain Centers offers the thoracic expertise and interventional precision to end the cycle.