Thoracic Nerve Pain

Thoracic Region

• Thoracic nerve pain can occur as a result of sprain or injury to the thoracic area of the spine. This area is located between the base of the neck down to four to five inches below the breastbone. Injury can be present in the muscles, joints or ligaments within the thoracic area of the spine. Muscle cramping and inflammation are the primary mechanisms contributing to the pain that's experienced. This area tends to become more sensitive and injury-prone as a person ages.
  
  

Muscle Cramps

• Thoracic nerve pain injuries usually involve some sort of sprain that causes inflammation in the surrounding tissue. The actual pain experienced happens as a result of signals being sent from the inflamed muscles to the spinal chord. Significant inflammation causes the spinal chord nerves to become sensitized, which results in signals being sent from the spinal chord to the muscles. In effect, this becomes a feedback loop that continues until inflammation subsides. This pain response is a protective mechanism that results in restricted movement, and so prevents further damage from occurring.
  
  

Treatment

• As inflammation is typically the starting point for thoracic nerve pain, treatment approaches work to reduce the inflammation and provide pain relief. Spinal manipulation techniques involve massaging the inflamed area to promote movement and extension of stiffened muscles. Acupuncture treatments apply needles to specific trigger points within the affected area. These trigger points, or meridians, are expected to modulate the pain response by reducing inflammation and eliminating spasms. In cases where thoracic nerve pain is mild or moderate, analgesic medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin may help to reduce pain and inflammation.
  
  

Postural Thoracic Ache

• Individuals who experience back pain after sitting in an uncomfortable chair or sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress may be showing symptoms of postural thoracic ache. This type of pain may result from a preexisting sensitivity within the thoracic area of the spine. Certain receptors--called position and stretch receptors--respond when the spine is placed in an imbalanced position for long periods of time. When sensitized, these receptors send signals to the surrounding muscles that can result in inflammation and muscle spasms. Simple stretching exercises may help in reducing this pain response.
  
  

Considerations

• Individuals who experience persistent thoracic nerve pain for longer than two weeks after a sprain or injury may be suffering the effects of a preexisting injury. This persistent pain is caused by an ongoing sensitization within the thoracic spinal region. This sensitization prompts the surrounding muscles to remain inflamed. As a result, the muscles remain in a contracted state, leading to possible muscle spasms and increased inflammation. There may be an increased susceptibility to further injury when the muscles are in this condition. Individuals should seek medical attention to avoid further damage to the spinal region.