Middle back pain occurs below the neck and above the bottom of the rib cage, in an area called the thoracic spine. There are 12 back bones — the T1 to T12 vertebrae — located in this area. Disks reside between them.
The spinal column protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that allows the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.
There are a number of ways the bones, muscles, ligaments, and disks in the spine can irritate or injure the nerves, causing back pain.
Symptoms of middle back pain
There are several different symptoms that encompass middle back pain. Symptoms will depend on the cause of your pain. Some of the most common symptoms of mid back pain include:
- muscle aches
- dull pain
- a burning sensation
- sharp or stabbing pain
- muscle tightness or stiffness
Other more serious symptoms may include:
- tingling or numbness in the legs, arms, or chest
- chest pain
- weakness in the legs or arms
- loss of bowel or bladder control