A herniated disc in the upper back can occur when the inner gelatinous material of an intervertebral disc leaks out of the inside of the disc. A thoracic herniated disc can cause upper back pain and other symptoms, such as radiating pain or numbness.
Causes
- Wear and tear in the disc
- Degeneration
- Car accident
- Fall from Height
- Sudden and forceful twist of the mid-back
- Diseases of the thoracic spine
- Trauma to the upper back
- Osteoporosis
- Muscle weakness
Symptoms
- Pain
- Mid back pain
- Band of pain that goes around the front of the chest
- Sensations of pins, needles, and numbness
- Disc material that presses against the spinal cord can also cause changes in bowel and bladder function
- Pain exerted while coughing and sneezing
- Cause pain in the groin or lower limbs and can mimic kidney pain
Treatment
Surgical
- Costotransversectomy
- Transthoracic Decompression
- Video Assisted Thoracoscopy Surgery (VATS)
- Fusion