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If
you are experiencing pain in the chest and/or mid-back
when taking deep breaths in, there may be misalignment
of the vertebrae in the back. Pain may be dull or
sharp depending on the severity of the sprain. Pain
may be mostly achy, but occasionally sharp in the
mid back and chest region. Pain may radiate from the
breastbone to the side of the rib cage. Pain may radiate
bilaterally in the mid-back. Other symptoms may be
present. Oftentimes, misalignments of the mid back
vertebrae and ribs mimic symptoms of a heart attack,
especially when pain is felt on the left side of the
chest region.
Dr.
Cady is a specialist at diagnosing and treating mid-back
pain. He will evaluate the spinal joints, ribs and
muscles to determine the most effective treatment
for you. We have over 16 years of experience in handling
injuries and pain such as your pain.
Causes:
People are often surprised to learn that ribs can
go out of alignment similar to the vertebrae in your
spine. Ribs attach to the breast bone in the front
of the body, and the spine in the back of the body.
Any location in the body where two bones touch together
is an actual joint. Most joints in the body are treatable
by a chiropractor. Ribs and mid-back vertebrae often
go out of position from over-exertion. Oftentimes,
they are more prevalent at a change in season, such
as spring, when people engage in prolonged gardening.
People often "pill pop" with aspirin or
ibuprofen for mid back pain. Unfortunately, drugs
only cover up the symptoms without addressing the
underlying cause, joint dysfunction in the vertebrae
of the mid back. Back pain is not caused by a lack
of aspirin. In fact, taking medication to ease the
pain can actually make the problem worse. Your body
is sending you pain signals as a reminder not to move
a certain way. If you ignore that mechanism by covering
up the pain with medication, you risk further injury
and damage.
Other common causes of mid back pain are poor posture,
computer work at improperly set up work-station, sports
injuries, low back misalignment, just to name a few.
Treatment:
Dr.
Cady will take a thorough history and perform a physical
exam. Conservative treatment may include spinal manipulation,
massage, electrical stimulation as well as hot and
cold packs. Home care may be recommended such as stretching,
avoiding certain activities, and in some cases, a
rib brace may be prescribed.
Call
us today at 408-739-2273 to make
an appointment.
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