Thoracic (upper back) strain
Discomfort or pain in the muscles of the back between the neck and the lumbar area (lower back).
Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this
39 year experience in Internal Medicine
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Preteen 6-13 | Rare | ||||
Teenager 14-18 | Very common | ||||
Young adult 19-40 | Very common | ||||
Middle-aged adult 41-60 | Very common |
Symptoms
Medications
Procedures
Surgery
Other treatments
Related questions
A 29-year old asked:
How effective is physical therapy in helping a thoracic muscle strain on the back?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 40-year old asked:
What is the probability of physical therapy helping a thoracic muscle strain in back?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 39-year old asked:
Can you tell me more about cervical-thoracic-lumbar sprain/strain?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
How can physical therapy help heal a thoracic muscle strain in back?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 26-year old male asked:
Can a back strain cause chest discomfort??
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 25-year old female asked:
Can shoveling snow cause chest and back strains that last for 3 weeks?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
Recurring chest muscle strain keeps coming back. What do you suggest?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old asked:
Remedies for a strain somewhr in the chest/back/rib cage area that caused all the muscles in those areas to contract and diffclty in breathing?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old male asked:
Can 2 chronic issues be connected from separate injuries a yr ago: groin strain(b-ball) & upper back, shoulders & chest from lifting (military press/external shoulder cable rotation)? Nerve related?!
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A female asked:
Having pain in right center breast and top of back had a chest ray good a mamagram good ..could this be a muscle strain?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 24-year old female asked:
I feel a strain at the left side of my chest downward mainly when I sleep on my back. Is that muscular or it is due to ibs? Is it dangerous
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 28-year old male asked:
28. Can a muscle strain or pinched nerve cause pain for months? Took a break from my fitness routine for a month and still feel it in chest/arm/back
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 26-year old male asked:
Is it possible to strain sternum? Have pain when pressing on left side sternum. Had chest X-rays recently and everything is normal. Dr said I have slight scoliosis. I normally crack my back by twisting upper body quickly. If thats relevant
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old male asked:
I occassionally feel like I have a ball stuck that tightens my throat and comes with a strain on my right upper chest or sometimes right upper back.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 19-year old female asked:
Severe chest/rib/back pain brought on after a few attempts at purging. History of behaviors related to anorexia and bulimia. Could it be muscle strain from attempting to purge or something more serious?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 17-year old male asked:
I'm 17 years old and I had a workout this morning that involved some squatting and lifting heavy weights. I'm not sure if I feel chest pain or back pain but its i one spot. In my upper left side. It might be strain but I worry about it being my heart?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 18-year old male asked:
Neck/upper back pain when moving chin to chest(but possible. Is this always dangerous or no different than muscle strain mistaken for serious disease?
1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in
A 24-year old male asked:
Can back pain (the trapezius) make your chest tight and left arm have pain all the way down to ring finger? Also the left ribs feel weird from strain?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old male asked:
I was sitting in my chair and reached back behind me to put my cat, then I got this burning cramp feeling in the left side of my chest around my nipple. Was this muscle strain or heart related? Im 23 and I have no family history of heart attacks?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
Intermittent twinges of chest pain underneath lt breast that radiates through to back in one spot. No shob, sweating, or tachycardia. I moved heavy objects today. Muscle strains or cardiac, logically?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 50-year old female asked:
Strained a muscle between sh. blade and spine 4yrs ago. Have periodic dull chest pain on & off ever since when it's aggravated. Exercise suggestions?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old female asked:
How long does it take to get over a thoracic strain, and is it normal to still be having severe burning pain after almost 5 weeks of injury?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A 24-year old male asked:
Effective stretches for strained pectoral/intercostal muscle? Injury occurred 3+weeks ago. Pain is back after light workout not involving chest.
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old female asked:
Traveling. Sharp upper back and chest discomfort/pressure for 2 days. Strained muscle or worse? Risk of embolism??
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 26-year old female asked:
I have pain one right side of my chest. Closer to the sternum, above the right nipple. It's like there's something tugging at the area. The middle of the upper back feels strained as well. But I have no difficulties breathing?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 40-year old female asked:
For the last few weeks, I have been encountering a dull aching and tender feeling on the left side of my chest. Now, within the past week it feels more intense through my back and upper side. I have a 2 year old 35lb baby. Strained or pulled muscle?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 33-year old female asked:
I have a pain on the left side of my chest that really hurts for a minute when i lay flat on my back.., not sure if it is a strained muscle, but i also have a lump in my armpit that my doctor said was a tendon...Please advise?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 19-year old female asked:
I went to an amusement park 2 days in a row, later that night i started to feel pain in my chest and back im thinking maybe a pulled muscle or strained? its mostly to the right middle of breast, and my body is sore overall. it happened yesterday?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old male asked:
Can a strained muscle in your ribs affect your shoulder and your lower abdomen?was having my friend pop my back and it was about 2 hours after that my chest was feeling tight. also my sternum was sore. I get a weird vibration in my belly when I bend?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 21-year old male asked:
What test is done for a suspected chest wall strain?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Partner With Us
For Organizations
Get the HealthTap app
Video visit and message your doctor
