Did you know numbness in the middle of the back is one of the commonest signs of spinal issues?
Not only that but any spinal injury also leads to back pain, tingling sensation, and loss of important functions of the affected organ.
However, most commonly, spinal injuries usually take place in the cervical and lumbar back regions. Remember, the more mobile the part is, the greater are the chances of injuries to that part.
The middle back comes under the thoracic part of the spine, lying between the upper and lower back. Any disease or trauma to this spinal part will lead to middle back pain, numbness, and needle-like feeling.
Now let’s discuss the numbness in the middle of the back in a bit more detail.
Causes of Numbness In the Middle of the Back
Before we proceed, let’s first learn about numbness in any part of the body.
So, what is numbness?
In simple words, numbness means feeling nothing. It is as if the affected part does not exist at all. You can’t move, touch, or feel the part that went numb.
Plus, numbness is usually associated with sharp and burning pain. Try to recall the last time your foot or arm went numb.
Now could you move it properly? No!
Did you feel any needle-like perception when you tried scratching the numb part with a nail? Yes?
Well, that was a sharp pain that you felt. And you will only feel it if you have a subjective form of numbness.
Note: In an objective type of numbness, the patient has no sensory perception, unlike the subjective type, in which the patient has some intact sensations.
As we already mentioned, injury to the middle back is less common than upper or lower back injuries.
This is because the mid-back is tough and has less mobility than the other two. Still, there are a few causes leading to middle back pain and numbness.
Nerve Compression is the most common cause of numbness in the middle back.
Note: If there is a nerve compression in the thoracic spine, you will feel numbness in the trunk and leg region only. However, to know about the root cause of your condition it’s always good to consult a doctor.
Pinched Nerves
Before everything, know that the nerves are the most sensitive to compression during spinal injuries.
Now there are many causes resulting in spinal nerve compression;
- A bulging disc, in which the central core pushes against the outer cartilage blocking the nearby nerves.
- Trauma due to back fractures. It is very common in patients with weak bones. For example, in the elderly or osteoarthritic patients. This spinal trauma causes pain and numbness that worsens with movement.
- Car accidents
- Fall injuries
Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis means narrowing of a passage. And as the name suggests, in this condition, there is a narrowing of the spine due to any pathological reason leading to nerve compression.
For example, there may be a bulging disc reducing the spinal space. Or there can be an age-related narrowing of the spinal cord as well.
Hypoxia
It is a condition in which there is a reduced blood supply to the affected part. Let’s learn it an easy way.
All the cells in our body need oxygen to function well. If due to any reason the oxygen supply is depleted, that tissue will stop working fine.
Similarly, our nerve cells need oxygen to carry out their sensory and motor functions. If they are not getting proper oxygen, their performance will be reduced.
In the case of sensory nerve compression, your affected parts will go numb. And if there is motor nerve compression, the affected part will become immovable.
Plus, there will be signs of blue or red discolorations, cold, paleness, and painful sensations as well.
Muscular Injuries
Muscle strain usually causes back pain but can also result in numbness if left untreated. Remember that it’s not very easy to tear the back muscles.
However, sports injuries, car accidents, or heavy lifting can affect these muscles leading to mid-back pain and numbness.
Other Lethal Causes
Some other rare but lethal causes of numbness include cancer and stroke. Sometimes it gets so severe that the patient loses control over the bowel and bladder leading to incontinence.
Diagnosis
There are two common ways following which your doctor will diagnose the cause of numbness.
- Neurologic exam, in which the doctor will ask you to move your toes. If you are not able to move them your sensory nerves might be damaged due to spinal cord injury.
- Imaging tests are commonly performed to rule out fractures, degeneration, and other causes that can be seen via image testing.
It’s important to rightly diagnose the cause of numbness, otherwise, a misdiagnosis can worsen the condition rather than improving it.
Management for Numbness
As with any other pathology, treatments vary even with numbness. Your doctor would know about your management better than anyone.
However, the following are the different numb back therapies your doctor might suggest:
- Physical therapy
- Muscle relaxants
- Pain relievers that will only resolve the associated back pain.
- Back brace to stabilize the spine
- Surgery
FAQs
A bulging or herniated disc, multiple sclerosis, spinal stenosis, and sciatica are a few most common causes resulting in numbness of the back.
If you have back numbness, you are most likely to have a compressed nerve.
Any abnormality in the spine that decreases its spinal space also puts stress on the nearby nerves. And because these nerves supply the extremities, hence you will feel numbness in the lower extremities as well.
Conclusion
So in short, numbness in the middle of the back is mostly associated with pain and tingling. There is hardly any cause of numbness that does not result in back pain.
Plus, the treatments work like magic only if you get it diagnosed as early as possible. So, if you have constant muscle spasms as well as rashes and extreme muscle weakness, we suggest you urgently call a doctor.