Middle back pain with leg symptoms can be a complex and challenging condition to manage. It can be caused by various factors such as muscle strain, degeneration, disc herniation, or even more serious conditions like tumours or infections. We will explore the possible causes of middle back pain with leg symptoms and discuss what you can do to alleviate the discomfort.
Possible Causes of Middle Back Pain
- Muscle strain or overuse
- Thoracic spine degeneration (spondylosis)
- Thoracic disc herniation
- Thoracic myelopathy (stenosis)
- Trauma
- Tumour
- Infection
- Deformity
What You Can Do for Middle Back Pain?
- Try sitting more upright.
- Perform stretching exercises.
- Consider light massage.
- Take over-the-counter medications as needed.
When to See a Doctor?
- If the pain doesn't improve within a few days or becomes unbearable.
- If you experience pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms or neck.
- If you have difficulty walking, including imbalance, gait stiffness, or a wide-based gait.
- If you have bowel or bladder control problems.
Treatment for Middle Back Pain
Your doctor will evaluate your condition and may order imaging tests to determine the best course of treatment. This could include:
- Muscle-stretching exercises
- Thoracic muscle strengthening exercises
- Thoracic epidural steroid injections
- Thoracic spine surgery
Surgical Approaches
- Posterior Approach (Minimally Invasive): This involves making a small incision in the back to access the spine.
- Laminectomy (Decompression): This involves removing part of the lamina, the bony arch that protects the spinal cord.
- Laminectomy (Decompression) and Spinal Instrumentation (Fusion): This combines laminectomy with the placement of screws, rods, or plates to stabilise the spine.
- Microscopic Surgery: This uses a microscope to provide a magnified view of the surgical site for more precise and delicate procedures.
- Three-Dimension (3D) Navigation O-Arm Surgery: This utilises advanced imaging technology to guide the surgeon during the procedure.
- Anterior Approach: This involves making an incision in the chest (thorax) to access the spine from the front.
- Thoracoscopic Surgery (Video-Assisted Thoracic Spine Surgery, VATS) (Minimally Invasive): This involves using a thoracoscope, a thin, lighted tube with a camera, to make a small incision and visualize the surgical site.
- Anterior Thoracic Spine Fusion: This involves fusing two or more vertebrae together to stabilise the spine.
