Conditions by region
Mid-Back (Thoracic) Conditions
The thoracic spine runs from the base of the neck to the bottom of the ribcage. The ribs brace it, so it is the stiffest part of the spine and disc problems are less common here. Pain in this region is more often driven by a fracture, a rib joint, posture, or something outside the spine entirely.
5 guides in this section.
Mid-Back (Thoracic) condition guides
Thoracic Back Pain
Pain in the mid-back region between the shoulder blades and the bottom of the rib cage, most often mechanical but requiring careful screening for serious causes.
Thoracic Disc Herniation
A herniated disc in the mid-back (thoracic spine) that can press against the spinal cord, causing pain, leg weakness, or (in severe cases) bowel and bladder changes.
Thoracic Myelopathy
Compression of the spinal cord in the mid-back (T1–T12) that causes progressive leg weakness, balance problems, and in advanced cases bowel or bladder dysfunction.
Thoracic Radiculopathy
Irritation or compression of a mid-back nerve root that sends band-like pain wrapping around the chest or abdomen, often mistaken for shingles or a heart problem.
Thoracic Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal in the mid-back that compresses the spinal cord, causing progressive leg weakness, balance problems, and sometimes bowel or bladder dysfunction.
This article is general education, not medical advice. It cannot account for your history, imaging, or examination — talk to a qualified clinician about your own care.