Homeopathic Medicines for Thoracic Back Pain

Thoracic back pain refers to pain in the upper or middle back in the region of thoracic spine between the bottom of cervical spine (in the neck) and top of lumbar spine (in the lower back). Homeopathic medicines for thoracic back pain are very natural and safe and provide relief without any side effects. Thoracic back pain is not as common as pain in the neck and lower back pain. This pain can arise from various causes that range from mild to serious causes.

Causes

Firstly it can arise from muscle strain, spasm, inflammation or its irritation. The strain may result from many reasons. For example, it may occur from sitting with the shoulders being bent forward for a long time period constantly, sitting for extended time periods at the computer, doing some activity that puts repetitive strain on the thoracic spine causing overuse injury. It may also result from some injury to the spine in the thoracic region as from sport injury, trauma or car accident. Secondly, it can arise from strained ligaments (tough tissue that connects bones to other bones) or tendons (tough tissue band that connects muscle to bone) in the thoracic spine. Other causes behind it are slip disc and thoracic stenosis. Slip disc is a condition in which when the outer ring of the intervertebral disc becomes weak or gets teared resulting in slipping out of the jelly like inner portion of the disc. Thoracic stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canal in the thoracic spine. 

Other causes include spinal osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fracture of vertebra in the thoracic spine, scoliosis and kyphosis. In spinal osteoarthritis the cartilage at the ends of bones in the spinal joints degenerates. Osteoporosis is a medical condition resulting in weak, brittle and fragile bones prone to break easily. Scoliosis is a condition in which there is a sideways curve in a person’s spine. The curve can be S or C in shape. Kyphosis is an excessive convex curvature of the spine in the thoracic and sacral part regions resulting in bending of the spine forward.

A condition called fibromyalgia (a disorder characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain which is accompanied with fatigue, memory issues, sleep disturbances and mood issues) may also lead to it. 

Apart from these it may arise in case of ankylosing spondylitis which is an autoimmune disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the joints of the spine, infection in the spine or spinal tumours. In some cases it may be caused by shingles (an infection in which there occurs a painful skin rash caused by varicella – zoster virus which is the same virus that causes chicken pox). Lastly, there is a possibility that the problem from other parts of the body can radiate to this region. For example it can cause problems affecting the lung, pleura, heart, food pipe, stomach, the gallbladder and the pancreas.

Symptoms

Depending on the cause behind it the pain may be accompanied by some other symptoms also. Firstly, there can occur stiffness in the thoracic back along with pain. Secondly numbness or burning sensation may occur. Pins and needles sensation can be felt. In case of arthritis pain may be present in other body joints also in addition to the middle back pain. Fatigue and fever may also sometimes be present in some of the cases. Lastly, weakness in the legs, loss of control over bowel or bladder may occur from spinal cord compression. 

Homeopathic Medicines for Thoracic Back Pain

Homeopathy offers a very effective management for cases of thoracic back pain. These remedies help in providing gradual relief. The homeopathic medicines target the root cause behind this pain to give best results. It is advised to take any of the homeopathic medicine for this pain under the supervision of a homeopathic physician who will prescribe best medicine after proper case study. The homeopathic medicines are recommended in these cases when the intensity of symptom is mild to moderate and no serious cause is linked with it. But in case the pain is very severe or there is loss of bladder/bowel control or some serious cause is present like gallbladder, lungs, heart then it is strictly advised to take urgent help from conventional mode of treatment.

1. Rhus Tox – Top Grade Remedy 

Rhus Tox is a highly beneficial medicine for managing pain in the thoracic back. Persons needing it have constrictive pain in the muscles of this region. It gets worse while sitting. Bending forward also worsens it. They feel better by bending the back backwards. Sometimes they feel pain in the thoracic back between shoulder blades that gets worse from cold. Warmth helps to relieve this. It is one of the best medicines to manage cases of pain arising from muscle over strain or injury .

2. Calcarea Carb – For Drawing Pain

This medicine is helpful when there is drawing pain in the thoracic back  between the scapula. A pressure sensation may also be felt with this. Cases having stitching pain in this area can also be helped with this. It is also a prominent medicine for cases having curvature of the thoracic spine.

3. Agaricus – For Pain with Sensitivity of Spine to Touch

This medicine is very suitable when a person has pain in thoracic back along with sensitiveness of the spine to touch. In most cases needing it the nature of pain is sharp stitching type like from splinters on the thoracic vertebra. There is also a sensation as if the dorsal muscles are beaten. Bruised sensation is also felt. On bending forward it feels as if the muscles in the thoracic region are short.

4. Kali Carb – Stiffness in Thoracic Region with Pain

Kali Carb is a well indicated medicine when stiffness in the thoracic region accompanies pain. The pain is a dull type where it is required. It is also indicated when there is stinging pain in any of the sides of the thoracic back. 

5. Phosphorus – For Pain with Heated Sensation

It is very effective medicine for cases in which pain is accompanied with heated sensation in the spine. The nature of pain for using it is dull, burning or throbbing type. The painful part is also very sensitive to pressure.

6. Natrum Sulph – For Shooting Type of Pain

It is a very useful medicine when there is shooting pain in the back between the scapulae. Sometimes there is a piercing type of pain as from knives where it is required. This worsens while sitting in the evening. Soreness is also present  in the spine in addition to above symptoms.

7. Arnica – For Bruising Pain 

It is a natural medicine prepared from a plant named Arnica Montana having the common name Leopard’s – bane and also fallkraut. This plant belongs to family compositae. It gives best results when there is bruised pain in the region of thoracic vertebrae. The same pain may also be felt in the neck. Other than this it is best indicated medicine for managing pain arising from trauma, injuries occurring from blunt objects or from a fall. 

8. Colocynth – For Excessive Tenderness on Upper Thoracic Vertebra

It is prepared from pulp of fruit Citrullus colocynthis also called cucumis colocynthis and bitter apple. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. This medicine is used when there is excessive tenderness on pressure on the upper thoracic vertebra. Mostly the upper four vertebrae of the thoracic spine are tender to pressure in cases needing it. Other than it is also indicated when there is pain in the shoulder blades that extends to the neck. This region may also be tense. 

9. Zincum Met – For Pain in Muscles of Upper Middle Back

This medicine is valuable for managing pain in the muscles of the upper middle back. Stiffness is also present with this. In most cases this gets worse from movement. Sometimes increase of pain is also noted specifically in the morning time.

10. Nux Vomica – When Pain is Accompanied by Tensed Sensation 

This medicine is considered in cases where pain in the thoracic back is attended with tensed sensation. For using it the pain is mostly aching or pressing type. In some of the cases the pain can be burning or stitching type also.

11. Lycopodium – For Drawing and Aching Pain

This medicine is prepared from plant Lycopodium Clavatum commonly known by the name of club moss. This plant belongs to family lycopodiaceae. This medicine is well indicated when there is drawing and aching pain. Warmth sensation in the spine may also be felt with this. Apart from these bruises, the pain in thoracic back also indicates its use. This is worse at rest.

12. Tellurium – When Upper Dorsal Vertebrae are Sensitive 

It is a significant medicine for cases in which there is painful sensitiveness of the spine in the region of the upper thoracic vertebrae. Mostly the upper six dorsal vertebrae are sensitive to pressure and touch in cases that need it.