Low back pain is a condition that affects most people at some point in life. The middle back is composed of backbones, or vertebrae, muscles, ligaments, tendons, the spinal cord and spinal nerves. The acute exacerbation of any of these anatomical structures can cause middle back pain. Symptoms of acute back pain include severe pain with movement, pain that shoots into one or both legs and pain with sitting or standing. Thus, after an acute episode of low back pain, a patient should not hesitate to seek the proper diagnosis and treatment from a physician.
Over-activity
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states that over-activity can be a cause of middle back pain. A sudden increase in intensity of physical activity or physical labor can result in overstretched muscles or ligaments that can cause acute back pain. In this case, back pain generally feels stiff or sore and may improve within a few days. A patient who feels or hears a “pop” or a crack and experiences sudden pain, however, should seek immediate medical treatment. He may have fractured a vertebrae or torn a ligament or muscle in the middle back.
Trauma
Trauma is a cause of acute middle back pain. Car accidents, falls and other cases in which a direct blow, or force, is placed on the back can result in acute back pain. This occurs because the sudden force can injure muscles, ligament and other tissues that surround the middle back. Direct tissue injury results in acute pain, swelling and stiffness in the area of injury. In more severe cases, a direct blow can fracture a vertebrae, cause a misalignment of the spine or damage one of the disks that are between each vertebrae. Thus, acute back pain from trauma should not be taken lightly, especially if a patient notices severe pain or difficulty moving. In this case, a patient or bystander should seek emergency medical care. The patient should lie still and avoid all movement to prevent possible spinal cord damage or further damage to vertebrae or other surrounding back tissues.
Bulging Disc
In some cases, a bulging disc can be an acute cause of middle back pain. Discs act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. MayoClinic.com states that the soft material inside a disc may bulge and compress or rupture a spinal nerve. This may cause an acute pain that radiates into one or both legs. Acute pain is typically described as tingling or burning. A patient should schedule an appointment with a doctor to have her back properly assessed and treated. She should seek emergency medical treatment if bowel or bladder problems arise.
