Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Upper back pain (thoracic pain)

11-minute read

Key facts

  • Upper back pain is pain or discomfort that involves the bones, joints, muscles, nerves or any other body tissue in or around your thoracic spine.
  • Your thoracic spine is the area between your neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine).
  • Most upper back pain has no specific cause — usually, upper back pain isn’t caused by a serious medical problem.
  • Back pain often goes away on its own, and there are many things you can do (such as exercise, stress and weight management) to help manage your pain until it resolves.
  • Your doctor may recommend or prescribe medicines for a short time to help you return to regular daily activities.

What is upper back pain (thoracic pain)?

Upper back pain is pain or discomfort that involves the bones, joints, muscles, nerves or any other body tissue in or around your thoracic spine. Your thoracic spine (upper back) is the area between your neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine). It is made up of 12 back bones known as vertebrae, which are numbered from T1 to T12. This section of your back is where your ribs attach to your spine.

Pain in the upper back is common, with around 1 in every 7 Australians reporting that they experience some sort of back problem. There are many things that you can do to help you live well with upper back pain.

Illustration showing of the different regions of the spine; cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.
Diagram of the different regions of the spine.

What are the symptoms of upper back pain?

Symptoms of upper back pain can be similar to other back pain symptoms.

Back pain can be acute or persistent:

  • Acute back pain usually begins quickly and lasts for a relatively short time.
  • Persistent back pain, also called chronic back pain, is pain that lasts for more than 3 months.

Upper back pain is sometimes a result of a sudden movement, for example, twisting while playing sport, falling, or an injury from a car accident or at work.

Often, you won’t know how a back problem started. Even if your pain persists, in most situations, there are things you can do to manage it — back pain is more likely not to be due to a serious medical condition.

What causes upper back pain?

For around 9 in every 10 people with upper back pain, there is no specific cause. If your doctor can’t find what caused it, they may describe it as ‘non-specific back pain’. This can be reassuring, because it means that your upper back pain isn’t caused by a specific medical condition, illness or serious physical damage. It’s rare for back pain to be caused by a serious medical problem and even severe pain does not usually mean you have a serious medical problem.

Some causes of non-specific upper back pain include:

If you suddenly need to increase the load on your spine, this can also cause back problems. This may happen for a number of reasons at home or at work. For example, if your child, partner or parent become sick, you may need to lift or carry them; if your job changes, you may need to carry more than usual.

Very few cases of upper back pain have a specific cause. Some specific causes of back pain include:

  • thoracic spondylosis — degeneration (‘wear-and-tear’), of the spine. Most people will have some degree of wear and tear as they age, although not everyone will have pain.
  • ‘slipped disc’ — also known as a prolapsed or herniated disc. This is when one of the discs that sit between the bones of the spine is damaged or weakened. The disc bulges and presses on the nerves of the spine and may cause pain, tingling or numbness down one or both legs.
  • arthritisosteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of arthritis in the spine. People with OA commonly have less pain in the morning, worse pain with movement and improvement with rest.
  • osteoporosis — a condition that affects your bones, causing them to become weak. Osteoporosis does not itself cause pain but can lead to painful fractures (breaks) of the bones in the spine, including compression fractures (where the back bones lose height or collapse).
  • trauma — for example, from injury to the bones and soft tissues of the spine.

Very rarely (in fewer than 1 in every 100 cases), upper back pain is caused by infection of the bones of the upper back, or a tumour (cancer) in the bones of the back.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if:

  • your pain worsens over a few weeks
  • your ability to move is limited, or you feel unsteady
  • you have problems controlling your bladder or bowel
  • you have unexplained weight loss
  • you have redness or swelling on your back
  • there is sudden significant weakness or numbness, or pins and needles in your legs
  • you have a fever

Other health professionals might also help you manage your pain. Ask your GP about a referral to a:

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How is upper back pain diagnosed?

To diagnose upper (thoracic) back pain, your doctor may:

  • ask you questions about your back pain
  • ask about any other symptoms or health concerns
  • do a physical examination

Usually, you won’t need x-rays, CT or MRI scans, since these aren’t helpful when looking for the cause of upper back pain. They usually don’t change how you manage your pain.

For more information about questions to ask your doctor before you get a medical test, treatment or procedure visit Choosing Wisely Australia.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How is upper back pain treated?

Back pain often goes away on its own, but there are ways you can manage your pain effectively. Your doctor may recommend or prescribe medicines for a short time to help you return to regular daily activities:

  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — remember to only use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible
  • topical medicines — these are rubs, gels, ointments, sprays, patches and creams applied to your skin (topically). Some topicals contain medicines such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids.

Medicines that are not effective for back pain include paracetamol and opioids. Read more on opioid medicines and pain.

There are also many lifestyle changes, such as exercise, and stress and weight management, that can help you manage your pain until it resolves.

Can upper back pain be managed or prevented?

You can reduce your chances of having back pain from injuries by trying these approaches:

  • being physically active: Your body needs to move. Regular exercise improves flexibility, muscle strength and bone health. Start slowly and gradually increase intensity. A physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can create a program for you.
  • maintaining a healthy body weight. If you are living with overweight or obesity, your spine carries an extra load.
  • quitting smoking. Smoking increases your risk of arthritis, osteoporosis and back pain and slows down healing.
  • safe manual handling. If you have a physical job, you are at risk of back injury. Your employer must keep your workplace safe. They must teach you how to handle heavy loads safely. You should cooperate with your employer’s efforts.
  • workplace design and posture. Your work may mean you to sit or stand for many hours. Poor posture can cause back injury or pain. Your workstation should be designed to allow you to stand and sit in a way that supports your back.

Resources and support

Other languages

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: April 2024


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Low back pain - young painHEALTH

Condition · 14 min read · 10 Jun 2021 Learn about low back pain and...

Read more on youngpainhealth website

Gaming for chronic low back pain management

Can gaming-based exercise (‘exergaming’)  be considered exercise for chronic low back pain? Find out about some recent studies.

Read more on NPS MedicineWise website

Thoracic Ultrasound - St Vincent's Lung Health

Information about Thoracic (Chest) Ultrasounds including how to prepare and what happens during and after the procedure.

Read more on St Vincent's Hospital Lung Health website

Is paracetamol effective for low back pain? - NPS MedicineWise

An Australian study found that paracetamol is not effective for acute low back pain. What is the best way to manage acute low back pain?

Read more on NPS MedicineWise website

10 things you need to know about low back pain

Low back pain is common, affecting 1 in 4 Australians. Find out why scans are often unnecessary, and how staying active helps you recover faster.

Read more on NPS MedicineWise website

Getting back to work

SANE Australia, the National Mental Health Charity

Read more on SANE Australia website

Pain

Effective pain management at the end of life is crucial. Use tools for assessment, observe non-verbal cues, and provide relief through medication and compassionate care.

Read more on palliAGED website

About Pain - Pain Management - painHEALTH

Learn about pain to understand what it is, how it is triggered and how you can work through your pain to identify the right co-management treatment plan

Read more on painHEALTH website

Approaching Pain - Pain Management - painHEALTH

Learn various ways in which we can approach pain to take control of how our body reacts to musculoskeletal pain with the goal to form a co-management plan

Read more on painHEALTH website

Neck Pain - Pain Conditions - painHEALTH

Learn about neck pain as a musculoskeletal pain condition to identify how you can approach neck pain in your co-management treatment plan

Read more on painHEALTH website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Queensland Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.