pain in isolated spot in middle of my back...anyone else have this?

The pain is quite literally in the middle of my back - equal distance between the base of my neck and top of my buttocks, and situated right over one or two of my vertebrae. Seems to be a 2in x 2in circle of pain with no visual bruising and generally hurts only when I push on it, but every now and then I get a stabbing pain in that area.

Don't remember falling on my back recently or getting hit with anything to such a specific area. And none of my packs have anything sticking out or pushing on that area. So honestly I have no idea what this could be. Anybody else have similar issues, or can give me some hints to mine?

See the other forum on this very subject.

I'm assuming you're talking about the ouch! back pain

I did check it out and I don't believe it's the same issue. Brandy was having a large area of internal pain situated in her lower back. I'm just having a small, specific spot that seems almost a surface issue (so perhaps it's not a spine issue, and maybe just a muscle issue or some such).
Since it's such a concentrated spot, I just was curious if anyone had something similar. If not, no worries, I'll take Buff's Vitamin I suggestion.

there are a lot of little 'joints' on your vertebrae and some of these can get inflamed or pushed out of position. i had something like this a few years ago where one position - twisting and reaching on one side - sent a sharp pain through a small localized area like you describe. turns out one of those facette joints was inflamed, had a cortisone injection and it totally cleared it up. PT and chiropractic hadn't helped. good luck, it can be pretty painful.

I am seeing a PT (Synergy in Colorado Springs) now for a muscle spasm between my shoulder blades... It sounds kind of like what you may be describing. Don't know if this helps, but perhaps that could be what is bothering you. Hope you heal up soon. Cheers.

L-
Does it make it worse to take a really deep breath? If so there's a good chance that one or two ribs may be involved, the symptoms you're describing could certainly fit that scenario. A facet joint problem or a good old fashioned trigger point in the muscle could also be the cause.

The area you're describing is just about where you've got the posterior corollary to the anterior abdominal muscles attaching to your lowest two ribs (#'s 11 and 12) These muscles are large and very powerful and get used heavily during most climbing, but especially during steep climbing.
Getting some massage work and a good chiropractic adjustment would probably be the least expensive and most effective place to start. The joints where the ribs articulate w/ the spine can hurt like hell but are typically an easy fix, if indeed that's what's going on.

Good luck getting it squared away. cheers, BA

I have had pain like this on and off for a long time. I have a long trunk and poor posture causing weak muscles. Some exercises that work for me are laying on my stomach lifting cans of soup up with my arms at my sides, out to the side and in front of my head. Also laying on a rolled up towel over the problem area to stretch it out. Good luck!

Hey I am a 14 year old boy and I have the exact same pain in the exact same spot. I was looking it up on google what was happening and I found this forum. I know this is about 5 years later but I was wondering if you ever found out what it was so I can get a little insight what is happening. Please let me know ASAP!! My email is donaldpiel@yahoo.com please contact me if you know about anything.

Leah Miller wrote:The pain is quite literally in the middle of my back - equal distance between the base of my neck and top of my buttocks, and situated right over one or two of my vertebrae. Seems to be a 2in x 2in circle of pain with no visual bruising and generally hurts only when I push on it, but every now and then I get a stabbing pain in that area. Don't remember falling on my back recently or getting hit with anything to such a specific area. And none of my packs have anything sticking out or pushing on that area. So honestly I have no idea what this could be. Anybody else have similar issues, or can give me some hints to mine?

Donald Piel wrote:Hey I am a 14 year old boy and I have the exact same pain in the exact same spot. I was looking it up on google what was happening and I found this forum. I know this is about 5 years later but I was wondering if you ever found out what it was so I can get a little insight what is happening. Please let me know ASAP!! My email is donaldpiel@yahoo.com please contact me if you know about anything.

Did you recently start driving a Subaru? When I got my Outback I had unexplainable back pain that took me 6 weeks to diagnose

Has it really been 5 years already? Crap, I'm getting old ;)

Sorry kid, but nope - never figured out what exactly it was that caused the pain in my back.

I had a TON of issues with inflammation, such as tendonitis and bursitis, over the years in my arms (fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders - literally all parts of my arms), and one doctor suggested it was all interconnected. That perhaps joints and connecting tendons were swollen around my spine, too. But they couldn't say why it was just one specific area and not across by whole back.

I'll bump this for the same problem

Back pain around two of my thoracic vertebrae between my shoulder blades...constantly popping back for momentary relief, feels better after activity, seems to be getting worse...probably going to doctor soon. 

Leah Leaves wrote: The pain is quite literally in the middle of my back - equal distance between the base of my neck and top of my buttocks, and situated right over one or two of my vertebrae. Seems to be a 2in x 2in circle of pain with no visual bruising and generally hurts only when I push on it, but every now and then I get a stabbing pain in that area. Don't remember falling on my back recently or getting hit with anything to such a specific area. And none of my packs have anything sticking out or pushing on that area. So honestly I have no idea what this could be. Anybody else have similar issues, or can give me some hints to mine?

Leah, alot of thoracic pain is due to mobility issues or bad posture. Can even cause an issue if you work the "back" more than the front too often (what I mean is pulling is generally going to work the muscles in your back.. Where as let' say push ups work the front muscles).  I've had the same issue and there's a ton of stuff you can do to help relieve the pain. Look at this page https://theprehabguys.com/exercise-library/#thoracicspine

I just got this pain last night. Was sitting in a bad posture and got up and hurt it a little. I stood up, stretched out with my arms in various positions, and when I stretched my arms up over my head I felt a pop and the sensation of a disk flipping over. I quickly lowered my arms to brace my back, but now I have a constant pain. Only time I felt no pain was laying down in most positions. Haven't tried laying on my chest yet. Pain is located on disk at the bottom of my shoulder blades or the one below that. I'm not getting any other pain or tingling in my extremities. I'll try icing it today and go to the doctor if it persists. Advice appreciated.

Usually this is a rib head dislocating between two vertebrae, and has a lot to do with the amount of mobility in the front of the rib, where it meets the sternum. When we're hunched a lot, or have tight pecs, the front of the ribs will get constricted. Likewise on the side of the ribs with tight lats and serratus anterior. Move from a weird position, or stretch in a certain way, and the movement that should be distributed through the whole rib ends up getting focused in the back. Pop. The nerve roots from the spinal cord are exactly where this dislocation happens, so there's often a lot of pain. The body tenses the muscles around there to 'splint the injury,' putting more pressure on the nerve, and you're in the pain-spasm-pain cycle.

A gentle way to try to restore movement to the ribs is to lie on your back, with a small pillow under the spot where it hurts. Knees up, feet flat on the floor. If it's comfortable, let your arms lie on the floor above your head. The idea is to slowly and gently stretch the fronts and sides of your ribs. Deep breaths can help, although they might hurt at first, as the movement puts more pressure on the impinged nerve root.

If this doesn't give you some relief, go to a doc or PT. 

If anyone found the same thread and has the same issue, I ended up at a chiropractor for a different issue.  He noticed this spot without me even pointing it out.  He said I had a slipped disc and with some chiro magic, popped it back.  All seems well now.  Good luck to anyone with the same problem.

Mark E Dixon wrote: Hey I am a 14 year old boy and I have the exact same pain in the exact same spot. I was looking it up on google what was happening and I found this forum. I know this is about 5 years later but I was wondering if you ever found out what it was so I can get a little insight what is happening. Please let me know ASAP!! My email is donaldpiel@yahoo.com please contact me if you know about anything. Donald, you might try PM'ing Leah Miller, the OP. She's still on MP occasionally.

Hey I'm a 16 year old female, and this actually just happened to me today..so if you have figured this out despite how many years it has been please let me know..

Hey Camiah, I would look up a chiropractor in your area.  Mine just ended up being a mild slipped disc.  It costs $60, but was well worth the time.  Just make sure you find one with good reviews.

Did you ever figure out the issue?  I have had a similar pain.. Mine is located on right side near shoulder blade. I've had it for over a year sometimes I will lay/roll on a tennis ball and it takes the breath out of me, sharp pain that radiates to the front area ribs/liver region.  Its the weirdest thing.  I was concerned of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, but labwork and ultrasound came back fine.  Went back a few months later and they did an xray of my back, said all is fine.. went to a chiropractor for an adjustment and that did not change it.. I am so stumped as what it could be.  I scare myself thinking of the worst and I am praying it is not anything serious..