Strained Muscle in Upper Back

Hello


I was diagnosed with a mid-thoracic muscle strain in right side of back. Recently wearing a shirt over the injury irritates it and causes a mild stinging feeling that is relieved when I remove the shirt. I would like to know what the cause of this is. The feeling does not radiate anywhere else but remains where the injury is. I have been wearing a tight support brace for a long time for many hours of the day and maybe that was rubbing on the injury? I was also constantly using a heating pad on it which may have been too much. It also used to hurt when lightly touched with the fingers and when under bath water but those two things no longer bother it. I was afraid it may be nerve injury or something? I have also been under stress and I am hypochondriac.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Any muscle if sprained can cause pain and tenderness with movement.

It is important that you have to rest the injured muscle and modify your movements during changing of your shirts and t-shirts and do not exert the particular muscle before it heals.

Presently you apply ice packs, take pain killers and wait for couple of weeks for your symptoms to decrease.

If symptoms continue then you have to consider MRI scan and a follow up with an orthopedician.

Take care!

[chas256]

Hello


I first injured this muscle almost 4 months ago and had X-rays taken and was sent to a physical therapist. It started to heal and was beginning to feel normal again but then the therapist did a hard massage which got it sore again. That made me very angry of course. I continued therapy with a different therapist and was released when it started getting better again. I don't see any swelling and it looks normal but still aches and "stings" when anything is placed on it. I was told by the doctor and therapist to continue my therapy exercises at home since the injured area is weak. For a long time after I injured it, I rested it probably too much and that caused it to become weak. Right now I am doing some exercises at home, eating healthy, taking vitamins, getting enough sleep and taking warm baths with epsom salt in the hopes that this problem will clear up.