What Causes Back Pain?
Question: Does back pain mean a thoracic disc herniation?
Answer: Not always. Thoracic pain may be musculoskeletal in origin, but it can also be related to internal organ problems such as lung or pancreas disease. Thoracic pain is reported at measurable rates in the population (for example, some population studies report a frequency around 10–30%).
Situations requiring urgent/priority evaluation in back pain:
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, fever
- Severe pain after trauma
- Pain that does not improve with rest or wakes you at night
- Leg weakness, numbness, gait disturbance
If these findings are present, prompt medical evaluation is required.