Question
I am a 28 year old female who works at a computer Mon-Fri. None of my relatives have back problems ( that I know of  - they may just not talk about it! )
I've been experiencing Right Mid Back Pain for 2 years now. I'm not certain if this incident correlates to my pain, but I do recall one day around 2 years ago, at the gym while performing a bent over row excersice, with a 15 lb dumbell,  something "popped" out of place in this region, but it did not hurt at the time...

At this time the pain is not excruciating, or debilitation.  It does not prevent me from sleeping, doing daily tasks, and I'm not getting headaches from it. It just feels very uncomfortable, hurts/feels really tight when I lift my right arm out to the right and reach, torso rotation range of motion, inhaled portion of breathing deeply, when bending forward at my midback (hunching forward as to round the spine), lifting both arms overhead, and worsens after exercise.

History of attempted treatments:

My Physician referred me to an Orthopeadist (appointment is scheduled for end of Nov 2007) and she sent me in for a Thoracic Spine X-ray which indicated Mild Scoliosis at the t10 rib...  She also sent me for a Bone Scan, which found no abnormalities.
I saw a Physiotherapist at the beginning of 2007, he advised that my posture was incorrect and my workstation is causing the problem. I've re-arranged my workstation since, and see no improvements.

I've seen three Chiropractors, and here is a summary of each of their findings...
#1. Identified a "winged scapula", muscles underneath my scapula and rhomboids are too weak, and prescribed rotator cuff/standing row exercises,and, he performed spine adjustments, hydrotherapy. very temporary relief
#2. Identified my ribs were very tight in the T10 zone, so he performed manipulations of these areas to loosen. While sitting, twist and bend down at waist to access my rib joints. This offered only temporary relief.
#3. Tried Auricology, Surface EMG test indicated imbalance in right-left backside strength. Lower right back had the least muscle strength, suggested back/torso exercises. So far, he has manipulated my spine and is still working on helping me out.

I've tried acupuncture and acupressure (feels good during the treatment, but pain returns within an hour). I've tried massage therapy, which also offers temporary relief.

Normally, I am a relatively active person, ie. swimming, biking, running, inlining, walking, weight training, yoga, and Tai Chi.  However, the frequency that I perform these activities has decreased since it results in pain, which incidentally I don't want to make worse.

I've found that with my condition, doing all this activity is great while I'm doing it, but I pay for it for days following. And, the pain radiates from the source (mid back just right of my spine) around to my ribs and up to my scapula. Yoga stretching is best, but I do find that during transition into most of the postures, the pain shows itself (especially rotations, forward bends, and arms overhead, even when I move my right leg it shows up) ?but I bear it because I feel the stretch/breathing is doing some good?
Does my condition sound like something you've seen before,? Should I be resting, or moving around and exercising as much as I can bear. Is this just a matter of "pain management"? or, could it be a more serious underlying physiological problem, that will worsen with time, if not addressed? I'm afraid with all this tension in my right side (has increased in severity over the two years), eventually I"m going to seize up and be in a wheelchair!!!  

Answer
Hi Natalie,

This sounds decidedly like a problem in the articulation of the rib and vertebra.  I've seen this a lot (and had it myself).

You are not going to end up in a wheelchair from it but it impacts your lifestyle greatly.  

It seems to me that the chiropractic manipulation you got was not thorough enough.  A good rib adjustment combined with your stretching, posture work and activity should allow for rehab.

After two years there may be some nagging trouble, but you should do much better than what you've described to date.

The website below is a good spot to find docs for a second opinion.

In the meantime, roll up a towel into a long tube, put it on the floor and lay on it longways.  Right on your spine.  Let gravity stretch you over it for 3-4 minutes.  If it hurts adjust the towel, fatter or thinner til it feels like a stretch, not a pain.

Hope this helps.