The T10 vertebra can be found toward the bottom of the thoracic (middle) region of the spine, in the lower region of the rib cage. Pain that originates above or below the T10 vertebra will most likely cause discomfort around the rib cage, up and down the back and around the area of the kidneys. Sometimes, damage along a vertebra can cause referred pain, which is when the pain appears somewhere other than the actual site of physical injury, making spine injuries especially hard to diagnose.
Diagnosing vertebral conditions
If you see your primary care physician about pain that you believe may be at or around the T10 vertebra, he or she will most likely perform the following actions:
- Ask you about your pain – Where is your pain? What is the nature of the pain? Localized? Traveling? How many of your daily activities are you prohibited from doing because of the pain?
- Perform a physical exam – By palpating areas around a vertebra, your physician may be able to diagnose whether your pain is in the thoracic region or if it is in the cervical or lumbar region.
- Order an MRI and/or CT scan – These diagnostic imaging tests allow a physician to more accurately pinpoint the location of your intervertebral disc damage so that an effective treatment plan can be created.
If your physician diagnoses you with a spine condition at or around the T10 vertebra that is causing uncomfortable neural compression, the best course of action will be to work with your physician to create a schedule of non-invasive, conservative therapies to relieve your vertebrae nerve pain. This may include stretching, low-impact exercise, pain medication and/or rest.