Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain – Back to the Basics…
Back pain is a common complaint among many people. Typically, upper back pain is not reported as frequently as lower back pain. Upper back pain can have several different causes, and a variety of treatments. The first obstacle to diagnosing and treating upper back pain is to clarify and pinpoint what the patient means by “upper back pain“.
The spine consists of several sections. The parts that comprise the “upper back” are the cervical spine (neck), and the thoracic spine (between the shoulder blades and the lower edge of the rib cage). Generally, upper back pain is used to describe pain in the region of the thoracic spine, and the muscles, joints, and ligatures surrounding it. The most common causes of upper back pain (non injury related) are poor posture and ensuing arthritis. It is vitally important for the patient who complains of back pain to be examined by their primary care doctor, because other causes of upper back pain are possible and could be serious.
There are a variety of medications, exercises, and therapies used to treat upper back pain. Heat therapy, acupuncture, the use of over the counter medications, stretching, exercising, and posture correction are all used to help the patient manage and correct upper back pain. If a back injury is suspected, the patient will need to undergo some simple testing (x-rays, CAT scan) to ascertain the extent of the injury and the appropriate treatment/pain management plan. The most common upper back injuries are sprains and strains followed by disc injuries and pinched nerves.
Most upper back pain causes can be managed with short term pain medications, stretching, and case specific exercises and therapy. In severe cases, narcotics may be prescribed to manage excessive pain. Each plan should be carefully reviewed by the patient and the doctor so that the patient has the best chance of successful pain management and relief.
