Upper back pain

While upper back pain is not as common as lower back problems, it can be a source of discomfort for quite a few people. If you are someone who suffers from upper back problems, then there are a few things you might want to know about this condition so that you can get the source of the pain under control. The two most common reasons that people experience discomfort in their upper back are muscle irritation and herniated discs. So, if you want to find out what is causing your discomfort, then you should understand the difference between these two different types of problems.

Muscular problems that result in upper back pain are often caused by the large muscles that are attached to the shoulder blade. The pain that can result when one of these muscles are injured can be extremely painful, and can be hard for you to overcome because of the fact that we use them on a constant basis when we rotate our arms or our shoulders. These muscular irritations can happen as a result of repetitive motion or because of an overexertion of that muscle group. If you are someone who works in a physical environment, and a lot of your job involves doing the same task over and over again, then you could be susceptible to the kind of muscle injury that would result in upper back pain.

Something else to consider is that this kind of pain can be brought on by a sports injury or car accident as well. This is more of a sudden onset of pain, and you will more than likely be able to pinpoint the point of injury because it would be more traumatic than those that might be caused by strain or repetitive motion. If you have this kind of muscle pain, then you should know that there are things that can help you to overcome this problem. This includes acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic treatments. You might also find relief in physical therapy, which will often involve using a set of stretches and strengthening exercises that will help you to rebuild the muscle correctly so that you can reduce the risk of a return injury.

The other cause of upper back pain is related to a problem in the joints (or discs) in the back. One of the most common areas for this kind of problem is the point where the ribs connect with the vertebrae. This area is often vulnerable because of the joints on the side of the vertebrae where the ribs connect. When this area gets out of alignment you could experience a lot of discomfort and pain. The best way to fix this problem is through a manual manipulation of the joint in question. This can be accomplished by an osteopath, chiropractor, or physical therapist. However, after the disc has been properly re-aligned you should then practice some exercises to help strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint so that you will reduce the risk of injuring the same area again.

So, if you are someone who is suffering from upper back pain, the first step to helping you make sure that you are doing better is to get to a doctor so that you can locate the source of the pain and treat it effectively. Meanwhile, if you are unable to get to a doctor you might want to try using an over the counter anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen or Tylenol to help alleviate some of your discomfort. Remember not to strain yourself so that you do not cause more unnecessary damage, and if resting does not fix your upper back pain you will want to make sure that you get to a doctor as soon as possible so that you don’t cause more problems.

Last updated on Apr 17th, 2010 and filed under Neurological Disorders. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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