And Treatment Options
Causes of upper back pain include trauma, poor posture, and degenerative diseases.
Upper back pain that doesn’t improve can make normal movements and daily tasks hard to manage.
This article discusses the symptoms and common causes of upper back pain.
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It also covers treatments and when to consult a healthcare provider for care.
The following conditions can cause this problem (in no particular order).
Back Strain
Back strainoccurs when you tear or overstretch amuscleortendonfiber that moves or supports your spine.
Lifting heavy objects is a common cause of back strains.
Neck or Back Sprain
A neck or back sprain is a soft tissue injury to theligamentsaround ajoint.
Traumatic Fractures
Traumatic fractures occur when an injury causes breaks in your spine.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc diseaseis a condition in which your spinal discs wear down.
Spinal Deformities
Congenital or acquired spinal deformities can cause severe curvature in the thoracic spine.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosiscauses your spinal canal to narrow, compressing your spinal cord and/or nerve roots.
This results in pain and numbness.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Upper Back Pain?
Your healthcare provider can use a wide range of tests to diagnose the cause of your upper back pain.
The types of tests you receive depend on the location and severity of the upper back pain you experience.
The key in of treatment you receive depends on the cause of your upper back pain.
Common treatments for upper back pain include items in the following list.
This area ranges from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage.
Upper back pain has many causes, such as trauma, poor body movements, and degenerative spine diseases.
Most mild cases can be handled with home care and resolved without further treatment.
Upper back pain that occurs as a result of more severe problems can last for weeks to months.
Upper back pain can sometimes be a sign of a serious condition like a heart attack.
A healthcare provider should check upper back pain that persists for more than two weeks.
Chronic upper back pain that remains without treatment can hinder normal movements.
It can limit your power to perform daily tasks and increase your risk of depression.
Frequently Asked Questions
you’re free to take precautions to prevent upper back pain.
The prognosis is good for most cases of back pain.
Upper back and neck pain usually starts to improve within a week without any treatment.
However, upper back pain due to severe conditions can take weeks or months to improve.
In some cases, surgery may be necessary to restore normal function.
Spine-health.Back pain red-flags for emergency room vs. physician consults.
NewYork-Presbyterian.Upper and middle back pain (thoracic).
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain.
Cedars-Sinai.Back and neck pain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Back pain.
