About this topic
Upper back pain may be felt anywhere from the base of the neck into the middle part of the back. This includes the upper or thoracic spine ¢ ˆ ’ the part that would be in line with your chest. This is also the part of your back where the ribs link to the spine. Pain in the upper back is not as common as neck or lower back pain. The upper back is mostly for stability and works with the rib cage to protect your organs. It does not have as much movement as the neck and lower back. ‚
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What are the causes?
- Direct blow such as a sports injury or car accident
- Muscle weakness, strain, spasm, or overuse
- Ligament sprain ¢ ˆ ’ stretching or tearing of bands of strong tissue that hold spinal bones together
- Nerve compression
- Spinal stenosis ¢ ˆ ’ a narrowing of the space where the nerves leave the spinal column
- Disc degeneration ¢ ˆ ’ discs weaken and collapse
- Herniated disc ¢ ˆ ’ discs bulge or break open
- Osteoarthritis ¢ ˆ ’ wear and tear arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis ¢ ˆ ’ inflammatory type of arthritis
- Fractures ¢ ˆ ’ bone breaks
- Infections such as meningitis
- Tumors or cancer
What can make this more likely to happen?
- Having osteoporosis (bone breaks)
- Older age
- Being heavy
- Bad posture
- Having a previous upper back injury
- Being born with a problem with how the spine is curved (scoliosis) or with problems with your spinal bones
- Having a job with a lot of heavy lifting
- Playing contact sports
- Having problems such as fibromyalgia
What are the main signs?
- Upper back pain
- May be worse with movement of upper back and neck
- May extend into your neck, shoulders, arms, and lower back
- May be worse when taking deep breaths
- Stiffness
- Tenderness to touch
- Trouble moving the upper back
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness into the arms
- Weakness into the arms
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will do an exam and may order: ‚
- Lab tests
- X-ray
- MRI or CT scan
- Electromyelogram (EMG) ¢ ˆ ’ to look at how well the nerves are working
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Treating the problem will depend on the cause of your upper back pain. Care plans may include: ‚
- Rest and avoid activities that make the problem worse.
- Ice
- Heat
- Massage
- Exercises
- Physical therapy (PT)
- Chiropractic care
- Joint mobilization or manipulation
- Traction
- Electrical stimulation
- Acupuncture
- Surgery, only if other treatments have not worked or if there is damage
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Relax tight muscles
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Help you sleep
The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Ongoing pain
- Infection
- Poor healing
- Bleeding after surgery or trauma
- Blood clots
- Long-lasting damage to nerves or other tissues
- Paralysis
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Good choices include walking, swimming, and biking.
- Warm up slowly and stretch before you work out. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run. Do not work out if you are overly tired. Take extra care if working out in cold weather.
- Lose weight if you are too heavy. Being heavy can put extra stress on your spine.
- Ues good posture. Do not slouch.
- Do not sit or stand in one position for a long period of time.
- When lifting, be sure to keep your back straight and bend with your knees. Always hold the object close to your body.
- Drive safely. Always wear a seat belt. Obey speed limits. Do not drink and drive.
- If you have a desk job, make sure your computer is at eye level and that you have a supportive chair. Read papers at eye level.
- Wear the right equipment when playing sports.
- Use a supportive pillow. Use a firm mattress. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
- Eat a healthy diet with calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones healthy.
- Limit your caffeine intake. Caffeine can less blood flow to the spine.
- If you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smoking can lessen the blood supply to your spine.
Where can I learn more?
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases ‚
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/default.asp ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚