

Upper back pain causes discomfort anywhere, beginning from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. It is also recognised as thoracic back pain. Upper back pain symptoms may involve sharp pains and throbbing pains accompanied by muscle stiffness and tightness. One may also experience a numbness or tingling sensation around the affected area.
This blog explores the possible upper back pain causes along with suitable treatment methods. Read till the end of the blog to discover ways to prevent such back pain.
Upper Back Pain Causes
Upper and middle upper back pain may result from injuries, wrong posture, and several other chronic illnesses. Identifying upper back pain causes are crucial to finding the right course of action to eliminate the discomfort. Following are some of the common upper back pain causes:
- Muscle strain or sprain: Strain or sprain of muscle can result from muscle fiber/ligament damage. This is one of the prime upper back pain causes one can experience. Back pain due to such damage can get worse due to movement. It can also cause muscle spasms and cramps along with a decrease in the mobility of joints.
- Poor posture: Poor posture while sitting, standing, or walking prompts severe upper back pain. It leads to overworking of your neck and back muscles, resulting in discomfort.
- Disk problems: Upper back pain causes may also involve a herniated disk or slipped disk. It can result from prolonged sitting in the same position, being overweight, or lifting heavy objects. The condition is common in people between ages 30 and 50. Herniated discs can trigger upper right side back pain and even lower back pain.
- Muscle injuries: A person can damage upper right back muscles while lifting a heavy object or playing a sport. It may result in upper right side back pain. This pain can result in a dull pain that is usually acute. Upper right side back pain can also result from a spinal infection, pulmonary embolism, or lung cancer.
- Arthritis: Arthritis causes biomechanical changes within the joints. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, can cause middle upper back pain. In this type of arthritis, the joints where the vertebrae join are affected and the cartilage wears down. Movement of these damaged joints can cause further damage and cause formation of bone spurs.
Upper Back Pain Treatment at Home
Mild to moderate upper back pain can be managed via home exercises and remedies. The following points discuss some of the most effective upper back pain treatment that you can do at home:
- Using pain medications: Upper back pain treatment can be done by using over-the-counter pain medications. Ibuprofen and naproxen are two of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce the symptoms of upper back pain.
- Applying heating pads: Applying heating pads can effectively relieve pain from upper back pain. It boosts blood circulation which further allows oxygen and nutrients to travel to the affected joints and muscles. This provides a relaxing effect to the affected area.
- Applying ice pack: Applying ice pack to the affected area is one upper back treatment that you can do at home. Upper back pain causes like muscle injury or sprain can benefit from ice packs. It reduces muscle inflammation, along with reducing swelling and bruising caused by the injury or sprain.
- Exercising: Upper back pain can be eased through regular movements and exercises. The best exercise for upper back pain can effectively eliminate the discomfort. Core exercises, neck movement exercises, and shoulder blade exercises are some of the effective exercises for upper back pain.
Conclusion
Upper back pain can result from various causes. The pain can get better through personal care and treatments. However, if the pain still does not subside after a week, it is better to consult a doctor. Your physician may recommend getting a therapeutic or medical massage to ease severe upper back pain.
Throughout the sessions, you may experience deep-tissue massages, trigger point work, and passive-resistive stretching techniques among others. Upper back pain can be prevented by maintaining a good posture while sitting, standing, and walking. It is necessary to exercise for upper back pain, avoid smoking, and keep a check on your weight to prevent this issue.