Upper Back and Neck Pain

Upper Back and Neck Pain

There are many types of back pain, where upper back and neck pain is just one of many.

As we know, this can happen to everyone at anytime. Neck and upper back pain is just as painful and as troublesome as lower back pain.

What usually happens is some injury or strain are the most common reasons for back problem that occurs in the upper portions of our backs. Sometimes you can get a pinched nerve causing upper back pain and one problem that happens is headaches. When this occurs if can effect:

concentration
enthusiasm
mood of a person

Though not as common as lower back pain, upper back problems still affects a lot of people. Let's talk a minute on how the upper back is made up.

The upper back is made up of the thoracic spine. There are 12 vertebrae in the thoracic spine. These vertebrae are connected with 9 of the 12 rib bones. The breast bone is perpendicular to the thoracic spine. Rib bones also connect to the breast bone.

The thoracic cage consist of the breastbone, ribs and the thoracic spine. Thoracic means "chest". All of the upper organs are protected by the chest cage.

Upper back pain is rare, but does happen. What you are going to learn are the causes, symptoms and treatment that will help you understand and relieve the pain.

The cause

Now the thoracic spine exists to help stabilize the body and protect the organs. It is stronger than the lumbar spine (lower back) and the cervical spine (neck). What's helps the body move and flex are the cervical and lumbar spines. While the thoracic spine is there for stability and strength.

This is the reason why most of the injuries are in the cervical and the lumbar spinal regions. Two of the main causes for neck and upper back pain or thoracic spine pain:

Myofascial pain
Joint dysfunctional pain

Myofascial Pain - this is a muscular irritation. This happens from:

muscle strains
strains from sports activities
over and underuse of a muscle
sudden movement
being thrown forward as in a car accident

This usually affects the large muscles that support the shoulder blades.

Joint Dysfunction - this is a malfunction of the 2 joints that connect each rib to the thoracic spine. The ribs are connected to the spine on either side by joints. Any injury to one or even both joints can cause a loss of function and cause severe pain.

What are the treatments that help

Myofacial pain can be best treated:

deep tissue massage
chiropractic manipulation of the spine (chiropractic back pain case studies)
physical therapy for upper back pain
acupuncture or acupressure upper back pain

One thing that needs to be done is exercise, stretching and strengthening the shoulder muscles. This is a main key in developing strength of the upper back.

Joint dysfunction can be treated by:

chiropractic manipulation (chiropractic back pain case studies of cure)
exercise (aerobic)
medication to help relieve pain
steroid injections to target sites of pain

Medical professionals can help you assess and also treat the cause of upper back and neck pain as well as pain management. Other professionals such as physical therapist, orthopedic surgeons and chiropractic professional can be of assistance.

Add to Favorites

Some other ways that people search for upper back and neck pain:
Neck and upper back pain
Neck and back pain online
Home remedy for pinched nerve on neck

Back to the top: Upper Back and Neck Pain

Causes of Upper Back Pain
Back Pain Home | Herniated Disc | Back Pain Relief