Back pain is the second most common complaint that makes people visit a doctor, and while pain in the lumbar spine is the most common, people also suffer from various types of upper back pain. In this article, we describe the various types of upper back pain and its causes.
Let’s consider the case of Laura, who has arthritis. She was diagnosed with this rheumatic disease some time ago. However, she has recently begun to have back pain that bothers her all the time, even when she is resting. In fact, she isn’t able to sleep well, because the pain gets worse when she lies down.
The hypothetical case of Laura will help us describe one of the types of upper back pain that a person can experience. In this case, Laura, suffers from inflammatory pain. This kind of pain is typical in people with rheumatic diseases such as arthritis, and one of its characteristics is that it gets better when the patient is active, and can get worse when they rest.
Types of upper back and neck pain
The upper back, also called the thoracic spine, is located between the base of the neck and the lower part of the rib cage. Usually, thoracic spine pain can be the result of poor posture, muscle strain, or an injury. Here below, we describe the type of pain associated with the various causes:
- Mechanical pain: This is the most common type, accounting for 90% of the cases of back pain. This kind of discomfort usually worsens with movement and subsides when the person is resting. Its origin is not entirely clear.
- Inflammatory pain: As we saw in the case of Laura described earlier, this type of pain, unlike mechanical pain, does not improve with rest, and in some cases can reappear or worsen at night. The patient may notice it improves when they perform some activity, and it is typical of patients with arthritis.
- Neuropathic pain: The main cause of this pain, that many describe as a “stabbing pain”, is irritation or compression of the nerve.
Back pain may also be classified according to the part of the back where it occurs. There are several, and in this article, we will focus on two of them:
- Thoracic pain: When it is located in the area of the thoracic spine, if its origin is mechanical, it may be due to overexertion or poor posture. Discomfort can increase with certain movements, effectively restricting the patient’s functional mobility.
- Cervical pain: When the pain is predominantly in the area of the cervical spine, it is known as cervicalgia. Torticollis is the most common cause of pain in this area, and the discomfort can spread to the shoulders, arms and head.
Stretching exercises for your back
Causes of severe pain in the upper back
The likelihood of suffering upper back pain is estimated at 1 out of every 10 men and 1 out of every 5 women. This statistic shows us that it affects women more often than men. However, for both men and women, the possible causes of upper back pain include the following:
- Poor muscle condition and poor posture: Muscles can grow weaker over time if they are not exercised regularly. This primary cause of back pain can be overcome by making a habit of practicing specific exercises to strengthen the muscles. In addition, sitting hunched over in a chair in front of a desk can weaken the upper back muscles, and, over time, you may experience pain, tension and irritation in the area. Keep in mind that taking regular breaks away from the desk to move and stretch can be a great help in fending off these discomforts.
- Traumatic injury: This could be the result of a car accident or a bad fall. It can also happen to people who lift heavy objects from the ground incorrectly or who over-exercise, extending their physical activities beyond the limits of their capacity. A doctor will need to examine the patient in the case of all possible back injuries, as it is critical for the injuries to heal properly in order to avoid long-term pain. Some injuries may require surgery.
- Herniated discs: Although they are more common in the lower back, they can also appear in the upper back. A herniated disc occurs when part of one of the vertebral discs, the body’s natural shock absorbers, is displaced towards the spinal canal, and in some cases, presses against the spinal cord. Fortunately, most disc herniations in the thoracic spine do not do so, and therefore they usually do not need surgery.
- Osteoarthritis: There are cases where the origin of the back pain is not in the muscles, but in the bones and joints. The cartilage that cushions and protects bones can wear away as a person ages. This can also cause pressure on the nerves in the spine, causing the patient to have a feeling of numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. In these cases, the specialist will usually choose a treatment that focuses on pain relief and maintaining the functional mobility of the articulations.
- Infection of the spine: Although it is not common, in rare cases, upper back pain can be caused by an infection. Among those infections that can develop are epidural abscesses, which are a buildup of germs and pus that forms between the spinal cord and the bones of the spine. When such an abscess grows and swells, it causes pain, so it is important to diagnose as soon as possible to prevent complications.
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Categories: Spine treatments, Spine pathologies, Cervical pain