Acute and chronic upper back pain can make even the simplest tasks a challenge. Upper back pain is a common complaint. Your discomfort may stem from a minor sprain or indicate something much more serious. At Pain Management NYC, our experienced team provides advanced, non-invasive therapies to find the right solution for you. Contact us to learn more about our upper back pain solutions today.
You may have heard a lot more about lower back pain than you have about upper back pain. Even though a larger percentage of people suffer from lower back pain, upper back pain can be the cause of significant discomfort, decreased quality of life or even signal a serious illness.
Pain in the upper back, whether it is upper left back pain, upper right back pain, or cervical pain, is discomfort or strain that you feel anywhere from your neck to your bottom rib. This area includes part of the middle back for pain purposes. Additionally, shoulder pain may be related to a problem in your upper back.
Minor or Serious, Never Unimportant
Because your upper back is composed of several strong muscles attached to the rib cage and vertebrae, or spinal bones, it’s relatively more resistant to injury. But this also means that pain in the upper back could be a symptom of a serious underlying cause.
The most common general causes of upper back pain include:
- Muscle irritation
- Joint dysfunction
- Trauma
Muscle irritation stems from strains, pulls, or tightening due to poor posture, a lack of strength or overuse— the same causes as injuries from repetitive motion. Joint dysfunction can result from sudden injury or age-related illness, like osteoarthritis.
Other, less common causes of pain in your upper back include:
- Spine deformities
- Compression fractures
- Fibromyalgia
- Infections
- Tumors
Anyone Can Get Back Pain
Almost anyone is susceptible to an upper back injury. Some groups of people who may be more prone to pain in the upper back include women, older people and manual laborers. But no one is immune.
If you have poor posture, use improper techniques for lifting, do repetitive work or lead a sedentary lifestyle, you may be more vulnerable to injury. The pain clinic in New York specializes in diagnosing and managing these types of problems. Cervical pain may not be bilateral, meaning you may feel it only on one side of your body. Radiating pain from your internal organs, depending on their location, sometimes leads to upper left back pain or upper right back pain.
What Brings You in Today?
The most apparent symptoms of a back injury are pain and stiffness. The cause of your upper back pain or cervical neck pain depends on certain characteristics of the pain, such as when it occurred and whether it’s delayed or sudden. Some key symptoms to look out for include weakness, numbness or tingling, headache or jaw ache, and painful or difficult breathing.
The type of pain helps your doctor diagnose the cause, so be sure to describe whether it’s sharp, shooting, burning, dull, throbbing or aching. Tell him the severity of your pain. This information helps your NYC pain specialist reach the correct diagnosis.
Upper Back Pain Relief: Closer Than You Think
Seek immediate medical attention for sudden traumatic injuries, persistent pain that does not improve with rest, or any associated neurological symptoms. Seemingly minor discomfort can mask more significant underlying conditions. Identifying the root cause of your pain requires the expertise of a highly trained pain management specialist.
Our board-certified back pain doctors diagnose and treat upper back pain resulting from conditions ranging from minor strains to severe injuries. A detailed history of your symptoms, lifestyle, and family tells the pain management doctor how to proceed to provide upper back pain relief. A quick and thorough exam may lead your doctor to order diagnostic testing. If left untreated, upper back pain can lead to a diminished quality of life or even chronic disability.
Treatment for Upper Back Pain
The treatment options the doctor may suggest if your discomfort seems mild include lifestyle modifications, medication, ice or heat. Regular exercise, good posture and avoiding repetitive stress helps keep your back healthy.
If your upper back pain persists, injections can relieve your pain.
Options the top back pain specialist in Midtown Manhattan may suggest include a nerve block injection as well as:
If your injury or damage is severe enough, you may require minimally invasive treatments, such as:
Our team of board-certified pain management physicians is dedicated to identifying and addressing the root cause of your upper back pain, rather than just treating the symptoms. Contact Pain Management NYC at (212) 224-9555 to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about non-invasive treatment options today.
Written by Dr. Leon Reyfman, MD, FIPP, RPh
(Pain Management Doctor)