| Chronic upper back pain may occur due to some form | | | | to improper posture, lack of exercise or by some form |
| of trauma, bad posture and/or the constant use of the | | | | of accident. Treatment is again physical in nature. You |
| computer. Where the computer is concerned, you may | | | | may want to see a chiropractor or physical therapist |
| have an improper tilt of the head due to improper | | | | to get the joint working again to relieve your pain. |
| screen height and/or constant use of the mouse. | | | | Long-term relief will involve exercising by stretching |
| Therefore, upper back pain may also be accompanied | | | | and strengthening the spine. Again, if your pain is so |
| by neck and/or shoulder pain. If you are right handed, | | | | severe that it makes it difficult to exercise, you may |
| your pain is most likely found on the right side. | | | | need to take some pain medication such as an |
| Generally, chronic upper back pain is due to muscle | | | | anti-inflammatory to relieve the pain enough so that |
| pain and/or joint complications. | | | | you can exercise. Exercise is imperative! Without |
| Upper muscular back pain occurs along the shoulder | | | | exercise, you will not recuperate. If all these therapies |
| girdle that attaches to the muscles of the shoulder | | | | are not doing the trick, you may need to consider back |
| blade (scapula) and the back of the rib cage in the | | | | surgery. |
| thoracic region. The upper back muscles easily | | | | Muscle pain and joint dysfunction are the most |
| develop muscle problems that are very painful and | | | | common forms of chronic upper back pain. However |
| difficult to get rid of. These muscles often lack in | | | | there are other causes although rare. Herniated discs |
| strength and may be overused by regular movements | | | | are rare in the thoracic region because you have very |
| performed at work, during exercise or even while | | | | little motion associated with this area. This makes the |
| sleeping in an inappropriate position. There are a | | | | thoracic spine very stable. It has been reported that |
| number of ways to alleviate this pain and all involve | | | | around 1% of all disc herniations occur in the thoracic |
| some type of physical treatment. Exercise works well | | | | region. The rest occur in the cervical and lumbar region |
| here by using stretch and strengthening therapies. Of | | | | of your back due to a greater range of motion. Other |
| course, they must be done properly so make sure you | | | | rare forms of chronic upper back pain involve thoracic |
| consult your health care provider before you begin. | | | | disc diseases or trauma. Trauma may have occurred |
| You may need to seek professional assistance such | | | | due to a car accident or serious fall. Trauma of this |
| as a chiropractor, massage therapist or acupuncturist. | | | | type requires immediate medical attention with X-rays |
| If you have one particular area that is sore, this may | | | | or a MRI scan to determine the amount of damage |
| indicate a trigger point. Trigger points are generally | | | | and what treatment should be administered. |
| found in skeletal muscle and can be relieved by | | | | Some form of trauma or bad posture is a common |
| massage therapy or acupuncture. Local injections of a | | | | cause of chronic upper back pain. The pain you |
| painkiller or anti-inflammatory medications such as | | | | experience is usually due to muscle strain and/or |
| ibuprofen or naproxen may also be used if the pain | | | | rib-vertebra joint dysfunction. The best treatment |
| becomes excessive. This will allow you to continue | | | | involves some form of physical treatment whether by |
| exercising to allow for recovery. | | | | a chiropractor, physical therapist or exercises you do |
| In some cases, your chronic upper back pain may be | | | | at home. |
| caused by a joint dysfunction. Your ribs along the back | | | | If your pain is severe:- |
| connect with your thoracic spinal vertebrae by two | | | | - you may need to take a pain/inflammation reliever to |
| joints on both sides known as the costovertebral joints. | | | | allow you to continue exercising. Exercising in the form |
| If these joints are not working properly, you will | | | | of muscle stretching and strengthening is the key to |
| experience upper back pain. This may be caused due | | | | recovery. |