The upper back includes a complex system of muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, vertebrae, and discs that separate them, and although upper back pain is less common than low back pain, many suffer from it for short or long periods.
The causes of upper back pain are many and varied, and upper back pain can be treated according to the cause of the pain, so accurate diagnosis of pain and knowledge of its features and accompanying symptoms helps to manage the conditions that may be behind back pain from above.
Causes of upper back pain
Common causes of upper back pain include:
Wrong sitting and sleeping position
Poor sitting and sleeping position that lasts for long periods can cause upper back pain, especially in people working behind desks and screens.
Poor sleeping position during pregnancy can be a cause of upper back pain for pregnant women, as sitting and sleeping routinely in bad positions leads to structural changes in the back and neck, and may change the normal alignment of the spine, in addition to that, pregnancy causes an increase in front weight and concentration of body weight forward, especially in advanced stages of pregnancy, which in turn leads to increased pressure on the vertebrae of the upper spine and back muscles and causes their pain.
Using inappropriate lifting techniques
Wrong weightlifting techniques and heavy objects above the head can cause upper back pain by generating significant pressure on the upper back, especially if the center of gravity of the lifted weight is tilted towards the right or left instead of the center.
Overuse of the upper back
Overuse of the upper back at work, especially sudden movements such as painting the ceiling, causes upper back pain between the shoulders, due to muscle strain, ligament tears, and inflammation of the upper back tissues.
Exposure to accidents
Any type of accident such as car and bicycle accidents, even light ones, exposure to falls especially while descending stairs, and exposure to shocks during exercise can cause upper back pain through damage to soft tissues, discs, vertebrae, muscles or nerves due to injury.
Less common causes of upper back pain
Less common causes of upper back pain include:
Herniated disc of the thoracic or cervical vertebrae.
Pinching the nerve roots between the vertebrae of the spine as a result of a herniated disc.
Microcompression fractures that occur as a result of pressure on the vertebrae of the spine, and this condition usually occurs as a result of aging and weakness of the vertebrae, and eventually leads to curvature and curvature of the upper back.
Different types of arthritis that affect or spread to the upper spine, such as degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Fibromyalgia, and although fibromyalgia affects most parts of the body, it commonly causes upper back pain.
Causes of serious upper back pain
In rare cases, there can be serious causes behind upper back pain, including:
Spinal infection that causes pus to collect between the spinal cord and the bones of the spine, and this condition is known as spinal epidural abscess, and it is one of the serious conditions that need prompt treatment to avoid the development of serious neurological complications.
In very rare cases lung cancer can be the cause of upper back pain between the shoulders and chest.
A heart attack can be a cause of upper back pain in women in particular, and a heart attack is often accompanied by many other symptoms such as feeling of pressure in the chest, upper stomach pain or nausea, cold sweat, confusion, and rapid heartbeat.
Cholecystitis sometimes causes pain in the middle of the back between the shoulders and chest, especially pain that is concentrated between the shoulder labia or tilted toward the right shoulder.
Upper back pain that requires medical evaluation
As mentioned earlier, upper back pain can result from serious causes, but serious cases often cause other symptoms in addition to upper back pain, so you should get a medical evaluation when upper back pain is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Severe or persistent pain.
- Numbness or tingling in the arm.
- Feeling of pressure in the chest.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Confusion or incomprehensible speech.
- Cold sweats.
- Upper stomach pain or heartburn.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
- Stiff neck accompanied by fever.
Prevention of upper back pain
Not all causes of upper back pain may be preventable, but the following steps can reduce your risk of common causes that lead to upper back pain, including:
Take frequent breaks and stretch when working at a desk, or sit in a certain position for long periods.
Warming up before lifting weights or exercising.
Use the correct lifting techniques, and avoid twisting when lifting a heavy weight over the head.
Massage the back regularly to improve muscle frequency.
Avoid wearing heavy backpacks.
Work to strengthen weak muscles such as the waist and back muscles to remove pressure from the joints of the spine.
Raise your back straight when walking and sitting, and use back supports when necessary.
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