Back pain is a common ailment that many people suffer from, in fact, roughly 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. But how can you tell if it’s the usual inflammation or signs of something more serious?
Keep reading to learn more about some of the common upper back pain causes.
1. Overuse of Muscles
If you find yourself repeating the same motions over and over again you might experience some upper back pain due to tightness, irritation or muscle strain. An example of repetitive motion could be a golfer practicing his swing time and time again. This constant rotation of the back and swinging motion will lead to strain on the back and shoulders.
If you repeat the same motions everyday then this might be the cause behind some of your upper back pain and may turn into chronic back pain over time. In order to relieve some of your pain, it is recommended that you begin by resting the area by stopping the repeated motion.
In addition to rest, you can alternate between heat and ice on the area to promote blood circulation to the affected muscle tissues. Going forward you should look for ways to avoid using the same motions or try and take frequent breaks during the activity.
2. Poor Posture
Having poor posture can lead to upper back pain due to a weakening of the muscles and causing them to decondition. This can happen by sitting slouched at a desk frequently or looking down at your phone.
Slouching at your desk puts pressure on your body as gravity pulls down on your neck and your body begins to push down on your back, ligaments, and discs. This consistent poor posture will lead to you experiencing pain and discomfort and over time you will develop a chronic problem.
In order to condition your muscles to be stronger, you should try correcting your posture while sitting in a more inclined position and take regular breaks throughout the day to move around and stretch. There are also standing desks that allow you to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. This will help you stay on task with work while also allowing you to focus on your posture and avoid upper back pain.
It may take some time to train yourself to sit up straighter and get around and move, but if you stick with it you should notice a difference in the way your back feels.
3. Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition that causes your spine to curve and can go unnoticed at first. Often times it isn’t noticed until something looks or feels off, such as, clothing fitting or hanging awkwardly or at an angle or a parent may notice it in their child while they are wearing a bathing suit at the beach or pool.
For those who are suffering a more severe case, you might experience trouble walking due to the spine causing your hips to come out of alignment, trouble breathing from the rib cage twisting due to a rotated spine and putting pressure against the lungs. Many who experience a moderate or severe case can also have a reduced range of motion from the spine twisting and pain from strained back muscles.
If you, or a loved one, are suffering from any of these symptoms then you should consider seeking expert scoliosis treatment for adults and children and ease the back pain.
4. Injuries
If you have picked something up that was too heavy for you or twisted wrong while reaching for something then you may have caused a spinal disc to become herniated. This herniated disc may slip out of place far enough to push against a nerve and cause back pain. Pinched nerves can be attributed to numbness, tingling or pain in your arms or legs, trouble controlling your urination, or even weakness in your legs.
Having a herniated disc is a common injury and most can be healed by resting, taking an anti-inflammatory or, in severe cases, surgery. Once the herniated disc stops bulging and putting pressure against your nerves the pain will subside. Steroid injections in the spine might be needed in certain cases to aide the healing process.
Another cause of back pain may happen from a traumatic injury due to a car accident, work-related injury or slipping and falling. These types of injuries can vary in severity and may lead to nerve damage, chronic pain, or in worst cases even paralysis. You should seek the care of a doctor for treatment and hopefully avoid any long-term pain.
5. Osteoarthritis
Most people who suffer from upper back pain experience it due to trouble with their muscles, however those who have osteoarthritis actually have a problem with their joints and bones.
Over time as a person with osteoarthritis ages, the cartilage that acts as a cushion in your joints will wear down and may eventually disappear altogether. This will cause the bones to rub together which causes pain and discomfort. This can also cause pressure to be placed on the nerves in your spine which leads to tingling and numbness in your arms and legs.
With this type of arthritis, it is important to seek a diagnosis from your doctor and determine a treatment schedule and determine how to best manage the pain and not lose function in your joints.
Learn More About These Common Upper Back Pain Causes Today!
These are some of the common upper back pain causes that most people suffer from on a daily basis. While some of these are preventable or can be treated others will require seeking the help of a doctor.
For more health topics and information, be sure to visit our website daily!
