My Damn Back Pain & How I Deal
Your upper back is the reason you’re able to stand up straight, which makes it no surprise that upper back pain can be caused by poor posture.
Upper Back Pain Causes
Upper back pain can be the result of an injury, overuse or from poor posture over a long period of time. People who sit at a desk and work on a computer all day are generally more susceptible to upper back pain. Poor posture combined with long hours of sitting down can easily add up to upper back pain. Upper back pain is felt most in the shoulders or along the neck.
Upper Back Pain Symptoms
There are a number of different symptoms you may experience with upper back pain depending on if your upper back pain is caused by your joints or your upper back muscles. Radiating pain is one obvious symptom of upper back pain. This pain may be in just one spot or felt all around your upper back.
You may feel weak if your upper back pain is caused by a strained muscle in your shoulders. You may feel upper back pain and stiffness more in the morning before you get your body moving a little bit. If you are feeling upper back pain it’s important to consult with a physician to determine the cause.
Upper Back Pain Treatment
Being active can actually do a lot to help you reduce upper back pain caused by muscle irritation. In chronic cases of upper back pain, passive physical therapy may be necessary for rehabilitation. Most physical rehabilitation programs will include a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises to help recondition your shoulder muscles and tendons causing upper back pain.
Pain medications are an easy way to relieve upper back pain, but aren’t a real cure. Anti-inflammatory medications can also be helpful to reduce upper back pain. Ibuprofen, also known as advil, can be purchase over the counter and provides amazing inflammation relief.