Causes of pain in the upper back. Causes of pain in the upper back Pain in the upper back on the left

Upper back pain is common, regardless of a person's age. Symptoms can be completely different. Pain syndrome does not always indicate problems with the spine. Often discomfort radiates to the upper back from internal organs: heart, lungs, esophagus. If you have such a symptom, you should not delay visiting a doctor, as irresponsibility contributes to the development of complications.

If a person has such a symptom in the upper back, then the cause of its occurrence should be determined. To do this, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner. All causes of such pain can be divided into 2 groups: damage to the spine itself and damage to the internal organs of the thoracic region.

Table 1. Causes of pain in the upper back

Taking upper back pain seriously will help you avoid serious complications and disability.

Features of the manifestation of pathology

In addition to pain in the upper back, the patient also has other symptoms:

• Poor health, decreased ability to work.
• General weakness.
• In some cases, an increase in temperature appears.

• Muscle aches, cough.
• Rapid weight loss.
• Increased muscle tone.
• Limitation of range of motion.

If such symptoms are present, you should urgently consult a doctor and undergo diagnostics. It is impossible to clearly name the cause of the development of pain affecting the upper back based on its symptoms.

The mechanism of pain development is very simple. It occurs due to damage to nerve receptors in the shoulder girdle and in the area of ​​the shoulder blades. Irradiation of unpleasant sensations is also possible. The pain can be constant or intermittent.

Diagnosis of pain

Naturally, if you have the above symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor. He will conduct a physiological and neurological examination, palpate the affected area, determine the functionality of the reflexes and the sensitivity of the area of ​​the back being tested. The doctor will also prescribe a set of studies, including:

1. Laboratory tests of blood and urine.
2. Collecting the patient's medical history. He should note at what time the pain most often begins, where it is localized, and what pathologies are present. Information about the patient’s working and living conditions is also important.
3. Analysis of sputum and pleural fluid (taken with a special needle).
4. X-ray of the lungs and thoracic spine. This research method is necessary for a preliminary diagnosis.

Photo of MRI procedure

1. Ultrasound of the kidneys and spinal column.
2. Gastroscopy (if the cause of back pain is a gastrointestinal disease).
3. Electrocardiography.
4. MRI or CT. These studies allow you to obtain the maximum amount of accurate information not only about the spine, but also about the surrounding tissues and organs.

Diagnosis must be differential, since the symptoms are not specific. Therapy is carried out under the supervision of a vertebrologist and neurologist. If the cause of pain in the upper back is a disease of an internal organ, then an appropriate specialist is involved in the treatment.

Treatment rules

Pain in the upper back requires increased attention not only from doctors, but also from the patient himself. You cannot turn a blind eye to it, so as not to develop complications. Treatment is carried out in several directions: eliminating the main cause of discomfort, combating symptoms, preventing the recurrence of pain.

Therapy tactics include the use medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage techniques, physical therapy. Proper nutrition is also important.

In case of severe injury or pain that cannot be tolerated, the person is prescribed analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. To increase their effectiveness, the patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures. They help strengthen the muscle corset, restore the functionality of the spinal column, and stabilize it.

Exercise therapy is useful. Exercises with pain should be careful. Movement should not cause discomfort. In the first days, the load should be minimal: first, a simple warm-up in a lying position, and then performing the exercises prescribed by the doctor.

In the video below we will show a set of exercises to strengthen the muscles of the upper back:

Massage is no less effective. It is performed not only when your shoulders hurt. Massage is allowed only after completing a physiotherapy course. If there is acute or severe pain, any manipulation is contraindicated.

Non-traditional methods of therapy are also used. They are useful when pain appears after sleep, moves to the upper abdomen, or during pregnancy. However, even these methods need to be agreed with your doctor:

• Manual therapy. The main goal of therapy is to influence biologically active points hands. The procedure allows you to restore and stabilize the spine, replace intervertebral discs, eliminate pain, and release pinched nerve endings.
• Acupuncture. It helps to get rid of upper back pain in a short period of time.
• Vacuum therapy. Here the main instrument of influence is banks. The vacuum they create allows the blood to be properly distributed in the tissues. Gradually, metabolic processes in the affected areas are restored, and the pain syndrome goes away.

Before using unconventional methods, you should consult a doctor. Perhaps in an individual case there are some contraindications to them.

You should not be sure that if your upper back no longer hurts, then the problem has gone away. To prevent relapse, the positive result of treatment must be consolidated.

Prevention of pathology

To avoid pain in the middle or upper back, you must follow certain preventive measures:

• Learn to monitor your posture not only in childhood, but also in adulthood.
• If a person has a sedentary job, then every hour you should do a warm-up to restore normal blood circulation and metabolism.
• You shouldn't wear high heels all the time.

• If there is a need to carry a heavy load, then it should be evenly distributed on both hands.
• It is important to ensure that your body weight is within normal limits.
• So as not to arise It's a dull pain after sleep, it is better to choose an orthopedic bed and mattress. These products allow a person to take a natural pose.
• It's better not to make sudden movements.

Back pain that affects the top may be a symptom of some kind of pathology. However, to really find out the cause of this pathology, you need to be thoroughly examined.

Pain in the upper back often appear in people of different ages.

At the same time, pain is not always a sign of spinal pathologies. Such pain is medically called thoracalgia.

This name characterizes the appearance of signs of polyetiological nonspecific clinical symptom, developing as a result of the development of the disease in different organs and systems.

It's important to remember that in such cases, osteochondrosis can be diagnosed relatively rarely, due to the high level of protection of the intervertebral discs at this level of the spinal column due to the presence of a rigid frame of ribs, spine and sternum.

Much more often the causes of pathology are lesions of small uncovertebral joints, osteoporosis, and myofascial pain syndrome. Pain can also be caused by referred pain, psychogenic illnesses, various tumors and metastases, tuberculosis or spinal stenosis. In such cases, it is important not to self-medicate, but to consult a specialist as quickly as possible in order to reduce the risk of possible development of health-threatening complications.

Classification and nature of pain in the upper back

Pain in the upper back is distinguished by several signs:

From the point of view of the nature of pain in the upper back, they are distinguished by the following characteristics::

• the development of myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by the appearance of pain in the upper back, as well as in any muscle affected by spasm; manifested by the presence of one to several, in some cases very painful areas that can be found by palpation;
• with osteoporosis, persistent pain occurs in the thoracic spine; it is distinguished by its widespread nature, it is accompanied by postural disorders, limitation of movements, spinal deformation, the presence of multiple painful points located asymmetrically, sensations of numbness and paresthesia of the feet and hands;
• if the pain is psychogenic, the syndrome may not have a clear localization; pain can radiate to the heart and be migrating;
• with referred pain, a leading pain attack appears, in the direction from the organs located inside.

What diseases of the musculoskeletal system cause pain in the upper back?

Pain in the upper back can occur with a number of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which include:

• osteochondrosis, representing degenerative disorders in the vertebrae; usually the pain is aching in nature at rest, and can become sharp during movement;
• intervertebral hernias that occur due to damage to the intervertebral discs;

• dysfunction of the joints, in which normal motor functions ribs and vertebrae; can often be recognized by the appearance of a feeling of aching;

• vertebral fractures and abscesses lead to the appearance sharp pain;
• rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs with bilateral damage to the hands and toes, can affect the knee, ankle, and shoulder joints.

Characteristic signs of these types of diseases are the appearance of pain when moving, which causes limited mobility of the spine. In this case, a person loses the ability to bend in different directions, bend or unbend.

Other Causes of Upper Back Pain

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The causes of pain in the upper back can be::

• injuries that occur due to incorrect posture or excessive overload;
• voltage muscle tissue, which holds the shoulder girdle, shoulder blades and posterior region chest;
• angina pectoris or attack, causing squeezing pain radiating to the arms, back, shoulders;
• rupture of the aortic wall, which occurs when a large vessel is damaged, causing severe discomfort;
• vertebrogenic thoracalgia, causing pain between the shoulder blades;
• pain during pregnancy due to a significant decrease in mobility during pregnancy;
• Availability excess weight;
• swelling of the pericardium, leading to pain in the center of the chest;
• various lung lesions, including blood clot formation, lung collapse, inflammation, swelling of the mucous membranes;
• panic attack, accompanied by a significant increase in breathing;
• inflammation in the area where the ribs connect to the bones of the chest;
• herpes zoster, causing severe tingling and pain on one side;
• malfunctions gastrointestinal tract, such as spasms, narrowing of the esophagus, stones in gallbladder, heartburn, peptic ulcer or gastritis.

Relieving upper back pain

A professional diagnosis of back pain may not always be necessary. Sometimes the pain that occurs when sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position or from a cold goes away on its own. Seeing a doctor - a traumatologist, surgeon, therapist, neurologist or cardiologist - will be necessary if the pain does not go away within several days.

Typically, a specialist will do the following::

• collects anamnesis, during which he clarifies the nature and location of the pain;
• performs a physiological examination, paying attention to the patient’s gait, muscle tone, symmetry of body parts, degree of sensitivity and reaction;
• orders an x-ray examination.

For the treatment of pain in the upper back, both traditional methods are used: physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy, and unconventional methods: acupuncture, manual therapy, vacuum therapy.

Drugs

Taking into account the fact that any pain can be the result of an inflammatory process, regardless of the factors that caused it, when prescribing drugs, the doctor selects those that will help eliminate the lesion. Drugs that suppress the affected area are prescribed to reduce the degree of inflammation, with severe injuries and unbearable pain. In the latter case, it may also be recommended analgesics.

Surgery

Surgery for upper back pain may be required if the underlying cause is pathological condition, is intervertebral hernia, or degeneration of intervertebral discs.

The main indication for surgery is the presence of persistent pain., which does not respond to methods conservative treatment for at least six months and are characterized by an increase in neurological symptoms.

If there is an injury or fracture surgery may be recommended immediately after an x-ray examination.

Video: "Back pain: what to do?"

Exercise therapy and massage

Special physical therapy exercises are very useful for back pain. When performing them, it is important to be careful and avoid the appearance of signs of discomfort. At the beginning of classes, the load should be light; you can limit yourself to a simple warm-up in a lying position. In the future, you should perform the exercises prescribed by your doctor.

The most popular exercises that are suitable for almost every person to get rid of discomfort in the upper back are:

1. shoulder roll, which is the performance of rotational movements forward and backward, which can be done in several approaches, the main thing is to do them slowly and carefully;
2. tilting and rotating the head; in this case, you need to try to reach your neck with your chin; when throwing your head back and performing circular movements, it is important not to overdo it; this exercise will help relax and warm up the muscles located in the upper back;
3. raising the shoulders, performed with the head lowered as much as possible; you need to inhale and at the same time raise your shoulders as much as possible, then lower them as you exhale;
4. muscle stretching, performed by placing your hands behind your head, with your palms reaching above your head, thus stretching the back muscles; The palms need to be moved at a slow pace from the neck to the shoulders.

Massage is highly effective for back pain. It has a relaxing and warming effect, promotes blood flow to the area of ​​inflammation, activating the body to fight pathology. With a gentle massage of the trapezius muscle, you can relax the muscles while increasing blood circulation.

Treatment at home or with folk remedies

If pain in the upper back suddenly appears, you can take the first steps at home.

In these cases, they can help and bring temporary relief.:

Conclusion

Upper back pain is a fairly common ailment that can occur for various reasons.

Most often they occur in pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, as well as for injuries and intervertebral hernias.

Pain also may indicate developing pathologies in the lungs, organs of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems of the human body.

You need to start treating pain if it does not go away within several days. In this case, you will need a professional examination by a specialist.

Treatment of back pain is carried out primarily with the help of drugs, physical therapy, massage. Non-traditional remedies such as acupuncture may also be used.

At home, if back pain suddenly appears, a variety of compresses will help ease your well-being and relieve discomfort.

Determine the real cause of pain, put accurate diagnosis and only a specialist can prescribe the necessary treatment.

Upper back pain is a symptom that anyone can experience, regardless of age or occupation. Many problems associated with back discomfort indicate pathological processes in the spine, that is, in the risk zone - activity musculoskeletal system. Self-medication in this case can lead to disastrous results. Let's try to find out what the characteristics of pain in the upper back are and what needs to be done in a specific situation.

If the upper back hurts, it is generally accepted that degenerative processes are localized in the thoracic spine. The main causes of pain in the upper part can be different, here are the most common:

• mechanical injuries;
• stretching;
• stress caused by physical activity;
• rachiocampsis;
• sedentary lifestyle.

Upper back pain can cause the following diseases associated with pathology in the joints and spine, so-called vertebrogenic diseases:

• – a disease caused by deformation of intervertebral discs and cartilage;
• arthrosis is a disease indicating degenerative processes in the joints;
• – pain is caused by deviation of the vertebrae relative to the axis of the ridge in the upper spine;
• Osteoporosis – increased fragility of bones.

Often the causes of pain in the upper spine are associated with diseases of the internal organs. These may include the following ailments:

• diseases of the cardiovascular system (ischemia, atherosclerosis, angina, pericarditis) - caused by insufficient blood circulation in the heart muscle;
  pathology respiratory system(inflammation, collapse, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pleurisy);
• diseases of the digestive system (inflammation of the gallbladder, peptic ulcer, gastritis) – the pain is localized in the stomach and hypochondrium, but radiates higher, so the upper back may also hurt;
• inflammation of the pancreas – pain can also spread to the upper torso, in particular to the shoulder and shoulder blade.

You need to be attentive to the accompanying conditions of the body and even the psyche. Upper back pain may be due to factors that are not obvious. Here are some examples:

• panic disorder - this condition is accompanied by difficulty breathing, which can cause painful sensations in the upper back;
• herpes zoster – causes discomfort behind the sternum, pain is localized only on one side;
• heartburn - the pain usually increases after eating.

As may be noticeable, it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis based on symptoms alone. Upper back pain can be caused by a variety of factors. Therefore, the best decision would be to undergo examination in a hospital. Only a doctor can choose the appropriate treatment.

What are the symptoms

To better understand the signals that the body gives, it is worth determining exactly what sensations cause pain in the upper back. Making diagnoses depends on the difference in pain parameters:

• character (sharp, dull, lumbago, pulsation);
• place (right, left, middle of the thoracic region);
• spread (can be point-like or radiate to any area of ​​the upper body);
• strength (intense, weak, increasing);
• intervals (attacks or constant);
• reaction to associated factors (movement, stress, breathing, cough).

So, certain parameters of pain will help to understand what nature the disease has. Now you need to figure out which area the disease belongs to. We have identified the distinctive features characteristic of diseases, causing pain in the upper back.

Spinal problems

The provoking factor is pinched nerve roots, which causes tension in the muscles of the neck and chest. The most common diagnosis is osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine. Associated symptoms:

• no sensation of pain at rest;
• numbness;
• decreased sensitivity of the skin;
• weak motor activity;
• pain radiates to the arm and shoulder;
• weakness, feeling of decreased muscle tone;
• redness or paleness of the skin.

If pain in the upper back is accompanied by similar symptoms, you need to tell your doctor about it. He will conduct an examination in the office or write a referral to specialists (traumatologist, neurologist). The percentage of probability that pain is associated with vertebrogenic diseases will increase if during palpation curvatures of the spine are detected: scoliosis, kyphosis.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels

Diseases from this area are considered if the back hurts on the top and left. Such sensations can be traced in the shoulder blade and arm, cervical-collar area, jaw and even cause toothache. In addition, pay attention to the presence of the following symptoms:

• pressing pain increases with movement;
• constant change in blood pressure readings;
• paleness of the face;
• feeling of anxiety and fear;
• the appearance of perspiration;
• incomplete inspiration;
• increased heart rate.

If all the signs are the same, and the attacks last only a few minutes, this may indicate angina pectoris. An outbreak is usually caused by an external factor ( exercise stress or emotional shock). If the symptoms of heart disease cannot be eliminated with medication, then this serious reason for concern. The development of the disease can be life-threatening, so you need to urgently call an ambulance.

Respiratory system diseases

At inflammatory processes, occurring in the lungs and other respiratory organs, pain occurs in the upper back. This is also indicated by the following factors:

• cough;
• increased pain when coughing;
• expectoration;
• uneven breathing.

The doctor will determine the final diagnosis after listening to the lungs. The presence of wheezing and other noises will indicate problems in the respiratory system.

Digestive diseases

Many diseases in this area can manifest themselves not only as pain directly in the organs themselves abdominal cavity, but also spread to the upper body. Associated ailments:

• discomfort in the esophagus;
• indigestion;
• nausea;
• bitterness in the mouth;
• lack of appetite.

Please note that the location of pain may depend on the specific disease. At cholelithiasis the pain is concentrated in the neck; with pancreatitis, the pain has a girdling character.

Kidney failure

Unpleasant sensations signaling kidney damage are not limited to colic in the lumbar region. Strong pain can spread higher on both the right and left sides. Most often this happens with pyelonephritis. A few more reasons directly pointing to this:

• darkening of urine color;
• pain when urinating;
• chills;
• edema;
• increased blood pressure.

Some symptoms can lead to a dead end and at first glance indicate heart disease or respiratory tract. In this case, you need to be examined by a doctor and take a lab tests. It is advisable to do this without delay, otherwise the disease will progress to the chronic stage.

Muscle strain

The patient should analyze what factors could influence the onset of pain. This could be a sudden turn of the head, carrying heavy objects, uneven weight distribution, physical exercise. What does it say about this:

• pain covers the shoulders, neck, chest and shoulder blades, moving to the spine;
• aching, burning sensations;
• weakness.

Panic attack

This disease is more likely in the field of psychotherapy, but it has many somatic symptoms. This includes back pain caused by overstrain of the spinal muscles. In addition, it is observed:

• cardiopalmus;
• tremor;
• sweating of the extremities;
• nausea;
• problems falling asleep.

Since back pain is not the main symptom panic attack, they go away as they heal.

Diagnostics

If your upper back hurts for several days in a row, this is a serious reason to see a doctor. What kind of diagnosis and treatment will depend on the specifics of the disease. You may have to check with a cardiologist, neurologist or traumatologist. Most likely the following work will be done:

• taking an anamnesis - the doctor will ask several questions regarding your well-being. The patient must help collect all the information, talk about his lifestyle, chronic diseases and bad habits;
• referral for tests - laboratory research biomaterial will show which assumptions need to be excluded and which ones need to be confirmed;
• additional examinations - perhaps the doctor believes that the cause of the pain is in the degenerative processes of the internal organs, so he can write out a referral for an electrocardiogram if he suspects angina pectoris or an ultrasound of the kidneys if everything points to pyelonephritis.

These are ordinary methods: anamnesis and tests are prescribed for any, even simple examinations.

Treatment

Let's talk about treating pain in the upper back, if the problem is with joints or tissues. If the pain is very strong, then painkillers are prescribed to quickly relieve the syndrome. Sometimes prescribed. If the cause of discomfort is osteochondrosis or disc herniation, the following procedures are recommended:

• Physiotherapy – strengthens muscles and joints, restores performance, eliminates inflammation and reduces the volume of the hernia.
• Massage - this treatment of the spine is indicated immediately after the pain stops, that is, after a course of physiotherapy. It has a healing effect; in consultation with a massage therapist, you can do self-massage at home.
• Exercise therapy is a set of exercises aimed at improving the patient’s health. It is developed taking into account the diagnosis and at the initial stage has a low intensity of exercises with a tendency to increase.
• Acupuncture is ancient oriental. The healing effect is achieved with the help of needles placed on reflex points. The procedure works well together with a massage.
• Vacuum – the essence of cupping massage is that the vacuum helps to evenly distribute blood circulation throughout the treated area. Thus, the cause of the disease is eliminated. The procedure is also good as a preventive measure.

Prevention

Ideally, you need to take preventive measures even before encountering a disease. That is, if you have a sedentary job, you need to set aside a couple of hours a week for the gym or jogging. But if you are faced with an illness once, then this serious reason Let's not allow this situation to happen again. To do this you need to do:

• Watch your posture.
• Do exercises and gymnastics in the morning, warm up every two hours of working at the computer.
• Do not lift weights if your body is not ready for it. Distribute your weight between the sides of your body.
• Watch your diet.
• Check how comfortable the sleeping place is. If necessary, change the pillow and purchase an orthopedic mattress.
• Avoid sudden head turns or shoulder movements.
• Sign up for a sports section. Better yet, go swimming. This type of exercise balances the load well and strengthens the muscles of the shoulder girdle.

Risk group

There are people who need to pay attention to preventive measures first.

Pain in the upper back is not always a sign of spinal disease. Back pain in the upper thoracic region can occur for many reasons. The chest is an important part of the human body due to the presence of the heart and lungs. Without these organs, a person simply cannot live. Dysfunctions at this level often affect the functioning of a higher organization, putting a person’s life at risk. Pain in the upper back can be caused both by typical diseases associated with the back, and by pain radiating from the chest organs.

People often confuse what refers to different parts of the back. The thoracic region of the back is located from the beginning of the neck to the middle of the body. It includes the heart, esophagus, lungs, and trachea. In practice, pain may even radiate to the back from an inflamed throat and nasopharynx. Do not try to use words taken from the Internet in front of your doctor - talk about your complaints honestly and directly.

Pain in the upper back can be divided according to its source into two groups - caused by diseases of the internal organs of the chest and as a consequence of diseases of the vertebrae and spine. The first group is often a consequence bad habits, hereditary disorders, environmental hazards. The second relates to a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture and even a too hard pillow.

For example, lung diseases that develop due to smoking or asbestos dust entering the lungs. Heart disease is caused by obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, or even vice versa - a consequence of increased strength training, which leads to increased blood pressure.

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Conditions that cause upper back pain include:

• Scoliosis;
• Osteochondrosis in the upper part;
• Heart failure.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. Often it occurs in the thoracic region due to incorrect posture that the child maintains at school. Pain manifests itself in the second or third degree, when the spine, with its curvature, begins to touch surrounding tissues and nerve roots. Very often this affects the intervertebral discs, which act as a shock absorber, dampening vibrations from lower limbs and lumbar region. A person often has pain in the upper back due to the development of a herniated disc, which presses on the spinal nerve roots that transmit impulses to the human brain.

Treatment consists of wearing corsets and massages. It is important to start it on time, because with large curvatures in the thoracic spine, the shoulders begin to fall in the curved side, which leads to a change in the tidal volume of the lungs and problems with blood circulation.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a pathological growth of cartilage tissue around the vertebra. They begin to damage the tissues surrounding them, cause a feeling of stiffness, disrupt muscle function, and limit the flexibility of the spine. Pain in the upper spine is often caused by this disease, which affects most of the world's population over 40.

Just like with scoliosis, intervertebral discs may begin to become damaged, causing a herniation. The discs themselves in the thoracic region, without outside intervention, rarely herniate, since they do not experience so much pressure on their body. Treatment consists of blockades and physical therapy

• , stopping the formation of chondrocytes.

Perhaps you need information: ?

Heart failure

Depending on its type, the heart can radiate into the costal surface of a person’s back. This often leads to misunderstanding - in a person's mind, the heart is located on the left in front. At the same time, pain in the upper back can also be noticeable on the right, which is completely confusing. It is important to assess your condition in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner. In heart disease, pain treatment is aimed at restoring normal functioning. The heart is often operated on, and quite successfully, because half the success in therapy is visiting a doctor and his qualifications. It is not uncommon for people to die due to treatment folk medicine

in the treatment of heart diseases.

Insufficiency includes myasthenia gravis, wall thickening, ventricular and atrial hypotrophy. Depending on the disease, a person has different restrictions - for example, smoking and the use of substances that increase the heart rate are excluded. If you have angina, you should never increase your blood pressure or use vasoconstrictors. In some cases, therapy is required for life, however, medicine is moving quite quickly, and methods of treating cardiac diseases already allow for sufficient treatment

full life

To treat upper back pain, you first need to correctly determine the cause of the pain. Diagnostic methods include x-rays, ECG and x-rays of the lungs. After establishing the cause, therapy is carried out by a more specialized specialist - a cardiologist, pulmonologist, or orthopedist.

Treatment is carried out using medications, massages, physiotherapy, and nerve blocks. What matters is how quickly the diagnosis was made. Do not try to delay the moment of seeing a doctor, because in some cases the disease develops rapidly and requires urgent decisions from qualified specialists.

Although not as common as lower back pain, left upper back pain still affects many people on a daily basis. Upper left side- area on the left, below the neck ( cervical spine) and over the lower back ( lumbar region spine). The upper back is often referred to as thoracic region spine and is generally considered the most stable part of the spine. Movement of the upper back is largely limited due to the attachment of the ribs to the rib cage.

Left upper back pain can result from a variety of causes, with muscle (musculoskeletal) pain being the most widely reported cause. The pain often feels sudden and sharp. It may be experienced in a generalized area or perhaps focused on a specific point. Upper left back pain can be acute in nature (occurs suddenly) or chronic (occurs over long periods of time). .

What Causes Pain in the Left Upper Back

Injuries.

• Broken ribs, bones, or vertebral damage.
• Damage or tears to muscles and ligaments.
• Back injuries during sports.
• Cuts, wounds or abrasions on the back.

Musculoskeletal pain.

• Poor posture can lead to lower back pain over time.
• Rapid, incorrect body movements, such as twisting or lifting, can pull and strain your back muscles.
• Spinal disorders, including bulging disc, damaged disc, compression of spinal nerves.
• Fibromyalgia: a disorder characterized by widespread skeletal muscle pain, myofascial pain and other muscle pain related conditions that can affect the upper back muscles.
• Conditions affecting the joints of the ribs and shoulder joints, such as osteoarthritis and sometimes rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can also affect the spine.

Nervous conditions.

• Spinal problems that result in pinched nerves can cause tight muscles in the upper back.
• A stroke can leave patients with chronic pain, numbness and weakness.
• Infections such as shingles can affect areas of nerve distribution that spread to the upper back, resulting in pain. ?

Other possible reasons that can cause pain in the left upper back:

• Osteomyelitis (infection or inflammation of the bones of the spine).
• Osteoporosis (metabolic bone disease).
• Paget's disease of bone.
• Spinal degeneration ( degenerative disease disc, also called spondylosis).
• Spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal that presses on spinal cord or nerves).
• Spinal fracture.
• Spondylitis (infection or inflammation of the joints of the spine).
• Heart attack.
• Kidney stones and disease (although this pain is usually below the chest).
• Multiple myeloma.
• Spinal tumor or cancer (the tumor may be non-classical, also known as benign). .

Symptoms of pain in the left upper back

Symptoms will often depend on the cause of left back pain, with some similarities being common across all cases due to its location. Acute and chronic conditions may be present with different symptoms depending on the time of onset. Below are some of the symptoms that may occur when diagnosed with left back pain.

• Pain.
• Embarrassment.
• Immobility.
• Muscle spasm.
• Painful to the touch.
• Headache.

Other possible associated symptoms include:

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Morning stiffness.
• Pain in the neck.
• Redness, warmth, or swelling.
• Shoulder pain.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Stress. .

It's always good idea When playing sports or any activity that could cause bodily harm, wear protective equipment. Best form treatment is to prevent injury in the first place. Stretching regularly, sleeping on a semi-firm mattress, and investing in office chairs with adequate back support are great ways to prevent this injury.

Treatment for upper left back pain will depend on the underlying cause. Acute injuries, fractures and sprains can be treated with the formula: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Hot or cold compresses may also be used.

• X-rays, bone scans, MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds are methods that specialists can use to diagnose back pain.
• Your doctor may also send you for blood tests to rule out rheumatoid arthritis or a spinal infection.

Contact a massage therapist. Strained muscles occur when individual muscle fibers go beyond their stretch limits and then tear, resulting in pain, inflammation, and some degree of defensiveness (muscle spasm in an attempt to prevent further damage). Deep tissue massage is beneficial for mild to moderate tension because it reduces muscle spasm, fights inflammation and promotes relaxation. Start with a 30-minute massage, focusing on your upper back and lower neck.

• Always drink plenty of water immediately after a massage to flush out inflammatory byproducts, lactic acid, and toxins from your body. Failure to do so may result in headache or mild nausea.