| When you experience upper back pain, it's | | | | |
| occurring in what's called the cervical curve | | | | * Strain due to incorrect lifting |
| which is composed of the vertebrae C1 through | | | | |
| C7. Vertebrae are the bones in your spine | | | | These are certainly not all the causes of |
| and this section of the spine has less motion | | | | upper back pain, but they are the most |
| than the mid-spine bones. The cervical curve | | | | frequent causes. Most people experience |
| bones have a very important role: they | | | | routine upper back pain due to the most |
| support your head. In other words, you can | | | | common reason of all: sleeping wrong on the |
| hold your head up because of your upper spine | | | | pillow. It sounds so simple, but can cause |
| and the connected muscles. The cervical | | | | great pain for a few days. The more serious |
| curve, or upper back, also serves to protect | | | | injuries to the upper spine are usually due |
| the nerves that run from your brain to your | | | | to events like car accidents or sports |
| body. | | | | accidents. |
| | | | |
| Since the upper back bones have less mobility | | | | Treatment of upper back pain depends upon the |
| than the middle of the spine, upper back pain | | | | cause of the pain naturally. It can be just |
| is most frequently due to muscle injury or | | | | as difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of |
| myositis. Myositis is the inflammation of | | | | pain in the upper back as it is to pinpoint |
| muscles. Fortunately, the bones in the upper | | | | it in the mid and lower back regions. But |
| back seldom experience problems like | | | | even if the doctor can't locate the exact |
| herniated discs. Unfortunately, you can't | | | | reason for the pain if it's not due to |
| see muscle strain on diagnostic pictures like | | | | vertebrae injury, you can still find relief |
| an MRI. | | | | through a number of methods. These methods |
| | | | range from applying heat or cold all the way |
| The medical community is increasingly | | | | to surgery. |
| convinced stress can cause a lot of back | | | | |
| pain. Stressed and tight muscles in the neck | | | | Since most upper back pain is due to muscle |
| surrounding the cervical curve can result in | | | | strain, surgery is usually not required. |
| upper back pain. For example, a 'stiff neck' | | | | Other treatments include anti-inflammatory |
| can feel like pain in your neck and upper | | | | drugs, massage and muscle relaxants. It's |
| back. The tight muscles further restrict the | | | | really good news that the upper spine seldom |
| limited motion of this part of the spine. | | | | deteriorates since it protects the nerves |
| Other causes, besides injury or stress, of | | | | from the brain. Injuring the bones in the |
| upper back pain include the following. | | | | upper spine can result in nerve damage too, |
| | | | and that can be extremely debilitating. |
| * Osteoporosis | | | | |
| | | | If you have upper back pain, and your home |
| * Disc disease | | | | remedies have not brought relief, a doctor |
| | | | should be consulted. |
| * Bad posture | | | | |