Well over 60 million Americans suffer from back pain and for many people it is specifically upper back pain that disrupts their life; however, relief can be found through natural treatments and exercise.
When someone complains about upper back pain, it is likely they are experiencing discomfort throughout the backside of the chest and upper abdominal area. The upper back includes the shoulder blades and the area where the rib cage connects to the spine. The upper back is often called the “Thoracic spine.”
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Although it doesn’t happen as often as lower back pain, upper back pain can be very uncomfortable and it can be chronic. There are multiple nerves, muscles, tendons and ligaments in the upper back. When any of these become irritated or inflamed, upper back pain can be the result.
Causes and symptoms of upper back pain
Inflammation and irritation in the upper back takes place for a number of different reasons. For some people it is as simple as poor posture, for others it can be trauma due to an accident or sports injury. There are also medical conditions including herniated disc, arthritis, spinal degeneration, spinal stenosis, spondylitis, kidney stones or bone cancer that can lead to upper back pain. In most cases, upper back pain is associated with muscle irritation from poor posture or joint problems, which are not reasons to panic.
So back pain is back pain, right? Well, not exactly. Not all symptoms of upper back pain are focused on the backside of the chest and upper abdominal area. There are other signs associated with back pain. Upper back pain with difficulty breathing may be a sign of heart attack, while upper back pain with a fever could be a sign of an infection.
Here are some other symptoms that are common with upper back pain:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Morning stiffness
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Redness, warmth or swelling of the back
- Stress
- Insomnia
If you or someone you know is experiencing the following symptoms with back pain, immediate medical attention is required.
- Abdominal pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Indigestion
- Chest pain
- Jaw pain
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
Upper chronic back pain between shoulder blades could mean something serious
The upper back involves important elements of the spine. The spine is made of vertebrae that control our head movements and support our upper body structure. Upper back pain can begin in the neck and back area and radiate into the shoulders, arms and hands.
If you suffer from upper back pain between the shoulder blades, the first course of action should be to review your activities. Ask yourself if you have done any heavy lifting or sports activities that could have irritated muscles or tendons. If you recently began a new exercise routine, it could simply be that you stretched muscles that haven’t been used in a long time.
Unfortunately, sometimes upper back pain between the shoulder blades is more serious than a muscle strain. If someone has a gallbladder or bile problem, it could cause upper back pain between the shoulder blades. The gallbladder is a small organ in the upper right area of the abdomen that helps with the digestion of food. If it becomes diseased, it can cause back pain. The pain is normally a stabbing sensation into the upper back between the shoulder blades. Also, when a gallstone blocks a bile duct it can cause sharp pain in the upper back that radiates into the right shoulder.
Pain in the upper back between the shoulder blades can occur when someone has esophageal cancer or lung cancer. Liver cancer has also been known to cause radiated pain in the back.
Herniated discs can cause extreme pain in the back and are often accompanied by pain radiating down the arms, as well as some numbness.
Treatments and home remedies for upper back pain
Just as there are various reasons for upper back pain, there are multiple ways to go about treating the problem. In some cases, the pain can seem unbearable and you may want to turn to painkillers, but people soon learn that painkillers simply mask the problem instead of dealing with it.
You can get surprising results with upper back pain relief at home. For instance, there are upper back pain relief stretches you can do each morning when you get up and each night before you head to bed. Your doctor can guide you on what stretches are best for your upper back pain condition. Again, depending on your situation, upper back pain relief at home may come after attending organized exercise classes prescribed by your doctor. It can be helpful to have someone guiding you through all the upper back pain relief exercises and being with others who are suffering the same pain.
In many instances applying hot and cold treatments go a long way in relieving pain. A hot bath can be a nice way to heat the upper back. You can also try placing a hot water bottle on the back to ease the pain. Cold packs are also good, but wrap the pack with a wet cloth before applying so you don’t cause a cold burn. Some people find that alternating between hot and cold is helpful.
Changing your sleep position reduces the strain on your back and can sometimes help ease the level of pain you experience. A doctor or physiotherapist can give you tips on how to position yourself and use pillows for the best results.
If you are able to establish that your back pain is due to a muscle strain, as is the case with many sports injuries, physiotherapy could be a good option. Physiotherapists will guide patients through exercises and stretches to the point where patients are able to work on their own at home to reduce pain.
Alternative remedies for upper back pain
Developed in China, acupuncture is a practice that involves pricking the skin or tissues with tiny needles to relieve pain. Those who practice acupuncture believe that when our energy force, or “Chi” as they call it, is blocked, it causes pain. Acupuncture has the ability to free up the “Chi” channels by inserting the needles into specific pressure points, thus releasing the pain. It is believed that the needles release neurochemicals that help in the healing process.
Massage therapy is another alternative remedy that works for a lot of upper back pain sufferers. A SpineUniverse survey in 2008 showed that back pain patients were “very satisfied” with massage as a treatment option. A massage therapist uses both his/her hands and special tools to rub the painful muscles in the back and neck. The rubbing increases blood circulation and brings more oxygen to the muscles. It can also get rid of acids that build-up in muscle and cause pain. It’s important to seek out a certified massage therapist if you decide to go this route.
Upper back pain exercises and stretches
People with mild to moderate pain may want to start upper back pain exercises and stretches in the comfort of their own home. There is a long list of poses/movements that you can try. You should take it slow – try one or two to start. You can always add more upper back pain exercises and stretches if you can tolerate movement. Below you will find a few examples of stretches and exercises you could potentially do at home.
- Pectorals stretch – Stand in an open doorway with both hands above your head on the doorframe or wall. Slowly lean forward until you feel a stretch in the front of your shoulders. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat two to three times.
- Scapular squeeze – While sitting or standing with your arms by your sides, squeeze your shoulder blades together. Hold for five seconds. Do two sets of 15.
Thoracic stretch – Sit on the floor with your legs out straight in front of you. Hold your mid-thighs with your hands and curl your head and neck towards your belly button. Hold for a count of 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat three times.- Lying knee twist – Lie on your back with legs extended out. Bend your right knee and cross it over the left side of your body. Hold for 20 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
- Yoga cat/cow – Kneel on all fours with your hands beneath your shoulders and your knees below your hips. Exhale and gently arch your spine. Inhale and tighten your core muscles as you are rounding your back like a cat. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
- Seated stretch: Sit in a chair with your back straight and feet on the floor. Roll your shoulders back and keep your shoulder blades bent downward. Place your hands, palm side down, on your shoulders and have your elbows pointing out. Bring your elbows in front of you a to touch them together while your hands remain on your shoulders. Return your elbows back out to the side and repeat this motion several times.
- Yoga strap stretch: Hold a yoga strap in your hands with palms facing out. Raise your arms above your head with straight elbows. Lower your chin down towards your chest with arms still up. Hold this position while deep breathing through the nose and mouth. Bring your arms back down and neck back up and repeat this as needed.
- Isometric back exercises: Isometric exercises are those that push against resistance without moving a muscle. An example of this is by looking ahead and placing your hands on your forehead. Your hands should be putting pressure on your head and your head should try to resist being pushed back.
- Rowing exercise: With the use of an elastic tube, close a door on half the tube so that it is sturdy. Sit in a chair and keep your elbow at a 90-degree angle and hold the end of the tube. Now extend your arm and pull it in as if you are ‘rowing.’ Try to squeeze your shoulder blades together when doing this move.
There are many other upper back pain exercises and stretches that can bring you relief. The key is to find the combination that will bring you gradual relief. Recovery takes time. You can’t expect to find upper back pain relief overnight. In most cases, it didn’t take just a day to create the back pain, so it stands to reason that it will take some patience, time and work to reduce the pain and get back to a happier place.
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