Understanding Upper Back Pain Along The Spine
March 16th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
In order to understand upper back pain along the spine, we must first understand the upper back. Unlike lower back pain, pain from the upper back is not that common. The upper back region is where you will find the thoracic spine, which in turn contains twelve vertebrae. These vertebrae are linked to nine of the twelve ribs. Sitting perpendicularly to the spine is the breastbone, which also is connected to the ribs. These bones all form part of what is know as the thoracic or “chest” cage. This cage sole responsibility is to protect the organs found in our upper body. The three remaining ribs at the low end of the “ladder” are not attached to the breastbone and therefore do not form part of the thoracic or “chest” cage.
Upper back pain along the spine, though rare, does occur. This article will explain the causes and treatment of such a condition.
What causes upper back pain along the spine
The thoracic spine exists to stabilize the body and protect its organs. It is stronger than the cervical spine (neck) and lumbar spine (lower back). The cervical and lumbar spines are made to help the body move and flex. The thoracic spine is made to be strong and stable. For this reason, injuries are much more commonly seen in the cervical and lumbar spinal regions. However, there are two main causes of upper back pain along the spine, or thoracic spine pain: myofascial pain and joint dysfunctional pain.
Myofascial pain - This is muscular irritation brought about by muscle strains that can occur from sports activities, over or underuse of a muscle, or sudden movements such as being thrown forward in an automobile accident. This usually affects the large muscles supporting the shoulder blades.
Joint dysfunction - This is a malfunction of the two joints that connect each rib to the thoracic spine. Ribs are connected to the spine on either side by joints. An injury to one or both joints can cause them to lose function and can cause upper back pain along the spine.
Treatment of upper back pain along the spine
Myofascial pain is best treated with deep tissue massage, chiropractic manipulation of the spine, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Stretching and strengthening of the shoulder muscles is key in developing strength of the upper back.
Joint dysfunction is best treated by chiropractic manipulation, aerobic exercise, medication to relieve pain, and steroid injections at target sites of pain if necessary.
Upper back pain along the spine are is hard to diagnose and should you be unfortunately suffering from it, the best professionals to see are firstly pain management specialists, chiropractors, physiotherapist and if the pain still persists, an orthopedic surgeon.
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Causes Of Chest And Back Pain And Irritation
March 16th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The causes of chest and back pain and irritation can either start in the chest and be felt in the back or vice versa. There are several reasons and situations that can cause causes of chest and back pain and irritation to flare up.
There are really only two reasons for causes of chest and back pain and irritation and they are a pinch nerve or pulled muscles. These are the most likely cause of pain travelling from the back to the chest. The best thing to do in these situations is to see your doctor about receiving care. They may be able to assist you and give you advice on what to do or who to see about resolving the issues you are having with causes of chest and back pain and irritation. It is important to see your local or family doctor first before seeing any other specialist like a chiropractor. Often, people with back pain head straight for the chiropractor but there are things that can be the causes of chest and back pain and irritation that has nothing to do with bones or joints so it is best to see your primary care first. You may find you do not need the chiropractor after all.
Causes of chest and back pain and irritation - Chest To Back
Having chest pain that runs into the back is going to come from a variety of sources. Of course, sources vary so it is a good idea to get any pain checked out. Pains can be caused by muscles spasms from activity. Ulcers and other internal blockages and issues can also cause chest to back pain. Lung and heart issues can also cause back pain as well as chest pain. If you are, having chest pain that is, moving to your back you should seek medical advice, as this could be a sign of a serious health concern.
If you happen to have a recurring pain a good strategy is to keep a record of all the symptoms, situations and what you might have been doing at the time you have a flare up so that you are able to determine the common element that seems to be causing the pain. This will also help you figure out whether the causes of chest and back pain and irritation are due to outside influences. Should the latter be the case, removing the external trigger for the pain is often the only remedy needed to fix the pain.
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Ways To Cure A Severe Burning Pain In An Upper Back Muscle
March 11th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
A burning pain in an upper back muscle is thankfully not something that every adult will experience. However, most will develop some kind of pain at one stage or another. Many will attribute their back pain to some kind of sports injury while other will cause the injury by doing everyday chores like overdoing it in the garden on the first warm day of spring. Some people tend to also get back pain as a result of poor habits. If you have a burning pain in your upper back muscle, there are ways to alleviate your pain.
To Do Or Not To Do
First of all, though your back hurts this isn’t the time to just lay stiffly in bed, waiting for the pain to pass. For the first day, that’s all right, maybe even two days, but anything beyond that will just slow your recovery. The muscles need to be working and stretching in order to heal. So, within a couple of days, get up off the bed and back to a more active lifestyle. You may still have a burning pain in an upper back muscle, but it is time to get moving.
Many people find relief (whether they are in bed or moving and working) by using heat (try a plug-in heating pad, a heat pack that can be warmed repeatedly in the microwave, therapeutic pad that can be stuck to the skin and stays warm for 4-6 hours, or a hot bath or spa) or cold (ice or a cold pack that is chilled in the freezer - maybe have two to exchange them so that one can be chilling while the other is in use). If the heat or cold helps, it is a good way to relieve the pain.
If the burning pain in an upper back muscle persists, consider medication. Acetaminophen, NSAIDS, anti-inflammatories, and some herbal analgesics can be useful, so try one or the other of them. If the pain doesn’t decrease with the use of those, see your physician. He may prescribe narcotics or steroid injections.
Another way to help with the pain now (and help you never have the pain again) is to gently stretch and strengthen the muscles of your back, legs, and stomach. Though you may still have a burning pain in an upper back muscle, the gentle stretching and strengthening exercises will help your back, and probably even feel good.
You might also want to consider visiting your chiropractor, acupuncturist, or masseuse, as these therapies have also been found helpful, to varying degrees.
If the burning pain in an upper back muscle does not settle and fade away within a few weeks, you should pay a visit to your family or local doctor. A medical condition of some sort could be the cause of the back pain and your doctor should be able to rule what is not the cause. Please also remember that the spine and everything that is attached to it is very complex and sometimes the source this burning pain in an upper back muscle will remain a mystery.
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Lower Back Pain Knot - Untie Yourself From Pain
March 4th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Having a lower back pain knot can be quite hard to get rid of and to make matters worse, lower back pain resulting from the knot is not something that anyone can put up with for long periods of time whether the pain is mild or severe. However there are quite a few treatments that can be performed to get rid of the lower back pain knot. The first step to completely remove the pain and to decrease any chance of it returning is to find the find the root of the pain.
While poor posture usually is blamed for feeling that lower back pain knot, other causes include a sedentary lifestyle, or lack or exercise and as standing or sitting too long at one time. Sitting in a chair too long that does not provide ample lumbar support or sleeping on a mattress that lack support can also lead to a lower back pain knot. Pushing, pulling or carrying something in the wrong way or that is too heavy can also cause the feeling of having a knot in the lower back.
An injury or slight muscle pull from a trip or slip and fall accident can also cause the feeling of a lower back pain knot. Once you have narrowed down the probably cause of the knot you can take steps to find relief from the pain. Your doctor can possible provide muscle relaxing medications to ease the pain but unless you understand what caused it in the first place, chances are it will come back again.
Matching The Treatment To The Cause
If the pain from a lower back pain knot is caused by a sedentary lifestyle, the obvious treatment is going to be to get some exercise. However, jumping right into am exercise program can also cause other muscles to hurt until they get used to the additional workout. Starting slow and stretching the muscles before starting to exercise is always recommended.
Consider the chair in which you may spend most of your work day to see if it is providing the support you need to prevent developing a lower back pain knot but is the pain is caused by a recent injury, and you opt for massage therapy, be sure to tell the person giving you the massage about the injury.
If the muscles are worked the wrong way, the pain could not only get worse but this could also lengthen the healing process. For most people getting rid of a lower back pain knot will probably not be as quick as they would probably have hoped for but if you want the pain to go away and stay away, proper treatment must be rendered and sometimes this takes time.
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Can Muscle Fatigue Result In Low Back Pain
February 27th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The causes of muscle fatigue, low back pain and back spasms are quite numerous. The most common are Arthritis, injury to the back from a car accident or sports related back injuries. Every year, back pain costs the nation billions of dollars from people missing work with headaches heading the field. So how are muscle fatigue, low back pain and back spasms related? In this article, we will try to answer your questions and maybe even help you find an effective cure.
Muscle fatigue is defined as a condition resulting from extended contraction of a muscle. When a muscle is overused, muscle fatigue occurs. Personal trainers use the term anaerobic threshold for the point at which the body no longer has the oxygen or energy supply to keep going. Muscle fatigue occurs if the body is pushed passed this threshold limit.
Low back pain is pain in the lower spine, or lumbar spine, and any of its surrounding muscles, and ligaments, its vertebrae and discs, or in the organs or skin near the lower back. Low back pain can be acute or chronic in duration. Pain can come on slowly and softly or be severe and immediate. Acute low back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks and chronic low back pain can last years or become permanent, chronic pain.
A back or muscle spasm happens when a muscle contracts or decreases in length and cannot be released voluntarily. Muscle spasms are caused by pain stimuli.
Banishing Muscle Fatigue, Low Back Pain, & Back Spasm
Treating muscle fatigue, low back pain, and back spasms involves a multifaceted approach. The best way to treat muscle fatigue is to stop using the muscle before fatigue sets in. It is important to take breaks and rest muscles when playing sports or lifting heavy objects. If you do not stop before you reach the anaerobic threshold, you may cause a muscle sprain and you certainly will experience muscle soreness or strain. Strengthening muscles with aerobic exercise that increases oxygen levels to muscles and helps build endurance and stamina is an excellent way to keep muscle fatigue from occurring. Know your limits. If you have strained a muscle, get lots of rest and give the muscle at least two weeks to heal before using.
A few simple treatments for low back pain are to use hot and cold pads topical analgesic creams, prescription and over- the-counter medications, acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, and physical therapy. Say goodbye to your high heels and get yourself shoes with heels no higher than ½ to ¾ inch. They will not only be helpful within your recovery period but research has found that a little height is good for easing pressure on your joints. Strengthen your back muscles with exercise routines like Yoga. By making your back muscles stronger you will be able to give better support to your back and keep back pain from occurring in the future. Get your local doctor to fully test you for disorders like kidney infection that could also cause low back pain.
Any muscle spasms are to be treated as soon as possible the sooner the better as they will eventually result in muscle knots that are a lot more painful. Find a good masseur and get your back massaged regularly. Another common treatment method is to get trigger point injections.
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Oh, My Aching Hip And Back—Arthritis Pain Relief
February 20th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Arthritis hip and back pain is mostly associated with the older members of our society. In fact this could not be further from the truth. Although this is partly true, arthritis can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. For arthritis sufferers, hip and back pain seem to be at the top of the list.
While there are several options available for this purpose, it is important to learn about each of them so as to make an educated decision about how you will get relief for your arthritis hip and back pain. In the end, it only benefits you.
Living A Lovely Life
For many arthritis cases, making small, simple lifestyle changes can dramatically alter the hip and back pain associated with arthritis, and provides some relief. To make these changes, it is important to wake up and pay attention to the symbols and signs that your body gives you.
Whenever you feel pain, consider what you have just done. Have you performed a certain task, eaten a certain food, or had a restless night? Determining what might trigger the hip and back pain that goes with your arthritis is the first step toward getting relief.
Generally speaking, a long night’s rest will help to ease your back pain, as will easy daily exercise, like walking or swimming. Making sure that you get plenty of rest each night and exercise daily are just a few lifestyle changes you can make that could turn your pain around.
Many Medications Make The Difference
If you cannot get relief for your arthritis hip and back pain, consider the many prescription and non-prescription drugs that are available. Many of these drugs are merely pain relievers, which will stop the main but not address the root of the pain. Other drugs suppress the immune system and are helpful in certain arthritis cases. Biologic response modifiers are also used to treat the condition.
Ask For Help
Many people who experience hip and back pain from arthritis never get relief. Though this is a scary thought, it is important to realize that this might be the reality. If you cannot find a pain reliever that works well for you, there are other options you can turn to.
Help for arthritis sufferers can come in many ways and forms and there are even many specific tools that are now available all geared towards giving you a better quality of life.
Instruments like the simple walking stick for those who have trouble walking and even special gadgets like special can openers or tools for garden lovers can all help with your arthritis. What is important is to make your life as pleasant as possible if you cannot make the pain go away.
An Annoying Ache
To most arthritis sufferers, it is nothing but and annoying ache and should not stop anyone from living a very full life.
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