Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentComplicationsSeeing a ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
Complications
Seeing a Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Causes of upper back pain include trauma, poor posture, and degenerative diseases. While mild symptoms may be handled with home care, severe upper back pain requires a visit to your healthcare provider. Upper back pain that doesn’t improve can make normal movements and daily tasks hard to manage.
This article discusses the symptoms and common causes of upper back pain. It also covers treatments and when to consult a healthcare provider for care.
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When to Seek Emergency Care for Upper Back PainUpper back pain can be a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have back pain with any of the following symptoms:Sudden loss of feeling in one or both legs, your groin and genital area, and/or anal regionInability to walk or standProblems urinating or controlling bladder or bowel movementsBack pain that radiates to your abdomenSudden, unbearable pain in your legs and/or lower backBack pain after a sports injury, fall, or auto accidentAcute back pain with diagnosed osteoporosis or other known risk factors for afractureLoss of consciousness
When to Seek Emergency Care for Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain can be a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have back pain with any of the following symptoms:Sudden loss of feeling in one or both legs, your groin and genital area, and/or anal regionInability to walk or standProblems urinating or controlling bladder or bowel movementsBack pain that radiates to your abdomenSudden, unbearable pain in your legs and/or lower backBack pain after a sports injury, fall, or auto accidentAcute back pain with diagnosed osteoporosis or other known risk factors for afractureLoss of consciousness
Upper back pain can be a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have back pain with any of the following symptoms:
Health Conditions That Can Cause Upper Back Pain
There are many causes of upper back pain. The following conditions can cause this problem (in no particular order).
Back Strain
Back strainoccurs when you tear or overstretch amuscleortendonfiber that moves or supports your spine. Lifting heavy objects is a common cause of back strains.
Neck or Back Sprain
Traumatic Fractures
Traumatic fractures occur when an injury causes breaks in your spine.
Thoracic Spondylosis
Thoracic spondylosis, or thoracic spine degeneration, can occur due to wear-and-tear conditions like thoracic osteoarthritis and thoracic degenerative disc disease.
Poor Posture Causing Upper Back Pain
Poor postureresults in a misaligned spine, which can increase your risk of sprains and strains.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc diseaseis a condition in which your spinal discs wear down. It can cause a pinched nerve orherniation, a bulging of a disc that places pressure on a spinal nerve.
Spinal Compression Fractures
Spinal compression fracturesoccur when one or more vertebrae collapse due to too much stress.Osteoporosisis a common cause of compression fractures.
Spinal Deformities
Congenital or acquired spinal deformities can cause severe curvature in the thoracic spine. Conditions likescoliosis(curved spine) orkyphosis(forward head posture) can strain back muscles and spinal discs abnormally.
Arthritis
Forms of arthritis that affect the spine, including osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, can cause upper back pain.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosiscauses your spinal canal to narrow, compressing your spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This results in pain and numbness.
Cancer
Tumors that occur withspinal canceror cancers in other sites that spread to the spine can cause upper back pain.
Diseases in Some Organs
Other medical problems likegallstones(hard deposits in your gallbladder),kidney stones(hard deposits in your kidneys), orpancreatitis(inflammation of your pancreas) can cause upper back pain.
Pregnancy
As the fetus grows, it shifts the center of the pregnant parent’s gravity forward, making it hard for a pregnant person to maintain proper posture.
The Causes and Treatment of Thoracic Spine Pain
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Upper Back Pain?
Your healthcare provider can use a wide range of tests to diagnose the cause of your upper back pain. The types of tests you receive depend on the location and severity of the upper back pain you experience.
The following commonly used diagnostic tools are can help determine the cause of your upper back pain:
How to Treat Upper Back Pain
There is a wide range of options for treating upper back pain. The type of treatment you receive depends on the cause of your upper back pain.
Common treatments for upper back pain include items in the following list.
Medications:
Other Treatments:
Surgery:
Complications and Risk Factors With Upper Back Pain
Without treatment, your upper back pain can worsen and threaten complications. Common complications of upper back pain can include the following conditions:
Having one or more of the following factors can contribute to upper back pain:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should see a healthcare provider if you experience upper back pain that worsens or does not improve within two weeks of its start. Having back pain with any of the following symptoms also indicates a need to see a healthcare provider:
Summary
Upper back pain affects the upper and middle part of your back in your thoracic spine. This area ranges from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage.
Upper back pain has many causes, such as trauma, poor body movements, and degenerative spine diseases. Most mild cases can be handled with home care and resolved without further treatment. Upper back pain that occurs as a result of more severe problems can last for weeks to months. Upper back pain can sometimes be a sign of a serious condition like a heart attack.
A healthcare provider should check upper back pain that persists for more than two weeks. Chronic upper back pain that remains without treatment can hinder normal movements. It can limit your power to perform daily tasks and increase your risk of depression.
Learn MoreWhat Causes Bad Posture?
Learn MoreIs Your Back Pain Non-specific, Mechanical, or Serious?
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Spine-health.Back pain red-flags for emergency room vs. physician consults.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Back pain.
Cedars-Sinai.Back and neck pain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Back pain.
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