Belle Vernon Office: 4313 State Route 51 Unit Rostraver Township, PA 15012
Phone: (724) 430-4924 Fax: (724) 430-4925
Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Are you suffering from upper back pain? First, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point. Second, you have options for treating your pain beyond things like invasive surgeries and pain medications. Maddas Chiropractic & Rehab Center has the key to successfully treating upper back pain and properly locating the source of your pain to create a tailored plan for healing.
What Is Upper Back Pain?
The upper back covers the area spanning from your neck to the bottom of your rib cage. Referred to as the thoracic spine, the upper back consists of 12 vertebrae. It is very important for the health and function of the entire body. What’s more is the upper back is interconnected with other parts of the body which, can create a scenario where it’s very easy for something to go wrong. Even just a single muscle or joint becoming injured, irritated, or inflamed can create severe pain that impacts the entire body.
What Are the Signs of Upper Back Pain?
Pain in your upper back (thoracic area) covering your neck to the bottom of your rib cage is the most obvious sign of upper back pain.
Here are common ways upper back pain is experienced:
- A dull ache or tightness
- A sharp, stabbing, throbbing pain
- Discomfort when moving
- Sharp, radiating “stabs.” of pain in the arms, chest, stomach and/or sides of the body
- Sensations of tingling, pins-and-needles in the extremities
- Feelings of numbness and weakness in the extremities
- Stiffness instead of acute pain
- Reduced mobility and range of motion when making movements
In general, upper back pain and discomfort could quickly build up to acute pain, radiating pain, and stiffness, if untreated. Over time, an issue that merely caused discomfort can limit a person’s ability to move without pain, sleep without pain or lift objects. Pain can also be intermittent. A person who feels great when they wake up in the morning could be in distress by the end of the day due to the way movements can stress or fatigue the thoracic spine.
What Causes Upper Back Pain?
Upper back pain has many triggers. In some cases, a specific moment in time can cause back pain that lasts for years. Other people spend years making repetitive motions that seem to make back pain appear one day “out of the blue.”
- Falls: A fall is one of the most common causes of upper back pain. While pain may appear suddenly after a fall, it can also be either gradual or delayed in its onset.
- Whiplash: While many people think of whiplash strictly as a neck injury, it can generate pain in the upper back. It’s important to consider treatment for whiplash if you’re experiencing upper back pain after being in an automobile accident.
- Repetitive Stress: Repetitive movements that put pressure on the thoracic spine can cause upper back pain. For many people, jobs which require lifting heavy objects can cause back problems over time. However, even a desk job can be a risk factor for developing upper back pain if improper posture is used.
- Heavy, Unbalanced Purses and Bags: Yes, the weight of heavy purses and bags can throw off alignment in the thoracic spine by placing unbalanced strain on the trapezius muscle.
- Poor Posture: Sitting and standing with poor posture can cause back pain over time. It’s important to keep the head in a neutral position with the back supported if you must sit for long hours. Many people “hunch” forward without creating a supportive environment for their back when working at their desks.
- Mental Stress: Stress alone can trigger an upper back problem. When we’re stressed, our muscles contract. Unfortunately, being in a state of chronic stress can place great strain on our muscles. This puts a person at risk for developing chronic tightness. Factors like poor posture, strain, and carrying heavy items can lead to subluxations that are at the root of our upper back pain. A subluxation is a misalignment of the vertebrae that creates dysfunction within the central nervous system. Subluxations can sometimes be visually noticeable in head posture and shoulder alignment. It’s important to have subluxations corrected as they have the potential to create symptoms like severe pain, lowered immune function, and fatigue that can greatly reduce overall health and quality of life.
How Is Upper Back Pain Treated?
Chiropractic care is considered a very safe and effective treatment for upper back pain. For many people, it provides an alternative to surgical options that come with risks and recovery time. Many people see improvements in the way they feel after just one session. Dr. Maddas uses specialized treatment plans for each patient according to their condition. Maddas Chiropractic & Rehab Center takes the natural approach to treating our patients with upper back pain than simply putting a bandage over pain. Dr. Maddas will work with you to create a “whole body” treatment plan for the back pain that is reducing your quality of life.
Contact our office today for a consultation. (724) 430-4924
Lower Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
What causes low back pain?
Mechanical problems, or problems with the structures of the back, are responsible for most instances of low back pain. Those structures are subject to a great deal of stress and strain because they hold the whole weight of your upper body, as well as providing stability during movement. Most often, a pulled or strained muscle or ligament causes low back pain, but degenerative disc disease can lead to painful herniated or ruptured discs. Between the vertebrae of the spine are small bits of cartilage that cushion the vertebrae, so they don’t grind against each other. These cartilage discs can begin to wear and eventually bulge out from between the vertebrae. Only between 2% and 10% of people with low back pain end up with chronic pain.
How is back pain helped by chiropractic care?
The first step in relieving back pain is determining the cause. Maddas Chiropractic & Rehab Center evaluate each patient and build a treatment plan based on that evaluation. If your back pain is due to overuse or muscle strain, your treatment differs from that of someone who has a herniated disc. Depending on your situation, Dr. Maddas creates a unique.
Procedures may include:
- Spinal manipulation
- Cold laser
- Vibration therapy In-office
- Ice pack treatment
- Deep tissue massage
- Spinal adjustments
Recent studies have found that spinal manipulation was associated with less pain and improved function across 26 clinical trials, demonstrating that chiropractic treatment is often an effective strategy for treating low back pain.
How do I know if my back pain is something serious?
More than 90% of people who have back pain have acute pain which, may go away within a relatively short period of time. Most of those people have pain caused by overuse or muscle strain. However, a small percentage of people develop chronic pain, and sometimes chronic back pain is due to a serious underlying condition. Dr. Maddas is experienced in diagnosing the causes of back pain assessment of each patient.
Some symptoms that could indicate a more serious problem, including:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Difficulty urinating
- Difficulty bowels
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Worsening pain when lying down
Whether your back pain is acute, or you are concerned it could be something more serious or long-term, Maddas Chiropractic & Rehab Center can help you understand your pain, treat your pain, and develop an effective treatment plan.
Call our office today for more information. (724) 430-4924