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Upper Back Pain Treatment in Pleasantville

Upper Back Pain Treatment in Pleasantville

Upper Back Pain Treatment in Pleasantville

Do You Have Upper Back Pain?

If you’re suffering from upper back pain, all you can think about is finding relief… but what caused it and what’s the best treatment? If you need treatment for this problem and live in the Pleasantville area, then conservative care at ProClinix is the clear first choice.

It helps to understand the causes of the pain you are having. While there are many things that can cause upper back pain, including muscular irritation (what doctors call myofascial pain) and joint dysfunction, there are a handful of uncommon causes that can be tough to diagnose.

What Counts as Upper Back Pain?

When physicians talk about spine-related pain, they’re referring to the thoracic spine – the 12 vertebrae in the middle of the spine. Each of these 12 vertebrae connect to a rib. The top of the thoracic spine is just at the base of your neck.

Surprising Causes of Upper Back Pain

Back injuries often contribute to thoracic pain, but there are other causes – and they may surprise you.

1. Poor posture. While we all know that good posture includes keeping your head upright, your shoulders back and your rear tucked in, knowing and doing are two different things. If you suspect your problem is due to poor posture, be on the lookout for:

  • Back pain that gets worse at certain times of the day
  • Pain that starts in your neck and spreads downward
  • Pain that gets better (or goes away) when you stand up, sit down or walk
  • Pain that comes and goes over the course of months

2. Stress on Soft Tissues Around the Spine. Any condition that stresses soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, joint capsules, meninges) around the spine can lead to upper back pain, including:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Abnormal spine alignment
  • Injuries
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Systemic diseases (rhematoid artiritis/ankylosing spondylitis)

3. Degenerative disc disease (DDD). While degenerative disc disease isn’t technically a disease, medical professionals use this term to refer to the changes your spine goes through as you age. The discs in your spine are susceptible to degeneration,which means they can:

  • Lose fluid
  • Become torn
  • Shrink

The University of Maryland Medical Center states regarding DDD: Why exercise? Scientific studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have far fewer problems with their back. It helps strengthen the muscles in your back that correspond with your spine. It can reduce your risk of falls and injuries. It can strengthen your abdomen (your belly), arms, and legs, which reduces back strain. Stretching reduces risk of muscle spasms. In addition, weight bearing exercises help prevent loss of bone mass caused by osteoporosis, reducing your risk of compression fractures. Aerobic exercise, the type that gets your heart pumping and pulse rate up, has been shown to be a good pain reliever as well. The natural chemicals of the body that combat pain – called endorphins – are released during exercise and actually reduce your pain.

Reference – https://umm.edu/programs/spine/health/guides/degenerative-disc-disease#ixzz3idYKfSeA

Many people find that working with a physical therapist can provide immediate relief for spine-related pain in the neck, upper, and lower back. You don’t have to suffer through this alone. Call us in Pleasantville at (914)919-2888 – we can help!