Welcome to back pain Guide
Lower Back Pain Causes Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
A Heads Up on Upper Back Pain
from:When you experience upper back pain, it’s occurring in what’s called the cervical curve which is composed of the vertebrae C1 through C7. Vertebrae are the bones in your spine and this section of the spine has less motion than the mid-spine bones. The cervical curve bones have a very important role: they support your head. In other words, you can hold your head up because of your upper spine and the connected muscles. The cervical curve, or upper back, also serves to protect the nerves that run from your brain to your body.
Since the upper back bones have less mobility than the middle of the spine, upper back pain is most frequently due to muscle injury or myositis. Myositis is the inflammation of muscles. Fortunately, the bones in the upper back seldom experience problems like herniated discs. Unfortunately, you can’t see muscle strain on diagnostic pictures like an MRI.
The medical community is increasingly convinced stress can cause a lot of back pain. Stressed and tight muscles in the neck surrounding the cervical curve can result in upper back pain. For example, a “stiff neck” can feel like pain in your neck and upper back. The tight muscles further restrict the limited motion of this part of the spine. Other causes, besides injury or stress, of upper back pain include the following.
* Osteoporosis
* Disc disease
* Bad posture
* Strain due to incorrect lifting
These are certainly not all the causes of upper back pain, but they are the most frequent causes. Most people experience routine upper back pain due to the most common reason of all: sleeping wrong on the pillow. It sounds so simple, but can cause great pain for a few days. The more serious injuries to the upper spine are usually due to events like car accidents or sports accidents.
Treatment of upper back pain depends upon the cause of the pain naturally. It can be just as difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of pain in the upper back as it is to pinpoint it in the mid and lower back regions. But even if the doctor can’t locate the exact reason for the pain if it’s not due to vertebrae injury, you can still find relief through a number of methods. These methods range from applying heat or cold all the way to surgery.
Since most upper back pain is due to muscle strain, surgery is usually not required. Other treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, massage and muscle relaxants. It’s really good news that the upper spine seldom deteriorates since it protects the nerves from the brain. Injuring the bones in the upper spine can result in nerve damage too, and that can be extremely debilitating.
If you have upper back pain, and your home remedies have not brought relief, a doctor should be consulted.
Lower Back Pain Causes News
The Illinois Back Institute Helps Patient Beat Debilitating Back Pain
CHICAGO, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Chronic pain is terrifying. Sciatica and stenosis are two of the most common causes of persistent, debilitating back pain. Chicago resident Pedro Estrada suffered ...
Read more...Illinois Back Institute offers non-surgical treatment for lower back pain
Chronic pain is terrifying. Sciatica and stenosis are two of the most common causes of persistent, debilitating back pain. Chicago resident Pedro Estrada suffered from extreme back pain that compromised his livelihood and soured his outlook on life. After taking time off from his job and consulting many doctors, he finally found relief with non-surgical treatment at the Illinois Back Institute.
Read more...Tips to avoid back pain while traveling
According to a study by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, some of the most common causes of back and neck pain include lying, sitting or standing in awkward positions for prolonged periods of time, such as during long car rides, extended flights or sleeping on a mattress that doesnand#8217;t provide proper support.
Read more...Dry needling uses eastern acupuncture needles in western framework
Some say it is bringing an eastern tool into a western medical framework. Others say it's just acupuncture by another name. Whatever you call it, Chris West says it works. West, a physical therapist, calls it trigger point dry needling, and he says it straightened out his chronic lower back pain.
Read more...Preventing and treating back pain, Part 2: NetWellness
Back pain may be preventable, and there are steps that you can take each day to keep it at arm's length. This is the second in a three-part NetWellness series on back pain.
Read more...Dinosaurs may have suffered from arthritis
Dinosaurs may have suffered from arthritis, new research says.
Read more...Plavix's new generic status could be boon for patients
The blockbuster drug Plavix (clopidogrel), used to prevent clotting in some heart patients, will go off patent in the United States on Thursday, making it considerably more affordable.
Read more...