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Upper Back Pain Causes A common upper back pain cause may be a strain or sprain. With a muscle strain, the muscles in the back become stretched excessively, resulting in tears that develop in the muscle tissue. A sprain yields similar symptoms, however instead of muscles getting injured, this injury occurs when the ligaments in the upper back become injured. Due to the similar symptoms of sprains and strains, it if often difficult to determine specifically which condition is causing back pain. Fortunately, each condition usually requires similar treatment. These two conditions often account for the most common causes of upper back pain. Another cause of upper back pain is a ruptured or herniated disc. Between each vertebra is a disc of cartilage. These discs help to cushion and absorb shock during movement. They also help to add stability of the upper back. Wear and tear over time can cause these discs to harden and lose their elasticity. A herniated disc occurs when the disc begins to bulge out from the spinal column. As a result, sensitive tissue and nerves in the spinal column can become impaired when pressure from the disc is placed on them. When pressure is placed on the spinal column, weakness can occur throughout the back and lower extremities as well as serious pain and tingling sensations (paresthesias). Upper back pain can also be caused by arthritis. Most commonly, arthritis affects the knees and other joints throughout the body, but it can also be a cause of upper back pain. Arthritis is any inflammation of the joints. The most common form of this disease is osteoarthritis. Sometimes symptoms of this condition can develop early on between the ages of 30 and 40, but most often it affects elderly people. The wearing down of cartilage around the joints can cause aching pain, swelling, morning stiffness, and reduction of fluid movement. Osteoporosis is another cause of upper back pain. This condition is characterized by a loss of density and degeneration of bone tissue. The loss of bone density can lead to serious effects and in particular adversely affect structural stability. Type I osteoporosis usually develops in postmenopausal women. Type II osteoporosis is more common and develops in both men and women, but more commonly in the elderly. As people age, calcium and phosphate often get absorbed back into the body, thereby lowering the bone density. Having hormone deficiencies are also a common trait that would lead to osteoporosis. Upper back pain, as well as neck pain and fractures, are symptoms of this condition. The most significant risk factors for osteoporosis are age, family history of osteoporosis, and having menopause. Preventing this disease requires taking vitamins and having a balanced diet. It’s also a good idea of avoid alcohol and smoking and to exercise regularly in order to maintain density in the bones. Like herniated discs, spinal stenosis is another upper back pain cause that can result with the pinching of nerves and tissue in the spinal column. Normally, this condition develops among people over the age of 50. Aging bones in the upper back can often lose volume with depleting moisture over time. Inflammation around the joints develops as the space decreases. Nerves can also easily become pinched which can lead to severe pain and other discomfort. Upper back pain can also be caused by fibromyalgia, which is more common than people may think. Muscles aches and stiffness are common traits of this condition. This condition can cause the inflammation of the upper back’s connective tissue, resulting in severe and chronic pain. A generally less serious cause of upper back pain is back spasms. Spasms are characterized by spontaneous, abnormal contractions of the muscles in the upper back. Sometimes, these contractions may be a response to another type of injury, particularly in response to muscle strains. There are many upper back pain causes. Mentioned above are a select few conditions that are among the most common reasons for back pain. When experiencing back pain, it is important to identify and treat it before it progresses and develops into a more severe condition.
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