Pain in the upper spine. Causes of pain in the upper back

Pain in the upper back is an extremely common symptom. She meets at the most various diseases, and therefore its pledge successful treatment serves accurate diagnosis. Thorough examination usually allows you to determine the cause of the pain.

What diseases cause pain in the upper back

Pain in the upper back accompanies various diseases internal organs.

1. Diseases respiratory system:

pleurisy ("dry") with sensation cutting pain on the left or right side chest associated with respiratory movements;
spontaneous pneumothorax with sudden acute pain in the chest with irradiation to the shoulder blade. Characterized by a decrease in the excursion of the chest on the side of the lesion, the absence of noise during auscultation;
pneumonia with intense or moderate pain in the left or right side of the chest or shoulder blade. The pain is aggravated by deep breathing and cough, fever, cough, wheezing in the lungs during auscultation are noted;
lung or bronchial cancer. The pattern, nature and intensity of pain depend on its location and prevalence - with damage apex of the lung Pencost syndrome (brachial plexopathy) develops, in which there is pain in the shoulder, scapula, medial surface of the arm, when the pleura grows, pain occurs in the chest on the side of the lesion, significantly aggravated by breathing, coughing, movements of the body, if the intercostal nerve is involved, pain is enveloping in nature.

2. Diseases of the digestive system:

Pain in the upper back on the right
acute cholecystitis. The pain lasts from several hours to several days, usually localized in the right precostal space and epigastrium. Possible irradiation in right half chest, right shoulder, shoulder blade, shoulder girdle, as well as in the region of the heart, concomitant nausea, vomiting, fever, jaundice skin, pain on palpation in the right hypochondrium, tension abdominal muscles;

Upper back pain on the left
acute pancreatitis with sudden intense pain in epigastric region encircling character with irradiation to the left lower part chest, shoulder blade, shoulder girdle, heart area; pronounced spasm of the abdominal muscles;

3. Diseases of the urinary system:

Pain in the upper back on the left or right
renal colic and thrombosis renal artery;
retroperitoneal hematoma. Sudden pain of unknown origin in the lower back in a patient receiving anticoagulant therapy.

4. Defeat spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system.
Pain in the upper back on the left or right
Pain, often shooting, has the features of a projection, i.e. its pattern is limited to the limits of the skin representation of the root or nerve, often has a distal distribution.

Which doctors to contact if there is pain in the upper back

Gastroenterologist
Infectionist
Traumatologist
Orthopedist
Chiropractor
Therapist
Family doctor
Cardiologist
Pulmonologist
Urologist
Nephrologist
Gynecologist
Proctologist
Surgeon
emergency doctor

Although pain in the upper back is not as common, if it does occur, it can cause a person enough severe discomfort. The most common causes of pain in the upper back are the pathology of the cervical and thoracic spine, muscle strain.

Pain in the upper back can also cause problems such as the cervical and thoracic spine and its complications: or degeneration of the intervertebral disc,.

It is important to note that the thoracic spine is very different in form and function from the cervical and lumbar regions. The cervical and lumbar sections are structured in such a way as to ensure the mobility of the neck and lower back. The thoracic spine, on the other hand, must be strong and stable enough to allow a person to stand upright and protect the vital organs of the chest. Since the thoracic spine is stable and rather inactive, there is a rather small risk of injury for it.

Anatomy of the thoracic spine

The thoracic spine is the part of the spinal column that corresponds to chest area.

The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae to which the ribs are attached. When viewed from the side, this region of the spine appears slightly concave;
every vertebra in thoracic region the spine at each level on both sides joins the rib, and the ribs, in turn, converge in front and attach to the sternum. This design is called the ribcage and provides protection to the vital important bodies chest area: heart, lungs, liver, and also provides enough space for the expansion and contraction of the lungs;
The 9 upper pairs of ribs extend from the spine, round off and join at the anterior surface of the chest. Since the ribs are firmly attached to the spine from behind and to the sternum from the front, the spine is inactive in this part;
3 lower pairs of ribs do not connect in front, but also protect the internal organs, while allowing the lower part of the thoracic spine to be a little more mobile;
The joints between the lower thoracic (T12) and upper lumbar (L1) vertebrae allow for side-to-side turning.

Because the top part the back is stable and inactive, in this area there are infrequent problems associated with the spine, such as degeneration of the intervertebral disc or spinal instability. These conditions can cause pain in the upper back.

Due to the immobility and stability of the thoracic spine, in most cases, external causes pain in the upper back is often not found, so it is necessary to carry out.

The doctor needs to determine the damage to which area of the spine has led to pain in the upper back. So, with the localization of pain in the suprascapular region, and under the shoulder blades, it is necessary to do.

Causes of pain in the upper spine

Pain in the thoracic spine can occur as a result of injury or sudden damage, as well as over time, due to poor posture or excessive load.

A few words about bad posture: last years pain in the upper back frequent complaint among people who spend most of their time at the computer. Often, pain in the upper back is combined with and / or shoulder.

muscle tension

The shoulder girdle is attached to the shoulder blade and to the back of the chest with the help of large muscles. These muscles are prone to tension, which can cause pain and problems when playing sports. Often, muscle irritation and pain in the upper spine occurs due to injury associated with either low muscle strength or excessive stress on the muscle (for example, with repetitive movements). Muscle strains, sports injuries, car accidents, etc. can lead to pain in the upper spine as a result of muscle irritation.

This type of upper back pain is best treated the following methods treatment:

therapeutic exercises;
physiotherapy;
massotherapy;
acupuncture (acupuncture).

Since the pain, in this case, is associated with the condition of the muscles, most rehabilitation programs include a large number of strength and stretching exercises.

If the patient also has an area that feels most painful, an active trigger point may be the cause of the pain in the upper back. Trigger points are usually located in skeletal muscle. In this case, treatment may include a combination of the following methods:

massotherapy;
acupuncture;
injection of a local anesthetic (such as lidocaine) into a muscle.

Pain medications can also help with treatment. Inflammation often occurs with muscle irritation, so anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors) may also be needed.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine

The most common cause of upper back pain is a problem cervical spine.

Pain usually accompanies other symptoms cervical osteochondrosis, namely neck pain, headaches and dizziness, problems with blood pressure, pain in the shoulder, pain in the arm and fingers, numbness is also possible. MRI often reveals protrusions and less often hernias of the cervical spine, signs of spondylosis and spondyloarthrosis, various degrees narrowing spinal canal.

Because the thoracic spine is sedentary and stable, problems such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degeneration of the intervertebral disc, or instability are rare. spinal segment(for example, due to spondylolisthesis). According to medical data, only about 1% of intervertebral hernias occur in the thoracic spine. The prevailing majority of intervertebral hernias develop in the cervical lumbar because of their mobility. However, if the patient has scoliosis, kyphosis, Scheuermann Mau's disease, the likelihood of developing an intervertebral hernia or protrusion increases dramatically. It should also be noted that when working at a computer, the depth of damage to the cervical and thoracic spine increases significantly.

Correct diagnosis should be based on a combination carefully drawn up medical history, examination data and results of radiographic examination (MRI). In the treatment of intervertebral hernia and degeneration of the intervertebral disc, the following methods are used:

physiotherapy;
therapeutic massages;
acupuncture, hirudotherapy;
(allows you to partially restore the nutrition and height of the intervertebral disc, relieve inflammation of adjacent tissues, reduce the size of the intervertebral hernia due to partial recovery intervertebral disc);

In addition, to facilitate painful symptoms at intervertebral hernia and degeneration of the intervertebral disc, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as muscle relaxants, if present, can be used muscle spasms. IN rare cases, with severe and persistent pain, a doctor may prescribe epidural injections of corticosteroids. However, as practice shows, drug treatment with discogenic pathology of the spine, it helps little, therefore complex treatment spine should be started as soon as possible. From time to time, with a herniated disc or degeneration of the intervertebral disc, doctors resort to surgical intervention. Indications for surgery are severe and persistent pain syndrome that does not respond to conservative treatment for at least six months, as well as an increase in neurological symptoms. Sometimes bad bruise or trauma to the spine can lead to a fracture thoracic vertebra. If this happens, immediate medical advice is needed, as well as diagnostic tests (X-rays or MRI) to determine the extent of damage and develop a treatment plan.

Joint dysfunction

The ribs are attached to the vertebrae in the thoracic spine by two joints that attach to the spine on either side. Dysfunction of these joints can lead to pain in the upper back.

Treatment for joint dysfunction usually includes physical therapy and special exercises allowing to develop the joint and reduce discomfort. Sustained improvement usually also requires a home exercise program to stretch the spine and shoulders and strengthen the muscles in these areas.

In addition, painkillers can help with joint dysfunction. Anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors) are usually the most effective here, as joint dysfunction can cause inflammation.

Injections (eg, epidural injections steroid drugs), as a rule, are not assigned in such situations.

Most people are able-bodied citizens, as a rule, they work physically or their work is related to prolonged sitting on a chair in one position. But every person is sometimes worried about an unpleasant condition - this is pain in the upper back. If your back hurts upper section or another segment of the spinal column, then pathological changes occur in the internal organs or the spine and nearby tissues are affected. Today you will learn the causes of pain in the upper back.

What causes pain?

If the upper back hurts, then the processes of dystrophy and degeneration are localized in the thoracic vertebral region. Why does my back hurt? The causes of pain in the upper back are very different.

Pain between the shoulder blades can be caused by:

mechanical injury, stretching;
tension caused by physical work;
scoliosis changes;
physical inactivity.

Aching pain in the back at the top, in the middle, in the lower back is often caused by pathological processes vertebrogenic genesis. A person can get sick:

Osteochondrosis of the cervical segment, pain can occur when raising the arm up. The discs between the vertebrae with cartilage are deformed.
Arthrosis. Degeneration processes occur in the articular tissues.
Osteoporosis. Bones with this disease will be fragile.

Also, the upper back and neck on the right, left side, in the center, disturb people because the disks have shifted, since the vertebrae have deviated from the spinal axis. Pain in the upper back is often associated with pathological changes occurring in the internal organs. Strong pain on the left will occur in diseases of the heart and blood vessels in ischemic, atherosclerotic processes, also due to angina pectoris, pericarditis. Such sharp pain occurs due to the fact that the heart does not cope well with its functions, hemodynamics are disturbed.

More pain from above the back occur with pathologies of the respiratory system. The pain syndrome is localized on the right, it can also hurt left-hand side, it will manifest itself in pleurisy, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema and other diseases of the respiratory system. With pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, ulcerative processes, cholecystitis), the pain syndrome is localized in the abdomen, subcostal zone, it can radiate upward, so it will hurt at the top of the back.

With pancreatitis, pain will spread to the upper trunk area, shoulder girdle, and shoulder blades. Pain syndrome can manifest itself in other conditions, even with mental disorders when brain centers are affected. When panicking, the patient breathes heavily, the upper spinal region is painful. With shingles uncomfortable state occurs behind the sternal zone, one side can hurt, for example, the right one. With heartburn, pain will appear after eating.

Set the diagnosis one by one symptomatic manifestation not easy

The pain syndrome is caused different circumstances. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate medical institution, then treated.

Symptoms

To correctly establish the diagnosis, it is necessary to assess the parameters of the pain syndrome:

It is acute or the pain is dull, in the form of lumbago or throbbing.
The location can be on one or both sides, or the central chest area will be painful.
Pain can be intense, weak, growing.
The pain can be constant or intermittent.
Pain can occur during movement, exertion, if a person sneezes, coughs.

Vertebrogenic pathologies

If infringed nerve roots neck, chest, tension will arise, respectively, in the cervical, chest area. Osteochondrosis of these parts of the spine will manifest itself:

Numbness.
Low skin sensitivity.
No pain at rest.
Low physical activity.
irradiation of pain to upper limb, shoulder.
Hyperemia or pallor of the skin.

If the heart and blood vessels are affected

With left-sided soreness of the upper back, pain affects the scapular area, arm, neck, collar region, jaws with teeth can hurt. In a person, the painful syndrome will intensify during movement, his blood pressure parameters are constantly changing, his face turns pale, perspiration appears, he is scared and anxious. Also, the breath is not complete, there is a rapid pulse.

Such symptoms characterize angina pectoris, if paroxysmal condition lasts a matter of minutes. Stress can cause discomfort physical labor. If such symptoms are not eliminated by medicines, then you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

When the respiratory organs are affected

If inflammation occurs in lung tissues or others are affected respiratory organs, then there will be pain in the upper spinal zone. A person will cough, expectorate sputum, breathe unevenly, while coughing the pain will intensify, he will start to shiver.

If the gastrointestinal tract is affected

Pathological processes can affect the abdominal organs, spread to the upper spinal area. A person will be uncomfortable in the epigastric zone, his digestion will be disturbed. also in oral cavity there will be bitterness, the patient is sick, he is indifferent to food. For example, with gallstone pathology, pain will amaze cervical area, and if the pancreas is inflamed, then the pains will be girdle.

The nature of the pain syndrome depends on the specific disease

Kidney dysfunction

The discomfort resulting from renal dysfunction will affect more than just the lumbar segment. It can be intensely painful at the top of the back on one or both sides. Such symptoms are characteristic of pyelonephritis. Also, the patient's urine will darken, he will start to shiver, swelling will appear, blood pressure will increase, and pain will appear when urinating.

Overstressed muscles

The patient must understand what circumstances led to the pain. It happens when you turn your head sharply, carry heavy objects, distribute weight unevenly, and train for a long time. aching, burning pains cover the shoulder area with the neck, chest, scapular area, move to the spine, the person will feel weakened.

If there was a panic

Panic happens when different states, mental disorders. With it, there are pain sensations caused by overstrain of the vertebral muscles. Tachycardia with tremor, hyperhidrosis will also appear, the person will feel sick, sleep will be disturbed.

Diagnostics

If the uncomfortable state of the upper spinal zone lasts for several days, then the patient needs medical help. The doctor will prescribe diagnostic and medical measures. It may be necessary to consult specialists from the field of cardiology, neurology, traumatology. The physician will take the patient's history and refer to laboratory diagnostics, appoint additional ways diagnostics, such as ECG, ultrasound.

Treatment

What to do with severe pain syndrome? If the pain is severe, then analgesics are used, which will quickly eliminate the uncomfortable condition. Sometimes used nonsteroidal drugs that relieve the inflammatory process. It is important to establish the correct diagnosis, after which treatment is applied.

At vertebrogenic pathologies physiotherapeutic effects are shown, massage, blockades are used

Complex exercise therapy

To get rid of discomfort in the upper spinal zone, perform therapeutic gymnastics. Twist the shoulder girdle. Rotate anteriorly and backwards. You can do several approaches, perform slowly. The head is tilted with rotation. First, the chin should touch the neck, then the movement is performed in the opposite direction. Throwing the head back is performed carefully. Then the head is turned to the right and to the left, in a circle.

Raise your shoulders. The head is completely lowered. When inhaling, the shoulders fully rise, while exhaling, they must be lowered. Stretch muscles. The back is straight, the stomach is tucked up, the arms are stretched out in front of them, palms forward. While inhaling, raise your arms up, stretch. As you exhale, lower your arms.

Who is at risk?

More often, pain in the upper spinal zone can occur in the elderly. Their bones and muscles become thinner. Therefore, they are shown physical activity with the intake of calcium with vitamin D and other multivitamin preparations. Often, discomfort occurs in pregnant women. Their organs are displaced, high body weight loads spinal column.

If the work is associated with prolonged sitting, then the spinal column will always be overstressed. Requires gymnastics, walks on fresh air. Pain syndrome should not be tolerated, self-medication will only aggravate general state, will cause complications that are difficult to cure. Therefore, it is better not to take risks, but to seek help from professionals.

Pain and its causes in alphabetical order:

pain in the upper back

Pain in the upper back is an extremely common symptom. It occurs in a variety of diseases, and therefore the key to its successful treatment is accurate diagnosis. A thorough examination usually reveals the cause of the pain.

What diseases cause pain in the upper back:

Pain in the upper back accompanies various diseases of the internal organs.

1. Diseases of the respiratory system:

pleurisy ("dry") with a feeling of cutting pain in the left or right side of the chest, associated with respiratory movements;
spontaneous pneumothorax with sudden acute chest pain radiating to the scapula. Characterized by a decrease in the excursion of the chest on the side of the lesion, the absence of noise during auscultation;
pneumonia with intense or moderate pain in the left or right side of the chest or shoulder blade. The pain is aggravated by deep breathing and coughing, fever, coughing, wheezing in the lungs during auscultation;
lung or bronchial cancer. The pattern, nature and intensity of pain depend on its localization and prevalence - if the apex of the lung is affected, Pencost syndrome (brachial plexopathy) develops, in which pain is noted in the shoulder, shoulder blade, medial surface of the arm, when the pleura grows, pain occurs in the chest on the side of the lesion , significantly aggravated by breathing, coughing, movements of the body, in case of involvement of the intercostal nerve, the pain is girdle.

2. Diseases of the digestive system:

Pain in the upper back on the right
acute cholecystitis. The pain lasts from several hours to several days, usually localized in the right precostal space and epigastrium. Possible irradiation to the right half of the chest, right shoulder, shoulder blade, shoulder girdle, as well as to the heart area, associated nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowness of the skin, pain on palpation in the right hypochondrium, abdominal muscle tension;

Upper back pain on the left
acute pancreatitis with sudden intense pain in the epigastric region of a girdle character with irradiation to the left lower chest, shoulder blade, shoulder girdle, heart area; pronounced spasm of the abdominal muscles;

3. Diseases of the urinary system:

Pain in the upper back on the left or right
renal colic and thrombosis of the renal artery;
retroperitoneal hematoma. Sudden pain of unknown origin in the lower back in a patient receiving anticoagulant therapy.

4. Lesions of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
Pain in the upper back on the left or right
Pain, often shooting, has the features of a projection, i.e. its pattern is limited to the limits of the skin representation of the root or nerve, often has a distal distribution.

Which doctors to contact if there is pain in the upper back:

Are you experiencing pain in your upper back? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need an inspection? You can book an appointment with a doctor Eurolaboratory always at your service! The best doctors examine you, study external signs and help identify the disease by symptoms, advise you and provide needed help. you also can call a doctor at home. Clinic Eurolaboratory open for you around the clock.

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Do you have upper back pain? You need to be very careful about your overall health. People don't pay enough attention disease symptoms and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific symptoms, characteristic external manifestations- so called disease symptoms. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. To do this, you just need to several times a year be examined by a doctor not only to prevent terrible disease but also support healthy mind in the body and the body as a whole.

If you want to ask a doctor a question, use the online consultation section, perhaps you will find answers to your questions there and read self care tips. If you are interested in reviews about clinics and doctors, try to find the information you need on. Also register for medical portal Eurolaboratory to be constantly up to date latest news and updates of information on the site, which will be automatically sent to you by mail.

The symptom map is for educational purposes only. Do not self-medicate; For all questions regarding the definition of the disease and how to treat it, contact your doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of the information posted on the portal.

If you are interested in any other symptoms of diseases and types of pain, or you have any other questions and suggestions - write to us, we will definitely try to help you.

The blurring of the clinical picture when describing pain as stationed in the upper back suggests a preliminary comprehensive examination before a definite diagnosis is made with certainty. Diagnostic measures based on anamnesis and examination are ineffective and unreliable.

Causes of pain in the upper back modern medicine conventionally divided into several groups, united by the nature of the lesion certain body or systems. The proximity dictates the urgent need to consider as possible causes of negative sensations:

pathological processes in the spine;
respiratory diseases, chronic and inflammatory;
dysfunction of the digestive organs;
cardiovascular diseases;
renal pathologies;
other natural states accompanied by intense exercise.

The probable causes could have a longer list if each of them were listed separately. possible situations. The urgent need for medical advice when such unpleasant symptoms does not need an argument.

More often than other causes, pain in the upper back is provoked by inflammatory and colds respiratory system or pathologies of the spine.

Often such reasons are explained by completely neutral physical or static overloads, easily eliminated after the necessary rest. But these same loads during prolonged exposure to the spine can lead to irreversible degenerative-dystrophic processes in the vertebral segments.

The treatment process started on relatively early stage disease is almost always successful. The later the necessary remedial measures the less likely a successful outcome.

Pregnancy

Pain in the upper spine during pregnancy is relatively normal, because in this condition of the body, pain can be located in any part of the back. Similar phenomena due to an increase in the weight of the expectant mother, a change in the state of the internal organs, the growth of the fetus. As a result of all these factors, there is a weakening of the spine and joints, especially noticeable in the last trimester, when there is an intensive production of prenatal hormone, which contributes to softening of the bones.

However, in the upper section, pain can also occur with dangerous inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs. In this case, it indicates pathological processes in the kidneys, and this can negatively affect not only the health of the expectant mother, but also intrauterine development fetus.

Vertebrogenic diseases

A condition that causes pain in the upper back may indicate a cervical or thoracic osteochondrosis. Other diseases and conditions in which pain becomes a sign:

formed osteophytes;
stenosis of the vertebral arteries;
violation of cerebral circulation;
oxygen starvation of the brain;
intervertebral hernia;
muscle spasm due to pinching of the nerve root;
myelopathy;
spondylolisthesis;
joint diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
inflammation of the spinal cord;
ischemic cerebral stroke.

Problems of the heart and blood vessels

Upper spine with pain localized to the upper right may indicate ischemic disease heart, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris. In the same left side, if the pain arose spontaneously and is not relieved by anything, there is probably an aneurysm of the vessel, cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrhythmias.

Pathologies of the respiratory system

The symptom when the back hurts at the top is well known to pulmonologists, since it may indicate pneumonia, purulent pleurisy And oncological diseases respiratory system. The danger is that similar complications often mistaken for manifestations of osteochondrosis or intercostal neuralgia.

Diseases of the digestive system

In the upper spine can give radiating pain from the affected digestive organs to acute stage. Ulcer duodenum, inflammation of the gallbladder, acute pancreatitis, with characteristic main symptoms, they are given to the back or neck.

kidney disease

It can hurt with pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis. With their characteristic location in the lumbar region and lower abdomen, they can show clinical research negative sensations, both to the right and to the left of the neck.

Upper back pain symptoms

The affected vertebra or intervertebral cartilage gives clinical picture spinal lesions associated with partial restriction motor activity. Other diseases, the pain of which manifests itself from above, can be roughly distinguished by the presence or absence of nausea, sweating, fever, dysfunction urinary system or stool disorders associated pain syndromes and limitation of movement.

Pain in the upper back, no matter what nature they are, is a signal for immediate appeal behind medical assistance, dictated by localization pain symptom in dangerous proximity to the spinal cord and brain, respiratory organs and heart.

Diagnosis and treatment

The definition of the disease is carried out using clinical, laboratory and hardware research methods, which are prescribed by the doctor depending on the collected history, external examination and palpation.

Difficulties in diagnosis are the possibility of cardiovascular disease and radiating pain from kidney disease. Pain in the upper back is one of the most common complaints, in which the establishment of the etiology of a probable provocateur is almost impossible without laboratory and hardware studies.

Implementation diagnostic measures for complaints of this vague nature is reduced to differential diagnosis, by which one is excluded possible cause after another, starting with the most common.

Therapy, no matter what pathology the pain in the upper body indicates, should be started immediately. The body's signal for help sounded quite clearly, and you definitely need to listen to it. The earlier the therapeutic cycle is started, the less the likelihood of negative consequences.

In some cases, yoga exercises and therapeutic exercises will help get rid of pain in the upper back: