Heaviness in the upper back. Causes of pain in the upper back

Pain in the upper back is a common symptom of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system and internal organs.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine may be accompanied by aching pains, aggravated by a long sitting position. The process itself is painless.

However, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs during their dystrophic changes entails compression of the spinal nerves. It is noteworthy that osteochondrosis in the thoracic region, fixed by the ribs and sternum, is observed relatively rarely.

However, the frequency of this disease has recently increased due to the systematic violation of posture by schoolchildren, as well as knowledge workers, computer users.

Osteochondrosis is often associated with another pathology - with curvature of the spine, scoliosis? increased kyphosis in the thoracic region.

Not only posture disorders, but also other pathological conditions lead to spinal curvature. These are congenital anomalies in the structure of the vertebrae, the consequences of injuries of the back muscles, thoracic calving of the spine, ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev's disease).

Tumor and tuberculous lesions of the vertebrae are also accompanied by curvature of the spine. Pain in the upper back in some cases leads to inflammation of the corresponding muscles during hypothermia or colds.

A characteristic feature in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is their strengthening under mechanical axial load.

lung diseases

Pneumonia and its complication, pleurisy, is accompanied by pain that radiates from the upper part down, aggravated by coughing and at the height of inspiration. Cough is accompanied by the release of purulent sputum.

Pain is accompanied by signs of intoxication - severe weakness, fever, nausea, vomiting. It can be observed in bronchitis. Thick sputum discharged during coughing irritates the mucous membrane of the bronchi, pain from the bronchi radiates to the upper back.

Heart disease

Myocardial infarction, localized in the posterior diaphragmatic regions, often proceeds atypically. There may not be a classic retrosternal pain that radiates to the left arm, shoulder, shoulder blade.

All that the patient feels is an unpleasant sensation, which in nature can be dull, aching, burning or stabbing. The intensity of such it does not depend on breathing, movements, physical exertion.

Diseases of the abdominal organs

Cholecystopancreatitis, gastroduodenitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum - often with all these diseases of the digestive system, the phrenic nerve is irritated.

Pain along the branches of the nerve can spread to the upper back. In this case, it is associated with food intake and is accompanied by other signs of indigestion - nausea, vomiting, heartburn, belching, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen.

Diagnosis and treatment

It is impossible to make a diagnosis on the basis of the nature of the sensation alone - one can only assume one reason or another. For an accurate diagnosis, instrumental studies are needed.

First of all, this is an X-ray of the spine. In addition to radiography, ECG is recorded, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS) are performed.

Treatment of diseases of the spine is carried out by a neurologist or an orthopedic traumatologist. Anti-inflammatory and restorative agents, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, manual therapy are prescribed.

These diseases provoke pain in the upper back. It can be localized on the left or right.

Respiratory system diseases

Pneumothorax (spontaneously occurring) - with this disease, acute chest pain occurs, and it gives to the shoulder blade on the left or right (in the direction of chest pain). When listening to the heart, the doctor does not detect noise.

Cancer of the bronchi or lungs - with this disease, the nature of the pain depends on which side it arose. For example, if the lung is affected, it will hurt in the back area, Pencost syndrome may develop with severe pain in the shoulder, as well as passing to the shoulder blade and extending into the arm on the side where the lung hurts. The pain is aggravated by coughing, during movements. If the nerve is also affected, then the pain can be girdle.

Pneumonia - the pain in this disease is not very strong, but prolonged. It occurs in the shoulder blade, in the chest on the left or right. When coughing, the pain can intensify, with deep breathing - too. In addition, a person suffers from wheezing in the lungs, dry cough, and chills can beat.

Pleurisy - with this disease, pain radiates to the right or left side of the chest, it is aggravated by movement. The pain is cutting, strong.

Diseases of the digestive system

They can provoke pain in the back - in the upper or lower part of it.

Pain in the upper right back

It provokes acute cholecystitis. The pain is long, it torments a person for several days. Most worried under the ribs on the right and in the epigastric region. With this disease, pain can radiate to the right side of the arm, shoulder, hurt under the shoulder blade, above the shoulders, chest on the left. These symptoms are accompanied by nausea, yellowing of the skin, chills, severe pain when fingered and even touched. The abdominal muscles can also be tense and painful.

Pain in the upper back on the left

It can occur with acute pancreatitis, in which the pain is sharp, strong in the chest area on the left, as well as in the shoulder from above, in the scapula, heart (on the left in the chest), while the abdominal muscles are tense and ache.

Diseases of the urinary organs

They also provoke pain in the right or left side of the back either from above. These pains may be accompanied by colic in the kidneys, thrombosis of the renal artery, retroperitoneal hematoma, severe unexpected pain in patients who have undergone anticoagulant therapy.

Also, pain can occur due to lesions of the spinal cord and malfunctions of the peripheral system. Pain occurs on the left side of the back or on the right side. It is shooting, strong, and very often spreads distally.

In all cases when a person feels pain in the back - no matter in which part of it - you need to call an ambulance, especially if the pain is acute.

Pain in the upper back often appear in people of different ages.

At the same time, pain is not always a sign of pathologies of the spine. Such pain in medicine is called thoracalgia.

This name characterizes the appearance of signs of a polyetiological non-specific clinical symptom that develops as a result of the development of the disease in different organs and systems.

It is important to remember that in such cases, osteochondrosis can be diagnosed relatively rarely, due to the high level of protection of the intervertebral discs at this level of the spinal column due to the presence of a rigid frame of the ribs, spine and sternum.

Much more often, the causes of pathology are lesions of small uncovertebral joints, osteoporosis, myofascial pain syndrome. Pain can also be provoked by reflected pain, psychogenic ailments, various tumors and metastases, tuberculosis or spinal stenosis. In such cases, it is important not to self-medicate, but to consult a specialist as soon as possible in order to reduce the risk of possible development of health-threatening complications.

Classification and nature of pain in the upper back

Pain in the upper back is distinguished by several signs:

From the point of view of the nature of pain in the upper back, they are distinguished by the following features::

• the development of myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by the appearance of pain in the upper back, as well as in any muscle covered by spasm; manifested by the presence of one to several, in some cases, very painful areas that can be found by palpation;
• with osteoporosis, there is a persistent pain syndrome in the zone of the thoracic spine; it is distinguished by a widespread character, it is accompanied by posture disorders, limitation of movements, spinal deformity, the presence of multiple painful points located asymmetrically, sensations of numbness and paresthesia of the feet and hands;
• with a psychogenic nature of pain, the syndrome may not have a clear localization; pain can radiate to the heart, have a migratory character;
• with reflected pain, a leading pain attack appears, in the direction from the organs located inside.

What diseases of the musculoskeletal system cause pain in the upper back?

Pain in the upper back can appear with a number of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which include:

• osteochondrosis, which is a degenerative disorder in the vertebrae; usually the pain is aching at rest, and may become sharp during movement;
• intervertebral hernias resulting from damage to the intervertebral discs;

• dysfunction of the joints, in which the normal motor functions of the ribs and vertebrae are disturbed; can often be recognized by the appearance of an aching sensation;

• vertebral fractures and abscesses lead to sharp pains;
• rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs with bilateral lesions of the hands and toes, can affect the knee, ankle, and shoulder joints.

The characteristic signs of these types of diseases is the appearance of pain during movement, which causes a limitation of the mobility of the spine. A person in this case loses the ability to bend in different directions, bend or unbend.

Other causes of upper back pain

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Next fact

Causes of pain in the upper back can be:

• injuries arising from incorrect posture or excessive excess of loads;
• tension of the muscle tissue that fastens the shoulder girdle, shoulder blades and the back of the chest;
• angina pectoris or an attack that causes squeezing pains that radiate to the arms, back, shoulders;
• rupture of the aortic wall, which occurs when a large vessel is damaged, causing severe discomfort;
• vertebrogenic thoracalgia, causing pain between the shoulder blades;
• pain during pregnancy due to a significant decrease in mobility during gestation;
• the presence of excess weight;
• swelling of the pericardium, leading to pain in the center of the chest;
• various lung lesions, including thrombus formation, lung collapse, inflammation, swelling of the mucous membranes;
• panic attack, accompanied by a significant increase in breathing;
• inflammation in the junction of the ribs with the bones of the chest;
• shingles, provoking severe tingling and pain on one side;
• disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract, such as spasms, narrowing of the esophagus, gallstones, heartburn, peptic ulcers or gastritis.

Eliminate pain in the upper back

Professional diagnosis of back pain may not always be required. Sometimes the pain that occurs when sitting in an uncomfortable position for a long time or a cold goes away on its own. An appeal to a doctor - a traumatologist, surgeon, therapist, neurologist or cardiologist - will be necessary if the pain does not go away within a few days.

The specialist usually does the following::

• collects an anamnesis, during which he clarifies the nature and location of the pain;
• performs a physiological examination, paying attention to the patient's gait, muscle tone, symmetry of body parts, degree of sensitivity and reaction;
• orders an X-ray examination.

For the treatment of pain in the upper back, both traditional methods are used: physiotherapy, massage, physiotherapy exercises, and non-traditional methods: acupuncture, manual therapy, vacuum therapy.

Preparations

Taking into account the fact that any pain can be the result of an inflammatory process, regardless of the factors that caused it, when prescribing drugs, the doctor chooses those that will help eliminate the lesion. Drugs that suppress the affected area are prescribed to reduce the degree of the inflammation process., with severe injuries and unbearable pain. In the latter case, it may also be recommended analgesics.

Surgery

Surgical intervention for pain in the upper back may be required in cases where the cause that provoked the pathological condition is an intervertebral hernia or degeneration of the intervertebral discs.

The main indication for surgery is the presence of persistent pain syndrome. who do not respond to conservative treatment methods for at least six months and are characterized by an increase in neurological symptoms.

In the presence of an injury or fracture, surgical treatment may be recommended immediately after the x-ray examination.

Video: "Back pain: what to do?"

Physical therapy exercises and massage

Very useful for back pain are special exercises of physiotherapy exercises. When performing them, it is important to be careful, to avoid the appearance of signs of discomfort. At the beginning of classes, the load should be small, you can limit yourself to a simple warm-up in the prone position. In the future, you should perform the exercises that were prescribed by the doctor.

The most popular exercises that are suitable for almost every person to get rid of discomfort in the upper back are:

1. scrolling with the shoulders, which is the execution of rotational movements forward and backward, which can be done in several approaches, the main thing is to do them slowly and carefully;
2. head tilts and rotation; at the same time, you need to try to get your neck with your chin; when throwing your head back and performing circular movements, it is important not to overdo it; this exercise will help to relax and warm up the muscles located in the upper back;
3. raising the shoulders, performed with the maximum lowering of the head; you need to take a breath and at the same time raise your shoulders as much as possible, then lower them when exhaling;
4. stretching the muscles, performed by placing the hands behind the head, while the palms should be stretched above the head, thus stretching the back muscles; palms should be moved at a slow pace from the neck to the shoulders.

Massage is highly effective for back pain. It has a relaxing and warming effect, promotes blood flow to the area of ​​inflammation, activating the body to fight pathology. With a gentle massage of the trapezius muscle, you can relax the muscles, while increasing blood circulation.

Treatment at home or folk remedies

With the sudden onset of pain in the upper back, you can take the first steps at home.

In these cases, they can help and bring temporary relief.:

Conclusion

Pain in the upper back- a fairly common ailment that can occur for various reasons.

Most often they occur with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, as well as with injuries and intervertebral hernias.

Pain also may indicate developing pathologies in the lungs, organs of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems of the human body.

It is necessary to start treatment for pain if it does not go away for several days. In this case, you will need a professional examination by a specialist.

Treatment of back pain is carried out primarily with the help of drugs, physiotherapy exercises, massage. Non-traditional means such as acupuncture may also be used.

At home, with a sudden onset of back pain, a variety of compresses will help to ease your well-being and relieve discomfort.

Only a specialist can determine the real cause of pain, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Pain in the upper back is a common symptom of many diseases that are localized not only in the internal organs, but also in the musculoskeletal system. Often, such pains are associated with lesions of the thoracic or cervical region. Therefore, to determine the exact cause of pain, it is necessary to contact a neurologist.

Today, pain in the upper part of the spinal column is not a novelty in the daily life of people, since a sedentary lifestyle and constant work at the computer limit muscle mobility and at the same time redistribute the constant load on the upper section. The most common prerequisites are pathologies of the cervical and thoracic spine, constant muscle tension.

In addition to the above reasons, problems can arise due to the resulting osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic compartment, as well as complications that accompany this pathology: intervertebral hernia, destruction of the intervertebral disc, spondylosis or spondylarthrosis.

It is worth noting that the thoracic region has certain features compared to the cervical and lumbar regions. They are specialized to provide neck and pelvic mobility. And the chest, in contrast to them, must be strong and stable to ensure the maintenance of posture and the preservation of internal organs, which are limited not only to the chest.

Causes of pain in the upper part of the spinal column

Pain in the upper back can occur due to injury or sudden damage, as well as due to scoliosis, which was not treated in a timely manner, since this pathology is prone to progression due to improper weight distribution.

The changed lifestyle of modern people has deprived them of all activity, which in turn contributed to the appearance of frequent or periodic pain among the population. In people who spend most of their time in a sitting position, discomfort can be combined with similar sensations in the back or shoulder.

muscle tension

The work of the shoulder girdle is supported by a mass of large muscles, which are mainly attached to the shoulder blade and the back of the chest. Due to excessive overload or heavy physical exercise, the muscles of the upper back can provoke pain due to the formation of lactic acid in them.

Muscle irritation can occur due to injury, which was formed as a result of a one-time excessive load on the muscle.

Muscle strain, tendon injury or rupture, injuries of various etiologies can contribute to the appearance of pain in the upper part of the spinal column.

Such pain and injury to the upper back is usually best treated with the following methods:

• physiotherapy procedures;
• massotherapy;
• performing acupuncture.

Often, in the treatment of pathologies of the upper back, all treatment is aimed at restoring mobility and muscle strength. With severe persistent pain, it will be reasonable to prescribe an injection of an analgesic into the damaged area or to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Osteochondrosis with localization in the thoracic and cervical spine

Pain in the upper part of the spine may occur due to the formation of osteochondrosis in the cervical region. As a rule, if the upper back, then the disease can soon be reinforced by systematic dizziness, problems that consist in a constant increase in blood pressure, pain in the shoulders, and numbness of the fingers. My patients use a proven remedy, thanks to which you can get rid of pain in 2 weeks without much effort.

When conducting magnetic resonance imaging with this pathology of the upper back, the picture may reveal a protrusion or hernia of the cervical spine.

If the upper back hurts, then one can also assume the occurrence of diseases of the chest region, but due to the fact that this area is quite stable, various pathologies of the intervertebral areas occur in no more than 1% of all possible cases.

In a situation where the back hurts at the top, the prevailing majority of pathologies can be attributed to the cervical region. The only exception to the rule is the development of advanced scoliosis or kyphosis in a patient, since these pathologies carry a history of concomitant diseases that can provoke or clarify the reasons why the back hurts from above.

Treatment of such pathologies of the upper back can be carried out by all the methods described above, in addition, non-violent traction of the spine can be added, which further helps to restore the trophism of the damaged section, the height of the intervertebral disc, eliminate pain and inflammatory reactions, and reduce intervertebral hernia.

Spinal joint dysfunction

The ribs in combination with the spine form a kind of frame that serves to protect the internal organs. The ribs in the thoracic region are fastened to the spine through two joints, which are located on both sides. Violation in the articulation of these bone formations can become a cause that provokes pain in the upper back. The prerequisites for the occurrence of these disorders may be different, but often they arise due to a previous trauma.

The treatment of these pathologies consists in physiotherapeutic procedures and therapeutic exercises, which contribute to the development and elimination of pain. To achieve the desired effect after visiting a neuropathologist and a traumatologist, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the prescribed treatment program.

Elimination of pain in the upper back with these disorders is often carried out using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Related videos

Coming to the doctor's office, patients often complain of back pain. Such sensations are familiar to many, even young people are not immune from such a problem. But few people know what causes upper back pain on the right or left. Therefore, diagnostic measures that indicate the source of unpleasant symptoms are of exceptional importance in medical practice.

Causes

If the back is bothering, then most people think about problems with the spine. And this is true, as evidenced by the statistics of diseases of the axial skeleton - approximately every third person suffers from vertebrogenic pain. This situation is largely due to the modern lifestyle, which is forced to be associated with inactivity and increased stress on the spine - from the neck to the lumbosacral region. And with age, there are also metabolic and metabolic disorders, which only increase the risk of pathology. Therefore, pain in the upper back is often the result of such conditions:

• Osteochondrosis.
• Spondylarthrosis.
• Spondylosis.
• Curvature of the spine.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Infections.
• Injuries.

In this case, pathological processes can cover all structures of the axial skeleton: vertebrae, discs, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Most often, degenerative-dystrophic disorders are observed, but inflammatory, mechanical and other causes are possible. Radicular and muscular-tonic disorders play a decisive role in the development of vertebrogenic pain. But there are also quite banal ones, for example, myositis due to hypothermia.

But the upper back can be disturbing not only with the pathology of the spinal column. It must be understood that pain often has a reflected character. In such cases, internal organs become the true source of pathological impulses. Therefore, the following reasons should be considered:

• Problems of the heart and blood vessels (ischemic disease, aortic aneurysm).
• Pathology of the respiratory system (pneumonia, pleurisy).
• Diseases of the digestive system (peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, colitis).
• Kidney disease (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis).

Therefore, pain in the upper back requires increased attention and the right response. And this is impossible without the participation of a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the cause of unpleasant symptoms and form the correct treatment tactics.

Back pain should be taken seriously, especially if it is in the upper spine. And taking into account the diversity of non-vertebrogenic conditions, differential diagnosis is of particular importance.

Symptoms

The appearance of pain in the upper back is a signal of some trouble in the body. This symptom is perhaps the most important in the clinical picture of diseases of the spinal column and internal organs. And patients most often complain of pain. Each person may have a different color, but most often the following features are revealed:

• Character: aching, stabbing, shooting, pulsating.
• Localization: right or left.


• Prevalence: local or with irradiation to the neck, lower back, upper limbs, anterior surface of the chest and abdomen.
• Intensity: strong, weak or moderate.
• Periodicity: paroxysmal or constant.
• Dependence on external or internal factors: aggravated by movements in the trunk, physical activity, coughing.

But this is far from the only symptom that can be detected in a patient. During the interview and clinical examination, the doctor pays attention to other signs that will help to establish the cause of the pain.

Vertebrogenic diseases

The main cause of acute pain in the upper back is the pathology of the spine. In this case, infringement of the nerve roots is often observed, which provokes the appearance of such a symptom. Unpleasant sensations can be given to the neck, and the accompanying muscle tension limits movement not only in the thoracic region. In addition, there are phenomena consisting of a complex of neurological symptoms:

• Tingling, numbness, burning, goosebumps.
• Weakening of skin sensitivity.
• Strengthening or inhibition of tendon reflexes.
• Decreased muscle tone and strength.
• Change in color and moisture of the skin.

Such disorders occur in the zones of innervation of the affected root, therefore they are determined on the left side or to the right of the central axis, they look like stripes and are called segmental. They are associated with irritation or loss of function of certain fibers: sensory, motor or autonomic.

During a medical examination, the soreness of the paravertebral points in the thoracic region is determined, and tense muscles are palpated there. You can notice certain curvature: scoliosis, kyphosis or. There is limited mobility in the affected areas of the axial skeleton.

In many patients, back pain is of vertebrogenic origin, but even then one should not forget about the possibility of concomitant conditions that may be hidden behind such symptoms.

Problems of the heart and blood vessels

If the upper back hurts on the left side, then it is necessary to exclude cardiovascular pathology. Most often, one has to deal with coronary disease - angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. At the same time, they are worried about pain behind the sternum, which they have and give under the shoulder blade, in the arm, and also up - in the neck, lower jaw and even teeth. The following symptoms are also observed:

• Dyspnea.
• Pulse increase.
• pressure instability.
• Paleness, clammy sweat.
• Anxiety.

Attacks of angina pectoris occur against the background of physical or psycho-emotional stress and last from no more than 5 minutes. If they are long and are not removed by nitropreparations, then there is a high probability of a heart attack. In this case, one should be wary of cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, ruptures or aneurysms of the heart.

Pathology of the respiratory system

If there is pain in the upper back, which is felt on the right, then we must not forget about the possibility of respiratory diseases. Basically, we are talking about inflammatory processes - pneumonia or pleurisy. There is such a risk when the following symptoms appear:

• Dry or wet cough.
• Isolation of sputum.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Temperature increase.

Pain on the right will increase with deep breathing and coughing, and also appear during laughter or sneezing. With pleurisy, they are weakened when the patient lies on the affected side. In addition, there are objective signs of respiratory pathology. While listening to the lungs, wheezing or pleural friction noise is determined, and in the place of inflammatory changes, the percussion sound is dulled.

Respiratory diseases often cause pain in the chest from the back, which can be mistaken for intercostal neuralgia or osteochondrosis.

Diseases of the digestive system

Among the problems of the gastrointestinal tract, there are many that are accompanied by reflected pain. So, duodenal ulcer and cholecystitis can be manifested by unpleasant sensations in the upper back on the right, which are associated with dietary errors. And with the defeat of the gallbladder, they even radiate to the neck. In the case of pancreatitis, pain often acquires a girdle character, observed both from behind and from the front. But, in addition to this symptom, in diseases of the digestive system there are also dyspeptic disorders in the form of:

• Decreased appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Bloating.
• Constipation or diarrhea.

Digestive diseases can also be functional in nature, but are most often associated with inflammatory changes in hollow or parenchymal organs.

kidney disease

In the pathology of the urinary system, pain in the upper back may also appear. More often it is localized in the lower back and lower abdomen, but it is not without the possibility of spreading to other zones, being located both on the right and in the left half. If it gives up, then we can make an assumption about kidney damage. Pyelo- and glomerulonephritis are the main diseases that are accompanied by a similar symptom. But, in addition to this, there are other signs:

• Urinary disorders.
• Change in volume and color of urine.
• Fever.

In addition, inflammation of the kidneys can lead to edema and high blood pressure, which must be distinguished from heart disease.

In a chronic course, pathology often leads to a persistent dysfunction of the organ - renal failure.

Diagnostics

To understand why the upper back may hurt, the patient needs to undergo an additional examination. Its results will make it possible to make a final conclusion, confirming the pathology of the spine and excluding diseases of the internal organs. This requires the following methods:

• General blood and urine tests.
• Blood biochemistry (inflammation indicators, urea, creatinine, coagulogram, cholesterol, etc.).
• Urinalysis according to Zimnitsky, Nechiporenko.
• Examination of pleural fluid, sputum, feces.
• Radiography of the spine, lungs.
• Ultrasound procedure.
• Magnetic resonance and computed tomography.
• Electrocardiography.
• Gastroscopy.

After the examination and differential diagnosis, it will become clear what causes back pain. If the pathology of the spinal column is confirmed, then further treatment will be carried out either by a neuropathologist, and diseases of the internal organs require consultation of specialized specialists: a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, urologist, pulmonologist. Any therapy should be based on an accurate diagnosis, which must be made as early as possible.