Upper Back Pain: Causes & Reasons

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Possible Causes for Upper Back Pain

Whiplash Injury

[…] the neck, headache and dizziness (symptoms of a concussion) Abnormal sensations such as burning or tingling Shoulder pain Upper back pain Severe whiplash can also include [thespineandhealthcenter.com]

The primary symptom of whiplash is neck or upper back pain. Photo Source: 123RF.com. #2. Symptoms of Whiplash The primary symptom of whiplash is neck or upper back pain. [spineuniverse.com]

Risk factors for a less favorable recovery include older age, the presence of interscapular or upper back pain, occipital headache, multiple symptoms or paresthesias at presentation [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Scheuermann Disease

Symptoms include sudden upper back pain and stiffness with very poor posture; an overly curved upper back, slouched shoulders and extended low back. [clinic-hq.co.uk]

Other patients with this condition may experience acute upper back pain, achiness and / or stiffness particularly during a period of rapid growth. [physioadvisor.com.au]

Learn more: Thoracic Spine Anatomy and Upper Back Pain Kyphosis is any kind of excessive curvature of the thoracic spine. [spine-health.com]

Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm

This 65 y/o male presented with chest and upper back pain. [home.earthlink.net]

He had severe chest and upper back pain. The EKG and first set of enzymes were normal. The ER physician thought it was gas. Dad was active. [articles.chicagotribune.com]

[…] and/or upper back pain, sometimes described as “ripping” or “tearing” Pain that feels like it is moving from one place to another Unusually pale skin Faint pulse Numbness [marfan.org]

Cervical Radiculitis

[…] nerves are causing a patient to experience neck or upper back pain. [wakespine.com]

back pain. [paindoctor.com]

One of the most common types of radiculitis is sciatica, which can lead to pain in the lower spine, lower back, buttocks and upper thighs and calves. [orthogate.org]

Cervical Herniated Disc

The most common symptoms of cervical disc herniation include: dull or throbbing pain in the neck, upper back, or between the shoulders, and numbing of or shooting pain down [spines.com]

[…] sharp and severe pain that radiates down to the arms or upper back when coughing, sneezing or quickly moving your neck. [spinalstenosisanddisc.com]

[…] the upper extremities. [spines.com]

Scapula Fracture

Pain, swelling, and bruising may occur over the shoulder blade in the upper back or on the top of the shoulder overlying the coracoid and acromion processes. [emedicinehealth.com]

Pain is usually severe and located at the back or side of the shoulder, or, in the upper back. [athleticedge.biz]

Call a doctor if these conditions exist, especially if they are associated with any trauma to the shoulder area or upper back. [emedicinehealth.com]

Myocardial Infarction

back pain General malaise (vague feeling of illness) No symptoms What causes a heart attack? [medicinenet.com]

However, women are more likely than men to have: shortness of breath jaw pain upper back pain lightheadedness nausea vomiting In fact, some women who have had a heart attack [healthline.com]

Nausea Vomiting General epigastric (upper middle abdomen) discomfort Sweating Heartburn and/or indigestion Arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either arm) Upper [medicinenet.com]

Cervical Osteoarthritis

Sufferers of cervical osteoarthritis experience stiffness and pain in the neck and upper back and that discomfort, if left untreated, can result in more chronic pain and advanced [frontrangeregenmd.com]

Upper back and neck pain requires qualified medical professionals. At Spine Health Institute, we offer a wide array of spinal and back experts, all under one roof. [thespinehealthinstitute.com]

Cervical facet osteoarthritis may cause pain in the neck and upper back as well as the shoulders and between the shoulder blades. [arthritis-health.com]

Angina Pectoris

Symptoms may include: A pressing, squeezing, or crushing pain, usually in the chest under the breast bone, but may also occur in the upper back, both arms, neck or ear lobes [integrisok.com]

Migrating and shooting pain throughout the upper and lower back Chest pain Precordial pain T: Pale C: Greasy and white P: Deep and wiry Treatment Principle Dry Dampness Dissolve [americandragon.com]

Angina can feel like a pressing, squeezing, or crushing pain in the chest under your breastbone. You may have pain in your upper back, both arms, neck, or ear lobes. [urmc.rochester.edu]

Spinal Osteochondrosis

Coding of Upper and Mid-Back Pain Pain in the Upper and/or Mid-back is not as common as neck pain or low back pain, and the more common causes are somewhat different than [icd10orthocoder.com]

Learn more: Thoracic Spine Anatomy and Upper Back Pain Kyphosis is any kind of excessive curvature of the thoracic spine. [spine-health.com]

Why does Back Pain Recur? [physioworks.com.au]

Osteoporosis

[…] time Stooped posture or curved upper back Painful joints or stiffness Breaking a bone more easily than expected, such as after a minor injury Relieving side effects is an [cancer.net]

[…] over time Stooped posture or curved upper back Painful joints or stiffness Breaking a bone more easily than expected, such as after a minor injury Relieving side effects [cancer.net]

Talk with your health care team about any symptoms you may experience, including: Back pain, often caused by a compression fracture or collapsed vertebra Loss of height over [cancer.net]

Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Case 2 is a 68-year-old woman who presented with upper back pain. Spine MRI revealed multiple lesions at T9-T12, L2, L4, and L5. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Case 2 is a 68-year-old woman who presented with upper back pain. Spine MRI revealed multiple lesions at T9–T12, L2, L4, and L5. [link.springer.com]

[…] in neck [15] Low back pain [15] Pain and weakness in upper extremity [15] Pain and/or weakness in legs and buttocks [13] [12] [15] Pain intensifies during neck flexion [16 [physio-pedia.com]

Spinal Compression Fracture

See Thoracic Spine Anatomy and Upper Back Pain This article provides in-depth information on vertebral compression fractures, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments [spine-health.com]

You can read more about it in the page upper back pain with breathing. [simplebackpain.com]

They often occur in the upper lumbar segments as well, such as L1. [spine-health.com]

Acute Myocardial Infarction

However, women are more likely than men to have: shortness of breath jaw pain upper back pain lightheadedness nausea vomiting In fact, some women who have had a heart attack [healthline.com]

Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body including the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Sweating or [my.clevelandclinic.org]

The most common symptoms of a heart attack include: pressure or tightness in the chest pain in the chest, back, jaw, and other areas of the upper body that lasts more than [healthline.com]

Ankylosing Spondylitis

pain Neck pain • Upper back pain • Low back pain ( Coccydynia, Sciatica ) Radiculopathy Intervertebral disc disorder Schmorl's nodes • Degenerative disc disease • Spinal [marefa.org]

Really short backstory: I'm a 27 year old with 4 years of chronic pain in one hip, recently started getting pain in tailbone too. No pain in upper/lower back. [reddit.com]

[…] often worse at night Stiffness that is worse in the morning Symptom improvement with exercise or activity Occasionally, pain and stiffness in other joints: Knee Upper back [cancercarewny.com]

Aortic Disease

While only half of those with aortic disease complain of symptoms, possible warning signs include: Pain in the jaw, neck, and upper back Chest or back pain Coughing, hoarseness [tmphysiciannetwork.org]

Symptoms of a thoracic aortic aneurysm (affecting upper part of aorta in chest): Pain in the jaw, neck, upper back or chest Coughing, hoarseness or difficulty breathing Learn [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Fibromyalgia

This causes tenderness in the upper back and forearms and leads to the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Physical and emotional factors may also play a role in fibromyalgia. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Tender points are specific places—for example, on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and upper and lower extremities—where people with fibromyalgia feel pain in response to [web.archive.org]

When you don't get enough sleep, your body does not produce the chemicals necessary to control or regulate pain. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Axial Spondyloarthritis

Pains in the upper back can also be a result of disorders of the aorta, chest tumors, and inflammation of spine. [medicinenet.com]

He cites pain as a symptom typically affecting both the lower back and upper back, including the neck. "Many years can pass until the correct diagnosis is made. [medicalxpress.com]

Common causes of lower back pain include strain injury from athletics or overuse, disc herniation, kidney infection, pinched nerve in the spine, and pregnancy. [medicinenet.com]

Pancoast Syndrome

[…] down his right arm and into his upper back. [casereports.bmj.com]

back pain for several weeks. [emedicinehealth.com]

Patients with advanced Pancoast tumors may feel discomfort in their arms, between their shoulder blades or radiating into their upper back. [moffitt.org]

Spinal Trauma

Inability to move arms or legs Neck or back pain Kyphosis — a forward curvature of the back bones (vertebrae) in the upper back, giving a child an abnormally rounded or " [chop.edu]

The following symptoms may occur in varying degrees in a child with spinal trauma: Muscle weakness Loss of sensation/inability to feel pain or temperature Breathing problems [chop.edu]

Multiple Myeloma

The most common side effects of DARZALEX ® include: tiredness nausea diarrhea shortness of breath trouble sleeping fever cough muscle spasms back pain joint pain vomiting [darzalex.com]

Symptoms typically include back pain, weakness or paralysis in the legs, numbness, or dysesthesias in the lower extremities. [emedicine.medscape.com]

[…] cold-like symptoms (upper respiratory infection) nerve damage causing tingling, numbness or pain swollen hands, ankles or feet constipation chills dizziness Tell your healthcare [darzalex.com]

Heart Disease

Pains or numbness in your breast bone (sternum), neck, arms, stomach or upper back Shortness of breath and fatigue with activity General weakness Indigestion or heartburn [draxe.com]

Heart attack symptoms can include: Pain or discomfort in the upper body including the chest, arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw or stomach Difficulty breathing and shortness [draxe.com]

Delta Aminolevulinate Dehydrase Deficiency

Peripheral neuropathy may cause pain in the extremities, back, and chest, with muscle weakness that usually begins proximally in the upper extremities. [cghjournal.org]

Traumatic Neck Injury

Severe neck or upper back pain. Dizziness or a feeling of unsteadiness. Blurred vision or altered vision. [sportsinjuryclinic.net]

Patients present with neck pain and stiffness, occipital headache, thoracic back pain and/or lumbar back pain and upper-limb pain and paraesthesia. [ 2 ] There are two types [patient.info]

[…] that comes on slowly and peaks after about 24 hour hours, headache at the back of the neck, muscles spasms and pain in your upper shoulder, neck stiffness, and/or numbness [verywell.com]

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by persistent fatigue and other specific symptoms that last for a minimum duration of six months. This syndrome presents with a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms with no prior history of severe exhaustion. With the onset of flu-like symptoms, the patient complains of[…] [symptoma.com]

Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

Symptoms of a thoracic aneurysm may include: Pain in the jaw, neck, or upper back Pain in the chest or back Wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath as a result of pressure [elcaminohospital.org]

[…] arms Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath Coughing up blood Symptoms of aortic dissection usually appear suddenly and may include: Severed, sudden, constant chest pain [marfan.org]

Facet Joint Syndrome

Patients with facet joint syndrome in their cervical spine may have a hard time moving their neck, resulting in headaches and upper back pain. [tulsapain.com]

View other back pain conditions: Lower Back Pain Middle Back Pain Upper Back Pain Neck Pain Bulging Disc Herniated Disc Pinched Nerve Sciatica Degenerative Disc Disease Foraminal [spineina.com]

It is important to consult a best in class pain management doctor in NYC regarding ANY symptoms or signs of knee, hip, back pain including lower or upper back pain as it may [painmanagementdoctornyc.com]

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

back pain Clammy skin Nausea and vomiting Rapid heart rate Sense of impending doom The physical exam is often normal unless a rupture or leak has occurred. [nlm.nih.gov]

The most commonly reported symptom of an acute aortic dissection is severe, constant chest or upper back pain, sometimes described as "ripping" or "tearing." [elcaminohospital.org]

Cross Syndrome

The chronic strain is uncomfortable and may also lead to neck pain, upper back pain, headaches, TMJ pain, and ultimately- arthritis. [ashworthchiro.com]

Common symptoms are: Forward head posture Rounded shoulders A hunched upper back Headache Shoulder pain, upper back and neck pain How a Personal Trainer Can Help Treat Upper [theptdc.com]

back pain Symptoms of Upper Cross Syndrome Complaints of people with upper crossed syndrome are typically stiffness in the neck, headaches, tension and soreness along the [physiotherapy-treatment.com]

Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Symptoms of a thoracic aneurysm may include, but are not limited to, the following: Pain in the jaw, neck, and/or upper back Pain in the chest and/or back Wheezing, coughing [nyhq.org]

Symptoms of a thoracic aneurysm may include, but are not limited to, the following: pain in the jaw, neck, and/or upper back pain in the chest and/or back wheezing, coughing [medcentral.org]

The most commonly reported symptom of an acute aortic dissection is severe, constant chest and/or upper back pain, sometimes described as “ripping” or “tearing.” [surgery.med.miami.edu]