Why do i have pain in my upper back?

Are you feeling a persistent ache or shooting pain in your upper back? Well, that’s not cool. Don’t worry though, we’re gonna get to the bottom of it! In this article, we’ll explore some common causes of upper back pain and how you can find some relief.

The Anatomy Of Your Upper Back

Before we dive into specific causes for your discomfort let’s talk about what makes up your upper back. (Whip out those anatomic terms!!)

Your thoracic spine extends from your shoulders down to just below you ribs; made up of 12 vertebrae which are connected by tough ligaments and muscles holding them together. Between each vertebrae sits a disc filled with fluid which act as shock absorbers during movement.

This section of the spine also attaches to twelve rib bones on either side that create a protective cage around organs such as heart and lungs.

The interconnectedness of all these structures make any issues in one area likely to affect another — hence why pinpointing exact cause(s) may require some detective work!

Posture Problems Are Common Culprits

How does poor posture lead to aching backs? Be prepared–it’s way more complex than simply slouching! Here are three factors:

Hunch Over Often Enough & You’ll Experience Tension Headaches

If you hunch frequently enough while doing routine tasks like typing/clicking/mousing (or even if you have stressful meetings) then eventually tension begins building at base-of-neck junction where neck meets shoulders – this is called “Upper Crossed Syndrome”- basically it’s a fancy name for saying: everything starts tensing up!
Pro tip: stretch every hour or so––you need breaks too!!! Simple exercises can alleviate tension headaches―even lying on hard floor/back with legs raised above head (yes really!).

An Uneven Gait Can Cause Shoulder Pain

From an uneven body weight distribution to legs, one can experience a lopsided walk. An uneven gait leads to compensatory movement from rest of the body such as upper back & neck – particularly when carrying anything heavy (like groceries). Exercises like squats and lunges that focus on hip alignment help avoid eventual wear-and-tear on your joints.

Don’t Put Too Much Pressure On Your Shoulder Blades

Do you know what else causes shoulder pain? Heavy bags!!! Whether it’s grocery shopping or your handbag/backpack–carrying them in just one arm places immense pressure upon trap muscles close-by shoulders which sets off more tension headaches…great! Try distributing weight evenly by using both arms or try investing in ergonomic backpacks/shoulder bags.

Injuries Due To Accidents

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we do fall victim to accidents here and there they happen sometimes. The simple truth is any acute injury with high velocity impact would strain/crack a vertebrae and cause upper back discomfort beyond any level of sleep meds could manage!

Here are three type of injuries most common:

Whiplash Injury

Whiplash occurs after sudden forward-neck movement jolts back sharply causing impact-fractures across shoulders blaming increased resistance; symptoms include problems breathing deeply and feeling shooting pains down the spine – You need medic intervention straight away!!

Spinal Disc Herniation / Bulges

Your disc can be pushed into surrounding nerves either because it shifts out place or its cushioning effect wears thin––causing herniated/bulging discs that lead people develop overextending muscle groups around shoulder area leaving them hyper-extended even at relaxed position… It feels like freaking Superman returning after lifting whole building!

Probiotics That Might Help Prevent Heart Disease

Name Type Use case(s)
Lactobacillus Acidophilus 10 CFU or higher  Boosts Immunity
Bifidobacterium Lactis 100 million to billions of live bacteria a day. Supports healthy bowel function, Reduces risk of colon cancer

Fractured Vertebrae

Along with noticeable swelling and bruising around the affected area (HAH! avoid cage fights), you may also experience sharp pain that restricts expansion of rib cage making deep breathing nearly impossible.

Regular Exercise Can Help Strengthen Your Upper Back

Fact: Lower-back exercises alone won’t alleviate your upper-back-pain but it can be very helpful – since working lower back alleviates strain on thoracic spine.
Below are three exercises to target upper back muscles that make great addition to daily exercise routine:

Shoulder Blade Squeezes

Sit in straight-backed chair, feet flat upon ground. Squeeze shoulder blades as close together as possible behind torso then hold for five seconds & release; repeat this 10 times for immediate results.

Arm Raises With Weights

Sit cross-legged on floor with dumbells/bottles full water/potatoes too! In each hand, keeping elbow bent gently raise arms up toward ceiling until they’re at shoulder level before lowering them down again into starting position; do this eight times in total…time flies when lifting potatoes!

Wall Slides For Better Posture

Lean against wall ―keep pressed firmly into wall―Then slowly slide arms upwards above head washing t-shirts. Make sure not let shoulders touch wall though––this will ensure less slouching later!!!

Upper back discomfort is often due poor posture while sitting/driving/lifting… etc all responsible for load-bearing roles which add pressure onto vulnerable areas so people need find ways reducing ongoing repetitive stresses small changes now go long way towards pain free future.

Don’t forget: Exercise regularly; try different types of stretches/weights to help alleviate muscle-tension around upper back area since working out lower-back will strengthen it helping upper-back stability too!

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