Back Pain Causes for Upper, Lower and Middle Back Pain

I’ve talked about all of these back pain causes in different posts, but am going to combine them in an overview here for easier reference.  I’ll briefly review middle back pain causes, lower back pain causes, and upper back pain causes, as well as some basic tips, easy to do treatments and back pain exercises to help reduce your back pain.  General back pain is caused by very common things like over-use, abuse, lifting heavy items, awkward angles, poor posture, poor shoes, poor sitting position, desk and computer height, or a fall or trauma.  Sometimes it may only take resting it some, ice and/or heat, or mild pain pills to begin healing.  But, it can also be chronic back pain (long-term), which can cause much more serious damage, requiring more serious treatment.

Upper Back Pain Causes, Middle Back Pain Causes and Lower Back Pain Causes

Upper Back Pain Causes can be back strain or poor posture sitting at a desk or in a car for long periods, or it could be caused by an injury or trauma.  Many times, upper back pain is accompanied by neck and/or shoulder pain.  Most cases are caused by one or both muscular irritation (shoulder muscles attached to shoulder blade and back of rib cage) or joint dysfunction.  Upper back pain causes can be from a lack of back strength or de-conditioning, as well as over-use, muscle strain, injuries, accidents, etc.  The majority of upper back pain can be treated by passive or active exercise, massage therapy, acupuncture, or chiropractic/osteopathic manipulation.  Many physical rehabilitation programs include a lot of stretching and back strengthening exercises.  If there is a certain area that’s tender, the upper back pain cause may be a ‘trigger point’, which are usually in a skeletal muscle, and can be worked on by massage therapy, acupuncture or trigger point injections.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications (NSAIDs) can also be helpful.  Muscular irritation is usually a sign of inflammation, so anti-inflammatories like Ibuprophen or COX-2 inhibitors can help reduce inflammation.

Joint dysfunction in the joints that connect the ribs to the vertebrae (thoracic) on either side of the spine can also cause upper back pain.  Treatment for this usually includes manual manipulation by a physical therapist, chiropractor, or osteopathic physician to help mobilize and reduce pain.  Long-term relief usually requires a home exercise treatment program to stretch and strengthen your back muscles which are supported by your stomach muscles.  Aerobic conditioning is important to maintain upper back pain relief.  Anti-inflammatories also help this.

Middle Back Pain Causes are usually injury or trauma, but your middle back also compensates for lower back pain, neck pain or pelvic pain.  It may feel like a ‘stabbing’ pain, and can radiate to the ribs.  Your blood sugar control system can actually cause middle back pain.  You might reduce sugar / carbohydrates, as they can ‘overload’ the system, and actually irritate it or cause it to go out of place.  There are twelve (12) different pairs of spinal nerves at the middle back, and some even go to the shoulders and arm.  Middle back pain usually responds well to chiropractic treatment.  The sooner you get treatment, the better, as it can cause joint, spinal, disc or nerve degeneration, as any chronic back pain can.

You might try nutritional supplements for any back condition, as nutrition is KEY in healing, repair and pain reduction.  However, talk to your doctor.

Lower Back Pain Causes may include a pinched nerve, possible bulging or disc herniation.  It could be Sciatica (nerves) or Spinal Stenosis.  Joint disease could be involved.  Musculoskeletal pain syndromes like Fibromyalgia or Myofascial Pain Syndrome could be involved.  Other skeletal lower back pain causes could be Sacroiliitis, Osteomyelitis, or even tumors.

Back pain is a Symptom, many times originating from other organs (referred back pain).  Things like appendicitis, pelvic or bladder infection, ovarian disorders, kidney disease and aneurysms can cause referred back pain.  Always go to your doctor to be evaluated, tested and diagnosed.

Other articles around the web related to back pain causes:

Causes of Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain can occur as a result of trauma or sudden injury, or it can occur through strain or poor posture over time…
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/upper-back-pain/causes-upper-back-pain

Causes of Back Pain
It is important to understand that back pain is a symptom of a medical condition, not a diagnosis itself…
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/causes-of-back-pain

Back Pain:  Causes of Back Pain
Your backbone (vertebral column) is actually a stack of more than 30 bones called vertebrae. Together they create a bony canal that surrounds…
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/back-pain/DS00536

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lower back pain causes

How do you relieve your lower back pain caused by menstruation?

Personally, what helps you with the pain?

A good pain reliever like Advil and a heating pad, sometimes a nice *hot* bath helps.. usually when I’m doubled over in pain I have to take the bath to relieve the pain.

Good luck.. hope something works for ya!

Causes Of Lower Back Pain | Lower Back Pain Causes

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lower back and leg pain

Lower back and leg pain?

I’m a teen, I fell playing a sport and for the past 5 weeks I have had lower back pain. My doctor didn’t help at all but x-ray showed nothing. Massage did nothing. A chiropractoror did nothing. After the chiropractor realigned my back twice I’m having leg pain. Any idea what the heck is wrong?

Hi your pelvis could be out of alignment, i suggest that you go and see a physiotherapist and ask them to check if it is in alignment and if this is the case they will also massage the muscles in the leg and buttocks as these will be tight due to compensating for the back muscles not working properly.
My pelvis is out of alignment and my physio has been great in helping me to reduce my pain and put my pelvis back in alignment.
hope this helps and good luck

Lower Back Exercises – Back Pain With Leg Pain

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Upper Back Pain Causes and How To Get Upper Back Pain Relief

Upper back pain causes can be trauma or sudden injury or impact.  They can also happen from back strain or poor posture.  Upper back pain can be caused by working at a computer most of the time.  A lot of times, upper back pain occurs with shoulder pain and/or neck pain.  Most upper back pain causes are from one or both of:

• Muscle irritation (myofascial pain)
• Joint dysfunction

Upper Back Pain Causes from Muscular Irritation

Upper back pain caused by muscular irritation affects the large upper back muscles, which are attached to the shoulder ‘girdle’ and scapula (shoulder blade).  They can develop irritation (myofascial pain), which can be painful and difficult to treat.  Like most back pain, upper back pain is due to a lack of conditioning (exercise, stretching, strengthening, strong stomach muscles which support your spine), or overusing the muscles, like repetitive motion (RMI-repetitive motion injury).  If you strain a muscle, have an injury including sports, car accident or other trauma or sudden impact, or improper posture all cause or contribute to this.

Upper Back Pain Causes From Joint Dysfunction

Your ribs connect to the vertebrae in the ‘thoracic spine’ by two joints that connect on each side of the spine.  Dysfunction of these joints can cause upper back pain.  Treatment for this also usually includes manual manipulation as above to help loosen and mobilize the joint and reduce your discomfort.  To get long-term relief, you usually have to have a home exercise program to stretch the spine and shoulders, as well as back strengthening exercises.  Aerobic conditioning is also very helpful in maintaining long-term upper back pain relief. Back pain medicines can also help this, as above, because joint dysfunction can cause inflammation.  Injections like an epidural steroid injection are usually not necessary for this unless they’re local trigger point injections. Some less common upper back pain causes are degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, etc.

How to Get Upper Back Pain Relief

Some of the best ways to get upper back pain relief are manual treatments like:

• Back stretching exercises, back strengthening exercises, active and passive physical therapy
• Chiropractic back pain treatment or osteopathic manipulation
• Massage therapy or
• Acupuncture for back pain

Since the upper back pain relates to large muscles in your shoulder area, most rehab programs include a lot of stretching and strengthening exercises.  A conservative (non-surgical) back pain specialist like an osteopathic doctor/rehab/physical medicine physician or chiropractor would be good to see for upper back pain treatment. If you have a specific area that is tender, the source might be what’s called an “active trigger point”.  Trigger points are usually in a skeletal muscle, and can be worked on by one or more of these treatments:

• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Trigger point injections with a local anesthetic like Lidocaine

Back pain medication can also help, since muscle irritation usually includes some type of inflammation.  Anti-inflammatory medicine like Ibuprofen can help reduce the inflammation. *ALWAYS consult with your physician to determine your back pain cause and treatment plan so you don’t cause more damage.

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Back Decompression Therapy
How does spinal decompression back pain?

I have a bulging disc L5 and want to avoid surgery. I've seen the ads Spinal Decompression and want to learn more about it. reasearch what is out there? I'm not looking for opinions on this therapy just the facts and please do not answer this question if you are an angry person who hates everything and something good, a doctor or therapist who does not like the treatment because of their own prejudices or no treatment in his office. Thank you. Just look at the facts.

I am happy that you are looking for data decompression therapy is not … acupuncture or any other therapy. I have read the answer before mine and I simply can not read. You were very clear that they want … not opinions ONLY DATA DECOMPRESSION. I found the following information to conerning decompression therapy. Most studies were based on an earlier form of decompression therapy called VAX-D. Decompression is modern brings significant changes in patient outcomes. In our clinic patients to perform a reduction from 60 to 100% pain and symptoms. Studies indicate presonal and my own experience has shown that when properly applied decompression can be a huge benefit to the patient suffering from pain lower back. Here are links to the various scientific and medical communities on the report of spinal decompression … Http://www.painreliefclinics.com/RESEARCH.htm Journal Neurological Research, October 2001. For any patient with back pain and referred leg, we (researchers) can not predict with certainty what cause has assumed primacy. Therefore, surgery, being directed at root decompression at the site of the herniation alone, may not be effective if secondary causes of pain have become predominant. Decompression therapy, however, the addresses of primary and secondary causes of back pain and legs are concerned. Thus, argue that decompression therapy should be considered first, before the patient undergoes a surgical procedure that permanently alters the anatomy and function of the lumbar spine segment affected. Journal of Neurological Research, October 2001. The same issue of study. Somatosensory evoked Dermatosomal The potential for demonstration of nerve root decompression after VAX-D therapy. Reductions in low back pain and leg referred pain associated with the diagnosis disc herniation, degenerative disc disease or facet syndrome have been reported earlier after treatment with VAX-D table … The purpose of this study was to use dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSSEPs) to demonstrate lumbar root decompression after VAX-D therapy. Seven consecutive patients with diagnosis of back pain and radiculopathy L5 or S1 unilateral or bilateral studied. All patients had at least 50% improvement in radicular symptoms and low back pain three of them experienced complete resolution of all symptoms. The average pain reduction was 77%. Journal of Neurological Research, April 1998. The Data were collected twenty to two medical centers in patients who received VAX-D therapy for low back pain, which was sometimes accompanied by pain in the legs concerned. Only patients who received at least ten sessions and had a diagnosis of herniated disc, degenerative disc or facet syndrome which were confirmed by imaging, were included in this study, a total of 778 cases. The treatment was successful in 71% of the 778 cases, when success was defined as a reduction in pain to 0 or 1 on a scale of 0 to 5. Improvements in mobility and activities of daily living are strongly correlated with pain reduction. In Anaethesiology News, March 2003 .. Small, nonrandomized follow-up study on the results of decompression therapy in reducing chronic low back pain. Among the 23 patients studied, 71% showed more than a 50% reduction in pain immediately after treatment and 86% showed a 50% or more reduction pain for four years. After four years, 52% of respondents reported a pain level of zero. Treatment of Discs presentation of pain back, VAX-D therapeutic table reduces intradiscal pressure below 150 mm Hg., effectively decompress the disc. With conventional traction intradiscal pressure either increase, remain the same or decrease slightly. Conventional traction devices cause reflex muscle contractions that interfere with decompression. The VAX-D table has a time energy distraction curve that is logarithmic, and we believe this is why decompression occurs. Click here to read the study. Medical Technologies Panel's report on the VAX-D. Low back problems are expensive. While it is difficult to assess or estimate the total cost to society, there is a strong evidence that psychosocial and economic costs are significant. From MTG receives many complaints to deal with patients suffering from disc disease, the Evaluation Division Technology thought it prudent to study the literature of various treatment modalities to better assess the medical necessity of such claims. In particular, decided to study the effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. American Association of Orthopedic Medicine, 1999, The science of decompression. The following MRI films taken before and after VAX-D treatments showed a reduction of a large extruded herniated disc. The radiologist reading and comparison of before and after the films, said he was unaware of "what kind of surgery 'was performed, but Most notable was the reduction of a herniated disk that had been extruded. Journal of Neurosurgery, 1994. Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of vertebral axial decompression on pressure in the lumbar nucleus pulposus. Changes in intradiscal pressure were recorded in the resting state and while controlled tension was applied on a VAX-D table therapy. Intradiscal pressure demonstrated an inverse relationship to stress applied. The tension in the upper rnage was observed to decompress the nucleus pulposus significantly, to Hg below 100 mm. Canadian Journal of Medicine January 1999. Effects of vertebral axial decompression on sensory nerve dysfunction in patients with low back pain and radiculopathy. Data from this study implies that VAX-D therapy is capable of influencing sensory nerve dysfunction associated with a compressive radiculopathy. Returns before motor dysfunction sensory dysfunction in compressive radiculopathies so it is quite surprising that there was complete remission in 64% of cases with sensory dysfunction. It is possible that the reduction of intradiscal pressure by VAX-D significantly alters the biomechanics and biochemistry of the disc and nerve root. Peer-reviewed journals: 1. Gose EE, Nagusezewski WK, Nagusezewski RK. The vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: an outcome study. Neurol Res 1998, 20 (3) :186-90. 2. Naguszewski WK, Naguszewski RK, Gose EE. Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential demonstration of nerve root decompression after VAX-D therapy. Neurol Res 2001, 23:706-714. 3. Ramos G, Martin W. Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. J Neurosurg. 1994, 81 (3) :350-3. 4. Shealy CN, Borgmeyer decompression V., reduction and stabilization of the lumbar spine: a cost-effective treatment for lumbosacral pain. I J Pain Manage. 1997, 7 (2) :63-65. 5. Sherry E, Kitchener P, R. Smart A prospective randomized controlled study of VAX-D and TENS for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Neurol Res 2001, 23 (7) :780-4. Go to our web site for more information. www.painreliefclincs.org www.painreliefclincs.com not hesitate to call for more information … I would be glad to help. Dr. David Wills Manager 314-922-8530 Spinal Decompression Clinics Feed for pain relief

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