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Upper back pain between shoulder blades: Is it serious?
Posted on: 27 October, 2020
Poor posture, injury, or problems with the spine can all lead to upper back pain. A common cause of pain between the shoulder blades is muscle strain.
Source: Medical News Today
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Your upper and middle back area is less prone to trouble than your lower back. That’s because it doesn’t bear as much of the load of your body’s weight and work as your lower back does. But this area, which runs from the base of your neck to the bottom of your rib cage, can still be a source of
pain. You have 12 vertebrae in your upper and middle back. You may hear a doctor refer to them as T1 through T12. The T stands for “thoracic.” Between the vertebrae are spongy discs. You might think of them as shock absorbers for your body. They cushion the bones when you move around. Ligaments and
muscles hold the spine together. The entire area is called the thoracic spine. It works with your ribs to keep your body stable and protect vital organs such as your
heart and lungs. Pain in your upper and middle back may be described as: There
are any number of reasons your upper and middle back can hurt. Strain or injury to the muscles and ligaments that support your spine is sometimes the problem. This can come from overuse. You might also have poor posture. When you sit, try to keep your shoulders
back. When you stand, try to keep your back as straight as possible and your weight evenly placed on your feet. Other possible causes include:Your Back’s Structure
Symptoms
Causes
Several factors can increase your chances of having
upper and middle back pain. Among them: If you’re like most people with upper and middle back pain, you’ll be able to manage your symptoms at home. Over-the-counter pain relievers, heat, or ice may be enough to ease your condition. You should call your doctor, though, if your pain becomes too intense or starts to keep you away from your daily activities. Certain symptoms require fast attention. They include:Am I Likely to Get Back Pain?
When to See a Doctor
If you spend any extended time hunched over a computer or phone, chances are you’ve experienced some form of upper back pain. While this part of the back (also known as the thoracic spine) is less susceptible to injury than the lower or middle back, upper back pain still affects nearly one in 10 men and one in five women.
And with a range of symptoms, pain levels, and causes, it’s not always clear when to see a doctor.
Most cases of upper back pain can be managed at home with over-the-counter pain medication, heat or ice, exercise, and improvement of posture. However, certain symptoms in conjunction with upper back pain may indicate a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention from a healthcare professional.
In this article, I’ll detail the symptoms and potential causes of upper back pain. Then I’ll break down the potential signs that upper back pain could be something serious and when to see a doctor.
Symptoms of Upper Back Pain
Common symptoms associated with upper back pain include:
- Stiffness in the back
- Aching or burning between the shoulder blades
- Pain in the upper back when breathing deeply
- Chest pain or tightness
- Neck pain
- Indigestion
What Causes Upper Back Pain?
Although it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of upper back pain, common possible causes include:
- Muscle strain, sprain, or overuse: Repetitive movements, such as those from physical labor, can lead to muscle and ligament injuries. Improper lifting technique can also result in upper back pain.
- Poor posture: Slouching in a chair, hunching over a phone, or standing with the pelvis tucked under or out can all lead to upper back pain.
- Disc or nerve damage: Discs are the soft “shock absorbers” between vertebrae. If ruptured or herniated, the discs bulge, putting pressure on the spinal nerves and triggering pain that often radiates.
- Fractured vertebrae: Accidents can cause bones in the spine to break, impairing movement.
- Osteoarthritis: Though more common in the neck and lower back, this “wear and tear” type of arthritis can happen in the upper back as well. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage breaks down.
- Osteoporosis: Weak, brittle bones are more susceptible to fractures.
Other conditions and lifestyle factors that can contribute to upper back pain include:
- Smoking
- Lack of physical activity
- Excess body weight
- Depression and anxiety
- Fibromyalgia
- Paget’s disease
Potential Signs It Could Be Something Serious
Most upper back pain typically resolves in a few weeks with treatment at home, including stretching, taking pain relievers, applying heat or ice, or moderating certain activities that may cause back strain.
Upper back pain can even get better on its own.
However, a serious injury to the upper back can damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis in the body below the injury.
Additionally, upper back pain may be a warning sign of a severe medical condition.
If you experience any of the following symptoms with upper back pain, talk to a healthcare provider:
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms and legs: If back pain back pain radiates from your back to your leg, this could be a sign of sciatica. These symptoms in the arms and legs could also be a sign of a herniated disc.
- Fever without flu-like symptoms:Upper back pain associated with shortness of breath and fever could indicate a spinal infection.
- Unexplained weight loss: If you’re losing weight without changes to your diet or lifestyle while experiencing upper back pain, it could be the result of a tumor or infection.
- A slowing in the reaction time of arms and legs:When associated with upper back pain, a tingling or delayed reaction time of the arms and legs could be signs of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). CSM is the compression of the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is pinched, this can delay messages that the brain sends to the arms and legs to cause them to react and move. CSM is a degenerative process that can happen as we age. On average, people who have it are in their 50s or 60s.
- Shortness of breath and chest pain: Experiencing these symptoms along with upper back pain could be signs of a heart attack. Shortness of breath and chest pain could also signify a rib injury or a problem in the lungs.
When to See a Doctor
If you have any concerns about upper back pain, or if you have back pain from a fall, injury, or accident, consult a doctor.
Also seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms in conjunction with upper back pain:
- Weakness or numbness in one or both legs
- Fever without flu-like aches
- Pain that wakes you up for more than three nights of sleep
- Back pain that persists after 4-6 weeks
- Severe back pain that does not go away after a few days of treatment (such as ice, pain relievers, and rest)
- Pain that shoots down one leg below the knee
- Chronic upper back pain lasting longer than six weeks that prevents you from doing daily activities
- Numbness in the upper inner thigh, groin, buttok, or gential areas
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know when upper back pain is serious?
If you experience acute upper back pain from a fall, car accident, or other injury, seek medical attention immediately. Another indicator that upper back pain is serious is if you’re experiencing additional symptoms, some of which include fever (without flu-like aches), ongoing back pain, pain that wakes you up from sleep for more than three consecutive nights, weakness or numbness in the legs, back pain that lasts longer than 4-6 weeks, and radiating back pain.
When should I worry about upper back pain between shoulder blades?
Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing severe upper back pain between the shoulder blades, as it may be signs of a serious medical condition, such as lung disease, heart disease, blood vessel disease, or gallstones.
What organs can cause upper back pain?
Organs that can cause upper back pain include the gallbladder, kidneys, and pancreas. The gallbladder can cause upper back pain between shoulder blades if gallstones, an accumulation of hard pieces of digestive fluids, have formed. Kidney problems such as kidney stones can also cause upper back pain. Additionally, a symptom of pancreatic cancer is a dull pain that occasionally occurs in the upper back.
K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.