Extended Pain In The Body
Common Aches And Pains Associated With Upper Back Pain
By Jarrett Kruse
Upper back pain frequently afflicts people with desk or driving jobs, most of the time it’s easy to identify. But sometimes other symptoms—numbness, pain, tingling, arm pain, leg pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, or other extended pain in the body—can actually indicate problems with the back. Most doctors will ask if we are experiencing any of these symptoms when we complain of back pain. The location and intensity of the symptoms are critical to diagnosis and proper back pain treatment.
Most upper back pain is caused by simple daily tasks—sitting, driving, or repetitive stress. But sometimes other symptoms develop, and these could be signals that a more serious condition exists. Conditions such as herniated discs or spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine, are more common in the lower back but they can cause upper back pain, too. Such conditions cause referred or radiating pain and it’s important to identify the symptoms, even if at first they don’t seem to be related to your back. It’s best to speak to your health care provider to get an exact diagnosis and treatment plan. Here are a few examples of referred pain symptoms and some possible causes:
- Numbness or tingling. This can indicate pressure on the spinal or spine nerves. Herniated discs, a pinched nerve, or. tumor could be the cause.
- Sharp pain in between the shoulder blades or general neck and shoulder pain. While this could be a result of trauma to the area, it could be radiating pain from trigger points along the muscles at the side and front of your neck.
- Neck and shoulder pain. The problem can be in the upper back
- Radiating pain down the arm. This can be from spondylosis—a weakening of the vertebra and discs. Leg pain can also be a symptom, but is more likely due to problems with the lower back
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