Upper Back Pain Treatment Options

Options To Remedy Your Upper Back Pain

By Jarrett Kruse

Upper back pain is frequently the result of marinating a position too long, repetitive stress injury, or sudden trauma such as whiplash. Keeping limber and strengthening the muscles is the best back prevention program, when injury or pain does occur, it’s important to understand the options for upper back pain treatment. As with the lower back pain, upper back pain treatment options include medication, upper back pain exercises, acupuncture, upper back pain medications, chiropractics, and physical therapy. A chiropractor or physical therapist versed in treating back pain can provide upper back pain therapy including massage, ultrasound, a back pain exercise guide, spinal adjustment, or other therapies.

It’s best to consult your doctor or health care provider when deciding on a treatment plan. An accurate diagnosis will help you get the most appropriate treatment. Here is an outline of some of the major methods of treating upper back pain.

  • Physical therapy: By strengthening the muscles included in surrounding the area of pain, you can relieve many of your symptoms. Physical therapists usually provide in-office treatment and an exercise program to follow at home.
  • Chiropractics: Many people feel relief from a realignment of their spines by a skilled chiropractor. Once strictly an alternative medicine, chiropractics is now recognized by many doctors and insurance companies
  • Acupuncture. This ancient Chinese method of treatment has proved successful for many patients. The acupuncturist inserts needles into particular points in the body, redirecting energy and relieving pain.
  • Medication. Some of the most common prescription drugs are mobic, naprosyn as anti-inflammatories, flexeril or valium as muscle relaxers, and a variety of narcotic and non-narcotic pain relievers. A number of over-the counter medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can also be effective.
  • Surgery. Sometimes spinal ailments such as herniated discs or tumors may require intervention from an orthopedic surgeon. It’s important to find a skilled surgeon and to consider surgery as a last resort, after all other treatments have failed.