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What Causes Sudden Onset Of Upper Back Pain?
Brief Answer:
cervical or thoracic pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Firstly thanks to you for selecting HCM to ask your query
Sudden onset upper back pain can be because of Overuse of muscles, muscle strain, or injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support your spine. Poor posture(using pillow and soft mattress while sleeping). Pressure on the spinal nerves from certain problems, such as a herniated disc.
The vast majority of cases of upper back pain are due to one (or both) of the following causes:
Muscular irritation (myofascial pain)
Joint dysfunction
But as your age is 81,Two common causes of lower back pain can be osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis.
As the pain in your case migrated to neck also it can be Cervical pain also.
Its not always necessary that pain follows a episode of trauma or twisting,as we age our muscles get week,many a times even a normal amount of strain or a poor posture while sleeping or sitting can trigger the pain .
I would suggest you to go for a X ray cervical and thoracic region AP and LATERAL view, to rule out the above mentioned possibilities.
3 days of complete bed rest is advised ,don't try any exercise or physiotherapy till you are normal,give complete rest to your body.
Don't use Pillows and soft cushions on bed ,sleep on a hard surface.
You have tried tylenol which contains acetaminophen ,its a weak anti inflammatory ,I would suggest you to take a combination of seratiopeptidase +diclofenac potassium+paracetamol in combination with a potent corticosteroid like methyl prednisolone for 3 days at least ,you can discuss the dosage of the drugs with your physician.
As pain is radiating to neck tie a neck collar around it,and provide complete rest to your back and neck.
Sudden onset upper back pain is highly unlikely to be of cardiac origin or gastric origin ,but to be on safer side you can get a ECG done.
You can discuss the possibilities with your treating doctor.
If you have any further question i will be happy to help.
thank you
Dr Rishu Saxena
Consultant Cardiologist
cervical or thoracic pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Firstly thanks to you for selecting HCM to ask your query
Sudden onset upper back pain can be because of Overuse of muscles, muscle strain, or injury to the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support your spine. Poor posture(using pillow and soft mattress while sleeping). Pressure on the spinal nerves from certain problems, such as a herniated disc.
The vast majority of cases of upper back pain are due to one (or both) of the following causes:
Muscular irritation (myofascial pain)
Joint dysfunction
But as your age is 81,Two common causes of lower back pain can be osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis.
As the pain in your case migrated to neck also it can be Cervical pain also.
Its not always necessary that pain follows a episode of trauma or twisting,as we age our muscles get week,many a times even a normal amount of strain or a poor posture while sleeping or sitting can trigger the pain .
I would suggest you to go for a X ray cervical and thoracic region AP and LATERAL view, to rule out the above mentioned possibilities.
3 days of complete bed rest is advised ,don't try any exercise or physiotherapy till you are normal,give complete rest to your body.
Don't use Pillows and soft cushions on bed ,sleep on a hard surface.
You have tried tylenol which contains acetaminophen ,its a weak anti inflammatory ,I would suggest you to take a combination of seratiopeptidase +diclofenac potassium+paracetamol in combination with a potent corticosteroid like methyl prednisolone for 3 days at least ,you can discuss the dosage of the drugs with your physician.
As pain is radiating to neck tie a neck collar around it,and provide complete rest to your back and neck.
Sudden onset upper back pain is highly unlikely to be of cardiac origin or gastric origin ,but to be on safer side you can get a ECG done.
You can discuss the possibilities with your treating doctor.
If you have any further question i will be happy to help.
thank you
Dr Rishu Saxena
Consultant Cardiologist
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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