Difference between Upper Back Pain and Lower Back Pain
Back pain is a common but serious kind of discomfort that can emerge from a number of underlying causes. Unfortunately, 90% of people are unable to find the root cause and suitable treatment to relieve back pain. It can be really easy to categorize all back pains into one. The key point lies in diagnosing it and getting it treated accurately considering the affected portion of the spine.
It is important to identify the difference between the lower and the upper back pain closely.
Understanding your back structure
There are 12 vertebrae in the upper and the middle back area of your body. Doctors address them as T1 and T12 where T stands for the term “thoracic.” There are spongy discs between the setup of multiple vertebrae. They are often identified as vital shock absorbers. They are also responsible for cushioning the bones during movement. Spine is held by muscles and ligaments. The entire arrangement is identified as the thoracic region or the thoracic spine. It supports the ribs and protects body organs like the lungs and heart.
Identifying the pain locations: Lower back vs. upper back
How the bones, nerves, muscle groups and joints have been majorly affected largely depends on the location of the affected spine.
Lower back pain is more common and frequent than the upper back pain. It is an easy target for chronic pains as it is responsible for supporting multiple movements in a time. It naturally absorbs most part of the stress from the body than any other portions of spinal area. Also called lumbar region, upper back pain works on minimum structural support hence the joints and the discs in this area are more prone to chronic pain attacks. It is easily affected by daily lifestyle, injuries, strains and age-related back problems.
On the other hand, upper back pain is protected through the rib cage and thoracic spine hence it is less prone to pain and effects of injuries. Poor posture, insufficient sleep, improper nutrition and poor lifestyle can hugely affect the soft issues, joints and nerves.
Common causes of upper back pain
- Muscle strain and injury
- Injury and strain over ligaments and discs
- Improper posture for prolonged time (standing or sitting positions)
- Traumatic injuries and fractures
- Accidents occurring due to automobile
- Osteoarthritis
Usually the neck and the shoulders are easily affected in the upper back region. Minor stretching can help get rid of it.
Common causes of lower back pain
It is more frequent and easily impacts the muscles, discs, vertebrae and nerves. It commonly experiences dull as well as sharp pain. Stiffness in spinal region, spasms, weakness and reduction in body flexibility are common symptoms of pain in lower back area. Since lower back can be seen as a complex arrangement of multiple nerves and muscles, if there is an issue in one area, the entire setup seems to suffer. Common causes of such chronic pain are:
- Sciatica
- Fractures
- Scoliosis
- Automobile accidents
- ruptured disks
- ligament strains and sprains
- spinal stenosis
- kidney stones
Medications like Pain O Soma can help relieve sudden chronic pain symptoms.
Behaviors contributing to upper and lower back pain
Back pain can also be a result of DNA and genetics. A little attention to its prevention methods in daily activities can help. Certain behaviors that may be responsible for mild or intense lower and upper back pain are:
- Bad body posture
- Less physical activity and no exercise
- Inability to maintain healthy body weight
- Non-nutritious diet and food habits
- Lots of stress
- Smoking
Upper vs. lower back pain: Which is worse?
Lower back is more prone to injuries and strains than the upper and middle back. The lower back manages the weight of the entire back more than the upper half. It deals with more stress. It is an alignment of various muscles and nerves hence one problem anywhere can trigger back pain easily. However, the upper back can still be a source of severe pain.
How to identify upper back pain?
Patients experiencing upper back pain may struggle with the feeling of tightness, sharp and aching pain in thoracic region. The pain can also be felt in the arms (as weakness), tingling sensation, numbness and through painful jaw or headache.
How to identify lower back pain?
The pain can be felt as something achy or dull, burning pain sensations starting from lower back and upper back pain to the back portions of thighs. Tightness and the unbearable muscle spasms experienced in the lower back, hips and pelvis is also common.
If you wake up in the night often or the pain stays in uniform positions for long, then it can be sign of a serious chronic pain. It may last for a few days and even months if treatment is not initiated earlier. It may also signal more serious problems like nerve compassion, fracture and infection.
When should you see a doctor for back pain?
Mild upper, lower back pain and upper back pain should not always make you rush to the doctor. Taking medicines like ibuprofen, application of ice and heat should work as first line of treatments. Medicines like Pain O Soma 350, a muscle relaxer can also help ease out acute and extremely painful musculoskeletal conditions. In case of the below mentioned symptoms, you may need to see a doctor immediately.
- Legs weakness and numbness in surround area
- Fever
- Pain that disturbs sleep pattern
- Back pain for more than the time frame of 5-6 weeks
- Kind of back pain that is not relieved even after mild and at-home treatments
- below the knee pain
What if the causes for upper and back pain are not diagnosed?
Even if there are no anatomical reasons found, the pain can still be real and needs treatment. This can happen even after multiple visits to doctor’s clinic and tests. Non-surgical treatment can still help in managing the pain. Sleeplessness and depression along with other psychological factors may contribute to the pain. Look for more qualified spine and pain specialist.
What medications work for treating back pain fast?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or the NSAIDs like the ibuprofen can easily help when taken as directed. Ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) can help in reduction of chronic pain, muscle inflammations, swelling, etc. Pain O Soma 350 can help patients find some relief with upper back pain by blocking pain sensations between the brain and the nerves. It should be accompanied with regular exercise and proper lifestyle and diet.
It is possible to alleviate the discomfort and pain associated with upper and lower back with over-the-counter pain medications and pain relievers like Pain O Soma available on Smartfinil. Consult a doctor for severe and sudden upper back pain.