“What is causing my back pain?”
I have been having upper right back pain around under my shoulder blade since December now. It was unnoticeable at first but then became worse and worse since then. It is really sharp pain when I move my shoulder back or move a certain way. I have tried following those upper back stretches, and since then the feeling has gotten way more painful than before. It also hurts in the spot when I take a deep breath. I also had a heavy backpack for school and don’t have the best posture, and I am pretty sure that this wasn’t caused by an injury, although a bit under a month before December I lifted up a heavy bookshelf with my dad (that had all the books on it) and I sort of felt like a pop in my back, it did hurt but I still lifted it up the second time, that could have affected my back maybe. I don’t know if this is related, but during this pain, for a week it felt like something in my neck was popping (it was sudden and very painful), and for the past week, my lower back has been aching.
Female | 14 years old
4 Answers
Likely nerve pinch either from neck or suprascapular nerve. Heavy book bag and muscle weakness are often factors. Need spine improvement exercise and lighter book bag.If no help sees an orthopedic surgeon.
Dear Patient,
Without performing an evaluation, it sounds as though it may be potentially that you 5th or 6th rib is in a faulty position, as it is likely "stuck down" causing pain with deep inhalation. With respect to your neck pain, is it still bothersome? Is the pain in the right shoulder blade and burning/numbness sensation? You may be experiencing some nerve root irritation of the right C5/C6 nerve root, leading to pain in the right shoulder blade region. I would recommend seeing you PCP to ensure that it is not referred pain from an internal organ, and if you are cleared seeking physical therapy to address your rib displacement or potential cervical radiculopathy. I hope that this helps
Sincerely,
Tom
Without performing an evaluation, it sounds as though it may be potentially that you 5th or 6th rib is in a faulty position, as it is likely "stuck down" causing pain with deep inhalation. With respect to your neck pain, is it still bothersome? Is the pain in the right shoulder blade and burning/numbness sensation? You may be experiencing some nerve root irritation of the right C5/C6 nerve root, leading to pain in the right shoulder blade region. I would recommend seeing you PCP to ensure that it is not referred pain from an internal organ, and if you are cleared seeking physical therapy to address your rib displacement or potential cervical radiculopathy. I hope that this helps
Sincerely,
Tom
Hello and thank for sharing your upper back/neck pain issue. I appreciate your allowing me to offer my thoughts, tips and suggestions to help you understand and overcome your back problem.
Thanks for the detailed history of the problem. Part of the history I am lacking is about how much time you spend on screens (computer, phone, tablet, laptop, etc.), and the exact position during these activities (screen time). There are muscles that run alongside your spinal processes (the bony prominences in your vertebrae, or the bones of the back) all the way from the base of your skull to your tailbone. There is an odd-shaped muscle in your upper back that essentially makes a thick cross across the base of the neck and then down the back. In addition, there are some deeper muscles (2-3 more layers) that make up the upper back muscles. Finally, there are some small yet complex muscles around the base of the neck (those permit all the movements your neck can make: 6 planes of movement). Without a big traumatic event, by far the most likely cause of nagging and bothersome upper back pain comes from the fatigue of the postural muscles of the upper back and neck (overuse).
Whether brought on by poor posture (screen watching), developmental imbalances (as young people transition from immature bones to mature or fully grown bones), straining from lifting too much or with poor technique, or a combination of any of them, the pain represents an inflammatory response (as does the stiffness and loss of function). In addition, sleeping poorly, carrying a heavy backpack (correctly or incorrectly; correct backpack usage is important and can be found here: https://youtu.be/oTNbw84rbSk), poor hydration and/or rest/nutrition can also add to the problem. It is not likely that there are big tears to muscles, tumors, or disc problems (bulging or herniations) at this age.
I am an advocate of following this acronym:
https://www.pop-doc.com/joint-preactive.html
Each step can be done, and then the exercise portion includes regaining and maintaining full range of motion of the neck and shoulders, and then also working on strengthening the postural muscles (those located along the upper back and neck) and stretching out the chest or muscles along the front of the body (to help regain balance). Of course, do not forget the ‘normal’ ergonomics of sitting and working at a computer. Once the pain and inflammation comes on, it may take 4-8 weeks to fully resolve (while altering your lifestyle and making changes to your daily activities.
I hope this helps.
David T. Neuman, MD FAAOS
Sports Medicine and Orthopedics
131 West 33rd St.
Suite 12E
New York, NY 10001
P: 212-813-3634
F: 212-857-9411
www.nysportscare.com<http://www.nysportscare.com/>
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. It may contain confidential and protected health information subject to privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.
Thanks for the detailed history of the problem. Part of the history I am lacking is about how much time you spend on screens (computer, phone, tablet, laptop, etc.), and the exact position during these activities (screen time). There are muscles that run alongside your spinal processes (the bony prominences in your vertebrae, or the bones of the back) all the way from the base of your skull to your tailbone. There is an odd-shaped muscle in your upper back that essentially makes a thick cross across the base of the neck and then down the back. In addition, there are some deeper muscles (2-3 more layers) that make up the upper back muscles. Finally, there are some small yet complex muscles around the base of the neck (those permit all the movements your neck can make: 6 planes of movement). Without a big traumatic event, by far the most likely cause of nagging and bothersome upper back pain comes from the fatigue of the postural muscles of the upper back and neck (overuse).
Whether brought on by poor posture (screen watching), developmental imbalances (as young people transition from immature bones to mature or fully grown bones), straining from lifting too much or with poor technique, or a combination of any of them, the pain represents an inflammatory response (as does the stiffness and loss of function). In addition, sleeping poorly, carrying a heavy backpack (correctly or incorrectly; correct backpack usage is important and can be found here: https://youtu.be/oTNbw84rbSk), poor hydration and/or rest/nutrition can also add to the problem. It is not likely that there are big tears to muscles, tumors, or disc problems (bulging or herniations) at this age.
I am an advocate of following this acronym:
https://www.pop-doc.com/joint-preactive.html
Each step can be done, and then the exercise portion includes regaining and maintaining full range of motion of the neck and shoulders, and then also working on strengthening the postural muscles (those located along the upper back and neck) and stretching out the chest or muscles along the front of the body (to help regain balance). Of course, do not forget the ‘normal’ ergonomics of sitting and working at a computer. Once the pain and inflammation comes on, it may take 4-8 weeks to fully resolve (while altering your lifestyle and making changes to your daily activities.
I hope this helps.
David T. Neuman, MD FAAOS
Sports Medicine and Orthopedics
131 West 33rd St.
Suite 12E
New York, NY 10001
P: 212-813-3634
F: 212-857-9411
www.nysportscare.com<http://www.nysportscare.com/>
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. It may contain confidential and protected health information subject to privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of it or its contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.
I would recommend you be seen by a spine specialist for a formal evaluation.
