Upper right back pain is often caused by torn or stretched muscles and ligaments, but can also be caused by trauma, poor posture, pinched nerves, gallbladder disease, or cancer. Diagnosis can be difficult, but treatment options include rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, massage, and physical therapy. Severe cases may require surgery.
Most cases of upper right back pain — that is, pain that occurs below the neck and above the lower back, usually around the right shoulder blade — are caused by torn or stretched muscles and ligaments, even if there are there are several reasons why this can happen as well as a number of other possible causes. Sudden trauma, such as a car accident muscle abuse, such as occurs with repetitive movements; and poor posture are among the easiest to diagnose. More complicated conditions such as gallbladder disease and pinched spinal nerves can be more difficult to pinpoint, but can often be more serious for the patient. Most medical professionals recommend that people get help for any pain that is persistent, throbbing, or that interferes with daily life and work.
Trauma and injuries
Most upper back pain is caused by trauma or injury. In many cases the pain begins shortly after the inciting event, but not always; back issues sometimes develop months or even years after an injury, which can make identifying the source somewhat tricky. Many of the muscles that connect the arms and mid-back are deep and dense, and injuries can go unnoticed if they occur under many layers. It is not until a person moves in a new way or exposes injured tissue that pain is felt.
Whiplash is a very common example. This type of injury occurs when a person’s head and neck suddenly move forward and then backward, and is a common complaint of traffic accident victims. Neck tenderness is sometimes felt right away, but pain in the upper back — on the right or left side — often sets in some time later. Any number of slip and fall incidents where a victim has landed or put a weight on their right arm can also lead to upper right back pain further down the line.
Overuse and muscle strain
Muscles anywhere in the body typically need to be warmed up and toned to withstand prolonged or repetitive activity. Someone who hasn’t used their upper back muscles regularly before spending several hours raking the lawn, for example, or playing football, may wake up with a very painful shoulder or back on their dominant side. The same thing is also common for athletes or anyone else just starting a regimen of repetitively using certain muscles. Starting slowly is usually your best bet, but once the pain sets in, a few days of rest is usually your best bet.
Posture problems
Back pain can also be related to poor posture. The spine is in many ways the anchor of the whole body, and when it is misaligned many things can go wrong. “Good” posture is generally defined as sitting or standing such that the spine is held more or less perpendicular to the ground, without arching, twisting, or twisting.
People who hunch over a computer screen for long stretches at a time or who spend many hours driving are some of the more common victims of poor posture, but the condition can happen to anyone. Carrying young children around, carrying heavy bags with one arm, and even just plain slouching can all contribute. When people hunch their shoulders forward, the chest muscles can shorten, which strains the back muscles. Learning to distribute weight more evenly, paying more attention to standing, and finding ergonomically positioned desk chairs are some of the simplest ways to prevent and treat this type of problem.
Pinched nerves
However, not all spinal problems are muscular, and pain sometimes occurs due to problems with the nervous system. A pinched nerve in the neck is a relatively serious cause of back pain that can lead to intense throbbing. Nerves can be pinched for a couple of different reasons, but herniated discs and bone spurs near the spine are among the most common. In these cases, pain in the upper right side is often just one of several more serious symptoms, including numbness and loss of sensation.
Unrelated diseases
The gallbladder is one of the more serious causes of upper right back pain, although it’s not something most people associate with the back or spine. People who have gallbladder problems often complain of pain or a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen, and in some cases this pain can spread to the right shoulder blade. Many people with gallbladder disease also experience nausea and vomiting, and the condition is very serious.
Various types of cancer can also be the cause. Cancers of the kidneys, lungs, and pancreas often cause pain to radiate outward from the abdomen and in some cases can extend to the back. Blood cancers such as leukemia can have similar symptoms. In all of these cases, back pain is just one of many, often more serious, signs that something is wrong, but it can be a good starting point for a diagnosis.
Problem diagnosis
Diagnosing back pain is often an art, in part because of how often it occurs with other symptoms and the time that can elapse between the actual injury or triggering event and the moment the patient experiences pain. Most medical professionals start with a thorough history and thorough examination of the back, neck and spinal region before identifying the exact cause.
Common treatments
When the pain doesn’t appear to be rooted in any serious injury, health care providers often recommend ice packs and anti-inflammatory medications, many of which are available over the counter. People who don’t suffer from severe or debilitating pain may also want to try massage, hot and cold packs, or acupuncture. Pain that persists usually needs to be controlled, and doctors can sometimes prescribe muscle relaxants if the injury interferes with the patient’s daily life and work. In extreme cases, surgery or physical therapy may be required.
People should generally refrain from long periods of physical activity that can exacerbate muscle strains, but sometimes light exercise can also be helpful in stretching sore muscles and ligaments. Medical professionals are usually best able to make recommendations after they’ve had a chance to properly diagnose the problem in person, and patients are usually discouraged from self-treating without at least one consultation with a professional.
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