Why is my upper back in pain?!
Question: Why is my upper back in pain!?
The pain started a day ago and I asked my mom what it was!. She told me it was signs of scoliosis!. Is it!? My aunt thinks there is an inflammation!. The pain is not really the "entire" upper back but at a certain spot -- where the spine or vertebrae column is (i think that's what it's called)!. I tried massaging it, but overnight it felt kind of swollen!. So I tried Aleve / Alieve and I'm still waiting to see if it'll feel better within 8 to 12 hours!.
Could it be because I slouch constantly especially whenever I watch tv or go on the computer!? Sleeping the wrong way!? I'm just worried if it is signs of scoliosis!. I'd just like to know what could be the cause or what it is before I go to a doctor!.
Thanks ^_^Www@Answer-Health@Com
Could it be because I slouch constantly especially whenever I watch tv or go on the computer!? Sleeping the wrong way!? I'm just worried if it is signs of scoliosis!. I'd just like to know what could be the cause or what it is before I go to a doctor!.
Thanks ^_^Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Sounds like your mom is jumping to conclusions unless she's taken a look at your back and it clearly has a curve!. Here's some home methods of checking for scoliosis!.
There are a few ways to see if you have scoliosis!. The first is, of course, viewing an xray of your torso!. The second is to have someone look at you from the back to see if your shoulders or hips are uneven (one is higher than the other)!. The third would be to touch your toes (or go as close as you can to touching them) and have someone look at your back!. Have them find your spine and run their fingers from the top of your back on downward!. They should be able to tell if the spine curves!. Fourth, while you are touching your toes, they can look to see if one of your shoulder blades protrudes farther than the other!. If any of these is true, then you ought to tell the family doctor and get that referral!. The scoliosis specialist can make the curve measurements!.
Slouching may be a factor in functional scoliosis but probably not too much in structural scoliosis!.
If you've ruled out tense muscles, I'd see your family doctor!. If he thinks you have scoliosis, get a referral to a scoliosis specialist!.
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions!. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned!.
Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors - functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural!. There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis - congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause)!. It is important for you to know what kind you have!.
If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help!. Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis!. I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis!.
If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do!. The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go!. Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase!.
You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already!. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it!.
Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored!.
Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing!.
Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible!. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing!.
Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing!. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing!. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse!.
Curves greater than 45 degrees is major!. Surgery may be recommended!. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc!.
If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing!. (Mine did!.)
Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis!. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky)!.
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc!., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis!. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease!. Your spine is growing curved!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
There are a few ways to see if you have scoliosis!. The first is, of course, viewing an xray of your torso!. The second is to have someone look at you from the back to see if your shoulders or hips are uneven (one is higher than the other)!. The third would be to touch your toes (or go as close as you can to touching them) and have someone look at your back!. Have them find your spine and run their fingers from the top of your back on downward!. They should be able to tell if the spine curves!. Fourth, while you are touching your toes, they can look to see if one of your shoulder blades protrudes farther than the other!. If any of these is true, then you ought to tell the family doctor and get that referral!. The scoliosis specialist can make the curve measurements!.
Slouching may be a factor in functional scoliosis but probably not too much in structural scoliosis!.
If you've ruled out tense muscles, I'd see your family doctor!. If he thinks you have scoliosis, get a referral to a scoliosis specialist!.
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions!. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned!.
Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors - functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural!. There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis - congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause)!. It is important for you to know what kind you have!.
If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help!. Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis!. I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis!.
If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do!. The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go!. Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase!.
You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already!. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it!.
Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored!.
Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing!.
Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible!. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing!.
Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing!. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing!. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse!.
Curves greater than 45 degrees is major!. Surgery may be recommended!. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc!.
If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing!. (Mine did!.)
Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis!. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky)!.
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc!., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis!. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease!. Your spine is growing curved!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I wouldn't draw any conclusions about scoliosis just because you have had upper back pain recently!. It could indeed be due to poor posture!. since the pain is so focused, it sounds like you have what we call in the massage field!.!.!. a "triggerpoint!."
Try this trick!.!.!. get a soccer or volleyball!. Sit down on the floor with the ball behind you!. Lay back on the ball until all your weight is on it (other than your feet for balance)!. Roll the ball around until it is directly under the point that feels so painful!.!.!. Believe me you'll know! Just kind of hover there!.!.!. maybe rocking a little!. This should definitely help if it is a triggerpoint!. If it isn't!.!.!. no harm done!.!.!. and you can still see a doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Try this trick!.!.!. get a soccer or volleyball!. Sit down on the floor with the ball behind you!. Lay back on the ball until all your weight is on it (other than your feet for balance)!. Roll the ball around until it is directly under the point that feels so painful!.!.!. Believe me you'll know! Just kind of hover there!.!.!. maybe rocking a little!. This should definitely help if it is a triggerpoint!. If it isn't!.!.!. no harm done!.!.!. and you can still see a doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com