Upper back burning sensation: potential causes and reasons
Burning sensations in the upper back can be a common and often troublesome issue for many individuals. The causes of this discomfort can vary, ranging from musculoskeletal issues to nerve or organ-related problems.
Common Causes of Burning Upper Back Pain
- Muscle Trigger Points, particularly in the splenius cervicis muscle, can cause burning pain between or near the shoulder blades, often worsening with long periods of desk work or poor posture.
- Nerve Compression (Pinched Nerves) near the upper back can lead to burning sensations accompanied by tingling or numbness radiating toward the arm, sometimes with weakness.
- Poor Posture and muscle strain from repetitive activities or injury are common causes, often resulting in tension and burning discomfort in the upper back musculature.
- Joint or Bone Issues, such as arthritis in the shoulder joint or fractures near the scapula, can cause persistent pain and stiffness sometimes described as burning.
- Referred Pain from conditions like heart problems (angina), gallbladder inflammation, or gastrointestinal issues (e.g., GERD or ulcers) may manifest as burning sensations in the upper back area.
Treatment Options
The treatment for upper back pain depends on its cause. For muscle-related pain, addressing trigger points through physical therapy, massage, stretching, and postural correction is effective. For nerve compression, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes medical interventions may be necessary. For joint or bone conditions, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and, rarely, surgery (in severe cases) are used. Referred pain requires diagnosis and treatment of the underlying systemic condition.
General supportive treatments include rest, NSAIDs for inflammation, and muscle relaxants if muscle spasms are present. If symptoms include neurological signs (numbness, weakness) or systemic symptoms like chest pain or breathing difficulty, immediate medical evaluation is essential.
Other Conditions to Consider
- Fibromyalgia is a condition that can cause widespread pain, including a burning sensation in various parts of the body, including the upper back.
- Heartburn, typically experienced as a burning sensation in the chest or throat, can sometimes cause a burning sensation in the upper back.
- Cellulitis, a skin infection, can make some areas tender to the touch and affect the upper back.
When to Seek Medical Advice
People should consult a doctor if their back pain does not improve after a few weeks, or if it occurs alongside symptoms such as numbness and tingling, severe pain that does not improve with medication, problems urinating, fever, unexplained weight loss, weakness, pain or numbness in their legs, back pain after an injury or a fall.
Uncommon Causes of Burning Upper Back Pain
- Herniated Disk, also known as a slipped disk, can occur in the thoracic spine and cause a sharp or burning pain in the upper back.
- Spinal Tumors can cause radicular pain, a sharp or burning sensation that spreads out into a person's extremities and across their chest and abdomen in a band-shaped pattern.
In sum, burning upper back pain is often musculoskeletal but can stem from nerve or organ-related problems, and treatment must target the identified cause. Proper diagnosis by a healthcare provider is important to guide effective therapy.
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