We all suffer from neck pain at some point but neck pain can be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain. It could be a sudden onset or can be a severe pain; it can be a regular reoccurring pain or intermittent, stay in one place or radiate to other areas. The pain may be felt in the neck and can spread into the arm and hand, in the upper back, or in the low back, and can radiate into the leg or foot, and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.

The spine is a complex interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities.

Many people experience from arm and upper back pain at the same time. It is due to the fact that the upper back is made up of arms, shoulders and neck. The neck is linked to the spinal cord with nerves that extends to the arms. Overall, the structure is bound together by muscles and ligaments that are the origins of arm and upper back pain.

Arm and upper back pain can be caused due to many reasons. One of the most common causes of pain in the arm and upper back is over-use of the neck and upper back muscles, resulting in strain and tapering of the muscles. Hence, people whose occupation requires constant use of their arms in a fixed position such as working on a computer; usually suffer from such a condition.

Other causes comprise damage to the spinal cord, disc injury in the upper back and improper movement of the joints. Injury in the cervical (near the neck) spine causes pain in the arms, and other sensory troubles. A disc injury, in the form of a bulge or split can lead to back pain. Since the disc acts as shock absorber and aids the smooth movement of the spine, its injury can cause minor to severe back pain. Occasionally, excessive exercise may cause muscle exhaustion, resulting in body pain.

Pain in the upper back is the main root that causes arm pain. Upper back pain is also associated with other symptoms such as: sudden or chronic pain which lasts for more than six months, neck pain, pain in the legs and hands, sudden stiffness in the neck and arms, weakness that makes it difficult for the patient to perform daily activities, numbness, stiff muscles especially when we get up in the morning and bowel problems.

Treatment of arm and upper back pain is essential, as it may indicate the presence of primary health problems. Also, if the condition remains untreated, it can result in other problems such as sciatica, which is a grave problem of the sciatic nerve. However, it is hard to diagnose the pain as its intensity varies from one person to another.

The main purpose behind the treatment of arm and upper back pain is to maintain blood circulation and agility to the affected area. Since a tight muscle in the lower back portion creates pressure in the upper back, one desires to improve the overall blood circulation of the back portion.