Pain in the upper back and neck is not a permanent condition. This article throws light on the various treatment options available for this condition.

Today, we lead a fast and complicated lifestyle, and due to the various advancements in science and technology, our lives have become mechanical. Long hours of work, long distances to commute, and fast foods are all parts of our lives today. Hence, it is not surprising that we are affected by various health problems. Upper back and neck pain is one of the several side effects of this complex life. It causes a lot of pain and discomfort. However, it is not a serious health problem, if treated on time.

Our lifestyle doesn't allow the complete usage of all our muscles. Upper back and neck muscles are also not completely utilized the way they should. This makes our muscles weak. This leads to muscle pain due to the shortage of blood supply. Bad sitting and walking postures are also responsible for severe upper back pain. These postures cause wear and tear of our muscles and ligaments, which leads to muscle pain.

Symptoms

• Stiffness: You will find that you are unable to move your back and neck freely, due to stiffness. This results in restricted movement of the shoulders and neck.
• Pain: Depending upon the severity of the muscle strain in your upper back and neck, you may experience local or radiating pain in your upper back. Also, you might experience stabbing pain or stiff neck pain, in these areas.
• Irritation: Whenever you try to use your neck and upper back muscles, you will find irritation in those muscles. This causes back pain between the shoulder blades and restricts your movements.
• Weakness: Due to the lack of use of the muscles, there is a shortage of blood supply to the neck and shoulder area. Muscles become weak due to the lack of blood supply. This also causes pain when the muscles are used.
• Muscle Spasms: When the stiffness increases in the back, you may experience shoulder and neck pain due to muscle spasms.

There are several exercises to get relief from this condition. These exercises will reduce the stiffness in these muscles, and increase the blood flow in them, thereby reducing pain.

• Loosen Up: Perform some basic warm up exercises like neck shrugs and shoulder shrugs to relieve your stiff muscles.
• Cervical Spine Exercises: In order to strengthen your back and neck muscles, cervical spine exercises are a must. They increase the mobility of these muscles, and thus relieve the pain.
• Stretches: Stretching provides relief to the cramped muscles. If performed regularly, stretches may gradually eliminate the upper back and neck pain.

There are several other measures which can be taken to relieve the pain. You can control the pain by getting regular massage from an expert. After every 2-3 hours you can massage the affected area to get some relief. Improve your posture to reduce the pain. There are several special mattress for back and neck pain that may help you overcome the back pain at night, thereby enabling you to sleep peacefully.

Treatment of this condition in time is necessary to avoid severe conditions like arthritis. If the pain becomes unbearable, take some medications according to the doctor's prescription. Consult your doctor for the right treatment, and get it treated before it damages your back.