The back pain enigma is a larger than life concern for patients and doctors alike. Back pain is a huge industry the world over and one of the most profitable types of medical specialty. The range of dorsopathy care providers is astronomical with traditional, alternative and complementary caregivers helping patients cope with their chronic and often severe pain.

Pregnant women have a special problem when it comes to back pain. It's almost a certainty that it will happen, but neither pain medications nor herbal preparations are likely to be safe for both you and the baby. This is especially true towards the end of the pregnancy, when a hormone is released to relax the joints in the pelvis in order to make delivery possible.

The movements of the shoulders are also controlled by the two triangle shaped trapezius muscles which together form a trapezoid. The trapezius muscle lies at the back of the neck and covers the shoulders. It makes the two shoulders blades move towards the midline in the back. It also rotates them and makes them move up and down.

Lower back pain that begins in the lower back on either side, (right or left) and extends downward through the buttock and down the leg, (normally the back of the leg or thigh) is refereed to as sciatica. Sciatica is caused when the sciatic nerve gets compressed. This compression can be caused by a number of things.

The most obvious cause for back pain is the gradual increase in weight during pregnancy, which exerts pressure on the lumber spine. Most women tend to push their pelvis forward to adjust to the pressure that causes greater strain on the back. Continued sitting or standing in one posture may cause pain in the back.

In most cases the pain may be caused due to some mechanical problem in your back such as strain, overwork or wrong posture. Here are some of the steps you may take to get relief from the upper left side back pain at the initial stage.
It is recommended that when you treat the upper back pain, you must address the tension and imbalance in the lower back also in order to ensure a complete treatment.

A kidney infection or kidney stone can cause back pain over the areas of the kidneys. Sometimes a dysfunctional gallbladder can cause back pain. As people grow older, particularly if they smoke, they can get aneurysms of the abdominal aorta, which the doctor might pick up by x-ray or listening to the mid-abdomen.

The next step is to decide what tests might be needed to diagnose the back pain. X-rays cannot visualize the muscles and ligaments, so your doctor may decide how to proceed. However, if he or she suspects arthritis, a narrowed disc, a kidney stone or aortic problem, an x-ray may be correct.

Initial back and shoulder blade pain caused by spasms or stains can be cured by simple exercises that rotate the neck and shoulders or move them up and down. It may also go away by applying balm or massage upon the affected areas including the trapezius or taking over-the-counter medicines. You should consult your physician, if the pain refuses to go away by such home treatment.