Upper Back Pain Chiropractor in San Diego, CA
Upper Back Pain Relief Treatment from Your San Diego Chiropractor
Pain between the shoulder blades, stiffness through the upper spine, or discomfort that worsens while sitting can affect nearly every part of your day. It may make working at a computer, driving, exercising, taking a deep breath, or sleeping comfortably more difficult.
At Herfindahl Chiropractic, Dr. Ashley J. Herfindahl provides personalized evaluations and non-surgical care for patients experiencing upper-back and thoracic spine pain. Our Mission Valley office serves patients throughout San Diego and nearby communities.
Common Symptoms of Upper Back and Thoracic Spine Pain
Upper-back pain can feel different depending on the joints, muscles, nerves, ribs, or other structures involved.
Common symptoms include:
- Aching between the shoulder blades
- Pain along one side of the upper back
- Stiffness through the thoracic spine
- Tenderness near the spine or ribs
- Muscle tightness or spasms
- Burning or tired muscles after sitting
- Pain that worsens with twisting
- Discomfort when reaching overhead
- Pain when taking a deep breath, coughing, or sneezing
- Reduced ability to rotate the torso
- Pain that extends toward the neck or shoulders
- Discomfort after computer or mobile-device use
- Upper-back pain after a car accident
- Pain that disrupts sleep or daily activities
Pain between the shoulder blades does not always originate in the thoracic spine. The neck, shoulders, ribs, muscles, and, in some cases, internal organs can refer discomfort into this area. A proper evaluation helps determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Chiropractic Care for Common Causes of Upper Back Pain
Each vertebra in the upper back is connected to the ribcage, so it’s the most stable part of the spine. But with more people hunching over computers or mobile devices for long hours, reports of upper back pain are increasing. Thoracic spine pain can also be a domino effect of a whiplash injury. Fortunately, our chiropractor’s skilled combination of chiropractic care and other therapies successfully resolves the most common problems:
- Joint dysfunction: The joints where the ribs connect to the thoracic spine can become inflamed and sore.
- Soft tissue strains: Poor posture or even a whiplash injury can strain the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia in the upper back.
Because of the stability provided by the ribcage, bulging or herniated discs are not as common in the thoracic spine as they are in the neck or the lumbar (lower) spine – but they do occasionally happen.
Upper Back Pain Relief in San Diego and Mission Valley
Herfindahl Chiropractic offers several conservative treatment options for patients with mechanical upper-back pain. The appropriate combination depends on your diagnosis, health history, comfort, and response to care.
- Chiropractic care – Spinal alignment problems can occur all along the spine, including the thoracic spine. Our chiropractor uses gentle hands-on or instrument adjusting techniques to restore correct spinal alignment and relive pinched nerves.
- Cold laser therapy – Joint dysfunction, inflammation and other soft tissue injuries heal quickly with this revolutionary light-based treatment that penetrates deep into damaged tissues to spur cellular healing.
In the rare event that bulging or herniated discs are a problem in the upper back, our chiropractor may also recommend non-surgical spinal decompression to relieve pressure and restore discs to their natural shape.
San Diego or the Mission Valley residents struggling with upper back pain should schedule an appointment with our chiropractor today: (619) 295-3885.
When Should You See a Chiropractor for Upper Back Pain?
Consider scheduling an evaluation when upper-back pain lasts more than several days, repeatedly returns, limits movement, or interferes with work, sleep, driving, or exercise. An assessment may also be appropriate when discomfort consistently worsens during computer work, spreads toward the neck or shoulders, or began after a minor strain, sports injury, or car accident.
You do not need to determine whether your pain comes from a muscle, rib joint, thoracic joint, shoulder, or postural problem before scheduling. The purpose of the evaluation is to identify relevant findings, determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate, and recommend a reasonable next step.
Move, Work, and Rest with Greater Comfort
Upper-back pain can turn ordinary movements into daily frustrations. Sitting through a workday, turning while driving, lifting, exercising, or finding a comfortable sleeping position may become difficult when pain and stiffness persist.
At Herfindahl Chiropractic, your care begins with identifying the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. Dr. Ashley J. Herfindahl will evaluate your movement, posture, health history, and functional limitations before recommending a personalized plan.
Our Mission Valley office offers traditional and gentle chiropractic adjustments, ArthroStim instrument-assisted care, Chiropractic BioPhysics methods, cold laser therapy, corrective exercises, and practical posture and ergonomic guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a chiropractor help with upper back pain?
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain forms of mechanical upper-back pain, including discomfort associated with restricted joint movement, muscle tension, posture, or some minor injuries.
What causes pain between the shoulder blades?
Pain between the shoulder blades may be related to muscle strain, prolonged sitting, computer posture, restricted thoracic movement, rib joint irritation, shoulder dysfunction, neck problems, or an injury.
Can poor posture cause upper back pain?
Prolonged forward-head posture, rounded shoulders, and unsupported sitting may increase the workload on the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Can chiropractic care help pain caused by sitting at a computer?
Some patients with mechanical pain related to prolonged sitting may benefit from a combination of chiropractic care, mobility work, strengthening, posture training, and ergonomic changes.
What happens during an upper back pain evaluation?
Your visit may include a review of your symptoms, health history, posture, thoracic and neck movement, shoulder mobility, muscle tension, rib movement, and relevant orthopedic or neurological findings.
Will I need an X-ray for upper back pain?
Not every patient needs an X-ray. Imaging is generally considered when the health history, injury mechanism, examination findings, symptom duration, or warning signs suggest that the results could affect diagnosis or treatment.
Are upper back chiropractic adjustments painful?
Treatment should be adapted to your condition and comfort level. Some patients may feel temporary tenderness or mild soreness after care, particularly when the area was already irritated.
How long does upper back pain take to improve?
Recovery time depends on the cause of the pain, how long it has been present, the tissues involved, daily activities, overall health, and response to care.
Is spinal decompression used for upper back pain?
Spinal decompression is not a routine treatment for most thoracic or upper-back pain. It would not generally be recommended for simple muscle soreness, rib irritation, or posture-related discomfort.
When should I worry about upper back pain?
Seek immediate medical care when upper-back pain occurs with chest pressure, trouble breathing, fainting, sweating, significant weakness, difficulty walking, loss of coordination, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or severe pain after major trauma.
