Did you know that about 6 to 9 million adult Americans have scoliosis? Interestingly, the condition usually develops during early childhood. However, the majority of cases often appear in pre-adolescent patients. Most people diagnosed with scoliosis complain about upper and middle back pain. However, some report additional symptoms, including uneven waist and shoulders, leg pain or numbness, and muscle strain fatigue.
Discover more about scoliosis and its effect on the body when you read through our discussion. Additionally, we included other common causes of back pain to help you learn how to cope better and to seek helpful and sustainable remedies.
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A regular and healthy spine comes with gentle curves. However, the curvature changes into either a C or S shape if you have scoliosis. Sadly, the bones can press on nearby body parts like the spinal cord and nerve roots. They can also stiffen and overstretch muscles and ligaments and trigger severe upper and middle back pain.
Studies note that risks for scoliosis can vary based on different factors. For example, if you are a woman, you will likely have a higher chance of developing the condition than males. Genetics or family history can also contribute to the problem.
If you think you have scoliosis or have family members diagnosed with the same spine structure problem, we strongly suggest consulting with your primary doctor. By doing so, you can gauge your risks and seek helpful treatment options, including surgery or spinal bracing.
Upper and middle back pain doesn’t just stem from scoliosis. Notably, it can result from other health mishaps like sciatica, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, and spondylosis. Additionally, it can also develop because of pregnancy and obesity. Learn more about these below.
Expecting moms are no strangers to back pain, especially those who have reached the second or third trimester. The weight of the developing child forces a woman’s body to compromise its original alignment. This leads to back pain and even nerve pinching in various spine areas. In most cases, the back pain improves after childbirth. But sometimes, the pain can linger because of nerve compression, spinal misalignments, or childbirth complications.
Like pregnancy, obesity can put excess pressure on the backbones and muscles. Many doctors, fitness professionals, therapists, and even upper cervical chiropractors remind patients with upper and middle back pain to maintain an ideal weight.
It can arise from activities like lifting objects the wrong way, maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, and experiencing repetitive injuries. Fortunately, unlike other causes of back pain enumerated in the list, muscle strain can get better on its own. All you would need is to sleep enough hours and limit physical activities until your body heals.
Disc herniation affects about 2 percent of the US population. It causes extreme and chronic pain that worsens with movement. Additionally, it can compromise the structural integrity of your spine and aggravate problems like cervical subluxation.
Spondylosis pertains to the pre-mature damage or deterioration of the spine’s cartilage, ligaments, and vertebral bones. It can lessen the efficiency of your vertebral joints and leave you susceptible to disc herniation, bone spurs, and nerve pain.
Fibromyalgia is a complex neurological condition that affects about 4 million adults. Besides chronic fatigue, brain fog, and increased pain sensitivity, fibromyalgia can cause back pain. Millions of people diagnosed with this disease struggle to cope with their daily schedule, especially when they suddenly experience a fibromyalgia flare-up.
Spinal stenosis or spinal canal narrowing can put immense pressure on the nerve roots and the spinal cord. Over time, it leaves the nervous system at risk of suffering from permanent tissue damage. It can also lead to back pain, muscle numbness, pins and needles, and loss of motor function.
Upper and middle back pain can sometimes stem from C1 and C2 bone misalignments. The changes to your upper cervical bones can force the rest of the vertebral bones to adjust or shift at an awkward angle. When this happens, your bones, connective tissues, nerves, and muscles suffer the impact.
Until you restore balance in your cervical spine, your spinal posture remains compromised. The tissue damage can also worsen due to the pressure from the misaligned neck bones.
Dealing with back pain can be extremely challenging, regardless of its main trigger or root cause. Hopefully, our comprehensive guide helped you identify your next steps.
If you’re still clueless about what you should do, we suggest heading to a nearby upper cervical care clinic. This will help you get your C1 and C2 bones checked for misalignment and determine whether a chiropractic adjustment applies to your case.
Upper cervical care works wonders in addressing postural imbalances and relieving upper and middle back pain. It’s also a scientifically proven technique that dates back to the late 60s. Thousands of patients have benefited from careful and well-calculated neck bone adjustments. So why not give a shot and see how improving your body posture can unlock a different level of healing.
Kindly locate the nearest upper cervical chiropractic clinic to schedule your appointment and learn more about how the technique helps relieve backaches.
TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.