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What Are the Most Common Causes of Upper Back Pain in Women?

Upper back pain affects roughly one in five women, and there are several possible reasons why this type of pain is so common. It’s often a combination of postural issues, lifestyle, stress management, and physiological problems.

Upper back pain can affect every aspect of your daily life, limiting your mobility and overall comfort. Ideally, with the help of a qualified orthopedic spine specialist in Webster, TX, you can find relief. Here are some of the most common causes of upper back pain in women:

1. Poor Posture and Muscle Deconditioning

Poor posture and muscle deconditioning are major culprits in causing upper back pain for women.. You can combat this by adopting an exercise routine to build up strength in your muscles and paying close attention to your posture—especially while sitting at a desk. Many people, not just women, tend to slouch when they sit causing them pain later on in their lives.

2. Overuse of the Upper Back Muscles

However, overuse of your upper back muscles can also contribute to pain. Repeated and extensive overuse could lead to muscle sprains, strains, ligament tears, inflammation, and other problems that may exacerbate the pain. In most cases, adequate rest may help, but you may also need a pain specialist or orthopedic surgeon to repair torn ligaments and muscles.

A woman struggling with upper back pain touching her neck.

3. Herniated Discs

Herniated discs affect thousands of people each year, especially women. Certain experiences and activities, such as pregnancy, childcare, and various day-to-day chores, can contribute to its incidence in women, making it one of the most common causes of upper back and neck pain. You may require surgery if your doctor feels that it’s necessary to remove or correct the disc in order to manage your pain.

4. Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves in the upper back or neck region are yet another common cause of upper back pain for women. This issue can be due to a malformation or postural complication or the aforementioned herniated discs in your spinal column. If you’re experiencing upper back pain alongside numbness in your extremities, trouble urinating, and other symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

In addition to the above, conditions like osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, and other chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia also affect many women suffering from upper back pain.

At Houston Physicians Hospital Webster TX Spine Solutions Center in Webster, TX, we provide women with numerous treatment options to help them find relief from upper back pain. On the Center’s webpage, you can learn more about various conditions and scroll to the bottom to find an orthopedic spine specialist who’s right for you.

Once on their bio, you can schedule an appointment directly with the specialist’s office. All of the specialists listed on the Spine Solutions Center page treat patients at our Hospitals in Webster TX.