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Why Do I Have Left-sided Upper Back Pain That Gets Worse While Lying Down Or Bending Over?
Posted on
Sun, 13 May 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 13 May 2018
Answered on
Tue, 28 Nov 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : I have left upper back pain for a week. It had gotten better but it seems to be getting worse again. It hurts mostly when I lay down or bend over.
Brief Answer:
Can be back muscle sprain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain in the left upper back that you have can be due to a mild muscle sprain or due to a disc problem. The sprains can develop due to stress, sudden lifting of weights or a muscle spasm. For this condition you have to do stretching & strengthening exercises in which you have to stretch tight muscle & strengthen weakened ones which will alleviate stress on back muscles and disc.
The following measures will help with the pain
• Lie on a hard bed.
• Anti -inflammatory drugs like Tablet Motrin 1 tablet as and when required ( do not repeat a dose before 6 hours) with food will help relieve the pain.
• Correct your posture while sitting
• Avoid prolonged sitting
• Avoid strenuous activity & lifting heavy weights.
• Apply diclofenac gel on the affected area. Warm compresses will also help.
Adequate rest and proper nutrition is equally important. Drink lots of fluids since dehydration affects the disc. Eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables, nuts, milk, eggs, pulses and cereals.Do brisk walking exercise for 40 minutes daily. Get 6-8 hours of refreshing sleep daily.
Do start with swimming.this will good for most back pains.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
Can be back muscle sprain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain in the left upper back that you have can be due to a mild muscle sprain or due to a disc problem. The sprains can develop due to stress, sudden lifting of weights or a muscle spasm. For this condition you have to do stretching & strengthening exercises in which you have to stretch tight muscle & strengthen weakened ones which will alleviate stress on back muscles and disc.
The following measures will help with the pain
• Lie on a hard bed.
• Anti -inflammatory drugs like Tablet Motrin 1 tablet as and when required ( do not repeat a dose before 6 hours) with food will help relieve the pain.
• Correct your posture while sitting
• Avoid prolonged sitting
• Avoid strenuous activity & lifting heavy weights.
• Apply diclofenac gel on the affected area. Warm compresses will also help.
Adequate rest and proper nutrition is equally important. Drink lots of fluids since dehydration affects the disc. Eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables, nuts, milk, eggs, pulses and cereals.Do brisk walking exercise for 40 minutes daily. Get 6-8 hours of refreshing sleep daily.
Do start with swimming.this will good for most back pains.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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