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What Causes Stabbing Pain In Upper Back?
i have a pain in my left side of my upper back, when i flex my back i feel like someone is stabbing me, also when i breath, laugh and get up from bed, its been there for 5 days so far, ive been icing it and heating it, and taking ibuprofen but not any improvement, what might it be
posted on
Wed, 15 Apr 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 18 Mar 2023
Answered on
Thu, 23 Mar 2023
Last reviewed on
Hello,
The following are few probable causes of your pain in the upper back:
1) Muscle strain
2) Pleural (membranes covering the lungs) inflammation
3) Cervical spondylitis
4) Cervical radiculopathy
Most probably it might be due to muscle strain. To whose who come to my clinic with similar complaints, i recommend the following:
1) Pain relieving medication in combination with muscle relaxants like tab. Aceclofenac with chlorzoxazone is to be taken twice daily for 5 days.
2) As the above medication can cause gastric irritation, take tab. Pantop before food.
3) Hot and cold therapy can be alternatively applied.
4) Therapeutic ultrasound can relieve pain. Physical therapists can help you with therapeutic ultrasound.
5) If your pain doesn't subside even with above treatment after 3 days, we need to think of other causes like pleural inflammation.
Then you need to consult a physician for thorough clinical examination and few tests like:
1) Chest X-ray
2) Ultrasound imaging of chest and back.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
The following are few probable causes of your pain in the upper back:
1) Muscle strain
2) Pleural (membranes covering the lungs) inflammation
3) Cervical spondylitis
4) Cervical radiculopathy
Most probably it might be due to muscle strain. To whose who come to my clinic with similar complaints, i recommend the following:
1) Pain relieving medication in combination with muscle relaxants like tab. Aceclofenac with chlorzoxazone is to be taken twice daily for 5 days.
2) As the above medication can cause gastric irritation, take tab. Pantop before food.
3) Hot and cold therapy can be alternatively applied.
4) Therapeutic ultrasound can relieve pain. Physical therapists can help you with therapeutic ultrasound.
5) If your pain doesn't subside even with above treatment after 3 days, we need to think of other causes like pleural inflammation.
Then you need to consult a physician for thorough clinical examination and few tests like:
1) Chest X-ray
2) Ultrasound imaging of chest and back.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
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