Neck and Back Pain Location

Neck and Back Pain as a combination is more technically termed cervical Back Pain.

Your back consists of 30 small bones called vertebrae. These bones are stacked on top of each other, and connected by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Your stack of connected vertebrae is divided into four regions. From the base of your skull down to your pelvis, these four regions are:

1. Cervical vertebrae – the top 7
2. Thoracic vertebrae – the next 12
3. Lumbar vertebrae – 5 more
4. Sacrum and coccyx – 6 fused bones at the spine’s base

Neck and Back Pain occur in the cervical, or neck region of the back.

Neck and Back Pain Causes

The neck and Back Pain combination is most likely to be caused by one or more of these:

1. abnormal stress
2. habitually poor posture
3. lack of adequate exercise
4. past injuries that haven’t healed well

In brief:

1. Neck and Back Pain can be caused by abnormal stress. While stress seems to be an emotional matter, many have found that abnormal stress settles in the neck and upper back. Muscles tighten, neck and Back Pain result.

2. Habitually poor posture is another potential cause of neck and Back Pain. Poor posture puts the nerves of your cervical region under stress. Those nerves send a pain message to the brain, making you keenly aware of neck and Back Pain.

3. Neck and Back Pain can occur when the back gets too little exercise. Adequate exercise is needed to keep the back strong. As with all of the body’s muscles, your back muscles need to be strong to support your skull and back. Ignoring it can produce neck and Back Pain.

4. The neck and Back Pain combination is likely to occur if you strain old cervical injuries that have not yet completely healed. Give them time.

Neck and Back Pain Treatment

Be sure your pillow is giving you correct support to avoid neck and Back Pain. The support in your mattress is also important. A pillow and/or mattress that is too soft or too firm will cause your head to lie in the wrong position. This, in turn, will lead to neck and Back Pain.

The muscles in the cervical spine area shift in order to support the head properly. When a pillow throws the head out of line with the spine, the muscles must work harder to compensate. Overworked muscles become painful, producing neck and Back Pain. Correct support will ensure that muscles can relax and rest during the night.

If you have neck and Back Pain, think consciously about relaxing. Feel your shoulders and back lowering away from your head. Sit in a relaxed position and apply a heating pad to your neck and Back Pain for 20 minutes. Follow this with an ice pack. Repeat until you begin to get relief.

If your neck and Back Pain are not readily relieved, see a qualified health care provider for advice.

Back and shoulder pain are very common conditions.
Frequently, back and shoulder pain is the result of posture problems originating from hips and feet not being leveled. You are sitting at a desk for hours, or driving on an extended road trip. You unconsciously raise one of your hips in an awkward position, and the opposite shoulder tenses to compensate. In a short time, you may experience back and shoulder pain.

Sometimes, back and shoulder pain results from heavy lifting. Again, your posture may have been out of line. You strained to lift a heavy piece of furniture in order to shampoo your carpet – and you got back and shoulder pain. Or you carried a sleeping child into the house from your car – and the next day you had back and shoulder pain.

For cyclists, the posture problem may be a result of a bike that does not quite fit the body. You easily found a bike that fit your legs, but the reach to the handlebars was too long. Your back muscles tried to compensate for your bike’s deficiency – and you developed upper back and shoulder pain.

Back and shoulder pain may also be caused by carrying heavy backpacks or a heavy handbag. A child dashes out the door, back bowed under a backpack stuffed with books, homework, lunch, etc. Mom shoulders an over-sized, I’ve-got-everything-I-could-possibly-need handbag as she goes from store to store in the mall. Excessive pressure on the shoulders, or an uneven load, may contribute to back and shoulder pain.

What to tell the doctor

You will likely want to have a doctor’s advice about your back and shoulder pain. He or she will examine you to determine the extent of the injury or stress to your back and shoulders. You will want to ask, too, if the condition will improve quickly or not. Expect the doctor to look for and ask about severe spasms and pains, numbness, tingling, weakness, changes in bowel habits, painful urination, leg pains, and other symptoms that might signal a more sever problem. Be sure to tell the doctor any history of spine problems or back weaknesses if you have any.

Treatment for Back and shoulder pain

With your physician’s approval, you can treat upper back and shoulder pain at home with:

• Rest
• Heat
• Cold
• Massage
• OTC medication
• Exercise

1. Rest for upper back and shoulder pain

Rest will give your back and shoulders time to relax. Limit your rest to one or two days, though, so muscles do not weaken or become stiff. Avoid lying flat on your back. Rather, choose a comfortable position on your side, knees bent.

2. Heat for upper back and shoulder pain

Heat will keep your muscles flexible and relaxed. Use a heating pad on a low to medium setting. Apply heat for no more than 30 minutes at a time.

3. Cold for upper back and shoulder pain

Cold, such as ice packs or cold compresses, can reduce swelling caused by muscle inflammation. Apply cold every 10 minutes for two hours.

4. Massage for upper back and shoulder pain

Massage will help the muscles relax and reduce your pain. Have someone gently massage the area, or use an electric massager / massage cushion.

5. OTC medication for upper back and shoulder pain

OTC (over-the-counter) medication should be used in conjunction with other treatment if pain is too severe. Be sure to get your doctor’s advice as to what medication is right for you.

6. Exercise for upper back and shoulder pain

Exercise is important in the treatment of all Back Pain. Check with your doctor first, and then begin regular Back Pain exercises.

Prevention is worth months of cure, so understand your back and shoulder pain, learn the source of the pain, and take steps to avoid it.

Doctors Recommend Back Pain Exercise

Back Pain exercise is highly recommended by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. They advise that you do regular Back Pain exercise to strengthen and condition muscles supporting your spinal column.

These Back Pain exercises can be done at home, with no special exercise equipment, but check with your doctor before starting a Back Pain exercise program.

What are the exercises to stop the Back Pain now?

Beginner’s Back Pain Exercise Routine

Begin your Back Pain exercise routine with an easy walk or gentle stretching to warm up your muscles. Then follow this beginner’s Back Pain exercise routine.

1. Slippery Heels - Lie on your back on the floor, legs straight. Slowly slide your left heel toward your body, bending your knee upward. Then slide the heel back away from your body until your leg is straight again. Do the same with the right heel. Repeat 10 times for each leg.

2. Slippery Lap – Stand with your back touching a wall, feet about 12′ away from the wall. Tighten your abdominal muscles, hold them tight, and slowly bend both knees, sliding down the wall until you form a lap. Hold the position about 30 seconds, and then slowly slide up the wall until you are standing straight. Repeat 10 times.

3. High Heels - Stand facing a wall, as far from the wall as the distance from your fingertips to elbow. Balance your weight evenly on both feet. Slowly lift up only your heels – as though wearing high heel shoes. Then lower your heels slowly back to the floor. Repeat 10 times for each foot.

4. High Legs - Picture a pink flamingo with one leg up. Lie on your back, keeping your left leg straight, and the right leg bent like a flamingo’s. Tighten your abdominal muscles, and keep them tight. Slowly lift your straight leg high (6 to 12 inches), keeping it straight. Hold for 5 seconds, and then slowly lower the leg to the floor. Do the same with the right leg. Repeat 10 times for each leg.

5. Reverse High Legs – Do “high legs” while lying on your stomach on the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, and slowly lower the leg to the floor. Repeat 5 times for each leg.

6. Brake Pedals – Lie on your back on the floor, legs straight. Push your toes away from you as though pushing on 2 brake pedals. Pull the toes back toward your body, as though letting up on the brake pedals. Work your brake pedals up and down. Repeat 10 times.

When you have completed your Back Pain exercise routine, be sure you cool down with another brief walk or gentle stretching.

Back Pain exercise will minimize problems in your back, and should be done regularly.

OTC Back Pain Medication

Even your doctor will likely tell you to try over-the-counter (OTC) Back Pain medication first. OTC Back Pain medication includes such familiar names as aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aleve, and Motrin. These Back Pain medications help reduce pain and inflammation.

Bayer has a product called Extra Strength Bayer Back and Body Pain that adds to 500 mg. of aspirin what Bayer calls “a special pain relief enhancer”. You know it as caffeine. Extra Strength Excedrin has more than twice the caffeine of Bayer’s Back Pain medication, coupled with half the aspirin and an equal part of acetaminophen.

Aleve Back Pain medication should not be taken more than 10 days without consulting your physician.

Narcotic Back Pain Medication

If OTC Back Pain medication, with exercise and other natural treatments, has not given relief, you may want to ask your physician about narcotic Back Pain medication. Lortab is one kind of narcotic pain relief for Back Pain. Doctors commonly prescribe pain killers such as Lortab, as well as narcotic muscle relaxants.

Narcotic Back Pain medications can give relief, but they must be taken every few hours to be effective.

Natural Back Pain Medication

Yes, natural Back Pain medications do exist. Herbal creams and rubs can be massaged into the area of pain to draw out inflammation. Ginger root is a good choice for joint and muscle inflammation. Capsicum, an ingredient in hot peppers, is also an excellent Back Pain medication.

Supplements work as Back Pain medication for some people. Magnesium and fish oil have been reported to reduce pain and inflammation. Neither has side effects for most people. Magnesium with calcium helps relax the entire nervous system and strengthen bones.

Contact a physician to determine the cause of your individual Back Pain, and ask for Back Pain medication that is right for you.

Types of Antacids

The active ingredients of antacids are alkaline substances that neutralize acid. These ingredients vary from one brand to another.

Over-the Counter (OTC) Antacids

OTC antacids cause Back Pain through one or more of the following:

1. Sodium: Sodium can cause a build up of fluid in body tissues. This build up can cause pressure on nerves in the back, especially the lower back. By compressing nerves through this pressure, antacids cause Back Pain. Alka-Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, Gaviscon, and baking soda contain sodium, and should not be taken if you have high blood pressure.

2. Calcium: Calcium-based antacids can, according to the USFDA, cause kidney stones, one symptom of which is severe Back Pain. Heavy and extended use of antacids containing calcium may clog kidneys, reduce the amount of blood they can process, and cause kidney stones. Via the kidneys, calcium-containing antacids cause Back Pain. Tums, Mylanta, and Maalox are examples of antacids containing calcium.

3. Magnesium: Magnesium is usually used in combination with calcium or aluminum. The USFDA says magnesium taken for a prolonged period may cause kidney stones, especially if kidneys are functioning improperly to begin with. Again, it is possible that antacids cause Back Pain via the kidneys. Maalox, Mylanta, Camalox, and Riopan are examples of magnesium-containing antacids.

4. Aluminum: According to the USFDA, antacids with aluminum can weaken the bones. Extended or heavy use may make these antacids cause Back Pain through their effect on vertebrae. Back Pain is especially likely if you have kidney disease. Rolaids and Amphogel are two examples of this group of antacids.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription antacids, such as Prilosec, often have side-effects of their own. Some of these antacids cause Back Pain more quickly than OTC drugs. In addition, OTC antacids cause Back Pain when taken in combination with prescription medications for other medical concerns. Check with your doctor.

Back Pain from Antacids Is Not Usual

Antacids cause Back Pain for only a minority. It is unusual for healthy individuals to experience this when taking antacids as directed.

* Antacids cause Back Pain more frequently when taken in large doses.
* Antacids cause Back Pain more frequently when taken for long periods.

You should not take any antacid for more than two weeks unless instructed otherwise by a doctor. Antacids should be used only occasionally, for temporary relief from heartburn.