subject: Pain In Your Upper Back And Neck Can Be Relieved Naturally--discover The Cause Of Knots In Your Back [print this page] Do you have upper back pain? Here are five common causes you might not expect for pain, stiffness and knots in your back and neck.
There are always reasons why you have pain in your upper back and neck. Pain does not happen without a reason or cause. And, back and neck pain often share the same causes.
Most of us don't think about the cause of pain (not even most doctors.) We think it is just because we are getting old. Sometimes doctors will actually say that! We don't realize that getting rid of the cause can be the cure!
Or, maybe you had medical tests and these test results showed that there are changes in the bones in your neck or back. Maybe your doctor said those changes are the cause of your back pain or neck pain. Is this true?
Well, if a doctor took pictures of the neck bones of anyone, almost all of us would have visible changes. But, we do not all have pain! What does this mean? Although changes are visible in your bones, those changes may not be causing your upper back pain.
The most common causes of upper back pain and pain in your neck are your muscles!
How do your muscles cause pain? If you stretch them a bit too much, use them in one position for a little too long, or let them get shorter than they like, your muscles cause pain. They will let you know they are unhappy by causing discomfort for you.
Here are 5 common (but usually overlooked) ways muscles get unhappy.
1. When you sleep, it's best to keep your head and neck in as close to a neutral, natural position as possible. Sleeping with too many pillows can push your head forward or sideways. If you are a side-sleeper, a pillow that is too fat or too flat causes muscle strain, too. Try to position yourself with a small roll under your neck to maintain its natural curve.
2. When you drive or watch television in a seat that leans back and forces your head to move forward that will strain the muscles in your neck and upper back.
3. Wearing bifocals when working on the computer or a project. If they cause you to lift your chin and tilt your head back, the muscles at the back of your skull will get tight and complain. The muscles along the sides of your neck will probably also be unhappy and you might get a headache. A simple fix for this might be a pair of pcpeekers. These are little half-glasses that slip inside of your own glasses frame. Through some kind of magic, they correct your vision for computer use. Many eye doctors have them for sale.
4. If you have a rounded upper back that means your back muscles are weak. This causes too much stretch in your upper back muscles and other problems, too. This also squeezes your nerves and muscles at the base of your skull.
5. If you lean to one side or hunch your shoulders when you sit that will also cause pain. One side of your body is being stretched but not the other. It's best to sit straight on both of your "sit bones."
If you pay attention to the times of day when your upper back or neck bothers you the most, you will begin to discover the causes of your back and neck pain.
It's important to be a detective and discover why you hurt and what to do to get rid of your pain naturally.
