In most cases, upper back pain will go away on its own. However, if other symptoms are associated with it, it is necessary to solve this problem immediately. Oncologist Dale Shepard explains that although this unpleasant symptom rarely indicates cancer, there are situations when a more thorough medical examination is really necessary.
- Most causes of upper back pain resolve on their own.
- Back pain itself usually does not signal an oncological disease.
- You should be careful if back pain appears without any injury.
- Several types of cancer are associated with long-term and persistent back pain.
“Back pain alone does not necessarily mean you have cancer,” says Dr. Shepard. According to the expert, the vast majority of these cases are caused only by problems in the locomotor system – that is, in the muscles, joints or tendons. Nevertheless, there are certain signals that you should actively discuss with your doctor. These include:
- Unusual tiredness – here we also include the need for frequent naps when you are not normally used to it, or feelings of exhaustion even with minimal activity.
- Unexplained weight loss – unusual weight loss is usually considered to be a loss of about 10 percent of body weight without any conscious effort.
- Unusual lumps and bumps, and especially those that do not disappear for a long time.
- Pain that does not improve at all with time – you should be especially careful if it appears in several places for no apparent reason.
- Other accompanying symptoms or a known family history of cancer.
Pain in the upper back can indicate cancer. (illustrative photo)
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Upper back pain can sometimes also occur as a result of cancer spreading to the bones. This type of pain tends to persist for a long time and is not related to any obvious injury. But the expert warned that this symptom may also be related to other types of oncological diseases, such as lung, prostate, breast or myeloma cancer. “If you feel that something is wrong, definitely get checked out. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be cancer, it could be another serious health problem,” poznamenal Shepard.
The oncologist also highlighted some common and harmless causes of upper back pain. These include:
- Muscle stretching
- Bad posture (slouching at the desk, looking at the phone or leaning forward to the computer monitor)
- Incorrect sleeping position
- Excessive stress and tension
- Changes associated with aging
Dr. Shepard in conclusion recommends making an appointment for a medical examination, especially if the pain in the upper back persists for more than a few weeks, prevents you from carrying out daily activities or you are simply worried about an oncological disease.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
