Some of the more common medical treatments for upper back pain include:
Physical therapy. A physiatrist, physical therapist, or other qualified medical professional can design a physical therapy program to meet the patient’s specific needs. Most physical therapy programs for upper back pain focus on strengthening and stretching the upper back’s muscles, as well as neck muscles above and core muscles below. Physical therapy starts gradually and typically progresses over a period of a few weeks or months, at which point the patient can switch to a maintenance program at home.
See Physical Therapy Benefits For Back Pain
Upper Back Pain
Prescription pain medications. For debilitating pain or severe flare-ups, short-term use of prescription medications may be advised. Common types include narcotics, also known as painkillers or opioids, which work by preventing pain signals from reaching the brain; and muscle relaxants, which typically work as a sedative for the neuromuscular system.
See Narcotic Pain Medications
Injections. Several spinal injection options are available to block spinal pain. For example, an epidural steroid injection typically delivers a steroid medication in or near the pain source to reduce pain. Injections tend to provide varying amounts of short-term relief and are not considered a good long-term solution.
See Injections for Back Pain Relief
Cognitive behavioral therapy. A therapist can teach new and better ways to think about challenges. For example, a patient might be able to increase his or her ability to follow a doctor’s treatment plan by becoming more aware of negative thoughts and instead focusing on the positives.
Commonly, more than one treatment is needed to help manage upper back pain. For example, medications might be needed when the pain first starts, but over time the medications might be phased out in favor of physical therapy or other treatments to manage ongoing chronic pain.