There are few bodily pains more persistent, and more annoying, that upper back and shoulder pain. Aside from being painful, upper back and shoulder pain hits you in an area of your body you use quite frequently and upper back and shoulder pain is also the type of bodily pain that seems like it never goes away. We turn our heads and raise our arms a lot in our daily activities and every time you do either you are reminded that you have upper back and shoulder pain.

So how do you combat upper back and shoulder pain? It is possible that your upper back and shoulder pain is something minor that just needs some rest to get rid of. Take it easy for a few days and maybe get a deep heating rub to work into the area that is experiencing the most pain. Sometimes a deep heating sports rub can take the edge off of back pain for a few hours and get you some relief. Talk to your pharmacist about over the counter pain killers and see if anything they offer can help. If your condition persists then it is time to see a professional.

More Than Just A Doctor’s Solution

Many times your regular doctor will not have a whole lot of things to give you to relieve upper back and shoulder pain. This does not mean you should not see your regular doctor. On the contrary, your regular doctor is the first person you should see for your upper back and shoulder pain. If your doctor feels that a more serious problem is beginning to develop then your doctor will send you for tests and possibly to a specialist. But if your doctor feels that what you have is a nagging pain then your doctor may prescribe you some pain reliever and send you on your way. Then what? I have three suggestions that could help you.

Many people go to an acupuncturist for relief from pain. My personal experience is that acupuncture does not work for everyone. However if you find a competent acupuncturist, and you really want to give it a try, it can do you no harm. What worked for me was a massage therapist and a chiropractor. The chiropractor worked on getting rid of the pain and the massage therapist works on keeping it away. The body is a complex device and experts such as massage therapists and chiropractors spend their entire careers studying the back and what attached to the back can cause back pain. It is not always the area of the discomfort that is the source of the problem. A trained massage therapist and a good chiropractor can be a great help for back pain.