Upper Back Pain can Refer Pain to the Arm or the Front of the Chest!

Dr. Radu Ioan, a chiropractor in West Los Angeles, explains how.

Because today a lot of people spend many hours in front of computers and also a lot of time sitting in their cars in traffic, there is an increase in upper back stiffness and pain. When left untreated, this can turn into muscle spasms that are accompanied by trigger points.

Trigger Points are small knots that can be found in a muscle that is injured or overworked. As you can see in the diagram below, the trigger points in the upper back, between the shoulder blades, can refer pain to the arm and to the front of the chest. The symptoms can be aggravated when a person takes a deep breath or tries to twist their upper body.

What is the Best Treatment for Trigger Points?

In our West LA Chiropractic office we use a very specific treatment to decrease and eventually eliminate trigger points. It is called Kirossage®, and it involves manual pressure directly applied to the trigger points. The manner in which the pressure is applied and the length of the pressure depends on each individual patient.

If left untreated, these trigger points can become chronic. The longer time passes before they are eliminated, the harder it will become to fix the problem. 

Medication is mostly ineffective. In cases where it may help, the pain usually returns as soon as the effects of the medication wears off.

The only way to really correct trigger points is through manual pressure performed by an experienced practitioner. Call our office for an evaluation today!