You sit down at your desk in the morning and feel a dull ache settle in the middle of your upper back. By early afternoon it has turned into a deep, nagging soreness right between your shoulder blades. You reach back to press on it and find a tight, tender spot that will not release.
For many people the discomfort feels like a knot that never fully loosens. For others it is a sharp catch when they twist, take a deep breath, or reach across the body. You may notice it most after a long day at the computer, a long drive, or a night spent in an awkward sleep position.
The area between the shoulder blades is a common place to feel muscular pain, but it can also carry signals from the joints of the mid-back, the ribs, and even the neck.
Most of the time, pain in this region is related to muscle strain, posture, or joint irritation, and it responds to simple measures. It is uncomfortable and persistent, but it is rarely dangerous.
There is an important exception. In uncommon situations, pain between the shoulder blades can be the body's warning of a problem that is not orthopedic at all, such as a heart or lung emergency. Knowing how to tell the difference is part of taking the symptom seriously without becoming alarmed.
This article walks through why the upper back hurts between the shoulder blades, what could be causing it, when it deserves prompt attention, and how an orthopedic specialist evaluates and treats it.
The Short Answer
Pain between the shoulder blades, known medically as interscapular pain, is most often caused by muscle strain, overuse, and posture-related fatigue in the upper back.
The region between the shoulder blades is supported by several layers of muscle that hold the shoulder blades against the rib cage and stabilize the thoracic spine, which is the portion of the spine that connects to the ribs. When these muscles are overworked, held in a forward-rounded position, or aggravated by repetitive activity, they can become tight, tender, and painful.
Other common sources include joint irritation in the thoracic spine, dysfunction of the joints where the ribs attach to the spine, and referred pain from the neck. Less often, a thoracic disc problem or nerve irritation may be involved.
Most interscapular pain is mechanical, meaning it comes from muscles, joints, or the spine, and it tends to improve with movement, stretching, posture changes, and time.
The important distinction is urgency. Pain between the shoulder blades that comes with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or a sudden tearing sensation is not a routine muscle problem and needs emergency care. So does new weakness, numbness spreading through the body, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Key Symptoms
Interscapular pain can feel very different from one person to the next depending on whether the muscles, joints, ribs, or nerves are most involved.
Common symptoms include:
- A dull ache or soreness in the middle of the upper back
- A tight knot or band between the shoulder blades
- Sharp pain when twisting, turning, or reaching
- Pain that worsens after prolonged sitting or computer work
- Stiffness in the upper back and shoulders
- A catching sensation with a deep breath
- Tenderness when pressing on the muscles beside the spine
- Pain that eases with movement, stretching, or changing position
- Discomfort that flares after carrying a bag or lifting overhead
- Tightness that returns at the end of a long work day
Some patterns point away from a simple muscle problem and deserve closer attention. These include tingling or numbness traveling into the arm, weakness, pain that wraps around the chest along a rib, or pain that does not change at all with movement or position.
The pattern matters because it helps separate a muscular or joint source from referred pain, a nerve problem, or a symptom that is not coming from the musculoskeletal system at all.
Why Does the Middle of My Back Hurt More Than My Neck or Lower Back?
The upper and middle back, called the thoracic spine, is built for stability rather than motion.
Unlike the flexible neck and lower back, the thoracic spine is anchored to the rib cage. This gives it strength and protects the organs inside the chest, but it also means the surrounding muscles do a great deal of steady, low-level work to hold you upright throughout the day.
When you sit for long stretches, lean toward a screen, or hold your arms forward to type or drive, the muscles between and around the shoulder blades stay contracted for hours. Muscles are not designed to hold a single position that long. Over time they fatigue, tighten, and become tender.
Because the thoracic spine moves less, problems here are often felt as a deep, aching soreness rather than the shooting or radiating pain that people associate with the neck or lower back. That steady ache is one reason interscapular pain can feel stubborn and slow to release.
Is This Just a Muscle Knot?
A muscle knot, or trigger point, is one of the most common reasons for pain between the shoulder blades.
A trigger point is a small, tight, sensitive area within a muscle. When pressed, it can feel like a firm lump and may send aching discomfort into nearby areas such as the shoulder, neck, or along the border of the shoulder blade.
Trigger points in the upper back often develop from posture, prolonged sitting, repetitive reaching, carrying heavy bags, or stress that keeps the muscles tense. They are usually not dangerous, and they frequently respond to movement, stretching, heat, massage, and improved ergonomics.
A knot is more likely the main problem when the pain is localized, tender to the touch, and clearly related to activity or position. It is less likely to be the whole story when the pain comes with numbness, tingling, arm weakness, or any symptoms involving the chest or breathing.
The only way to know the cause with confidence is through a medical history and physical examination. Persistent or recurring knots that do not respond to home care deserve an evaluation.
What Could Be Causing It?
Several conditions can cause pain between the shoulder blades. Most involve the muscles, joints, ribs, or nerves of the upper back and neck. A smaller number involve problems outside the musculoskeletal system.
An accurate diagnosis matters because the treatment for a muscle strain is very different from the treatment for a nerve problem or a non-orthopedic emergency.
Muscle Strain and Overuse
Straining the muscles of the upper back is the most common cause of interscapular pain.
The muscles between the shoulder blades, including the rhomboids and the middle portion of the trapezius, hold the shoulder blades in place and support the upper spine. A muscle strain occurs when these tissues are stretched or overloaded beyond what they can handle.
Strain and overuse can develop from lifting, reaching overhead, a sudden movement, or simply doing too much of a new activity. Symptoms often include:
- A dull or aching soreness between the shoulder blades
- Tightness that worsens with activity
- Tenderness when the muscles are pressed
- Pain that improves with rest and gentle movement
Muscle strain usually improves within days to a couple of weeks. It is less likely to cause numbness, tingling, or true weakness in the arm.
Trigger Points and Muscle Tension
Trigger points are tight, irritable spots within a muscle that can produce local pain and refer discomfort elsewhere.
They often form in the upper back and shoulder muscles in response to sustained tension, poor workstation setup, or emotional stress. A trigger point may feel like a persistent knot that aches even at rest and flares with activity.
Muscle tension and trigger points frequently accompany other problems. When a joint in the spine or a nerve in the neck is irritated, the surrounding muscles may tighten in response, which can make the muscular pain feel like the primary issue even when it is secondary.
Posture and Prolonged Positioning
Posture is one of the most common contributors to pain between the shoulder blades.
A forward head and rounded shoulder position, sometimes called a slouched or protracted posture, increases the load on the upper back muscles and the joints of the thoracic spine. Holding this position for hours while working, scrolling on a phone, or driving keeps the interscapular muscles working overtime.
Posture-related pain tends to build over the day and ease with movement, stretching, or standing up. It often improves with regular breaks, upper back strengthening, and a better workstation setup. Posture is rarely the only factor, but it frequently makes other sources of pain worse.
Thoracic Spine Joint Dysfunction
The thoracic spine contains small joints called facet joints that guide motion between the vertebrae.
When one of these joints becomes stiff, irritated, or arthritic, it can produce a localized ache or a sharp catch between the shoulder blades. This is sometimes called thoracic facet dysfunction, and patients often describe pain with twisting, leaning back, or taking a deep breath.
Joint-related pain in the mid-back is usually mechanical, meaning it changes with movement and position. It does not typically cause numbness or arm weakness on its own, although it can occur alongside muscle tightness and rib joint irritation.
Rib and Costovertebral Joint Irritation
Each rib connects to the thoracic spine through small joints called the costovertebral and costotransverse joints.
Because these joints move every time you breathe, irritation there can cause a sharp, catching pain between the shoulder blades that worsens with a deep breath, a cough, or certain movements. This is sometimes referred to as a rib joint sprain or costovertebral joint dysfunction.
Rib joint pain can develop after an awkward twist, a fit of coughing, sustained poor posture, or a minor injury. It is usually musculoskeletal, but because it involves breathing and the chest wall, new or severe rib-area pain with shortness of breath or chest symptoms should be evaluated to rule out a lung or heart problem.
Referred Pain From the Cervical Spine
Pain felt between the shoulder blades does not always start in the upper back. It can be referred from the neck.
The lower cervical spine, which is the base of the neck, sits directly above the region between the shoulder blades. A herniated cervical disc or an irritated cervical nerve can send pain into the interscapular area, sometimes even when the neck itself feels relatively normal. Cervical radiculopathy is the medical term for irritation of a nerve as it leaves the neck, and patients often call this a pinched nerve.
Clues that the neck may be involved include pain that changes when you move your neck, pain that travels into the shoulder or arm, and tingling, numbness, or weakness in the hand or fingers. When these features are present, an examination of the neck is an important part of finding the true source.
Thoracic Disc Problems
The discs of the thoracic spine can bulge or herniate, though this is less common than in the neck or lower back.
Because the thoracic spine is more rigid and better protected by the rib cage, disc problems here occur less frequently. When a thoracic disc does irritate a nerve, it may cause pain that wraps around the chest wall along the path of a rib, sometimes with a band-like sensation, tingling, or numbness.
A thoracic disc herniation that presses on the spinal cord is uncommon but important. It may cause changes in the legs, balance, or coordination. These symptoms are a reason for prompt evaluation rather than watchful waiting.
Non-Orthopedic and Emergency Causes
Most pain between the shoulder blades is musculoskeletal, but this region can occasionally reflect a problem inside the chest or abdomen. This is an important exception to be aware of.
Conditions of the heart, the large blood vessels, the lungs, the gallbladder, or the pancreas can sometimes refer pain to the upper back. The pain from these problems tends to be different. It usually does not change when you move, twist, breathe, or press on the muscles, and it often comes with other symptoms.
Warning signs that upper back pain may not be orthopedic include chest pressure or tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, pain spreading into the jaw or arm, or a sudden tearing or ripping sensation in the back. Any of these combinations should be treated as an emergency. When these symptoms are present, the priority is immediate medical care, not an orthopedic appointment.
Who Is Most Likely to Develop It?
Pain between the shoulder blades can affect adults of any age, but certain patterns and habits increase the likelihood.
People who spend long hours at a desk or on a phone are among the most commonly affected because sustained forward posture loads the upper back. Occupations and activities that involve repetitive reaching, lifting, or overhead work can also strain the interscapular muscles and irritate the thoracic joints.
Risk may be increased by:
- Prolonged computer or desk work
- Frequent phone or tablet use with the head bent forward
- Long periods of driving
- Repetitive lifting or overhead activity
- Carrying a heavy bag or backpack on one shoulder
- A sudden increase in exercise or weight training
- Poor workstation ergonomics
- Weak upper back and core muscles
- Previous neck or upper back injuries
- High stress levels that increase muscle tension
- Smoking, which can affect disc and tissue health
- Age-related changes in the spine and joints
These factors raise the odds but do not guarantee that pain will develop. Many people have several of them without symptoms, and addressing the changeable ones is often part of both treatment and prevention.
When Should You Be Concerned?
Most pain between the shoulder blades is not dangerous and can be monitored for a short time with home care. The key is knowing which symptoms deserve a routine appointment and which require urgent or emergency attention.
Schedule an evaluation with a specialist if:
- Pain lasts longer than two or three weeks
- Pain keeps returning despite home care
- Pain interferes with sleep, work, or daily activity
- You notice tingling or numbness traveling into the arm
- You feel weakness or clumsiness in the hands
- Neck movement clearly changes the upper back pain
- The pain followed a fall, collision, or lifting injury
- The area is becoming increasingly stiff or limited
Some symptoms point toward a spinal cord or serious spine problem and deserve prompt medical attention. Seek care quickly if you develop:
- New or worsening weakness in the arms or legs
- Numbness that spreads or affects both sides
- Problems with balance, coordination, or walking
- A band-like tightness wrapping around the chest or trunk
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Fever with significant back pain
- Pain after significant trauma
There is also a category that is not orthopedic and should be treated as an emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if pain between the shoulder blades comes with:
- Chest pressure, tightness, or pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness
- Pain spreading into the jaw, neck, or arm
- A sudden severe tearing or ripping sensation in the upper back
These combinations can signal a heart, lung, or blood vessel emergency. When they are present, do not wait to see whether the pain settles. Immediate care is the priority.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Diagnosing pain between the shoulder blades begins with separating a musculoskeletal source from a problem that is not orthopedic, then identifying whether the muscles, joints, ribs, or nerves are most responsible.
The evaluation usually includes a medical history, a physical examination, and selective testing when needed.
Medical History
Your specialist may ask a series of questions to understand the pattern of your pain, such as:
- Where exactly is the pain, and does it stay in one place?
- When did it start, and was there an injury?
- Does it get better or worse with movement, position, or rest?
- Does a deep breath, cough, or twist change it?
- Does your neck movement affect the upper back pain?
- Do you have any numbness, tingling, or weakness?
- Have you had any chest pressure, shortness of breath, or sweating?
- What is your typical work, sitting, and sleep setup?
- What have you already tried, and did it help?
The answers help distinguish muscle and joint pain from referred pain, nerve involvement, or a non-orthopedic cause. A history that includes chest or breathing symptoms may prompt a different and more urgent pathway.
Physical Examination
The examination is focused on identifying which structures reproduce the pain and whether the nervous system is involved.
Your specialist may assess:
- Tenderness in the muscles and along the spine
- Thoracic spine and rib joint mobility
- Posture and shoulder blade position
- Range of motion in the neck and upper back
- Strength in the arms and hands
- Sensation and reflexes
- Movements or positions that reproduce the pain
- Breathing and how it affects the symptoms
- The neck and shoulders as possible sources of referred pain
By comparing what worsens and eases the pain, the examination often points toward a muscular, joint, rib, or nerve source without any imaging at all.
Imaging
Not every patient needs imaging. It is generally reserved for pain that is severe, persistent, follows trauma, or comes with neurological symptoms.
When imaging is used, it may include:
- X-rays to evaluate alignment, arthritis, and the bones of the thoracic spine and ribs, and to check for fracture after an injury
- MRI to look in detail at discs, nerves, the spinal cord, and soft tissues, particularly when nerve involvement or a disc problem is suspected
- CT to provide detailed images of bone when a fracture or complex bony problem is a concern
As with the neck and lower back, imaging findings must match the symptoms and examination. Age-related changes are common and do not always explain a person's pain.
Other Testing
Additional testing is used selectively based on what the history and examination suggest.
This may include electromyography and nerve conduction studies, often called EMG, to evaluate how the nerves and muscles are functioning when a nerve problem is suspected. Blood tests may be considered if infection or an inflammatory condition is a concern.
Importantly, when the history raises the possibility of a heart, lung, or vascular cause, the evaluation shifts toward tests such as an electrocardiogram or chest imaging, and this is handled urgently rather than through an orthopedic workup.
Treatment Options
Most pain between the shoulder blades improves with nonsurgical care aimed at calming the irritated tissue, restoring movement, and correcting the habits that contributed to it.
The right plan depends on the cause, the severity, how long the pain has lasted, and whether any nerve involvement is present. Surgery is rarely part of the picture for interscapular pain.
Activity Modification
Adjusting activity is often the first step.
This usually means temporarily reducing the specific movements that aggravate the pain, such as heavy lifting, repetitive overhead work, long uninterrupted stretches at a computer, or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder.
Complete rest is rarely the goal. Gentle, regular movement helps prevent the stiffness that can make upper back pain worse. The aim is to keep moving while removing the repeated strain that keeps the tissue irritated.
Posture and Ergonomic Changes
Because posture and prolonged positioning contribute to so many cases, ergonomic changes are often central to recovery.
Helpful adjustments may include:
- Raising the monitor toward eye level
- Keeping the keyboard and mouse close to the body
- Supporting the forearms while typing
- Sitting back fully in a supportive chair
- Avoiding long periods of looking down at a phone
- Taking frequent movement and stretch breaks
- Changing position and stretching during long drives
There is no single perfect posture to hold all day. Regular movement and variety are usually more helpful than trying to stay rigidly upright.
Home Care
Simple home measures can ease symptoms while the tissue settles.
Heat may help relax tight muscles and improve comfort before activity or stretching. Ice may reduce discomfort after a flare or an activity that aggravates the pain. Gentle stretching and light range-of-motion movement for the upper back and shoulders can also help.
These measures do not correct an underlying joint or nerve problem, but they often provide meaningful short-term relief when used safely.
Medication
Over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications may reduce pain and inflammation for some people.
A clinician may consider other medications for muscle spasm or nerve-related pain in selected cases. Medication choices should be based on your health history and other medicines, because anti-inflammatory medication is not appropriate for everyone.
Medication can make movement and therapy more comfortable, but it does not by itself correct the mechanical or postural problems driving the pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a common and effective treatment for interscapular pain.
A therapy program may include:
- Stretching for tight upper back and chest muscles
- Strengthening for the shoulder blade and upper back muscles
- Postural training and body-awareness education
- Thoracic spine mobility work
- Manual therapy to reduce joint stiffness and muscle tension
- Breathing and rib mechanics when relevant
- Ergonomic coaching for work and daily activities
- A gradual return to full activity
The program should be tailored to the source of the pain. An exercise that helps a stiff joint may not be right for an irritated nerve, so symptoms that worsen or travel farther should be reported to the therapist.
Injections
Injections are used selectively when pain is persistent and clearly tied to a specific structure.
When a facet joint, rib joint, or trigger point appears to be the main source, a targeted injection may reduce inflammation and create a window to move and rehabilitate more effectively. Diagnostic injections can sometimes help confirm which structure is generating the pain.
An injection does not repair a disc or reverse arthritis, and relief can vary in degree and duration. The Pain Institute team may be involved when pain is stubborn and interfering with daily life.
Surgery
Surgery is rarely needed for pain between the shoulder blades, because most causes are muscular, postural, or related to joints that respond to nonsurgical care.
It may be considered in uncommon situations, such as a thoracic disc herniation that is compressing the spinal cord or a cervical spine problem causing progressive neurological symptoms. In those cases, surgery is directed at relieving pressure on the nerve or spinal cord rather than at the muscle pain itself.
The decision depends on the specific diagnosis, the imaging, the neurological findings, and how much the condition is affecting daily function. Seeing a spine specialist does not mean surgery is likely.
Can It Be Prevented?
Not every case of interscapular pain can be prevented, especially when it follows an injury or age-related changes. Many episodes, however, can be reduced by addressing the habits that overload the upper back.
Practical prevention strategies include:
- Taking regular breaks from prolonged sitting
- Keeping screens near eye level
- Limiting long stretches of looking down at a phone
- Strengthening the upper back, shoulder blade, and core muscles
- Maintaining flexibility in the chest and shoulders
- Using good technique when lifting or reaching overhead
- Distributing weight evenly rather than loading one shoulder
- Increasing exercise gradually rather than suddenly
- Setting up a supportive, well-positioned workstation
- Managing stress, which can drive muscle tension
- Addressing early upper back stiffness before it becomes chronic
The goal is not to hold the upper back perfectly still. The thoracic spine is meant to move, and healthy movement, strength, and variety generally protect it better than stiffness and avoidance.
From the Orthopedic Exam Room
One of the most common things orthopedic specialists hear is, "I keep working on this knot between my shoulder blades, but it never goes away."
That experience is understandable. The upper back muscles are easy to feel and easy to blame, so it is natural to press, stretch, and massage the tender spot. Often the muscle tightness is real, but it is a response to something else, such as a stiff thoracic joint, an irritated rib joint, or a nerve in the neck that is referring pain into the area. Treating only the knot can leave the actual source untouched.
Another frequent statement is, "My neck feels fine, so it cannot be coming from my spine." Pain between the shoulder blades can be referred from the lower neck even when the neck itself is not especially sore. When the upper back pain changes with neck movement or comes with tingling or arm symptoms, the neck deserves a careful look.
Patients also worry when imaging mentions disc changes, arthritis, or degeneration in the spine. These findings are common with age and do not automatically explain the pain or point toward surgery. The more useful question is whether the imaging matches the symptoms and examination.
It is also worth saying plainly that a small number of people who feel pain between the shoulder blades are experiencing something that is not orthopedic at all. That is why a good evaluation includes questions about the chest, breathing, and general health, and why any upper back pain paired with chest pressure or shortness of breath belongs in an emergency setting rather than an orthopedic clinic.
Most of the time, the reassuring news holds. Interscapular pain is usually mechanical, and it usually improves with movement, targeted therapy, and attention to the habits that provoke it.
What We Hope You Take Away
Pain between the shoulder blades is most often caused by muscle strain, trigger points, posture, and irritation of the joints in the upper back and ribs.
Sometimes the true source is the neck, where a herniated cervical disc or an irritated nerve can refer pain into the interscapular region. Less commonly, a thoracic disc problem is involved.
The pattern of your pain provides useful clues. Pain that changes with movement, position, or breathing, and that is tender to the touch, usually points toward a muscular or joint source that responds well to nonsurgical care.
Most interscapular pain improves with activity modification, posture and ergonomic changes, home care, physical therapy, and time. Injections help in selected cases, and surgery is rarely necessary.
Two categories deserve special attention. Neurological symptoms such as spreading numbness, weakness, balance changes, or loss of bladder or bowel control call for prompt evaluation. And upper back pain combined with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, or a sudden tearing sensation is a medical emergency that needs immediate care, not an orthopedic appointment.
If your pain is persistent, keeps returning, or is affecting your daily life, an orthopedic spine evaluation can help identify the cause, rule out the concerns that matter, and build a focused plan to help you move and feel better.
Continue Learning
You may also find these MSMOC resources helpful:
- Why Does My Neck Hurt When I Wake Up?
- Why Does My Neck Pain Travel Down My Arm?
- Is It a Herniated Disc? Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
- Meet Our Spine Specialists
- The Pain Institute
- Walk-In Orthopedic and Urgent Care
- Find a Mississippi Sports Medicine Location
- Schedule an Appointment
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have a knot between my shoulder blades?
A knot between the shoulder blades is usually a tight, tender band of muscle called a trigger point. It often develops from posture, prolonged sitting, repetitive reaching, or stress that keeps the upper back muscles contracted. The area may feel like a firm lump and can refer aching into the shoulder or neck. Most knots ease with movement, stretching, heat, and improved ergonomics. Pain that keeps returning or comes with numbness, weakness, or chest symptoms deserves an evaluation.
Is pain between my shoulder blades a sign of a heart attack?
It usually is not, especially when the pain changes with movement, breathing, or pressing on the muscle. However, upper back pain can occasionally signal a serious non-orthopedic problem. Call 911 if pain between the shoulder blades comes with chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, or pain spreading into the jaw or arm. A sudden tearing sensation in the upper back also needs emergency care. When in doubt, treat these combined symptoms as an emergency.
Can bad posture cause pain between the shoulder blades?
Yes. A forward head and rounded shoulder position increases the load on the muscles and joints of the upper back. Holding that position for hours at a computer, phone, or steering wheel can leave the interscapular muscles fatigued, tight, and sore. Posture-related pain often improves with regular movement breaks, upper back strengthening, and workstation changes. Posture is rarely the only factor, so lasting or worsening pain still deserves evaluation to rule out other causes.
Why does the pain between my shoulder blades get worse when I breathe?
Pain that increases with a deep breath may involve the joints where the ribs meet the spine. These costovertebral and costotransverse joints move each time you breathe, so irritation there can produce a sharp catch between the shoulder blades. Muscle strain can feel similar. Breathing-related upper back pain is usually musculoskeletal, but pain with shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough deserves prompt medical attention to rule out a lung or heart problem.
How long should upper back pain between the shoulder blades last?
Mild pain from muscle strain or posture often improves within a few days to a couple of weeks with gentle movement, stretching, and activity changes. Pain that lasts longer than two or three weeks, keeps returning, or interferes with sleep and daily activity should be evaluated. You should seek care sooner if you notice numbness, tingling, weakness, or any chest or breathing symptoms. A specialist can help identify the source and guide treatment.
Can a problem in my neck cause pain between my shoulder blades?
Yes. Nerves and structures in the lower cervical spine can refer pain into the region between the shoulder blades. A herniated cervical disc or an irritated nerve in the neck may produce interscapular pain even when the neck itself does not hurt much. Clues include pain that changes with neck movement or comes with tingling, numbness, or arm symptoms. A physical examination helps determine whether the neck is contributing to the upper back pain.
When should I see a specialist for pain between my shoulder blades?
See a specialist when the pain lasts more than two or three weeks, keeps coming back, or limits your work, sleep, or activity despite home care. You should also seek evaluation if you have numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs, or pain after a fall or collision. Any upper back pain combined with chest pressure, shortness of breath, or a tearing sensation is an emergency and needs immediate care.
