Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with upper and middle back pain at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Tell him how many hours you spend sitting, driving or looking at a screen, and about any falls. If you have had an X-ray, MRI or bone density scan elsewhere, bring the images and the report.
What is upper back pain (thoracic spine)?
The upper and middle back, or thoracic spine, is the part of the spine that holds the ribs, between the base of the neck and the bottom of the ribcage. It moves less than the neck or lower back, so it is injured less often, but pain here is still common. It usually comes from the muscles and joints: long hours bent over a desk or phone, lifting, or a sudden twist. Less often it comes from a disc, or from a small fracture of a spinal bone, which can happen after a fall or with thin bones (osteoporosis). Most upper back pain gets better without surgery.
Common signs
- Aching or stiffness between the shoulder blades or in the middle of the back.
- Pain that is worse after sitting at a desk or looking down at a phone for a long time.
- Sharp pain when you twist, breathe in deeply or lift.
- Back pain after a fall, especially in older adults or people with thin bones.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who sees patients with upper back pain. He starts by finding the cause: the muscles, the joints of the spine and ribs, a disc, or a bone injury. Because pain in this area can also come from the heart, lungs or stomach, he asks about your general health as well as your back. Most people get better with movement, exercises, posture changes and pain relief, and he explains each step and what to expect.
What to expect
Consultation
He asks how the pain started, what makes it worse, and about your work, posture and general health.
Examination
He checks how your spine moves, where it is tender, and the strength and feeling in your legs.
Scans if needed
An X-ray can show a fracture or thinning of the bones. An MRI is used when a disc, a nerve or another cause is suspected.
Treatment plan
Staying active, exercises to strengthen and stretch the back, posture changes and pain relief. A physiotherapist can guide the exercises.
Review
He checks your progress and looks again if the pain is not settling. If a fracture from thin bones is found, bone health is checked too.
Getting better
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Most upper back pain from muscles and joints improves within a few weeks.
- Keeping active helps more than bed rest.
- A small fracture of a spinal bone usually takes longer, often a few months, to settle.
- Regular breaks from sitting and exercises that strengthen the back help stop the pain coming back.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if upper back pain has not improved after a few weeks, or keeps coming back. Book sooner if the pain started after a fall, you have thin bones (osteoporosis), or you are losing weight without trying. Go to emergency care straight away if back pain comes with chest pain or breathlessness, a high fever, or weakness or numbness in the legs.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Questions patients ask
Does sitting at a desk all day cause upper back pain?
It often adds to it. Set the screen at eye level, keep your feet flat and your back supported, and get up to move every half hour or so.
Why does it hurt between my shoulder blades?
Most often from the muscles and joints, after long hours sitting, bending over a screen or carrying a bag on one shoulder. Less often a disc or a problem in the neck sends pain there. An examination usually tells which.
Can upper back pain be from the heart?
Yes, sometimes. Pain in the upper back with chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or feeling faint needs emergency care straight away.
Do I need an X-ray?
Not usually for ordinary back pain. An X-ray is useful after a fall, in older adults, in people with thin bones, or when pain does not improve.
Book an appointment
His nurse answers the phone and WhatsApp.