HealthDay reports on the causes of upper back pain and strategies to alleviate your discomfort according to James Dowdell, MD, spine surgeon at HSS. 

"There are so many variables when it comes to back pain," said Dr. Dowdell. "How it can be treated depends on what's causing it. Ultimately, some types of back pain can be helped with surgery, and some can't."

Consider stretches for upper back pain as well. HSS recommends stretches such as a trunk rotation, a slouch overcorrection stretch, and a standing lumbar extension.

Read the full article at consumer.healthday.com.