Upper back pain: when to see a doctor and your first visit
The upper back lies between the neck and lower back, around the shoulder blades. Pain in this area is a reason to see a doctor. To arrange a visit at my San Pedro de Alcántara clinic or at home, send me a WhatsApp message or call me.
Clinic in San Pedro de Alcántara, by appointment only · Home visits in San Pedro, Marbella, Benahavís and, with prior notice, Estepona
Comprehensive Body Assessment €70 at the clinic · €120 at home
Phone +34 672 29 91 22
When to see a doctor or call 112
Call 112 or go to A&E (urgencias)
Chest pain
- Back pain together with chest pain.
- Sudden crushing pain, squeezing, tightness or pressure in your chest.
- Chest pain that spreads to your jaw, left arm or between your shoulder blades.
- Chest discomfort with nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart or breathlessness.
- Known angina with chest discomfort that is stronger, triggered by lighter activity or lasts longer than usual.
- Angina symptoms while you are resting.
- Sudden, sharp chest pain with breathlessness, especially after a long journey or a period without moving.
- Chest pain when you have a diagnosed serious condition, such as a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.
- Sudden, severe pain in the chest and upper back.
Swelling in one leg alongside sudden chest pain and breathlessness is also an emergency sign.
Legs, genital area and serious accidents
- Back pain with pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs.
- Back pain with loss of feeling around your genitals or anus.
- Back pain with difficulty passing urine, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
- Back pain with changes in how your penis or vagina feels during sex.
- Back pain with difficulty getting or keeping an erection, or being unable to orgasm.
- Back pain that began after a serious accident, such as a car accident.
Do not drive yourself to A&E: ask someone to take you or call 112.
Ask for urgent medical attention
- Back pain with feeling hot, cold, shivery or generally unwell.
- Severe pain that starts suddenly, or back pain that is getting worse quickly.
Book an appointment with your doctor
- Pain in the upper back, between your shoulders.
- Severe back pain, pain unchanged after three days or pain following an injury.
- Back pain that has not improved after a few weeks of home care.
- Pain that stops everyday activities, worries you or is hard to cope with.
- Losing weight without trying, alongside back pain.
- A lump, swelling or change in the shape of your back.
- Back pain that does not improve with rest or is worse at night.
- Back pain that worsens when sneezing, coughing or passing stools.
- Chest pain with a fever or a cough producing yellow-green phlegm.
- Severe chest pain that persists, difficulty swallowing or chest pain lasting longer than 3 to 5 days.
Osteopathy does not replace your doctor or any medication you have been prescribed.
What upper back pain is
Upper back pain is pain between the neck and the lower back, around the shoulder blades.
Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to sudden, sharp pain. This information concerns back pain in general.
There are also pages about back pain in general and pain in the lower back.
Pain between the shoulder blades that spreads from the chest is an emergency sign. Your doctor makes the diagnosis. Decisions about medication are your doctor’s responsibility.
If you get in touch about upper back pain: your first visit
Pain in the upper back, between your shoulders, is a reason to see a doctor. Your doctor makes the diagnosis. If you have already seen them, bring their report.
Tell me where you would like to meet
Message me on WhatsApp or call with your town and your choice of clinic or home visit. We agree a day and time.
An initial conversation
The first appointment is the Comprehensive Body Assessment. It includes a case history (a conversation about your health history), a full check and first contact.
Observation and first hands-on work
I observe and listen to you, assess your case and do some first hands-on work. There is no single action on an isolated area: I look at your body as one single, indivisible unit.
If I have doubts
If I am unsure or cannot work with you, I recommend seeing your doctor.
What I do during sessions
I do thorough hands-on work and give recommendations about posture. The exercises I suggest for home are personalised. I make no promises.
My osteopathy page explains how I work. For information about other areas, there are separate pages on neck pain and shoulder pain.
Prices
Where you can see me and what each visit costs
My clinic address is C/ Ilusión 17, Fuente Nueva, in San Pedro de Alcántara. You need an appointment to see me there. There is free parking on unpaved ground 50 m away.
For a home visit, I come to houses, hotels and villas in San Pedro and Marbella, including Nueva Andalucía and Puerto Banús. I also cover Benahavís and, with prior notice, Estepona.
- Comprehensive Body Assessment at the clinic: €70, lasting 60 minutes.
- Comprehensive Body Assessment at home: €120.
- Clinic osteopathy session: €70 per session.
- Home session: from €100.
You can pay by bank transfer, Bizum or cash. I don’t work with insurers. You can check the visit price list for further details.
For medical emergencies, call 112.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about warning signs and your appointment
Should I see a doctor if the pain is high up rather than in my lower back?
Pain in the upper back, between your shoulders, is a reason to see a doctor. Your doctor makes the diagnosis. If you have already seen them, bring their report.
What if pain travels from my chest to my shoulder blades?
Pain that spreads from your chest to your shoulder blades is a reason to call 112. The other warning signs are in the medical advice box above.
Should I bring the report I was given about my back?
You can bring any reports or test results from your doctor or specialist to the appointment. They are optional; it’s fine to come without them.
Does a recent operation affect when we can start?
After an operation, your doctor has the final say. We begin once they have discharged you, following their instructions and working safely.
Can someone stay with me during my first appointment?
Yes, you can have a companion with you during the session, at the clinic or at home.
Do I need special clothing for the appointment?
Wear comfortable clothes for the session.
Sources
- NHS, “Back pain”, reviewed 5 March 2026; accessed 5 November 2026. Used for: warning signs and when to see a doctor.
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, “Back Pain”, health topic with no review date shown; accessed 5 November 2026. Used for: features of back pain and when to see a doctor.
- MedlinePlus, “Chest pain”, reviewed 28 April 2026; accessed 5 November 2026. Used for: chest pain, pain between the shoulder blades and emergency signs.
Tell me what kind of visit you need and where
Phone +34 672 29 91 22
To arrange a visit, tell me your town and whether you prefer the clinic or a home visit. Don’t send diagnoses, reports or medical test results by message.
Clinic in San Pedro de Alcántara, by appointment only; home visits in San Pedro, Marbella, Benahavís and, with prior notice, Estepona. Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM.
I do the sessions in Spanish or English.