Is this a harmful remedy for upper back pain?

Question

I read here on Y!A that rolling up a hand towel and laying on it, with it along your spine, helps for back pain.

So, I did that- I rolled the towel thick, like 4 or 5 inches, and layed on it so it was directly under my upper spine. I did this for like 5 minutes. The first couple hurt a lot, then the last few minutes felt really good. Afterwards, I felt looser and my back cracked easily when I twisted side to side.

Okay, so short term it seemed to do the trick. But does this sound like something that is actually bad for me? If not, does anyone have any suggestions as to why it works/is okay?

TIA

Answer 1

I had a physical therapist who recommended the same treatment. I fell on my right upper shoulder and my whole upper back was not aligned properly.

Poor posture and muscle tone are two of the common causes of upper back pain, maintaining an exercise routine and proper nutrition can be necessary for optimal pain relief.

Upper back pain may result from injury due to an automobile accident or sports injury, or in my case--a fall. Other causes may include obesity and atrophied muscles that can lead to undue stress on the spine. When the spine is not supported well, it is susceptible to painful injuries such as disc herniation. Muscle spasms in the upper back are also a frequent cause of upper back pain.