With these exercises, you should be able to avoid discomfort or lessen existing back pain. If the pain is unbearable or is accompanied by tingling in the arms, I recommend consulting your doctor. Whether big, small, sports, or lace – industry figures show that women around the world spend $16 billion on bras. Aesthetics aside, many women find themselves dealing with the frustrating problem of upper and mid-back back pain caused by large breast size. Excessively large breasts, known as breast hypertrophy, put extra stress on the back extensor muscles and spinal disks, leading to muscle tension, spasm and pain. It can also exacerbate the symptoms of thoracic kyphosis, commonly known as hunch back or round back. Other symptoms include tingling in the arms from compressed nerves and pain from bra straps digging into the shoulders. Patients often come to me with the question, “Will breast reduction surgery help my back pain?” The answer is often yes if other treatments – such as physical therapy and postural exercises – fail. Bethannie Snodgrass, MD, plastic surgeon and author of When Less is More: The Complete Guide for Women Considering Breast Reduction Surgery explains, “As women get older and heavier, their shoulders