Does Back Hurt With Pneumonia

Pneumonia Symptoms And Back Pain

Krystal Morris

There are not a lot of people in the world who have not heard of pneumonia. Those who do not know what it is should know that it is an infection of the lungs. This infection can be caused by bacteria, virus or fungi. However, in most cases of pneumonia it is a certain bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia that caused the infection. There are no people of certain age who are struck by this infection but pneumonia can be fatal for babies and old people. There are lots of symptoms of this infection but probably the most common one is back pain.

Causes

The bacteria that causes pneumonia gets mixed with air every time a person who is already suffering from pneumonia sneezes or coughs. This way, a healthy person will get infected if he or she inhales that air. Another way to get infected with pneumonia is for the bacteria which are already present in the mouth or nose to go into the lungs. In addition to this, people who recently suffered from a certain viral infection or some lung or heart disease are at greater risk of ending up with pneumonia. People who smoke cigarettes also have a greater chance of contracting pneumonia.

Symptoms

Pneumonia symptoms: back pain

Treatment

The doctors cannot make a diagnosis based just on back pain. In case there are some other symptoms, the patient will undergo a blood test and an X-ray. The treatment plant depends on the cause. Certain antibiotics are known to be quite effective in treatment of pneumonia.

When Back Pain Is A Symptom Of Lung Cancer

• Treating Back Pain

Research suggests that the time between the onset of symptoms and a diagnosis of lung cancer is around 12 months. This is often because a person does not recognize the symptoms, or because they hope that theyâll go away. Back pain is one such symptom.

It is not uncommon for people to have back pain with lung cancer, or even to have back pain as their first symptom. In fact, there are certain defining symptoms that point to cancer as the cause of back pain.

Chief among them are the location and types of pain, which may be quite different from your typical, chronic backache. All told, around 25% of people with lung cancer will report back pain as a symptom at some point in their disease.

This article looks at how back pain is linked to lung cancer, and how this pain differs from other kinds of back pain. It also explains why early treatment for back pain is so important.

Verywell / Hugo Lin

How Soon After Treatment For Pneumonia Will I Begin To Feel Better

How soon you will feel better depends on several factors, including:

• Your age
• The cause of your pneumonia
• The severity of your pneumonia
• If you have other at-risk conditions

If you are generally healthy, most symptoms of bacterial pneumonia usually begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. Symptoms of viral pneumonia usually begin to improve within a few days after starting treatment. A cough can last for several weeks. Most people report being tired for about a month after contracting pneumonia.

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Why Do I Have Lower Back Pain When Im Sick With The Flu

The most common question people ask is: Why does the flu cause pain in the back when back pain is not a commonly accepted symptom of influenza?

Its no secret that aches and pains are common with the flu its why we feel drained and achy constantly.

But prolonged and severe back pain just isnt considered typical.

Its exactly those same aches and pains associated with the flu that actually cause such excruciating back pain for some.

Heres why

When you have the flu, you have elevated levels of molecules known as cytokines and chemokines, which are created by cells affected by flu.

Both cytokines and chemokines are pro-inflammatory. That means they encourage inflammation.

When the levels of both of these molecules are elevated higher than usual with influenza, severe back pain is often the result.

But there are other factors, too.

One of the most common symptoms of the flu is a persistent cough.

Severe bouts of coughing could cause you to pull a muscle in your back, which can obviously cause pain.

Additionally, one of the most serious complications of the flu most common in older adults is pneumonia, which can cause pain in the middle back.

Key takeaway: The flu causes an inflammatory response in your body, which can cause back pain. But flu-related back pain can also be the result of a pulled muscle due to coughing or pneumonia.

What Is Lung Pain

Lung pain is often felt when you breathe in and out, either on one or both sides of your chest. Technically, the pain isnt coming from inside the lungs, since they have very few pain receptors. Instead, the pain may come from the lining of the lungs, which does have pain receptors.

Pro Tip

People who think they are feeling lung pain are often describing a pain in the chest. This pain can be from any of the structures in the chest that sense pain, including skin, muscle, bone, chest wall lining, lung lining, esophagus , and heart. It is important that you see your doctor to determine what is causing the pain. Dr. Benjamin Ranard

Lung pain can also come from the chest wall or from organs or structures in your chest, such as your heart, esophagus , trachea , or muscles and bones in your chest.

There are many conditions that cause lung or chest pain, ranging from viral infections to fluid around your lungs to blood clots.

Treatments include inhalers, medications such as diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood thinners and, in some cases, surgery.

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Sedentary Lifestyle And Working From Home

The pandemic has confined many of us to our homes, with millions of us working in cramped conditions not ergonomically designed to ensure healthy backs. Even when people havent had to work at home, they have been less mobile on the whole and many of us have spent more time sitting down than at other times in our life.

A study from Malta of 388 people found that 30% of people had experienced chronic back pain pre-COVID-19 compared with 49% experiencing back pain since COVID-19 emerged, with the majority of the latter claiming that they never experienced back pain before the pandemic.

Its not clear from the research whether the scientists recorded which of the participants had actually ever had COVID-19 or not, but the correlation between more frequent back pain after the start of the pandemic has been seen across the world, from Italy to Brazil.

It is possible the cumulative effect of bad posture and extensive sitting down is finally manifesting in peoples bodies.

Bad Cough And Backache

I have a very bad cough, back ache and I am unusually tired. When I eat I get very hot and sweaty. The doctor has suggested anti-histamine and chicken soup. This hasn’t been helpful. Can you help me? Also do you have a well man clinic that I could go to? I would be willing to pay for this. Please advise as I have insurance with you but have lost faith in my doctor. Thanks.

3 March 2021

You say that you have been suffering with a bad cough and backache and tiredness. These symptoms may well be linked but we cannot exclude separate issues.

The cough and tiredness could be linked to a viral or bacterial based infection, which is making you feel run down. The back pain could therefore be linked to pulled muscles from the constant coughing. You do not say whether you have asthma or smoke but this could exacerbate infection. It is important to remember that not all infections respond to antibiotic therapy.

Reflux could be also making your cough worse. If you suffer from indigestion, I would suggest eating small, regular, non-acidic or spicy foods, and reducing caffeine and alcohol intake. You may also find taking an antacid prior to food helps.

Antihistamines may help relieve the build up of catarrh and this possibly could help ease the cough too. However a simple hot drink of lemon and honey in hot water can also help decongest and ease your cough.

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More Severe Cases May Also Cause:

• quick breathing
• rapid heartbeat
• nausea and vomiting

Some people get a sharp pain in their chest when they breathe in and out. This may be because the thin lining between the lung and ribcage, called the pleura, is infected and inflamed. This inflammation, called pleurisy, stops your lungs moving smoothly as you breathe.

The symptoms of pneumonia are often very similar to those of other chest infections, such as bronchitis, COPD flare-ups or bronchiectasis flare-ups. To get a proper diagnosis youll need to visit your GP.

If you feel unwell with these symptoms, see your GP or call 111. If you have chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, quick breathing, shivers or confusion, get urgent advice from your GP or call 999. Take extra care if youre over 65.

You Are Experiencing Other Muscles Aches Throughout The Body

Matthew Kohler, MD, a pain management specialist and co-founder of Ospina Medical, says that while muscle aches are a reported COVID symptom, they are not likely to present themselves in just one place, like the back.

It is likely that back pain related to COVID would present with more diffuse pains throughout the body as well, Kohler explains. And for more on the future of the pandemic, discover The One Thing About the COVID Vaccine Thats Surprising Even Doctors.

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Tips For Regaining Your Strength After Severe Pneumonia

• Get plenty of rest
• Slowly start moving around once you’re ready but don’t overdo it
• Complete any treatments prescribed by your doctor
• Eat a nutritious diet
• Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke
• Limit exposure to throat irritants, including pollution and alcohol
• Perform deep breathing exercises
• Consult with your doctor before returning to exercise

Aim to slowly work back into your usual routine and be sure to take note of any signs that the infection may be coming back.

“Pneumonia can be incredibly taxing and there’s no one-size-fits-all to recovery. Some people feel better in about six weeks, but it can take several months for others to feel better after severe pneumonia,” adds Dr. Lee. “Most importantly, be patient with your body.”

If your recovery is prolonged, a specialized program focused on pulmonary rehabilitation may help get you back on track.

How Bad Does Pneumonia Have To Be To Be Hospitalized

Pneumonia can be life-threatening if left untreated, especially for certain at-risk people. You should call your doctor if you have a cough that wont go away, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a fever. You should also call your doctor if you suddenly begin to feel worse after having a cold or the flu.

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When To See Your Doctor

If youre worried about the pain in the right side of your chest, and its lasted more than a few days, then its time to see your doctor. Although the aches and discomfort may be caused by something mild, like acid reflux, theres also a chance that theyre resulting from something more serious, like pulmonary hypertension.

Once you know whats going on, you and your doctor can develop a plan to treat your chest pain and its underlying cause. If your chest pain persists after treatment, you should see your doctor and discuss additional treatment options.

What Are The Symptoms Of Pneumonia

Pneumonia symptoms can vary from so mild you barely notice them, to so severe that hospitalization is required. How your body responds to pneumonia depends on the type germ causing the infection, your age and your overall health.

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

• Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills
• Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
• Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting, especially in small children
• Confusion, especially in older people

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How Is Acute Bronchitis Diagnosed

Healthcare providers can often diagnose acute bronchitis by taking a medical history and doing physical exam. Tests may be done to rule out other diseases, such as pneumonia or asthma. Any of these tests may be used to help confirm a diagnosis:

• Chest X-rays. A test that uses invisible radiation beams to make images of internal tissues, bones, and organs, including the lungs.
• Arterial blood gas. This blood test is used to analyze the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood.
• Pulse oximetry. An oximeter is a small machine that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. To get this measurement, a small sensor is taped or clipped on a finger or toe. When the machine is on, a small red light can be seen in the sensor. The sensor is painless and the red light does not get hot.
• Cultures of nasal discharge and sputum. Testing the sputum you cough up or swab from your nose may be done to find and identify the microorganism causing the infection.
• Pulmonary function tests. These are tests that help to measure the ability of the lungs to move air in and out of the lungs. The tests are usually done with special machines that you breathe into.

The Connection Between Back Pain And Breathing

Ideally, breathing shouldnt cause you any kind of discomfort. But since the rib cage is connected directly to your spine, any problems in the thoracic area could be affected by the rib cages expansion and contraction. If you have been wondering why my back hurts when I breathe, you likely have an underlying condition thats causing the pain.

The following are some of the reasons why you may be feeling a sharp pain in the back when breathing

Your body can only handle a certain amount of weight. If you are obese, all the extra weight places a ton of strain on your back and joints. Taking full, deep breathes may be uncomfortable or downright painful if you are severely overweight.

Getting onto an exercise program and adopting a calorie-restricted diet can help you shed the extra weight and ease the pressure on your body. Make sure you speak to a doctor before embarking on a weight loss journey.

This condition causes the spine to curve sideways. In severe cases, the curvature of the spine can be so extreme that it places a lot of pressure on the lungs and makes it difficult or even painful to breathe. The condition usually affects young teenagers, but it can also occur in people of every age. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, back pain, numbness and weakness in the hands and feet, and difficulty walking.

Reach out to an emergency service immediately if you have symptoms that may point to a heart attack.

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How Do You Feel When You Have Pneumonia

The symptoms of viral pneumonia usually develop over a period of several days. Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain.

What Is Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes. These airways are called bronchi. This inflammation causes increased mucus production and other changes. Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the most common are acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis may also be called a chest cold.

Most symptoms of acute bronchitis last for up to 2 weeks. The cough can last for up to 8 weeks in some people. Chronic bronchitis lasts a long time. It is more common among smokers.

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Face And Neck Swelling

Lung cancer tumors can press on the superior vena cava, the large blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the upper part of the body.

This can cause blood flow through that vein to become fully or partially blockeda complication known as superior vena cava syndrome.

When this occurs, blood flow is impended and pressure builds up in the areas the vein usually drains blood away from. This can cause swelling of the face, neck, and arms, as well as dilated veins in the neck and chest.

Questions About Your Symptoms

Bacterial pneumonia, which is the most common form, tends to be more serious than other types of pneumonia, with symptoms that require medical care. The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can develop gradually or suddenly. Fever may rise as high as a dangerous 105 degrees F, with profuse sweating and rapidly increased breathing and pulse rate. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patient’s mental state may be confused or delirious.

The symptoms of viral pneumonia usually develop over a period of several days. Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.

Symptoms may vary in certain populations. Newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection. Or, they may vomit, have a fever and cough, or appear restless, sick, or tired and without energy. Older adults and people who have serious illnesses or weak immune systems may have fewer and milder symptoms. They may even have a lower than normal temperature. Older adults who have pneumonia sometimes have sudden changes in mental awareness. For individuals that already have a chronic lung disease, those symptoms may worsen.

When to call a doctor

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