Pain Moves From Your Chest To Your Back
One potential cause of back pain is a condition called costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage connecting your ribs to your breastbone. While lifting heavy items, respiratory infections, and chest injuries can cause it, often the source of the pain is unclear. You may feel pain that travels from your chest to your back. Definitely get checked out by your doctor, it often goes away without any treatment.
What Causes Lung Pain In The Back
If you have discomfort while breathing or feel a nondescript pain in your upper back or chest, you may worry that something is wrong with your lungs. A number of ailments can cause chest or back pain, some as simple as a strained muscle or seasonal allergy. It also could be a sign of a more serious condition like lung cancer. But while you’re determining where the pain is coming from, you would be surprised to learn that lung tissue does not actually have pain receptors. The nerve endings that have pain receptors are actually in the lung lining, called the pleura. An injury to the lining of the lung, inflammation due to an infection or invasion by cancer can all cause pain in the chest.
In the case of lung cancer, back or chest pain is caused by the tumor irritating the nerve endings in the pleura, as well as in the bone or muscles that the tumor is invading. Pain also can be the result when cancer growth limits the blood supply to an organ or triggers the formation of blood clots. Lung cancer can occur in locations throughout the chest, so there is no specific location that will indicate that the pain you’re feeling is due to lung cancer. However, lung cancer usually does not cause any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Common symptoms of lung cancer, in addition to chest pain, include persistent coughing, shortness of breath, production of bloody phlegm, weight loss, weakness, fatigue and recurrent pneumonia.
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Pneumonia And Lower Back Pain: Causes Treatment & Prevention
Pneumonia is an infection of lung tissue mainly caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. There are constellations of clinical features suggestive of pneumonia such as high fever, cough, cold, chills, chest pain etc. However, one symptom which many people are not aware much is back pain. When lung is affected, a person may experience pain in chest as well as back pain.
There are many symptoms that may be present in chronic bronchitis which appear similar to pneumonia. But tightness in chest is prominently observed in bronchitis whereas in pneumonia patient often complains of chest pain as well as pain in lower back.
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Upper Back Pain Isnt As Common As Lower Back Pain But It Can Still Be Troublesome
Your back is a complex structure that includes a stack of bones called vertebrae, separated and cushioned by spongy discs. Pain can arise from compressed or herniated discs, pinched nerves, or strained muscles.
As a rule, upper back pain is unusual, since the upper back is structurally stronger than the lower back and also isnt as mobile, due to being connected to the rib cage. This lack of motion affords it some protection against the bending-twisting types of injury you might sustain in your lower back, which is significantly more mobile, and also against degenerative conditions like those that can cause spinal stenosis symptoms.
You can ease your upper back pain with over-the-counter painkillers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Alternative approaches such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation therapies such as chiropractic and osteopathy also may help relieve upper back pain.
Causes Of Upper Back Pain
Specific types of pain in upper back may respond to self-help measures and to targeted treatment approaches. Be wary of:
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You Were In A Car Accident
If youre able to walk away from a rear end crash and feel OK, you may decide not to get checked out by a doctor. However, whiplasha violent backward-and-forward jerk of the headcan create tears and inflammation of the muscles and ligaments in the neck and upper back, explains Dr. Chang. See your doctor if you suspect whiplash, especially if you have other symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and pain in your neck.
Viral Vs Bacterial Pneumonia
Different causes will produce different symptoms of pneumonia. Viral pneumonia usually causes milder symptoms, such as a dry cough and light chest congestion. Bacterial pneumonia is known to cause more severe symptoms, such as chest pain, difficult breathing, a high or persistent fever, and greenish or yellowish phlegm. When pneumonia develops as a complication of flu, it is more likely to be bacterial rather than viral pneumonia.
Symptom Time Frame
You should seek medical care if your symptoms last longer than three to five days, especially if they are severe. Diagnostic tests can be performed in a doctors office to determine whether you have flu or pneumonia, and which type of pneumonia you may have. Test results will determine the most effective course of treatment.
When you think you have the flu or pneumonia, or if you simply wish to get a flu vaccination, never hesitate to make an , contact ARcare at 550-4719. We have been providing accessible medical and dental care in Arkansas since 1986, and our staff is on call 24 hours a day.
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Bacteremia And Septic Shock
If bacteria caused your pneumonia, they could get into your blood, especially if you didn’t see a doctor for treatment. It’s a problem called bacteremia.
Bacteremia can lead to a serious situation known as . It’s a reaction to the infection in your blood, and it can cause your blood pressure to drop to a dangerous level.
When your blood pressure is too low, your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to your organs, and they can stop working. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms like:
Your doctor can test your mucus or the pus in your lungs to look for infection. They may also take an X-ray or a CT scan of your lungs.
Your doctor will likely treat your lung abscesses with antibiotics. They may do a procedure that uses a needle to remove the pus.
Back Pain From Pneumonia
Back pain is a common symptom of pneumonia. In the last 15 years, I have personally treated thousands of patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Many of them had back pain. I am writing this article based on my personal experience as well as a review of relevant medical journals.
In this article, I will describe:
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How Does Pneumonia Cause Back Pain
To understand how pneumonia causes back pain, you need to understand the nerve supply in your lungs. It is important to understand that there are virtually no pain receptors inside your lungs. You may have pneumonia without any chest pain at all.
As you can see in the picture, your lungs are covered by 2 layers of membrane-like lining, the inner lining and the outer lining. The inner lining goes in-between the fissures of your lungs. It doesnt have any pain receptors. Pain receptors are only found in the outer lining of the lungs. The outer lining is attached to your chest wall, both in the front and in the back.
Pneumonia does not not cause any pain if it doesnt lead to direct irritation of the outer lining of the lungs. When inflammation caused by pneumonia is closer to the surface, near your back, the outer lining at that spot may get irritated. This pain-sensitive outer layer is the reason you get back pain from pneumonia.
Inflammation from pneumonia must be closer to the outer lining of your lungs for you to have back pain.
How Do You Treat Pneumonia
Treatment for pneumonia depends on the cause. If pneumonia is caused bya bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed to kill the harmfulbacteria. If pneumonia is caused by a viral infection, time and restare best for recovery. Fever reducing medications and cough medicationscan help relieve symptoms and aid sleep.
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Pleural Effusions Empyema And Pleurisy
There are two layers of tissue surrounding your lungs called the pleura. One wraps around the outside of your lungs and the other lines the part of your chest where your lungs sit. They help your lungs move smoothly when you breathe.
If your pneumonia isn’t treated, the pleura can get swollen, creating a sharp pain when you breathe in. If you don’t treat the swelling, the area between the pleura may fill with fluid, which is called a pleural effusion.
If the fluid gets infected, it leads to a problem called empyema. Tell your doctor if you are having any of these symptoms:
- Hard time breathing
- You don’t want to breathe deeply because it hurts
Your doctor may look for swelling or fluid with an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan. They might also give you an electrocardiogram to make sure that a heart problem isn’t the cause of your chest pain.
If you do have pleurisy, you may need medications that can stop the swelling.
For pleural effusions and empyema, your doctor may suggest a procedure that removes fluid from your body with a needle. Antibiotics are also an option to treat empyema.
Bacterial Vs Viral Pneumonia Symptoms
Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes of pneumonia. Fungi and parasites can sometimes cause it.
When the cause is bacteria, the illness can come on either slowly or quickly. It tends to be more serious than other types.
When a virus causes your pneumonia, youâre more likely to notice symptoms over several days. Early signs will look like the flu — such as fever, dry cough, headache, and weakness — but get worse in a day or two.
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What Does Back Pain From Pneumonia Feel Like
Back pain from pneumonia is a pleuritic-type chest pain. Pleura is the medical name for the lining of the lungs. The pain is sharp because the outer pleura is very sensitive to pain. It gets worse anytime the outer lining gets stretched, which happens with coughs, deep breaths, and movement. Back pain from pneumonia feels like a deep-seated sharp pain in the back, usually on one side, unless you have pneumonia on both sides. The pain gets worse whenever you cough or take a deep breath.
Whats Causing Lung Pain In Your Back
There are several reasons you may be feeling pain in and around the back of your lungs.
This pain may be due to injuries or disturbances in the lining of your lungs or the bones and muscles surrounding the organs. Persistent coughs can even cause back pain in the back of your lungs.
However, your lungs have very few pain receptors, and people often refer to more general chest pains as lung pains.
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Causes Of Upper Back Pain When Breathing
Experiencing pain in your upper back while you breathe can cause confusion and frustration. Work with your doctor to identify the possible cause of your discomfort, which could be one of the following:
Injury
In most cases, upper back pain is caused by problems affecting the muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons connected to the spine. Injuries like a sprain, strain, or muscle tension may cause pain and other symptoms in your upper and back.
Pulmonary embolism
This condition is caused by a blood clot that travels from one part of your body to another. Its especially common from the leg to your lung. The blood clot can block an artery and cause a sudden sharp pain in the upper back when you breathe.
Pneumonia
Since pneumonia causes shortness of breath, struggling to breathe properly may cause upper back pain.
Lung cancer
When you have lung cancer, the tumor may apply pressure on the pleura, which protects your lungs from friction with the ribs. This constant irritation causes pain that you may feel in the upper back.
Spine problems
Some spine problems show symptoms of back pain when breathing. They include:
Difficulty With Standing Up Straight
If you have issues maneuvering your back into different positions or standing up straight, it can indicate that something more serious is at work. As the clot moves throughout your body, it affects you in a variety of ways, as previously mentioned. Pain, swelling, warmth in body parts and skin discoloration can all be signs of a more significant issue.
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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.
When Should I Seek Medical Attention
You should seek urgent medical attention by phoning 999 in case you are having a heart attack:
- if you experience sudden chest pain which persists for more than 15 minutes,
- if you experience sudden chest pain which is associated with nausea or vomiting, sweating, or shortness of breath,
- if you experience sudden chest pain which is associated with loss of consciousness.
You should discuss any new chest pain which has none of these features with your primary care team. Please do not ignore chest pain which is brought on by physical exertion and relieved by rest. This may be angina.
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When Back Pain Requires Immediate Care
A condition called malignant spinal cord compression may develop in some people who have lung cancer that spreads to the spine. These symptoms include worsening back pain, weakness in the legs, and sometimes loss of urinary or bowel control. This is a medical emergency, and immediate treatment is needed to prevent complications such as paralysis.
This Is How To Tell If Your Back Pain Is Covid Doctors Say
There are numerous symptoms that could point to a COVID case, but some are more talked about than others. Common symptoms include cough, fever, and shortness of breath, but patients have also complained about more unusual symptoms, including rashes and eye pain. Recently, Ellen DeGeneres said she experienced a COVID symptom she doesn’t think is talked about enough: back pain. Of course, back pain is a very common phenomenon, but there are some telltale signs that can help you determine if what you’re experiencing is a coronavirus symptom. Keep reading to find out how to tell if your back pain is COVID, and for more symptoms you may be unsure about, This Is How to Tell If Your Upset Stomach Is COVID, Doctors Say.
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What Causes Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria,fungi and parasites. A person who becomes ill with a cold, the flu, bacterialor other infection can develop pneumonia as a secondary illness. Pneumonia ismore common from autumn through spring because there are more cases of cold andflu during this time.
When To See A Doctor
Since back pain is so common, it can be easy to ignore the pain and any mild accompanying symptoms.
However, its always a good idea to talk to your doctor about any pain you are experiencing.
Sometimes symptoms that dont seem all that bad could be warning signs of a serious condition.
If youre experiencing the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, as you may have a medical emergency:
- Shortness of breath, especially if it interferes with routine daily activities
- A very high or low heart rate
- High fever
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