Why Does Your Back Hurt When You Have Pneumonia

Cough That Produces Thick Mucus

Coughing helps to rid your body of the mucus produced from inflammation of the airways and lungs. This mucus may also contain blood.

With bronchitis or pneumonia, you may have a cough that produces thick mucus that may have a distinct color, including:

• clear

A cough can linger for several weeks even after other symptoms have improved.

Can Pneumonia Be Prevented Or Avoided

There are many factors that can raise your risk for developing pneumonia. These include:

People who have any of the following conditions are also at increased risk:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• asthma
• sickle cell disease

You can help prevent pneumonia by doing the following:

• Get the flu vaccine each year. People can develop bacterial pneumonia after a case of the flu. You can reduce this risk by getting the yearly flu shot.
• Get the pneumococcal vaccine. This helps prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria.
• Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Dont smoke. Smoking damages your lungs and makes it harder for your body to defend itself from germs and disease. If you smoke, talk to your family doctor about quitting as soon as possible.
• Practice a healthy lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly. Get plenty of sleep. These things help your immune system stay strong.
• Avoid sick people. Being around people who are sick increases your risk of catching what they have.

Who Is Most At Risk For Getting Pneumonia

People who have an increased risk of pneumonia include:

• People over the age of 65 and infants under age 2. The weakening immune system of older people makes them less able to fight off illnesses. Similarly, the immune system of infants is still developing and not at full-strength, making them more susceptible to infection.
• People with a health-caused weakened immune system. Examples include:
• People who are receiving chemotherapy
• Transplanted organ recipients
• People with autoimmune disease and who are taking medications that suppress the immune system.

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What May Be Advised To Help Manage The Problem

This will depend on the cause that is found for your chest pain. Follow the links above to the separate leaflets for more information about the treatment for the different causes.

If the problem is not an emergency, your doctor may refer you to a consultant for further specialist investigations, as described above.

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How Are Back Spasms Treated

Healthcare providers used to prescribe bed rest for those who deal with back spasms. Such inactivity is no longer recommended. Instead, follow your provider’s instructions about the following:

• Ice/heat: Apply ice or heat to the location of your back spasms. Wrap the ice pack or heating pad in a towel or pillowcase and apply it to your skin for 20 to 30 minutes. Then reapply after 20 to 30 minutes.
• Over-the-counter pain medications: Over-the-counter pain medications, including acetaminophen , naproxen or ibuprofen .
• Muscle relaxants: Your provider may recommend taking a muscle relaxant like cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone or methocarbamol. If you do take them, take them at night and only for 72 hours or less.
• Physical therapy: Your healthcare provider might prescribe physical therapy, where you can learn relaxation techniques and stretches for your back muscles.

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The Good And Bad Of Blood Clots

Although they sound frightening, blood clots are part of the normal functioning of our bodies. Our blood clots to help prevent too much blood from being released after we receive a cut. After an injury occurs to blood vessels , the platelets in your blood get to work. These tiny parts of blood start sticking to the walls of the blood vessel and to each other. This process then forms a seal to stop the blood from continuing to pour out.

Your body then uses specific proteins to help the clot from spreading farther than it needs to. The damaged tissue will begin to heal, and the clot dissolves back into your bloodstream. However, its possible for a clot to fail to disperse and continue to grow, which can lead to some extreme health concerns.

Blood clots can develop in any blood vessel in your body. If a clot breaks free and starts to travel through your body, it can get to vital organs, such as the lungs, brain, or heart. When this occurs, a heart attack or stroke can happen. Blood clots can also cause a pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and kidney failure, which are all medical emergencies.

For these reasons and more, its important to be aware of any potential symptoms that could be a sign of a blood clot so you can seek medical attention as soon as possible.

How To Regain Strength After Pneumonia

If you have pneumonia, the first priority is clearing the infection causing it.

This means following your doctor’s treatment plan very closely. Yes, getting plenty of rest. And, yes, taking every single pill in the bottle of antibiotics your doctor prescribed you if your pneumonia is bacterial in nature.

But, even after your primary symptoms fade away, you may be left feeling lousy, with low energy and/or dealing with a cough that just won’t quit. In some cases, you may feel weak for months.

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What Can I Do At Home To Feel Better

In addition to taking any antibiotics and/or medicine your doctor prescribes, you should also:

• Get lots of rest. Rest will help your body fight the infection.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids will keep you hydrated. They can help loosen the mucus in your lungs. Try water, warm tea, and clear soups.
• Stop smoking if you smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoke can make your symptoms worse. Smoking also increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other lung problems in the future. You should also avoid lit fireplaces or other areas where the air may not be clean.
• Stay home from school or work until your symptoms go away. This usually means waiting until your fever breaks and you arent coughing up mucus. Ask your doctor when its okay for you to return to school or work.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier or take a warm bath. This will help clear your lungs and make it easier for you to breathe.

Did This Years Flu Shot Cause Persistent Arm Pain

How can you keep from getting the flu? The answer from the CDC has long been get your flu shot. When people ask about side effects they are told reactions are rare and mild, disappearing within a day or two.

Starting last year, however, we began receiving complaints from readers who experienced long-lasting severe arm pain after getting their annual influenza vaccine. One nurse sent this message:

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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.

When Would I Need To Be Hospitalized For Pneumonia

If your case of pneumonia is more severe, you may need tostay in the hospital for treatment. Hospital treatments may include:

• Oxygen
• Fluids, antibiotics and other medicines given through an IV
• Breathing treatments and exercises to help loosen mucus

People most likely to be hospitalized are those who are most frail and/or at increased risk, including:

• Babies and young children
• People with weakened immune systems
• People with health conditions that affect the heart and lungs

It may take six to eight weeks to return to a normal level of functioning and well-being if youve been hospitalized with pneumonia.

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When To Contact A Medical Professional

• You have sudden crushing, squeezing, tightening, or pressure in your chest.
• Pain spreads to your jaw, left arm, or between your shoulder blades.
• You have nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart, or shortness of breath.
• You know you have angina and your chest discomfort is suddenly more intense, brought on by lighter activity, or lasts longer than usual.
• Your angina symptoms occur while you are at rest.
• You have sudden, sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a long trip, a stretch of bedrest , or other lack of movement, especially if one leg is swollen or more swollen than the other .
• You have been diagnosed with a serious condition, such as heart attack or pulmonary embolism.

Your risk of having a heart attack is greater if:

• You have a family history of heart disease.
• You smoke, use cocaine, or are overweight.
• You have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
• You already have heart disease.

• You have a fever or a cough that produces yellow-green phlegm.
• You have chest pain that is severe and does not go away.
• You are having problems swallowing.
• Chest pain lasts longer than 3 to 5 days.

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:

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When Should You See A Doctor

If you suspect you have the symptoms of pneumonia, you should seek immediate medical assistance, especially if you have chest pain after pneumonia. You need to understand that pneumonia is a serious illness and can cause serious complications when left untreated for long enough. It can have life-threatening complications in people older than 65 years. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have the following symptoms:

• Cough with phlegm and high fever
• Shortness of breathing o other breathing difficulties
• Severe chest pain
• Feeling confused, tired and irritated

Is Pneumonia Treated Any Differently In Children

Essentially no. Just like adults, bacterial causes of pneumonia in children may be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are not used to treat pneumonia caused by viruses. Flu-related pneumonia may be treated with antiviral medicine if caught early in the course of illness. Most cases of pneumonia are treated with comfort care measures that ease symptoms. These may include:

• Drinking more fluids.
• Getting more rest.
• Taking over-the-counter medicines for cough and acetaminophen for fever. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about giving medicines to your child.
• Using a cool mist humidifier in your childs room.

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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 they’ll 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 Is The Vaccine Given

Pneumovax23 is given in a single 0.5-mL injection in the arm or thigh. It is approved for use in people 50 years of age or older, and people over 2 years old who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.

Prevnar13 is given in a series of 0.5-mL injections. Children 6 weeks through 5 years old receive a 4-dose immunization series, consisting of 0.5-mL intramuscular injections administered at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age. Children 6 to 17 years of age receive a single dose.

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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.

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.

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Is Pneumonia Contagious

Certain types of pneumonia are contagious . Pneumonia caused by bacteria or viruses can be contagious when the disease-carrying organisms are breathed into your lungs. However, not everyone who is exposed to the germs that cause pneumonia will develop it.

Pneumonia caused by fungi are not contagious. The fungi are in soil, which becomes airborne and inhaled, but it is not spread from person to person.

What Is Viral Pneumonia

Viruses are responsible for about one-third of all pneumonias, and theyre the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than age 5.

Viral pneumonias tend to clear up in about one to three weeks, but they can increase your risk for bacterial pneumonia.

Viral pneumonia is usually less serious than bacterial pneumonia.

At first, the symptoms of viral pneumonia may be similar to symptoms often associated with the flu, except you may experience a dry cough that does not produce phlegm. You may also develop a fever and headache.

But within a couple of days, these symptoms typically get worse.

Adults with viral pneumonia can also expect to develop:

• Sore throat
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain

The flu virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in adults, which tends to be more serious in people with heart or lung disease, senior citizens, and pregnant women.

Not only can influenza cause pneumonia, it can also predispose people to bacterial pneumonia yet another good reason to get the yearly flu shot.

Respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia is usually a mild infection that clears up in about a week or two. It can be more severe and is more common in young children and older adults. In fact, RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than 12 months.

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