Having back pain and trouble breathing can be particularly concerning, especially if you’re unsure about the cause. Here are some potential reasons why back pain and shortness of breath may occur together, as well as when to see a doctor.
Intercostal muscle strain
If one or more of the intercostal muscles are strained, breathing may become more difficult as the pain can worsen while the rib cage expands and contracts. Read: Upper Back Pain from Intercostal Muscle Strain
The intercostal muscles run between adjacent ribs and play an important role in expanding and contracting the rib cage when breathing. If one or more of these muscles are strained along the back, the symptoms can range from a mild tenderness or stiffness to intense, sharp back pain. Breathing may also become more difficult as the pain can worsen while the rib cage expands and contracts.
See Intercostal Muscle Strain Symptoms and Diagnosis
An intercostal muscle can be strained in various ways, such as:
- Overuse/overexertion. Doing an excessive amount of an activity that uses the intercostal muscles, such as rowing, can cause a muscle to overstretch and develop small tears. A sudden or awkward movement can also strain a muscle.
- Direct trauma. A collision or fall that directly impacts the ribs and connecting muscles could injure one or more of the intercostal muscles.
See Causes of Intercostal Muscle Strain
An intercostal muscle strain typically starts to feel better within a few days and fully heals within 6 to 8 weeks. To help manage the initial pain, which may be severe, some people find relief from ice, heat packs, or over-the-counter pain medications. It is also advised to modify or reduce activities for a few days to protect the strained muscles from further injury. If the pain is severe, prescription medication may be required after evaluation by a physician.
See Treating Intercostal Muscle Strain
Severe kyphosis
When the thoracic spine is curved at least 50 degrees, it is commonly referred to as kyphosis. If the condition progresses, it may cause trouble with breathing, walking, and other basic functions. Read: Thoracic Kyphosis: Forward Curvature of the Upper Back
A healthy thoracic spine (upper back) is slightly curved forward, which is called a kyphotic curve or kyphosis. However, if the thoracic spine is curved at least 50 degrees, it is considered hyperkyphosis, also commonly referred to as kyphosis.
If a patient is still growing, kyphosis is commonly treated with a brace in an effort to prevent it from progressing to the point of causing troubles with breathing, walking, and other basic functions. Special exercises to improve posture may also be advised to help prevent kyphosis from worsening. If kyphosis has progressed to the point of causing breathing troubles, surgery may be needed.
See Kyphosis Causes and Treatment
Other potential causes
Some other causes of back pain with breathing troubles include:
- Rib displacement or fracture. When a rib becomes fractured or displaced, the pain can potentially become quite sharp or intense, especially when breathing or taking deep breaths. Sometimes a rib displacement or fracture can be accompanied by an intercostal muscle strain, which can also contribute to pain while breathing.
See Thoracic Vertebrae and the Rib Cage
- Severe scoliosis. The abnormal sideways twisting and rotation of the spine, called scoliosis, can in rare cases become severe enough to affect breathing. Sometimes both scoliosis and kyphosis are present together.
See Scoliosis: Symptoms, Treatment and Surgery
- Allergic reaction. Some people may be at risk for developing an allergic reaction to some medications for back pain, such as muscle relaxants. Several troubling signs and symptoms could indicate an allergic reaction
to back pain medication, such as difficulty breathing, chest tightness, swelling in the throat (or arms or legs), and/or hives.
See Side Effects and Risks of Muscle Relaxers
Other potential causes of back pain and breathing problems that can be quite serious include infection and/or blood clots.
When to see a doctor
Any unexplained shortness of breath or breathing problems need to be evaluated by a medical professional. Additionally, seek medical attention if back pain does not go away on its own within a couple weeks or if other troubling signs are present, such as pain that radiates to the chest, or any tingling, numbness, or weakness that persists.
Learn more:
Upper Back Pain Symptoms
All About Upper Back Pain
Why does my back hurt when I breathe and (more importantly) what can I do about it?
You’re getting ready to relax after a long day when *yawn* OUCH!!!! Your deep breath caused a sharp pain in your back. You take another deep breath and sure enough, you still have pain when breathing.
Someone who experiences pain in their back when breathing may feel worried, but sometimes its nothing more than a short-lived twinge. Unfortunately there are instances when it’s a nagging pain that won’t go away. Could it be something serious? Is something wrong with your lungs or heart? Do you need medical attention?
Read on to discover the top causes for back pain when breathing and what you can do about it (and when to see a doctor!).
Why is Back Pain a Big Deal?
We know what you’re thinking: “Why do I need to spend money or seek advice for back pain? Isn’t it a common symptom? Doesn’t everyone have back pain? Can’t I just pop a Motrin and call it a day?”
We operate under many mottos, but one we swear by is “pain is never normal.”
No matter how mild your pain may be, there is always a reason for it. Pain is a signal from your body that something isn’t operating the way it should be. Feeling back pain when breathing should prompt you to seek medical treatment before the pain can diminish your quality of life.
Trust us, you never want to be the person that has to say, “I wish I had seen someone sooner.” If the pain is due to an underlying condition that needs treatment (such as those listed below), waiting to seek treatment could possibly injure yourself further. The quicker you are diagnosed, the quicker we can come up with a treatment plan to alleviate your pain.
Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor if your pain is acute, worsens, or doesn’t go away.
Naturally, your first step when you feel a sharp twinge in your back is to wonder what’s going on back there. There are a number of conditions that can cause back pain when breathing and each of them requires a different form of treatment.
1. Muscle Strain
Breathing uses a lot of different muscles, even under normal circumstances. If one of those muscles is injured from a fall, car accident, or other form of trauma, it can cause discomfort to the injured area and possibly chronic back pain. You can even get muscle strain from overworking your body.
Muscle strain is one of the more common causes of back pain when breathing and luckily, it’s a simple thing to fix. Typical remedies for muscle strain include stretching, heat packs, cold packs, and over-the-counter medication. This type of strain should begin to feel better in a few days and be fully healed in a few weeks.
However, long-term use of painkillers can lead to some nasty side effects. If a week or two goes by and you aren’t feeling any better, this would be a time to contact a professional for additional information.
2. Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curving of the spine. It is typically diagnosed during childhood or adolescence but can also develop later in life.
In more severe cases, this curvature may be so pronounced as to constrict your lungs and the other organs in your chest. Without room to expand, each breath may become quite uncomfortable.
Treatment depends on a variety of factors, including your age and degree of the curvature. Luckily, chiropractic treatment can prove incredibly effective in the majority of cases.
3. Soft Tissue Injuries
If you’ve had a cold, a bad flu, or COVID-19, all of that coughing can end up causing back pain when breathing.
Inflammation of the lining of the lung (a condition known as pleurisy) or the cartilage in the rib cage (known as costochondritis) can both cause a sharp pain in the chest that may radiate to the back whenever you take a deep breath.
If your back pain when breathing occurs after a respiratory illness, make a visit to your general practitioner. But if you haven’t been sick recently, the inflammation may be due to trauma from a recent injury. In this case, a licensed chiropractor can provide a diagnosis using an x-ray and will have a variety of treatment options for any underlying conditions.
4. Obesity
When a person carries excess weight, it puts a strain on their muscles, bones, and ligaments, causing them to work harder over time. If those muscles are already weakened, this places a huge toll on the body. It’s not uncommon to experience back pain when breathing as a result.
The best course of action for obesity-related conditions is, of course, to lose weight. But this is easier said than done. Fortunately, chiropractic care can help.
When back pain and other discomforts make exercise difficult, regular chiropractic adjustments can restore your body’s range of motion and alleviate some of your pain. When your body is better equipped to move the way it’s supposed to, losing weight is no longer an uphill battle.
5. Heart Attack
While heart attack is not the main cause for back pain when breathing, it’s incredibly important to be aware of the symptoms.
For men, the main symptom of a heart attack is chest discomfort, but for women, the symptoms can be quite different. Nausea/vomiting, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and—yes—back pain are much more common in women.
If you are at risk of a heart attack or cardiac arrest, familiarize yourself with the most common symptoms (for men and women) so that you can identify a heart attack when it occurs.
6. Lung Problems
Again, while not a common cause for back pain when breathing, issues such as lung cancer and pulmonary embolism (i.e. a blood clot in the lung) can cause pain while breathing. These conditions can be hard to detect, so make sure you aren’t ignoring any signs from your body that something is wrong.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Once you have ruled out a heart attack or pulmonary issues, most people turn toward prescription medications or even surgery for relief from persistent or chronic back pain when breathing. However, this merely treats the symptom of an underlying condition.
For pain caused by scoliosis, muscle strain, or other soft tissue injuries, a combination of chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy can help.
But no matter what is causing your pain while breathing, we at Oviedo Chiropractic can help. Chiropractic care does not rely on drugs or surgery, so it can be used in conjunction with your other treatment plans without you having to worry about side effects.
Conclusion
Not all back pain while breathing is the same. Luckily, not every twinge is a cause for serious concern. Treatment options are plentiful and range from chiropractic adjustment, massages, over the counter medications, natural remedies, and consults with doctors.
Make an appointment with us today so we can discuss your options for a better and pain-free future!