Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It FeelsLink Between Back Pain and CancerWhen to Call a ProviderTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Feels
Link Between Back Pain and Cancer
When to Call a Provider
Treatment
Back painis one of the most common complaints in healthcare encounters. Lung cancer is very rarely a cause of back pain.Upper backpain has many causes, and lung cancer is not the most likely one. Kidney stones and arthritis are much more common causes of back pain.
Other forms of cancer, like kidney, pancreatic, or uterine cancers can also cause back pain.
This article will go over how to know if back pain is from lung cancer or another more common cause.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
How Could Back Pain From Lung Cancer Feel?
Common Causes of Back Pain That Are Not CancerMuscle injuries (sprains and strains)Spine disorders (degenerative disc disease, arthritis, ruptured orherniated discs, stenosis, broken vertebrae,spondylolisthesis,scoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis, sciatica)Kidney problems (kidney stones, kidney cysts)Infections (kidney infections, urinary tract infections, osteomyelitis)Chronic conditions (osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, obesity, depression)Reproductive conditions (endometriosis, ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, pregnancy)Lifestyle factors (age, poor posture, inactivity, sports injuries, working conditions like a desk job or heavy lifting)
Common Causes of Back Pain That Are Not Cancer
Muscle injuries (sprains and strains)Spine disorders (degenerative disc disease, arthritis, ruptured orherniated discs, stenosis, broken vertebrae,spondylolisthesis,scoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis, sciatica)Kidney problems (kidney stones, kidney cysts)Infections (kidney infections, urinary tract infections, osteomyelitis)Chronic conditions (osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, obesity, depression)Reproductive conditions (endometriosis, ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, pregnancy)Lifestyle factors (age, poor posture, inactivity, sports injuries, working conditions like a desk job or heavy lifting)
Red flags that back pain could be from lung cancer include:
The back pain may come with other signs of lung cancer, like a cough that will not go away or shortness of breath. Unintentional weight loss, chronic fatigue, or coughing up blood are also other signs and symptoms of lung cancer to watch for.
When to Go to the ERA condition calledmalignant spinal cord compressioncan develop in some people who have lung cancer that has spread to the spine.This condition is a medical emergency. You need to get medical care right away to prevent complications like paralysis.The symptoms of malignant spinal cord compression include worsening back pain, weakness in the legs, and sometimes loss of urinary or bowel control.
When to Go to the ER
A condition calledmalignant spinal cord compressioncan develop in some people who have lung cancer that has spread to the spine.This condition is a medical emergency. You need to get medical care right away to prevent complications like paralysis.The symptoms of malignant spinal cord compression include worsening back pain, weakness in the legs, and sometimes loss of urinary or bowel control.
A condition calledmalignant spinal cord compressioncan develop in some people who have lung cancer that has spread to the spine.This condition is a medical emergency. You need to get medical care right away to prevent complications like paralysis.
The symptoms of malignant spinal cord compression include worsening back pain, weakness in the legs, and sometimes loss of urinary or bowel control.
Back Pain and Lung Cancer: What’s the Link?
Back pain can be one of the first symptoms of lung cancer. Bone pain is an early symptom of lung cancer in 6% to 25% of people, and the spine is the most common place for pain.
Causes of back pain in lung cancer include:
Why is Lung Cancer Increasing in Never Smokers?
Back pain related to a spinal fracture could make your healthcare provider want to test you for lung cancer. In metastatic lung cancer, about 40% of people have cancer that spreads to bones. The most common sites of spread are the spine and the large bones of the legs.
Upper Back Pain: When to Worry
If you’ve had back pain in the past and treated it with pain relievers, ice packs, and rest, you might just try to “wait it out.”
However, if your back pain is not getting better with treatment, gets worse over time, and/or goes on longer than six weeks, talk to your healthcare provider.
Even if you don’t have lung cancer or another kind of cancer, there are other serious causes of chronic back pain.
Once a provider diagnoses the cause of the pain, you can find the best treatment for managing it.
How to Tell If Back Pain Could Be Lung CancerIf you have back pain that is getting worse or not going away, see your provider. Tell them about any other symptoms you have, not just back pain.If it is lung cancer, getting an early diagnosis means you can start treatment as soon as possible.
How to Tell If Back Pain Could Be Lung Cancer
If you have back pain that is getting worse or not going away, see your provider. Tell them about any other symptoms you have, not just back pain.If it is lung cancer, getting an early diagnosis means you can start treatment as soon as possible.
If you have back pain that is getting worse or not going away, see your provider. Tell them about any other symptoms you have, not just back pain.
If it is lung cancer, getting an early diagnosis means you can start treatment as soon as possible.
Treatments and Management of Back Pain
Treating chronic back pain can be difficult, whether it’s from lung cancer or another cause. You will probably need to use more than one kind of treatment to get lasting relief.
You may want to start with some at-home treatments for back pain, such as:
Medical treatments for chronic back painmay include a combination of over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as physical therapy. For example, your provider may have you try:
If you have back pain from lung cancer and pressure from a tumor is causing pain, your provider will go over the possible treatments which may include:
If cancer has spread to your bones, you may need to have radiation therapy along with taking drugs called bisphosphonates that treat osteoporosis.
Along with lifestyle changes and medical treatment, you may want to ask your provider aboutalternative therapies for back pain, like chiropractic care, massage therapy, yoga, acupuncture, or pilates.
Summary
If your back pain is not getting better with at-home treatments, call your provider. If it is from lung cancer, the sooner you can get diagnosed and start treatment, the better.
If you have back pain that is getting worse or not going away, see a healthcare provider. Be sure to share any other symptoms you may have. If it is cancer, early diagnosis allows for early treatment, increasing your likelihood of a better outcome.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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