Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStrained MusclePulmonary EmbolismScoliosisObesityBruised or Broken RibPleurisyHerniated DiscPneumoniaLung CancerHeart AttackFractured VertebraWhen to Seek Emergency Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Strained Muscle
Pulmonary Embolism
Scoliosis
Obesity
Bruised or Broken Rib
Pleurisy
Herniated Disc
Pneumonia
Lung Cancer
Heart Attack
Fractured Vertebra
When to Seek Emergency Care
There are several different causes of back pain, many of which can worsen with breathing. Back pain can be due to an injury to the bones or muscles in your back, or result from a medical condition affecting internal organs such as the heart or lungs.
This article looks at the possible causes for back pain when breathing, as well as symptoms and treatment options for each.
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13 Causes of Upper Back Pain
Pulling a muscle in your upper back or shoulder blade area can occur with heavy lifting or strenuous movement involving your upper body. This can result in pain and tenderness that can worsen with deep breathing as the ribcage expands and places pressure on the pulled muscle.
Back pain with breathing may also result from anintercostal muscle strain, although this type of injury to the muscles between the ribs more often causes chest pain. Strained muscles tend to heal on their own over time, although physical therapy may be recommended to help facilitate recovery.
Apulmonary embolismis a type of blood clot that travels into an artery that supplies blood to the lungs, blocking the flow of blood. Common symptoms include pain in the middle of the back and/or chest that occurs with breathing, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood.
Treatment typically involves anticoagulant medication to break down the blood clot and cardiac support to restore functioning of the heart and lungs. Surgery may also be needed to remove the clot.
Scoliosisis a disorder that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine. Scoliosis most often produces anS-shaped curve, affecting the thoracic spine and lumbar spine of the upper and lower back. Because the ribs attach to the thoracic spine, scoliosis can also cause abnormal twisting and compression of the rib cage. This can decrease the area of the chest cavity where the lungs sit, and can make it harder for the lungs to fully expand when breathing.
Symptoms of scoliosis includeback painwith inhalation or exhalation and difficulty breathing, depending on the extent of the scoliosis. For mild to moderate scoliosis, wearing a back brace, getting physical therapy, and stretching and breathing exercises can help reduce discomfort. For more severe cases of scoliosis, surgery may be needed to realign the spine.
Having obesitycan cause breathing problems from excess weight around the neck, chest, and abdomen that can compress the airways or make breathing harder.In some cases, it can be painful to take deep breaths.
A bruised or broken rib can occur with falls or traumatic injuries. Symptoms involve pain in the chest and/or back depending on what part of your ribs was affected. Pain worsens with deep breathing, coughing, sneezing, and activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure.
Broken ribs typically heal on their own, but pain medication and physical therapy to restore your movement can help aid in your recovery.
Pleurisyresults from inflammation of thepleura, the thin membrane surrounding the lungs and the chest cavity. Symptoms of pleurisy include shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Pain can also radiate to the shoulder or mid-back region.
Treatment involves managing any underlying cause, taking antibiotics, and draining fluid throughthoracentesis. Surgery may also be considered to insert a drainage tube or remove a portion of the inflamed pleura.
Herniated discs are more likely to affect the lower back, but they can also occur in the thoracic spine of the upper back, causing pain between the shoulder blades. Increased pressure from breathing can worsen symptoms. Treatment for a herniated disc involves physical therapy and possiblesurgeryif symptoms are chronic and/or severe.
Pneumoniais an infection that causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs. Chest, back, or abdominal pain with breathing or coughing are typical symptoms. Treatment involves antibacterial or antiviral medication to treat the cause of the infection. Severe cases of pneumonia may require hospitalization.
Early stages oflung canceroften do not cause symptoms, but later stages as the cancer progresses can result in chest pain with breathing along with other symptoms like shortness of breath and chronic coughing. This pain can also spread to the upper back, especially if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
Treatment for lung cancer typically involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove cancerous tumors.
Is Upper Back Pain a Sign of Lung Cancer?
Aheart attackoccurs when blood flow to the heart’s muscles becomes blocked, starving the heart of oxygen and damaging it. While chest pain is most commonly associated with a heart attack, pain can also radiate down the arms, to the jaw, or the mid-back, which may worsen with breathing.
Falls and traumatic injuries can cause fractures of the vertebrae of the spine. People withosteoporosisare more prone tovertebral fractures, even without significant injury, due to decreased bone strength. Symptoms include back pain that can increase with intra-abdominal pressure, such as coughing or sneezing, or movements like bending, lifting, and twisting.
For mild fractures, rest and physical therapy can promote healing, while more significant fractures need surgery to stabilize the spine.
Back pain is common, but sometimes it can result from serious conditions. You should see a healthcare provider if you experience back pain that worsens or does not improve after a few weeks. If you experience other concerning symptoms along with your back pain, you should see your healthcare provider immediately.
These include:
Summary
Back pain that worsens with breathing can result from a variety of different conditions. Some are due to conditions or injuries to your muscles or bones, such as scoliosis, herniated discs, strained muscles, broken ribs, or fractured vertebrae.
Other times, pain can result from conditions that affect your internal organs, including lung cancer, pleurisy, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, or heart attack. Treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of your back pain. If your back pain does not improve after a few weeks and you continue to have pain with breathing, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider.
14 SourcesVerywell 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.Penn Medicine.Strain.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care.2013 Dec;40(4):863-87, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007.Martinez Licha CR, McCurdy CM, Maldonado SM, Lee LS.Current management of acute pulmonary embolism.Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Apr 20;26(2):65-71. doi: 10.5761/atcs.ra.19-00158.Hospital for Special Surgery.Scoliosis In Adults: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments.MedlinePlus.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Wiechert M, Holzapfel C.Nutrition concepts for the treatment of obesity in adults.Nutrients.2021 Dec 30;14(1):169. doi: 10.3390/nu14010169.Dogrul BN, Kiliccalan I, Asci ES, Peker SC.Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview.Chin J Traumatol.2020 Jun;23(3):125-138. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2020.04.003.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pleural disorders: Treatment.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.American Lung Association.Learn about pneumonia.National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
14 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.Penn Medicine.Strain.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care.2013 Dec;40(4):863-87, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007.Martinez Licha CR, McCurdy CM, Maldonado SM, Lee LS.Current management of acute pulmonary embolism.Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Apr 20;26(2):65-71. doi: 10.5761/atcs.ra.19-00158.Hospital for Special Surgery.Scoliosis In Adults: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments.MedlinePlus.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Wiechert M, Holzapfel C.Nutrition concepts for the treatment of obesity in adults.Nutrients.2021 Dec 30;14(1):169. doi: 10.3390/nu14010169.Dogrul BN, Kiliccalan I, Asci ES, Peker SC.Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview.Chin J Traumatol.2020 Jun;23(3):125-138. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2020.04.003.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pleural disorders: Treatment.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.American Lung Association.Learn about pneumonia.National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
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.
Penn Medicine.Strain.Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care.2013 Dec;40(4):863-87, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007.Martinez Licha CR, McCurdy CM, Maldonado SM, Lee LS.Current management of acute pulmonary embolism.Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Apr 20;26(2):65-71. doi: 10.5761/atcs.ra.19-00158.Hospital for Special Surgery.Scoliosis In Adults: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments.MedlinePlus.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.Wiechert M, Holzapfel C.Nutrition concepts for the treatment of obesity in adults.Nutrients.2021 Dec 30;14(1):169. doi: 10.3390/nu14010169.Dogrul BN, Kiliccalan I, Asci ES, Peker SC.Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview.Chin J Traumatol.2020 Jun;23(3):125-138. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2020.04.003.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pleural disorders: Treatment.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.American Lung Association.Learn about pneumonia.National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Penn Medicine.Strain.
Ayloo A, Cvengros T, Marella S.Evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal chest pain.Prim Care.2013 Dec;40(4):863-87, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.08.007.
Martinez Licha CR, McCurdy CM, Maldonado SM, Lee LS.Current management of acute pulmonary embolism.Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Apr 20;26(2):65-71. doi: 10.5761/atcs.ra.19-00158.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Scoliosis In Adults: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments.
MedlinePlus.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.
Wiechert M, Holzapfel C.Nutrition concepts for the treatment of obesity in adults.Nutrients.2021 Dec 30;14(1):169. doi: 10.3390/nu14010169.
Dogrul BN, Kiliccalan I, Asci ES, Peker SC.Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview.Chin J Traumatol.2020 Jun;23(3):125-138. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2020.04.003.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pleural disorders: Treatment.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.
American Lung Association.Learn about pneumonia.
National Cancer Institute.Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo.Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
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