The back is prone to injury because it works hard to keep the body upright and support basic daily movements. Causes of Back Pain when breathing occurs along with shortness of breath, causing difficulty or pain in breathing, some people may worry that the cause is more serious.
In most cases, back pain and shortness of breath are caused only by muscle strain or are the result of carrying excess weight. However, sometimes back pain with shortness of breath is caused by a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention. Someone who experiences these symptoms in addition to chest pain, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or loss of consciousness should see their doctor or seek emergency care.
Types of Neck, Upper and Lower Back Pain While Breathing
1) Low back pain in the sacral-iliac (SI) joint (near the buttocks) is associated with weakness in extension of the opposite elbow. When the right nasal passage is completely congested and blocked, irritation of the right SI joint with associated weakness of the left triceps (elbow straightening) automatically occurs.
2) Pain at L2 (lower back) is associated with ipsilateral weakness of hip flexion (raising the hip while sitting, which is well known) and shoulder extension (raising the shoulder straight forward, which is new).
3) Upper back pain in the mid thoracic region is associated with unilateral weakness when abducting the shoulder (raising the shoulder to the side) with the palms parallel to the floor.
4) Medial neck pain at the C5 level is associated with unilateral shoulder abduction weakness with thumbs pointing toward the floor.
Possible Causes Of Back Pain Triggered By Breathing
Although back pain can vary from patient to patient, there are specific risk factors that can make it more likely that you will experience back pain while breathing. Some of these causes include:
1. Obesity
The added weight around your stomach, neck and back can easily put pressure on your muscle groups and nerve clusters, which can cause pain and discomfort when breathing. In severe cases, obese patients may also develop obesity hypoventilation syndrome (also known as Pickwick syndrome), a condition in which the blood is deprived of oxygen.
2. Lung Cancer
A serious cause of back pain in Dallas when breathing is late-stage lung cancer. Lung tumors that press on nerves in the chest area can cause sharp pain every time you breathe, laugh, or talk. You may also feel this pain when swallowing food and water or even coughing up blood in the evening.
3. Kyphosis
Kyphosis can often lead to excessive pressure on the spine, which can compress nerves and leave limited room for your lungs to expand. In addition to causing additional breathing difficulties due to the increased pressure, severe forms of kyphosis can deform the spine to the point where the ribcage actually begins to encroach on the lungs and other internal organs. This tight space coupled with the expansion of the lungs often causes severe back pain when breathing.
4. Heart attack
Sometimes heart attacks can cause pain that radiates from the chest and moves to the back. This back pain can be moderate or severe depending on the heart attack and can occur with other symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, arm pain or excessive sweating. These cases are always urgent and should be checked by a doctor immediately.
5. Scoliosis
Scoliosis develops when your spine curves from side to side and usually appears during adolescence. While the exact causes of scoliosis are difficult to determine, problems with child development, genetics, and malnutrition are significant factors. Spinal misalignment also causes acute back pain and breathing difficulties, although the symptoms may not always be apparent at first. However, dorsalgia may also be a reason.
6. Active injury
A broken vertebra or a bruised and broken limb can also cause back pain treatment richardson when breathing, especially if the injury is near the abdomen. Because of the interconnected system of muscles, tendons, bones, and organs in the chest area, any severe or significant trauma is enough to affect your breathing, even after you’ve recovered from the injury itself. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve pain or improve the patient’s quality of life.
7. Herniated disk
A common cause of lower back pain when breathing is a slipped disc, especially if that disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve or your spinal cord. The natural rise and fall of the body during breathing often exacerbates a slipped disc because the vertebra no longer has an outer layer to withstand the shock. This condition can cause permanent nerve damage if left untreated and may require intensive and lengthy physical therapy and surgery.
8. Strained muscles
Vigorous physical activities or sudden movements can stress or injure muscles where they are stretched or torn. Depending on the severity of the injury, strained muscles can push on nerve clusters in the back and spine, which can cause acute pain whenever you take a breath. These conditions usually go away after a long period of bed rest. Although your doctor may check you regularly after the injury has healed to make sure the area is healing properly.
9. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that can cause your lungs to become inflamed and filled with fluid, which can make breathing difficult or painful. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, with the infection being caused by either a virus, bacteria, or fungus. Depending on the exact source of your pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, home care, or antifungal medications.
Patients should never self-medicate or attempt to self-medicate at home when they experience pain while breathing. They should also avoid physical activity that may further stress the area, such as massage or vigorous exercise, unless specifically approved by a pain doctor in dallas.
Treatment for Pain in Lower Back When Breathing;
Following are the best treatments for back pain when breathing.
Manipulation
Manipulating your Si joint, lower back, back ribs, or first rib will relieve pain, improve your strength, and restore balance. If this is the only source of your pain, you will be cured. However, if nasal congestion is also present, your symptoms will return with mouth breathing and you will have to keep coming back for repeated manipulations. This may also help in treating knots in the lower left back.
Stretching
Below are simple stretching exercises that will help your back and neck pain.
- SI joint stretching
- Lower back, L2, stretch
- Upper back stretch
- Neck, C5, stretch
Spinal Rotation
Spinal rotation exercises will resolve the above patterns of pain, weakness. And imbalance for a longer period of time despite persistent nasal congestion. With your feet shoulder-width apart, rotate your body fully to the right and then fully to the left. Determine which way is the easiest or the farthest you can go without pain and hold it in that direction for 40 seconds. At the end of the rotation, bounce back gently to improve your stretch. Repeat this stretch three to five more times and then several times throughout the day.
