Why Does My Back Hurt When I Cough?

Should I be worried if my back hurts when I cough?

Common Causes of Back Pain When Coughing – In most cases, back pain during coughing that persists with each cough is a sign that there is an underlying problem with the spine being exacerbated by the motion. The best way to address this is to treat the problem with the spine itself. While many issues can cause pain during a cough, there are some specific conditions that are most often linked.

How do I know if my back pain is lung related?

Difference between back pain and a lung pain. – While back pain and a lung pain have similar symptoms, they’re caused by different things. Back pain is usually a dull ache in the lower back, which may radiate to the buttocks and legs. It can be caused by an injury or other conditions like arthritis or sciatica (nerve irritation).

What does it mean when you cough and your chest and back hurts?

Muscle exhaustion – A person uses many muscles in the chest, back, and abdomen when they cough. An intense cough or many days of coughing can exhaust these muscles, making them feel sore or painful, especially when a person massages the affected area.

Why is my back so painful when I sneeze?

There are many reasons why people may experience back pain when sneezing. When a person sneezes, it can trigger symptoms from an existing injury, or the sneeze itself may cause an injury. Some possible causes of back pain when sneezing include muscle strain, a herniated disk, sciatica, or a vertebral compression fracture. Share on Pinterest Design by MNT; Photography by Westend61/Getty Images & Carol Yepes/Getty Images Sneezing is a reflex action and happens involuntarily, meaning people cannot control it. Just before a person sneezes, their body goes through a series of reactions to prepare.

People usually take a deep breath in, open their mouths, and close their eyes. Inside their ribcage, their diaphragm contracts to build up the pressure needed to expel the sneeze. By this point, not many people are paying attention to their posture, and a violent sneeze may jerk their body into unnatural movements.

These movements can injure the person’s back or overstretch muscles, leading to back pain. There are 24 bones, called vertebrae, in a person’s spine, or backbone. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons explains that these bones protect the nerves in the spinal cord and help people stand upright, bend, and twist.

• Intervertebral disks are jelly-like disks that separate the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers, protecting the spine as the person moves.
• If a person damages a disk, it may bulge out of place and put pressure on the spinal nerves.
• Doctors describe this as having a herniated, or “slipped,” disk.
• The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) adds that people can get a herniated disk from a relatively minor strain, or twisting motion, especially as people age and the bones and ligaments degenerate.

People who already have a herniated disk may experience additional discomfort when sneezing if the disk presses against the spinal cord. Sneezing is an explosive force, and any sudden, twisting movements may cause a disk to bulge, or herniate, in people without any existing injuries.

• The AANS describes muscle strain as when muscle fibers tear or overstretch.
• The lower back is vulnerable to strains because the muscles help support the weight of the upper body and help a person bend, twist, and move.
• The AANS adds that people can get muscle strains from a sudden injury, or they can build up gradually.

Sneezing puts pressure on a person’s back and abdominal muscles, and a particularly violent sneeze may be enough to tear the fibers. Anyone with an existing muscle strain may find that sneezing aggravates their injury, causing additional pain. People with osteoporosis may experience a vertebral compression fracture while sneezing, as their bones are less dense than others.

Bones become thinner and weaker as a person ages. Vertebral compression fractures can happen when there is too much pressure on a person’s weakened spine. The front of the vertebra cracks and collapses, losing height. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and runs from a person’s lower back, through their hips, and down each leg.

If the nerve becomes inflamed, or if something is pinching against it, a person may experience a burning feeling in their buttocks or painful tingling in their legs. This is referred to as sciatica. Many people with sciatica experience pain when sneezing, either in their lower back, buttocks, or legs.

1. The pain is usually fleeting, but if it continues, it could be a sign of a herniated disk.
2. Only a few researchers have investigated the best way for a person to protect their back when sneezing.
3. In a small 2014 study, researchers measured the compression force on intervertebral disks, how the person’s lower back moved, and how they inclined their trunk when sneezing.

They concluded that the safest way to sneeze is for a person to stand, resting both hands on a table or similar object, and lean slightly forward. They also recommend pulling in the abdominal muscles. Back pain can range from mild to severe. Doctors usually prefer noninvasive treatment options, but they may prescribe pain relief medication or recommend surgery in some cases.

using an ice packstaying active, though stopping any activities that cause painusing a heat packtaking over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicationpaying attention to posturedoing gentle, strengthening exercises that target the core muscles, such as Pilates or yogastretching

Some people also find that acupuncture relieves their pain. Sneezing is an explosive reflex that can trigger back pain. People with existing back injuries may find that sneezing aggravates their symptoms, but sometimes, the sneeze itself is enough to cause an injury.

Can you tear a muscle from coughing?

Can You Pull a Muscle in Your Ribs from Coughing? – If you feel a sharp pain, or hear a cracking or popping sound when you cough, this can be a sign that you have pulled or strained one of the muscles in your rib cage, called intercostal muscles. Your intercostal muscles lie between your ribs and attach them to one another.

1. They also stabilize your upper body and help you breathe.
2. If your ribs hurt when you cough, it could be because the coughing is causing your intercostal muscles to work too hard.
3. The more you cough, the more the intercostal muscles have to work, and the repeated movement can cause these muscles to stretch, pull, or partially tear.

If you think you’ve pulled a muscle when coughing, talk to a doctor. Your doctor will be able to identify which muscles have been strained, and make sure your symptoms are not caused by something else. Any of the following symptoms could indicate that you have strained one of your intercostal muscles.

Stiffness and tension in your back muscles Muscle rigidity when you bend or twist your upper body Sharp pain in your upper back or in the general area of your ribs Severe pain that comes on suddenly, particularly if caused by a blow to your chest or back Severe pain when you cough, sneeze or breathe deeply Spasms of the intercostal muscles in your ribs. Muscle spasms can range in intensity from mild twitches to severe pain. You may be able to visibly see your muscles twitching. Tenderness in the area between your ribs

Why does my upper left back hurt when I cough?

Muscle injuries – Pain on one side of the back can occur as a result of an injury to the muscles, joints, or disks that make up and support the spine. Tears, strains, and sprains can occur during sports, from physically demanding work, or through more serious events such as vehicle accidents.

Can lung damage feel like back pain?

Injury – An injury to the lining of the lung can cause pain in the chest, and in some cases, in the back. For example, an injury to the lungs like a gunshot, knife wound, or fracture, can cause a lung to collapse. Although the more common symptoms of a collapsed lung include sharp chest pain and shortness of breath, severe cases may also cause back pain,

Does back pain mean lung problems?

Infections – Infections in the lungs and their lining can cause pain and discomfort when you breathe. Pleurisy, which is inflammation in the lining of the lungs, can cause sharp pains in the back and chest. This can often be the result of a viral or bacterial infection.

Asthma, a chronic, long-term infection of the lung, may also cause pain in your back. Costochondritis is inflammation of rib cage cartilage. This can be the result of injury, infection, or irritation. The condition can cause sharp, intense pain or may develop gradually. If you experience costochondritis in the back of your ribs, this may feel like a pain in the back of your lungs.

Learn more about lung infections here.

Can a lung infection feel like back pain?

Treatment options – Treatment for pleurisy depends upon the underlying cause. For example, doctors may prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. They may also suggest other medications to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Pneumonia is an infection that causes the tiny air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid.

fever and chillscoughing up phlegmshortness of breatha loss of appetitewheezingvomiting

How do I know if my cough is bronchitis?

The main symptom of bronchitis is a hacking cough. It is likely that your cough will bring up thick yellow-grey mucus (phlegm), although this does not always happen. Other symptoms of bronchitis are similar to those of other infections, such as the common cold or sinusitis, and may include: sore throat.

How do I know if my coughing is serious?

Types of Cough – There are many different types of coughs with distinct characteristics that can help your doctor identify what underlying issue may be causing it. If a cough brings up phlegm or mucus it is called a productive cough and could suggest pneumonia, bronchitis or the flu.

1. The color of the mucus can signal a more serious problem.
2. You should see a doctor if your cough brings up yellowish-green phlegm or blood.
3. A cough that doesn’t produce mucus is called a dry or nonproductive cough.
4. Acute cough is the least serious type of cough.
5. It only lasts for three weeks or less and will most likely clear up on its own.

This type of cough will not need medical attention. However, if the cough is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, drowsiness or shortness of breath it should be brought to a doctor’s attention. Coughs that make certain sounds, like whooping, wheezing or barking, may also signal a bigger problem.

Can a cough turn into pneumonia?

So you’ve been coughing for a while, and instead of getting better, it seems like your cough is getting worse. Maybe you’ve even started coughing up phlegm or have pain in your chest when you cough. Those are signs your cough might actually be pneumonia.

What kind of cough is pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumonia – The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days. Common symptoms of pneumonia include:

a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm) difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting rapid heartbeat fever feeling generally unwell sweating and shivering loss of appetite chest pain – which gets worse when breathing or coughing

Less common symptoms include:

coughing up blood (haemoptysis) headaches fatigue nausea or vomiting wheezing joint and muscle pain feeling confused and disorientated, particularly in elderly people

Can pneumonia go away on its own?

Treatment of Pneumonia – Pneumonia caused by bacteria is treated with an antibiotic. Symptoms should improve within 12 to 36 hours after starting the medicine. It is important to take the full course of antibiotic as prescribed. Stopping the medicine early may cause the infection to come back.

What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?

The lowdown – As pneumonia progresses, it has four stages: Congestion, red hepatization, gray hepatization, and resolution. You’ll typically feel worse during the first three stages before feeling better during the final stage when the immune cells clear the infection.

Does bronchitis cause back pain?

What are the symptoms acute bronchitis? – The following are the most common symptoms of acute bronchitis. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Back and muscle pain Cough, first dry (non-productive), later, a lot of mucus is produced Chest soreness Chills Feeling tired and achy Headache Runny nose Slight fever Shortness of breath Sore throat Watery eyes Wheezing

The symptoms of acute bronchitis may look like other conditions or medical problems. Talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How do you treat a pulled back muscle?

How are back strains and sprains treated? – The treatment for strains and sprains is similar, and often takes place in two phases. The goal of the first phase is to reduce the pain and spasm. This may involve rest, and the use of ice packs and compression (pressure), especially for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury.

• An over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Motrin®), may be recommended to help reduce pain and swelling.
• After the first 24 to 48 hours, returning to normal activities, as tolerated, is advisable.
• Extended bed rest or immobility (nonmovement) simply prolongs symptoms and delays recovery.

Most people with lumbar strain/sprain symptoms improve in about 2 weeks. If symptoms continue for more than 2 weeks, additional treatment may be required.

How do I stop my back from hurting when I sneeze?

Protecting Your Back When Sneezing – If you feel a sneeze coming on, you may worry about your back, especially if you already suffer from back pain. One way to protect your back before sneezing is to stand up straight rather than slouching or sitting, as this reduces force on your spinal discs.