It can be alarming, painful, and disruptive when your back hurts when you breathe.
If you find that taking a breath causes pain in your back, you shouldn’t ignore it and write it off as “just one of those things.”
There are many possible reasons why your back hurts when you breathe. Some of those reasons are minor, like a muscle strain. Other possible causes are more serious.
This article will look at some of the potential causes of back pain when breathing, when you should see a doctor, and some potential treatment options.
How breathing impacts your back
It might seem strange, but breathing and back pain are often closely linked. Breathing relies on a complex coordination of muscles in your chest, abdomen, and back. These muscles connect to your ribs and spine. If any of them are strained or not working correctly, it can cause pain.
The diaphragm is the main muscle involved in breathing. Its movement directly affects how stable your spine is. When you don’t breathe properly, it can lead to back pain.
Your posture also plays a significant role. When you have bad posture, it can restrict your breathing and put extra stress on your back muscles. Slouching limits how much your rib cage can expand, which then increases strain on your back.
Pinpointing the Source: Common Causes of Back Pain When Breathing
Back pain when you breathe can stem from a variety of issues, ranging from simple muscle strain to more serious respiratory or spinal conditions. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common culprits:
Musculoskeletal Issues
Sometimes, the problem isn’t your lungs, but your muscles and bones.
- Muscle Strain: This is a big one. Overdoing it at the gym, lifting something heavy the wrong way, or even just making a sudden awkward movement can strain your back muscles. The good news is that RICE—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—can usually help.
- Poor Posture: Slouching at your desk all day? Standing with your weight unevenly distributed? Bad posture puts a strain on your back muscles and can even restrict your breathing. Pay attention to how you’re sitting and standing, and consider ergonomic supports to help you maintain proper alignment.
- Herniated Disc: A herniated disc can press on nerves in your spine, causing pain that radiates to your back and makes it hurt to breathe. You might also experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs or feet.
- Scoliosis and Kyphosis: These spinal deformities—scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, and kyphosis is an excessive rounding of the upper back—can cause both back pain and breathing problems. For mild to moderate scoliosis, a back brace, physical therapy, stretching, and breathing exercises can be helpful.
Respiratory Conditions
If it’s not your muscles or bones, the pain could be related to your lungs or airways.
- Asthma and Chronic Coughing: Constant coughing, which is common with asthma and other respiratory conditions, puts a lot of strain on your back muscles. Avoiding your asthma triggers (like pet dander, outdoor allergens, dust, or smoke) and using your prescribed inhalers can help.
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): COPD makes it harder to breathe, which means you have to work harder to get air in and out. This extra effort can strain your back muscles.
- Pleurisy: This is an inflammation of the lining of your lungs (the pleura). It can cause sharp chest and back pain that gets worse when you breathe.
- Pneumonia: This lung infection can cause chest and back pain, along with coughing and fever.
- Lung Cancer: In rare cases, lung cancer can cause back pain, especially if the tumor is pressing on nerves or other structures in your chest.
Other Potential Causes
Sometimes, the cause is a little less direct.
- Obesity: Carrying extra weight puts extra strain on both your back and your respiratory system, leading to pain and breathing difficulties. Weight loss through diet, exercise, and, in some cases, medical procedures is often recommended.
- Intercostal Neuralgia: This is pain in the nerves between your ribs. It can cause sharp, stabbing pain that gets worse when you breathe.
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Hyperventilating during anxiety or panic attacks can cause tension in your chest and back muscles, leading to pain.
When to see a doctor
It’s important to know when back pain is just a minor ache and when it could be a sign of something serious. See a doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- Sudden, stabbing chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Pain that keeps getting worse
- Pain after an accident (like a car crash or a fall)
- Pain plus coughing up blood, fever, or nausea
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs
- Trouble walking
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty going to the bathroom
These could be signs of serious conditions, such as:
- Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot in your lungs can cause sudden chest and back pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
- Heart attack: Chest pain that spreads to your back, arm, or jaw, along with shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating.
- Collapsed lung (pneumothorax): Air leaking into the space around your lung can cause sudden chest and back pain, and shortness of breath.
Back Pain After an Accident: What You Need to Know
If your back starts hurting after a car accident or a fall, you need to see a doctor. You should always get medical attention after an accident, but especially if your back hurts. Accidents can cause a bunch of different injuries, including:
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Bruised or broken ribs
- Fractured vertebrae
- Herniated discs
If you live in Florida, you need to get medical attention within 14 days of the accident to get Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. So don’t wait!
Exploring Treatment Options: Finding Relief for Your Back Pain
If you’re experiencing back pain when you breathe, there are several treatment options available to help you find relief. Here’s a rundown:
Conservative Treatments
Often, you can find relief from milder cases of back pain with simple home treatments, such as:
- Rest: Take a break from any activities that seem to be making your pain worse.
- Heat/Cold Therapy: Apply ice packs to reduce inflammation or heat packs to soothe sore muscles.
- Over-the-Counter Medications: Pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help you manage the pain.
- Stretching and Exercise: Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises can improve your flexibility and reduce pain.
Chiropractic Care
For many types of back pain, chiropractic care can be a safe and effective treatment. Chiropractors focus on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, especially those affecting the spine. Chiropractic adjustments can help restore proper spinal alignment, reduce pain, and improve your range of motion.
Medical Interventions
Depending on what’s causing your back pain, your doctor may recommend other treatments, such as:
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Injections
- Surgery (though this is generally reserved for severe cases)
In Conclusion
If your back hurts when you breathe, don’t ignore it.
By learning about the possible causes and knowing when to seek help from a healthcare provider, you can take steps to ease the pain and improve your well-being.
Whether it’s through conservative treatments like rest and OTC pain relievers, chiropractic care, or medical interventions, finding the right approach to address your pain is essential for feeling better and staying healthy in the long run.