Upper back pain that worsens with breathing and movement is often caused by a muscle strain or injury.
Common Causes of Upper Back Pain with Breathing and Movement:
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Muscle Strain: This is the most frequent culprit. Straining your back muscles can happen due to:
- Exercise: Overexertion or improper form during workouts.
- Injury: A sudden impact or awkward movement.
- Lifting Heavy Objects: Improper lifting techniques can easily strain back muscles.
- Poor Posture: Slouching or hunching over for extended periods.
When you breathe, your rib cage expands and contracts, stretching the muscles in your back. If these muscles are strained, this movement can cause pain. Similarly, any movement of your torso will engage these muscles, leading to discomfort.
Other Potential (Less Common) Causes:
While muscle strain is most likely, other possibilities include:
- Costochondritis: Inflammation of the cartilage connecting your ribs to your sternum (breastbone). This can cause chest pain that may radiate to the upper back and worsen with breathing or movement.
- Spinal Arthritis: Degeneration of the joints in your spine can cause pain and stiffness, which can be aggravated by breathing and movement.
- Rib Injury: A fractured or bruised rib can cause sharp pain, especially when breathing deeply or moving.
- Less Likely, but Possible: Lung Conditions: While upper back pain isn't usually the primary symptom, certain lung conditions like pleurisy (inflammation of the lining around the lungs) could, in rare cases, contribute to pain that is felt in the back and worsens with breathing. However, these conditions typically present with other, more prominent respiratory symptoms.
What to Do:
- Rest: Avoid activities that aggravate the pain.
- Ice/Heat: Apply ice for the first 24-48 hours to reduce inflammation, then switch to heat to relax the muscles.
- Over-the-counter Pain Relievers: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) can help reduce pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with pain but doesn't reduce inflammation.
- Gentle Stretching: Carefully stretch your back muscles to improve flexibility.
- See a Doctor: If the pain is severe, doesn't improve after a few days of home treatment, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, or numbness/tingling, consult a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.
