Definition
Pain when breathing in the back can have different causes. Many people suffer from such complaints at least once in their lives. Often the pain is harmless and occurs as a side effect of a flu-like infection or due to muscular tension. However, since serious causes requiring treatment can also be hidden behind the complaints, a medical clarification is recommended. Through a conversation with the doctor and a thorough physical examination, the reason for the back pain when breathing is usually found quickly and an adequate therapy can be provided.
Causes
Basically, there are several possible causes of pain when breathing in the back, which can be responsible for the complaints. Often the pain is caused by muscular hardening and tension. An unfavorable posture, predominantly sedentary activities and lack of exercise cause muscle cramps.
These in turn irritate nerves in the surrounding area and thus trigger pain. Blocked vertebral joints can also be responsible for the pain. Pain when breathing in the back often occurs in the context of flu-like infections, especially when there is also coughing.
Due to the many coughs, the thoracic muscles are under great strain. This can lead to irritation, which in turn causes pain when breathing. An infection can also spread to the lungs and further to the pleura.
Inflammation of the pleura (pleuritis) typically causes pain when breathing in, especially in the thorax and back area. Of course, external violent influences can also lead to back pain when breathing. In case of rib bruises or broken ribs due to a fall or accident, breathing can be very uncomfortable.
Last but not least, anatomical changes in the musculoskeletal system can also cause the pain. This is the case, for example, with malpositions of the spinal column. Between the individual ribs, a nerve together with blood vessels runs around one side of the chest.
These so-called intercostal nerves can be irritated by various circumstances and cause a so-called intercostal neuralgia. This is characterized by belt-shaped, stabbing pains that run around the upper body and can usually be intensified by strong breathing movements, coughing or pressing. Since the possible causes of back pain when breathing are manifold, only a medical examination can reveal the definitive cause if the pain persists.
Tension is a common cause of back pain. The complaints can also occur when breathing, as the chest expands and exerts tension on the tense muscle areas. Tension is particularly common in the shoulder and neck area and on the sides of the spine.
Heat applications and massages help to gently release tension. To prevent tension, sufficient physical activity and strengthening of the muscles is essential. A pinched or irritated nerve can be the cause of breath-related back pain.
The nerves run in the thoracic region between two ribs around each half of the thorax. If such a nerve is irritated, it can cause severe pain. Particularly during inhalation, the ribcage expands and stretches the muscles and nerves located there.
The stretching of an irritated nerve can then manifest itself as a stabbing pain. If the cause lies in a blocked vertebra, the dislocation usually provides quick relief. In many cases, however, no cause for the nerve irritation is found.
It usually disappears by itself over time. However, pain when breathing through a trapped nerve can also cause breath-related pain under the ribs. Since there can be other causes behind this, we recommend our page on: Pain when breathing under the ribsPain when breathing in the back, which occurs mainly when lying down, can indicate muscular causes.
Especially people who lie down a lot – for example, due to prolonged illness – may experience unpleasant tension and hardening of the muscles, which can hurt when breathing. Dislocated vertebral joints can also cause the symptoms. Since there are basically many possible causes, a doctor should be consulted if the symptoms have been present for a long time.
Muscle tensions, e.g. due to poor posture, often cause pain when moving, even when breathing.Nevertheless, it is important not to restrict your movements. Lack of exercise does not improve the symptoms. Other problems of the musculoskeletal system can also lead to pain during movement – such as a slipped disc or nerve irritation.
In addition, other rare causes are also possible. Pain when swallowing and breathing in the back can have its cause in a disease of the esophagus. Pain emanating from the esophagus is predominantly perceived behind the breastbone and is not dependent on breathing.
However, radiation into the back cannot be excluded. A widespread disease of the esophagus is heartburn, in which stomach acid gets into the esophagus and irritates it. In its advanced stages, cancer of the esophagus leads to pain when swallowing. Occasionally, however, it can also present itself in the back. Oesophageal cancer is rare, however, and in very few cases is behind these symptoms.
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