Is your pneumonia linked to back soreness? This expert Q&A provides assurances and relief.
Pneumonia inflicts misery – and sometimes back pain too. But should you expect this added woe with every pneumonia case? Explore how often it occurs, where in the back it manifests, what inflamed lung nerves feel like, and how recovery duration depends on pneumonia severity.
Discover heat packs, braces, medication, breathing training, massage, and more proven ways Kaly doctors recommend for banishing back discomfort quickly.
Why Does Pneumonia Cause Pain in the Back?
Pneumonia causes pleuritic back pain when the lung infection spreads inflammation to the pleura, the nerve-rich membrane lining the lungs, leading to irritation, fluid buildup, and pain signals radiating to the back when breathing deeply or coughing according to Kaly doctors.
- Spreading Lung Inflammation
- Pneumonia originates as an infection in the lungs
- Inflammation and irritation then spread outward to the pleura lining the lungs
- The pleura contains extensive nerve endings that sense pain when aggravated
- Excess Fluid Buildup
- Pneumonia often leads to increased fluid in the pleural space
- This pleural effusion puts pressure on the lungs and pleura
- Fluid compressing the pleura provokes pain signals
- Painful Breathing
- Breathing heavily and coughing rubs inflamed pleura against chest wall
- The friction of this pleural inflammation causes sharp pain
- Sufferers often limit breathing to minimize irritation
Kaly respiratory specialists tackle pneumonia back discomfort at the source. Search using our advanced algorithm for a customized treatment strategy.
Is Back Pain a Common Symptom of Pneumonia?
No, back pain is not a common symptom of pneumonia compared to more prevalent complaints like cough, fever, chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath. However, our specialists confirm back discomfort arises reasonably often.
It occurs more frequently with bacterial pneumonia compared to milder viral cases. Advanced age also predisposes patients to pneumonia back pain.
Our experts explain this symptom when lung inflammation aggravates nerves in the pleura lining. COVID pneumonia’s severe inflammation may also irritate the chest wall’s sensory nerves, which was revealed in this study.
Even though it’s not a defining feature, back pain warrants mention to your doctor, as it could signify complications like blood clots.
What Does Pneumonia Back Pain Feel Like?
Pneumonia back pain manifests as unilateral sharp, stabbing discomfort or dull ache between the shoulder blades or mid back, worsening with breathing, coughing, and movement as the infected lung’s inflamed pleura rubs against the chest wall.
According to Kaly specialists, pneumonia back discomfort manifests in several common ways:
Location
- Between shoulder blades, where lungs sit against the upper back
- Along the thoracic spine in the middle back region
- Usually worse unilaterally on the infected lung’s side
Nature of Pain
- Sharp and stabbing pleuritic pain, aggravated by deep breaths
- Persistent aches or intermittent stabbing sensations
- Duller aches as pneumonia progresses, often radiating to the chest
- Varies from mild soreness to severe pain impairing breathing
Can Pneumonia Cause Lower Back Pain Near the Lungs?
Yes, pneumonia can cause lower back pain near the lungs through inflammation spreading to the pleura lining, strained breathing, severe coughing, and fluid buildup irritating nerves, though it more often manifests as upper back discomfort.
Our experts outline a few mechanisms behind this lower back pain:
- Severe bouts of pneumonia coughing can overwork the lower back muscles, causing spasms.
- Inflamed pleura lining the lungs refers to pain signals down to the lower spine.
- Fluid pressure on the diaphragm from pneumonia irritates adjoining lower back nerves.
- Labored breathing with inflamed lungs strains intercostal muscles between the ribs, provoking referred lower back pain.
Does Pneumonia Cause Upper Back Pain?
Pneumonia can cause upper back pain by spreading inflammation to the lung lining, building up fluid, causing forceful coughs, and impairing breathing, leading to referred pain between the shoulders that worsens with deep breaths, coughs, and movement.
- Fluid buildup around the lungs compresses the pleura, which is especially painful when breathing deeply.
- Forceful coughing from pneumonia straining muscles and nerves between the shoulders.
- Impaired lung function makes deep inhalation painful, with signals referring to the upper back.
Therefore, our experts confirm pneumonia can ignite upper back pain through pleural inflammation, fluid pressure, strenuous coughing, and labored breathing. This typically manifests as sharp stabbing when inhaling deeply or changing position, often worsening when lying on the infected side.
Does Walking Pneumonia Cause Pain in the Back?
Walking pneumonia only causes mild back pain in relatively few cases, usually from some inflammation irritating the lung lining or strain from coughing, manifesting less severely than bacterial pneumonia back pain.
This mild pneumonia form caused by atypical bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae primarily elicits respiratory discomforts like cough and sore throat.
However, our experts note some walking pneumonia patients experience mild muscular aches and back soreness, especially when breathing deeply or coughing.
When present, our specialists attribute the back discomfort to mild inflammation spreading from the infected lung tissues to the pleura lining, as evidenced by this case study. The inflammation likely irritates local nerves, causing referred back pain. Severe coughing fits may also strain the back muscles.
Can Pneumonia Cause Both Chest and Back Pain?
Yes, pneumonia often causes concurrent chest and back pain through pleurisy, lung inflammation irritating chest wall nerves, fluid buildup, and the phrenic nerve radiating pain from the lungs to the spine and shoulders.
Kaly experts explain this dual discomfort arises through various mechanisms:
- Pleurisy provokes sharp chest pain when breathing deeply that radiates to the upper back.
- Lung inflammation irritates the phrenic nerve running from the diaphragm to the shoulders, causing referred shoulder and back pain.
- Severe lung tissue inflammation directly stimulates chest wall nerve fibers, sensed as chest and mid-back pain.
- Abscess formation or fluid buildup compresses the lungs, felt as diffuse chest and back discomfort.
How Long Does Pneumonia-Related Back Pain Last?
With appropriate antibiotics and supportive care:
- Mild pneumonia back pain often resolves within 1 week as the lungs heal.
- Moderate cases see back pain improving within 2 weeks but potentially lasting 3-4 weeks.
- Severe pneumonia can result in back discomfort persisting over 4 weeks.
Even after the infection clears, fatigue and weakness may linger for a month or more. Prompt medical attention is advised if the back pain worsens or continues beyond a few weeks, as that may signal complications.
How to Relieve Back Pain Caused by Pneumonia
Kaly’s specialists recommend several methods to help alleviate back discomfort stemming from pneumonia:
For viral pneumonia cases:
- Rest and stay hydrated to support recovery. Sip warm broths and herbal teas.
- Use OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen to reduce fever and ease aches.
- Apply heat packs to the back for 15-20 minutes to reduce muscle tension.
- Use a humidifier and perform deep breathing exercises to open airways.
- Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your back.
For bacterial pneumonia:
- Complete the full antibiotic course, even as symptoms improve.
- Ask your doctor about cough suppressants to prevent back strain from severe coughing.
- Wear a back brace during coughing fits to provide stability.
For fungal pneumonia:
- Strictly follow your doctor’s prescribed anti-fungal medication regimen.
- Inquire about prescription cough suppressants if coughing is aggravating your back.
- Consider massage therapy to relax muscles and increase blood flow to the back.
Kaly pulmonologists tackle pneumonia back discomfort at the source. Schedule same-day appointments easily. Start now!
FAQs
What part of the back hurts when you have pneumonia?
Pneumonia can cause upper back pain between the shoulder blades or lower back pain due to inflammation of the lung lining, coughing, or muscle strain.
Is middle back pain a symptom of pneumonia?
Yes, middle back pain can be a symptom of pneumonia as the infection causes inflammation in the lung lining that can radiate to the back.
Does a collapsed lung cause back pain?
Yes, a collapsed lung often causes sudden, sharp chest and upper back pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing as air builds up in the pleural space.
Can bronchitis cause back pain?
Yes, acute bronchitis can cause upper back pain as coughing strains back muscles, along with chest congestion and discomfort. Chronic bronchitis may also cause back pain.
Do chest infection symptoms include back pain?
Yes, viral or bacterial chest infections like pneumonia, pleurisy, and bronchitis can cause back pain from lung inflammation, muscular strain from coughing, and chest congestion.
Do collapsed lung symptoms include back pain?
Yes, the main symptoms of a collapsed lung are sudden, severe chest and upper back pain made worse by breathing, along with shortness of breath.
Can pleurisy cause lower back pain?
No, pleurisy typically causes sharp chest pain that may radiate to the shoulders or upper back, not lower back pain, due to inflammation of the lung lining.
Does chest infection cause back pain even without a cough?
Sometimes, as the lung inflammation from a chest infection can cause back pain even without a cough in milder cases. But a cough is a common symptom.