You may worry about your lungs if you have trouble breathing or a dull pain in your upper back or chest. Simple muscle strains or seasonal allergies can cause lung pain in back. It could also indicate lung cancer. While diagnosing the pain, you may be surprised to learn that lung tissue does not have pain receptors. Pain nerve endings are in the pleura, the lung lining. Chest pain can result from lung lining injury, infection, or cancer.
Causes of Lung Pain in Back
The back of your lungs may hurt for several reasons. This pain may be caused by pleural injuries or organ-surrounding bones and muscles. Chronic coughing can lead to lung-related back pain However, your lungs have few pain receptors, so people call general chest pain lung pains.
Injury
Back and lung pain may be caused by an injury. Physical trauma to the lining of your lungs or the bones and muscles around them can cause pain. A broken rib can puncture a lung in severe injuries. Punctures may heal on their own or require emergency surgery.
Infections
When you breathe, lung and lining infections can hurt. Inflammation in the lung lining, pleurisy, can cause sharp back and chest pain. This is frequently attributed to viruses or bacteria.Chronic lung infections like asthma can cause back pain. Rib cage cartilage inflammation is costochondritis. Injury, infection, or irritation can cause this. The condition can cause severe pain or develop gradually. Costochondritis in the back of your ribs can cause lung pain.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is abnormal spine curvature. Severe scoliosis can alter chest structure and lung function. The lung lining and surrounding muscles can hurt when the spine curves, limiting lung size.
Pulmonary Embolism
The Pulmonary embolisms are lung blood clots. Pulmonary embolisms usually cause lung pain in back. and shortness of breath. Lung blood clots are a medical emergency. You should seek medical help immediately if you suspect pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary Hyperinflation
Inefficient lung emptying causes pulmonary hyperinflation. Lung airway blockages or dysfunctional alveoli may cause this. Pulmonary hyperinflation makes inhaling and breathing difficult. Lung pain can be dull and constant. Pulmonary hyperinflation frequently occurs in advanced emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Atelectasis
Atelectasis occurs when lung air sacs collapse or don’t expand. These sacs can no longer fill with air. Atelectasis in a small lung area may not cause symptoms. If a large part of the lung is affected, sharp, short-lived pains may occur. Blockages in the airways often cause it. Pressure from outside the lungs, fluid buildup, or lung collapse can also cause atelectasis.
Heart Problems
Heart conditions can cause chest pain. The pain may also feel like it’s coming from your lungs. Angina, or chest pain, can result from poor heart blood flow. A stroke or heart attack can result from poor heart blood flow. These conditions can cause chest, lung, and back pain.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer can cause back pain. Back pain affects 25% of lung cancer patients. So, back pain is often the first lung cancer symptom noticed before diagnosis. If you suspect your back pain is a sign of lung cancer, check for other symptoms like a persistent cough, constant chest pain , coughing up blood, breathlessness, wheezing, and hoarseness. Consult with pain management in Dallas.
Symptoms of Lung Pain in Back
Following are the few symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Long-term pneumonia or bronchitis
- Face/neck swelling
- Appetite loss
- Unexpected weight loss
How to Reduce Lung Back Pain?
To temporarily relieve lung back pain, patients can try the following:
Adjust the sleeping position to reduce pain, help you sleep deeper, and prevent bone and joint diseases; Women should limit high heels to reduce spine pressure. If you sit a lot at work, walking will relax your muscles and reduce your risk of bone, joint, and cardiovascular diseases. Apply a cold towel to the painful area to reduce swelling and pain. Should fully nourish the body to reduce pain and boost immunity; Avoid heavy lifting or strong movements when experiencing abnormal back pain. Patients should visit specialized medical facilities for examination and paraclinical tests to quickly and effectively treat back-of-the-lung pain. Find the cause of the pain and get treatment.
Early cancer screening is ideal for detecting and treating all cancers. Reduce patient mortality and treatment costs. Vinmec International General Hospital always offers early cancer screening with gene testing, imaging, and biomarkers. Determine your health condition and get treatment.
When to See a Doctor
Visit Dallas pain clinic if you have persistent symptoms, including back pain.
A physical exam, imaging, and lab tests are usually used to diagnose lung cancer. The type and stage of lung cancer will determine treatment. Options for treatment include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation treatment
- Stereotactic body radiosurgery
- Immunotherapy
- Selective drug therapy
Conclusion
When we have pain, especially widespread pain, we want to know why it is happening. Your desire to determine the causes is natural. These are some of the most common and provide clues. However, this list is incomplete and should not replace medical care. Without knowing you’re injured or sick, pain can be hard to pinpoint. Not knowing where it’s coming from or how serious it is can be unsettling. Lung pain in back causes are urgent to diagnose and medical professionals should diagnose it.
