My back hurt when I cough, and I want to know the possible causes and treatment of both conditions.
If you are also having the same question, then you are at the right place to get complete information about this condition. Why does my back hurt when I cough? You are most likely to experience back pain during coughing due to the movement of the upper body with pressure. In severe coughing, a person’s shoulder may droop and the body may lean forward. After being felt in the lower back, the pain can spread to the legs and hips. The back pain may go away after a few days with the rest of the cough. At a pain management clinic, you may be able to find relief from both conditions simultaneously.
Conditions Related to Back Pain and Coughing
There may be different causes behind coughs like infections, and allergies which are not so serious. However, there are different conditions that are associated with both cough and back pain for different reasons. Some of them are as follows.
- Torn ligament
When a stretch or tear occurs in a ligament in your back due to a severe cough, it may lead to sprains. As a result of injury, you may face swelling or bruises on your back and cramping may also occur in muscles.
- Pleurisy
Generally, pleurisy may result from an infection of the respiratory system, or lungs that has an impact on the membrane lining the inner side of the chest cavity. In pleurisy, you are most likely to face sharp chest pain, which is aggravated by deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing. However, pleurisy can also be involved in back pain.
- Spinal stenosis
The spinal column gets narrow with the passage of time and as a result, exerts pressure on the spinal nerves. Leaning forward during coughing can enhance the nerve pressure and lead to lower back pain. The lower back pain along with legs can also be affected by spinal stenosis resulting in cramping pain or numbness.
- Sciatica
Sciatica nerve because of its thickness and length is more susceptible to a variety of forms of pain. Discrepancies in the spine that pinch or compress the sciatic nerve are the leading causes of sciatica pain. Having sciatic nerve pain can result in lower back pain and numbness due to coughing or sneezing.
- Costochondritis
In costochondritis, the cartilage present between the sternum and ribs becomes inflamed. The affected area becomes tender to touch and feel pain in the chest wall and rib cage. Costochondritis pain may be aggravated by coughing.
- Lung Cancer
The occurrence of lower back pain during a cough has been associated with lung cancer in extremely rare instances, as the tumor may have moved to nearby organs in the case of bone pain. In this condition, a person may feel
- unexpected weight loss,
- difficulty breathing,
- wheezing, and fatigue,
- coughing up blood.
Findings Through Different Tests
Through different tests either with physical examination or nerve studies, doctors try to find the possible reason behind cough and back pain together. Because the treatment is completely dependent on finding the exact cause behind the illness. Pain relief clinic Fort Worth has highly operative medical diagnostic equipment to reach the root cause of disease.
Physical Examination And Medical History
Your physician may perform a physical examination and take a detailed medical history in order to determine the cause of your back pain when coughing.
Tests
An accurate diagnosis may then be reached through the use of tests. A doctor may order the following tests based on your symptoms as well as other factors:
X-ray
An X-ray is conducted to determine whether there are any signs of arthritis or fractures
MRI Or CT scan
Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels can be examined with an MRI or CT scan
Blood tests
Infection-related blood tests
Nerve studies
Assessment of nerve damage through nerve studies. In addition to answering any questions you may have, your doctor will provide you with a more detailed explanation of the tests.
When Should I See a Doctor?
My back hurts when i cough, it may be exhibiting a problem with your back that requires treatment. If you are suffering from back pain, your doctor will be able to assist you in understanding both conditions. Speak to your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms as a result of your back pain and cough:
- Your bottom or genitals feel tingly or numb
- Inability to control pooping or peeing
- Feeling of Fever
- The back may be swollen or deformed
- Unjustified weight loss
- Resting does not alleviate the pain
- The pain that follows a serious accident
- Sneezing or coughing exacerbates the pain
- The top of your back is painful
Suitable Treatment
Once the complete diagnosis has been done, the doctor can take a step to start treatment. Treatment may start from prescribing medicines in mild conditions to surgery in severe conditions.
Medication
- Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may relieve inflammation and discomfort associated with lower back pain.
- Those who fail to find relief from pain from over-the-counter medication may require stronger medications. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is an analgesic such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or an opioid painkiller such as oxycodone.
- In addition to relieving back discomfort, relaxant medications can reduce muscle and ligament tension.
- A variety of antidepressants on doctor’s prescription are effective in reducing chronic pain.
- An injection of corticosteroid is a medication that is injected directly into a painful area. Although they can relieve lower back pain quickly, they are not effective for everyone, and their effects tend to last for only a short period of time.
- As a result of topical creams and patches, pain signals are blocked in order to ease discomfort.
Physical Therapy
In order to alleviate lower back pain, physical therapy strengthens the abdominal and back muscles. The following techniques are available:
- Hands-on chiropractic manipulation
- Acupuncture.
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
Surgery
When other treatments have not relieved chronic lower back pain, surgery is the last resort. Like,
- Laminectomy
- Discectomy
- Spinal fusion
- Artificial disc replacement surgery
Summary
In some cases, back pain associated with coughing may indicate an underlying health issue or injury. Many conditions as mentioned above can be related to cough and back pain and without care can aggravate both conditions. The most effective treatment will depend on the underlying health conditions. Please consult a physician for recommendations.
