Have you ever had chest pain and back pain? Maybe the pain in your back feels like it's coming to your chest. When you have pain that feels like it's coming from both sides, it's a little scary, right? It's hard to figure out where this pain starts and what's causing it. So today, let's talk about this pain that comes from your chest and back.
Why do my chest and back hurt at the same time?
There is a very simple scientific explanation for this. Imagine, the nerves in our chest and back travel very close to each other. So when we experience pain in one place, for example, in the chest, the pain signals get a little mixed up when they reach the brain, and we can feel pain not only in the place where the pain occurred, but also in another related place. That means chest pain can be felt in the back, and back pain in the chest. Doctors call this Referred Pain .
This is why when you go to see a doctor, he or she will ask you a few questions to understand exactly what the pain is.
- Is the pain on the left side or the right side?
- Does the pain start in one place and spread to another?
- Does this continue? Does it seem to come and go?
- Does the pain increase when you breathe, cough, or move your body?
- How does the pain feel? Is it like something is pressing on you? Is it sharp, like a knife stabbing pain? Or is it a dull ache?
- Are there any other symptoms with this pain? (e.g., sweating, nausea, difficulty breathing)
Your answers to these questions will be a great help to the doctor in finding the real cause.
What are the main causes of this pain?
There can be many causes for this pain. Some are common, while others are more serious and require immediate attention . Doctors first look at the two most important organs inside our chest: the heart and the lungs .
1. Heart-related problems
Pain in the heart can spread through the chest to the back.
- Angina
Angina is the most common type of pain associated with heart disease. It occurs when your heart muscle is not getting enough blood flow. Medically, this is called (Myocardial Ischemia). This is a common type of pain.
Important: Angina pain can be a sign of a heart attack . These are the same symptoms that occur during a heart attack. Therefore, if you experience these symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.
| Angina pain: nature and symptoms | |
|---|---|
| How pain feels |
|
| Places where pain spreads | Starting from the chest, you can move on to the back, stomach, neck, jaw, shoulders, and arms . |
| Other symptoms |
|
- Pericarditis
This is pain caused by an infection or swelling of the protective membrane around the heart (pericardium). It usually starts suddenly and can last for several weeks.
| Nature of Pericarditis Pain | |
|---|---|
| How pain feels |
|
| Other symptoms | Fever, chills, difficulty breathing when lying down, swelling of the legs. |
2. Lung-related problems
The lungs are located behind our chest, in front of the spine. So pain in the lungs can be felt in both the chest and back.
- Chest Infections
Infections like pneumonia or bronchitis can cause the lining of the lungs to swell. This pain can be worse when you cough or breathe. If you have a cough , it's more likely that you have an infection.
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- Sudden or gradually increasing severe difficulty breathing .
- Sharp, stabbing chest pain when breathing in.
- Pain in the back, shoulders, neck, or jaw area for no apparent reason.
- Muscle strains: A severe pull on a muscle in the chest or back.
- Rib fractures: Can occur from an accident or even a severe cough.
- Arthritis: Arthritis that occurs in the joints where the ribs connect to the spine.
- Nerve compression: A nerve is compressed by a herniated disc between the vertebrae of the spine.
- Fibromyalgia: A chronic pain condition that occurs in muscles throughout the body.
- If the pain is very severe and you don't know what's causing it.
- If the pain occurred after an accident .
- If the pain feels like a pressure, squeezing, or a heavy weight pressing down on your chest .
- If there is difficulty breathing along with the pain.
- If the pain is accompanied by nausea or excessive sweating .
- If there is blood discharge along with fever and cough .
- Pain in the chest and back can have a variety of causes, from a simple muscle strain to serious heart disease.
- Don't go for treatment assuming this is the cause. It's very important to find the real cause of the pain.
- If you have symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or excessive sweating, it could be an emergency, such as a heart attack or Pulmonary Embolism (PE). So go to the ETU immediately.
- If you have any doubts or concerns about any type of chest or back pain, be sure to see your family doctor for advice.
This is a very serious condition that requires emergency medical treatment. Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in the lungs. This can be life-threatening.
Characteristics of a PE condition:
If you have these symptoms, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
3. Musculoskeletal problems
Not all chest pain comes from the heart. Sometimes it can be a problem with our muscles, bones, or joints. Although these are usually not life-threatening, they do require treatment.
4. Gallbladder and upper digestive system problems
The gallbladder is an organ in our digestive system located in the upper right side of the abdomen. Pain in this area, especially from gallstones, can radiate to the right side of the ribs, shoulder, and back. The pain is usually severe and may be accompanied by nausea. Conditions such as pancreatitis can also cause this type of pain. These are also serious conditions that require medical attention.
When should you go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU)?
If you have one or more of the following symptoms along with your chest and back pain, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately without thinking anything else.
Take-Home Message
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What is Chest and Back Pain? Is this gastritis?
This is not gastritis (GERD) and is not something you should stay home with! Radiating pain from the center of the chest to the back (to the middle of the back/between the shoulders) is the biggest and most important siren/warning that the heart or lungs, one of the most important and deadly organs in the body, is currently rotting/exploding (life-threatening emergency)!
💬 What are the main fatal causes of unbearable chest and back pain?
There are 4 main causes! 1) 'Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)' - When the heart muscle dies, the chest hurts like an elephant trampled on it and goes all the way to the back. 2) 'Aortic Dissection' - When the main tube that carries blood from the heart tears, it causes unbearable (Tearing pain) pain in the chest/back as if the skin is being torn off (death occurs within minutes). 3) A blood clot in the lungs (Pulmonary Embolism). 4) Abdominal pain spreads to the back due to inflammation/injury of the pancreas (Acute Pancreatitis).
💬 When you have chest and back pain, what are the 'life-threatening' symptoms that require you to immediately run to the emergency department of a hospital without taking 'gas' medication?
Yes, gas can cause this (but only God knows if it's gas!). The biggest danger! Along with the pain, if you have 1) Cold sweats / Dizziness, 2) Shortness of breath, 3) Numbness in your left arm and pain radiating to your jaw/arm, you need to call an ambulance today, right now, without delay, and go to the hospital's emergency department (ER - for an ECG)! (If you're an hour late, you could die).
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