Why Does My Back Hurt When I Cough?

Are you frustrated because your back hurts when you cough? There are a number of reasons why you might be coughing. Perhaps you have a cold, or maybe you have seasonal allergies. In addition to the scratchy feeling you might feel in your throat, you might notice that you have upper back pain when coughing.

You might even be asking yourself, why does my upper back hurt when I cough? Learn more about upper back pain after coughing, and remember to reach out to a professional who can customize a treatment plan to meet your needs. 

The Connection Between Coughing and Back Pain

So, can coughing cause upper back pain? Yes, it is possible for coughing to lead to upper back pain, but it is important to take a closer look at how coughing works.

Generally, coughing is an involuntary response. Essentially, it is a reflex that can help you remove contaminants, irritants, and fluid from your airways. That way, it is easier for you to breathe.

Because this reflex is involuntary, you are not able to control the muscles that you use to cough. Most of them are located in the upper half of your body, and the more your upper body moves when you cough, the more stress you will place on your spine and upper back.

You might notice that your posture changes slightly when you cough. You might hunch up, your body might lean forward, and all of this is done in an effort to more reliably clear any contaminants in your airways. Unfortunately, this can also cause significant stress to be placed on your upper back, eventually leading to pain.

In addition, if you already have significant back pain, it can place additional stress on that specific area. You might even notice a jolt of pain that travels from your ribs to your upper back. If you find yourself saying, “when I cough my upper back hurts,” you need to have a greater understanding as to why this might happen.

My Upper Back Hurts When I Cough: The Most Common Causes

There are a lot of people who are frustrated because they say, “I have pain in back when I cough.” If you would like to address this issue, it is critical to take a closer look at some of the most common causes of upper back pain while coughing.

There are a few possible causes. They include:

Muscle Strain

Without a doubt, one of the most common reasons why you might have upper back pain when you cough is a muscle strain. You have to place a tremendous amount of stress on these muscles when you cough, and the longer the cough goes on, the more stress you place on them.

Eventually, you might find yourself having a hard time clearing your airway, so you simply cough harder. When this happens, you might get to the point where you actually injure these muscles. If you find that the pain in your upper back leads to stiffness, spasms, and soreness, it could be a sign that you have a muscle strain. The best way to treat a muscle strain is to give it time to rest and relax. 

Ligament Sprain

There is also a chance that you might have upper back pain when you cough due to a ligament sprain. A ligament connects the bones of your back together. When you cough, you might place a significant amount of stress on your spine, and you could stretch the ligaments to the point that they are sprained.

When this happens, you might notice some aches, pains, stiffness, and soreness in your upper back. When you try to rotate your back, the pain might get worse. This is a sign that you might have a ligament sprain, and you need to give your ligaments time to rest and relax. 

Spinal Stenosis

As you get older, you will experience a variety of degenerative changes in your spine. For example, your spinal canal will start to narrow, and it can place some additional stress on the nerves that flow through your spinal column.

If this happens to an extreme point, you might be diagnosed with spinal stenosis. When this happens, you will place a significant amount of additional pressure on the nerves, particularly when you lean forward when you cough.

If you have this condition, you might notice some pain and numbness traveling down your back into your legs. If this condition gets worse, you may develop problems going to the bathroom. You need to address this issue as quickly as possible, and you may want to reach out to a professional who can help you. 

Herniated Disc

There is a chance that you may also have a herniated disc causing back pain. It is the job of your discs to provide extra cushion for your spine. These discs also act as important shock absorbers. As you get older, these discs may start to shrink, and they might even rupture if you go through a traumatic experience.

While it is highly unlikely that a cough could lead to a herniated disc, it could exacerbate the symptoms you feel from a disc that has already herniated. Generally, a herniated disc takes place in the lumbar region of your back, which is at the bottom of your spinal column. In some cases, a herniated disc could also take place in your upper back. 

Pinched Nerve

Finally, you may also experience pain because of a pinched nerve somewhere in your neck, shoulder, or upper back. When you cough, you may place some extra pressure on the nerves that flow through your upper back, neck, and spinal column. You might feel shooting, numbness, or tingling traveling throughout your upper back, and this could be a sign that you have a pinched nerve. 

These are just a few of the most common reasons why you may have upper back pain when you cough. While this can be frustrating, there are several treatment options available.

How Can You Treat Upper Back Pain When You Cough?

If you experience pain in your upper back when you cough, it can have an adverse impact on your overall quality of life. Fortunately, this isn't something that you need to deal with constantly. There are a few treatment options that can help you support your back when you cough. They include:

Use Additional Back Support

First, understand that you experience pain in your back when you cough because you place a tremendous amount of stress on vulnerable areas in your spine. Therefore, you may be able to address these issues by providing your back with some additional support. For example, you may want to place an extra cushion behind your neck and your back. Or, you might want to find a chair that will provide you with better general back support. The more you can support your back, the less stress you need to place on your muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Try To Keep Your Back Loose

Next, you should try to keep your back as loose as possible. You can develop a significant injury if you place a sudden, significant amount of stress on your back when it was not ready for it.

For example, you may want to try a few exercises that can loosen your muscles and ligaments. Or, you might want to try corrected exercises that can strengthen some of the muscles in your upper back. This is another area where working with a professional can be helpful. 

Use Cold and Heat Therapy

You should also try to use cold and heat therapy to keep your upper back loose and relaxed. Cold therapy is helpful because it can reduce inflammation that would otherwise develop in your upper back. Remember not to apply ice packs directly to the surface of your skin, as you could hurt yourself.

You may also want to use heat therapy to increase circulation to your upper back while also addressing muscle knots and spasms. Again, do not apply a heat pack directly to your skin, as you could burn yourself. 

Visit a Chiropractor Who Can Help You

It is also important to reach out to a chiropractor who can help you address the root cause of your upper back pain. It is highly unlikely that a cough is going to cause a serious injury, and if you have upper back pain when you cough, it could be a sign that there is an injury that has not been appropriately addressed.

A chiropractor can take a look at your upper back, figure out where the pain is coming from, and identify the root cause. Then, a chiropractor can also take a well-rounded treatment approach to address that injury, putting you in a position to recover while also limiting possible complications and side effects. Consider reaching out to a chiropractor who can develop a treatment plan to meet your needs. That is where Esnter Injury Centers can help you.

Call Esnter Injury Centers for Help With Back Pain While Coughing in Rhode Island

If your upper back hurts when coughing, you need to reach out to a professional who can help you. We are Esnter Injury Centers, and we have a significant amount of experience helping people of all backgrounds address a wide variety of upper back injuries. If you are coughing and experiencing back pain, let us help you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment, and work with our expert team as we help you get on the road to recovery.