Back pain when coughing during a cold: causes, symptoms, how to treat

Flu and colds are a nuisance for every family. A runny nose, cough, sore throat, chills, weakness and other symptoms of colds negatively affect a person’s general condition, his mood and performance. The situation becomes even more complicated when the patient experiences back pain.

Determining the true cause of back pain due to a cold is not easy. The patient may feel that his lower back, spine, and even the skin of his back hurt. And although in most cases, pain in the back during the flu or after an acute respiratory viral infection is the result of a complication of the disease, other options should not be excluded.

Mechanism of occurrence and nature of pain

Coughing is a complex process that requires the work of many body structures. Discomfort in the back occurs due to tension in insufficiently trained muscles.

The main cause of cough is irritation of the respiratory system. The symptom is observed due to contraction of the bronchial muscles, as well as nearby structures in the intercostal area and on the back.

When the symptom does not go away for a long time, the cough radiates to the lower back or sternum. The reason for this is that the spinal muscles are constantly under tension.

Most often, both symptoms occur due to diseases affecting the respiratory system. However, pathologies of the musculoskeletal system also cannot be excluded. That’s why it’s so important to see a doctor on time.

Causes of pain

When a patient has a cough, pain in the chest and back indicates pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system or spine. In addition, the heart and kidneys may be in the area of spasm. That is why diagnosing the causes of symptom development is mandatory.

Sources of pain can be:

Injured ribs and vertebrae;
Constant stress or overstrain of the body;
Development of myositis and pleurisy;
Exacerbation of osteochondrosis;
Oncological pathologies;
The period of bearing a child;
Kidney and heart diseases;
Joint diseases;
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

Very often, the back hurts from coughing due to the development of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The spine often suffers due to inflammatory processes and spasms of the nerve roots.

In most situations, osteochondrosis leads to pain. It disrupts the correct structure and position of the ridge discs. Then neuralgia of the intervertebral type occurs. The pain becomes acute and bothers the patient at the slightest cough or inhalation. Scoliosis affects the body in a similar way.

Tuberculosis affects the tissues of the lungs and spine simultaneously. In this case, the cough is not the cause of pain. Symptoms develop in parallel.

Myositis is inflammation of the muscles. It provokes pathologies in different parts of the body, including the back. The disease manifests itself due to severe cooling of the body or excessive stress on the muscles. One of the symptoms of the pathology is back pain when coughing.

Tumors and injured areas located in different areas of the ridge similarly lead to discomfort.

There are a number of pathologies in which back problems become the cause of coughing, and not vice versa. Since the spasm intensifies when inhaling, the patient tries to breathe as little as possible. The lungs are not ventilated enough. The air stagnates and provokes a cough. In turn, the symptom increases the pain, completing the vicious circle.

How to relieve pain with medication

Analgesics . Such drugs are taken for any type of pain, including back pain. Additionally, they lower the temperature and reduce fever. Analgin (from 25 rubles), Aspirin (from 15 rubles), Paracetamol (from 15 rubles). For severe pain, neurologists can give a prescription for a narcotic analgesic (Morphine, Promedol).
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They help relieve pain and inflammation, and when used for the first time, can significantly improve the patient’s condition. Diclofenac (from 20 RUR), Voltaren (from 255 RUR), Arcoxia (from 415 RUR), Nise (from 220 RUR), Meloxicam (from 55 RUR), Ketoprofen (from 155 RUR), Ketorolac ( from 35 rub.), Lornoxicam (from 210 rub.), Celecoxib (from 130 rub.).

Celecoxib is an inexpensive and relatively safe drug
Muscle relaxants . These are medications that relax the back muscles. In combination with NSAIDs they provide a stronger analgesic effect. Take with caution and only as directed by a doctor. Sirdalud (from 260 rubles), Baklosan (from 310 rubles), Mydocalm (from 405 rubles).
Steroidal corticosteroids . Used in cases where NSAIDs and muscle relaxants do not have the desired effect. They can cause serious side effects, so they should not be used more than once a year. Methylprednisolone (from 220 rubles), Kenalog (from 360 rubles), Diprospan (from 225 rubles), Dexamethasone (from 65 rubles).
Combined painkillers . Contains several active substances at once. Katadolon Forte (muscle relaxant and NSAIDs, from 925 rubles), Neurodiclovit (NSAIDs and B vitamins, from 325 rubles), Next (from 165 rubles).
B vitamins . These drugs have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, relieve pain, and improve metabolic processes. Milgamma (from 330 rub.), Trigamma (from 185 rub.), Kombilipen (from 189 rub.).
Homeopathic medicines . Contains natural plant components. Activate the internal forces of the body to fight the disease. Prescribed only by the attending physician. Traumeel S (from 135 rubles), Tsel T (from 460 rubles), Discus compositum (from 1380 rubles), Rus-Plus (from 330 rubles).
Blockades . Prescribed for severe pain and muscle spasms. Blockades are injections into trigger (pain) points or between the vertebrae. The injection contains novocaine and a steroid (Diprospan). Injections should be given by a competent doctor to avoid serious consequences.
Candles. An excellent replacement for pills and injections. These are rectal suppositories; they are inserted directly into the anus (preferably before bedtime). Diclovit (from 155 rubles), Ketoprofen (from 160 rubles), Voltaren (from 320 rubles), Diclofenac (from 56 rubles).

Diclovit - effective suppositories for back pain
Ointments . Local agents that provide a warming and analgesic effect. The best warming ointments: turpentine ointment (from 55 rubles), Capsicam (from 367 rubles), Nicoflex (from 360 rubles), Finalgon (from 380 rubles). Pain relieving ointments: Ketoprofen (from 106 rubles), Diclofenac (from 60 rubles), Fastum gel (from 285 rubles), Ortofen (from 160 rubles), Nise (from 285 rubles), Voltaren emulgel (from 250 rubles .), Viprosal B (from RUR 389).
Plasters . The most convenient form of local remedies. It’s convenient to use – you just need to stick it on the sore spot and wait for the effect. The most effective patches: Voltaren with diclofenac (from 250 rubles), Versatis with lidocaine (from 917 rubles), pepper (from 20 rubles).

Intercostal neuralgia

Neuralgia of the intercostal type is characterized by reflex pain. The cause of the development of pathology is irritation of the nerves located between the ribs. The disease is a common complication of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, which has reached the last stages.

In addition to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, neuralgia can be triggered by stress, excessive stress, infectious diseases or a cold. Thus, the disease often causes cough and pain in the chest and back.

Diagnosis and treatment of back pain when coughing

If the patient has back pain that appears or worsens during coughing, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Which doctor should I contact?

For moderate back pain during coughing, it is advisable for patients to consult a physician.

If back pain occurs in an elderly person or in a patient with existing cardiovascular diseases, you should immediately call a cardiology team. In acute myocardial infarction, every minute counts, and first preclinical care can be fully provided by the cardiology team.

If the back pain is very intense, it is better for the patient to call an ambulance team, which will give him a preliminary diagnosis at home or take him to an emergency clinic equipped with all the necessary diagnostic equipment.

Considering the many pathologies that lead to back pain, when a patient complains of cough and back pain, the doctor must make a differential diagnosis between them.

Diagnostic procedures

Questioning the patient is of great diagnostic importance, during which the characteristics of back pain are clarified:

localization;
character and intensity;
duration and frequency;
conditions for their increase or decrease.

Special attention should be paid to clarifying the characteristics of cough:

the time of its appearance;
connections with back pain;
the presence or absence of sputum.

Symptoms accompanying the main complaints are also important for a preliminary diagnosis.

A physical examination (inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation) provides the doctor with a lot of information about the possible causes of spinal pain:

upon examination, you can detect a bruise on the skin above the ribs due to a contusion of the chest;
by palpation, you can determine places of local pain;
percussion can reveal dullness of sound over the inflamed area of the lung during pneumonia;
During auscultation, you can detect cardiac arrhythmia, characteristic of myocardial infarction, or hear a pleural friction noise when it is involved in the pathological process.

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor must prescribe additional research methods, the scope of which depends on the disease that is suspected in the patient during examination:

General blood analysis.
Electrocardiography.
X-ray.
Ultrasonography.
Computed tomography.
Sputum examination.
Bacteriological blood culture.

After making a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment for the patient, which, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, type of nosology and prognosis, can be carried out on an outpatient basis (at home) or in a hospital.

Diseases of other internal organs

Cough is a common symptom of respiratory diseases. It can be provoked by pathogenic organisms, dust and mucopurulent secretions accumulated in the bronchi, trachea or lungs. The symptom is considered a protective reaction of the body. It helps remove stagnant elements from the respiratory system.

If the body cannot get rid of the contents of the lungs and bronchi, the infection goes deeper. Pleurisy is considered a complication of pathology of the respiratory system. The clinical picture of the disease includes spasms due to coughing and during breathing, hyperthermia, lethargy and chills.

There is also another cause of discomfort. Pain when coughing radiates to the back due to muscle tension during sudden exhalation of air. Physical effort provokes the accumulation of lactic acid in the structures.

Kidney and heart pathologies similarly provoke situations in which the back hurts from coughing.

A heart attack or angina causes spasms in the sternum. The pain also manifests itself in other areas of the body, affecting the back. The discomfort does not increase with breathing or movement. However, heart failure slows down the circulatory process and causes congestion in the lungs. This causes cough and pain in the chest and back.

Diseases affecting the kidneys are characterized by acute spasms. In this situation, the cough radiates to the lower back. Other symptoms often do not appear in the initial stages of kidney disease. Pain is felt when the organ hypertrophies and the structure of its capsule changes. Because coughing causes a surge in pressure in the abdominal cavity, the kidneys become slightly dislodged and pain occurs.

What could it be?

When coughing or sneezing, a person feels discomfort and pain in the back. What does this symptom mean? Let's figure it out.

Muscle pain associated with overexertion from prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position and physical activity. When you have a cold, spasms of the back muscles also occur. In this case, the pain is not pronounced and disappears within a short period of time.

Muscle pain is a common cause of pain when sneezing and coughing.
Internal inflammatory processes in organs and blood vessels, localized in the spine, cause pain when coughing.
Inflammation and compression of nerve fibers as a result of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs causes pain in the back. This kind of sensation intensifies when coughing and is localized at the site of nerve damage.

If the pain appears constantly, then you need to sound the alarm. This is how serious pathologies can manifest themselves.

How is the treatment carried out?

When the cough radiates to the lower back, treatment is carried out only after a thorough diagnosis. You can get rid of symptoms after eliminating their cause. Therapy is necessarily comprehensive. Sometimes you have to move from conservative techniques to surgical ones.

Pain is relieved with analgesics. They are drunk in tablet form or administered by injection. Ointments are used to relieve inflammation and normalize blood circulation in tense muscles. Expectorant medications are needed to eliminate another symptom – cough.

Displacement of the spasm to the left increases the risk of pre-infarction. In this case, the patient urgently contacts a cardiologist and is further treated under his supervision. The drugs are prescribed with extreme caution so as not to further harm the heart. Products containing nitroglycerin are useful. The component relieves pain and restores the functioning of the heart.

With gastrointestinal pathologies, the cough radiates to the lower back. For therapy, the doctor prescribes drugs that restore the intestinal microflora. Treatment lasts a long time - from 6 to 12 months. To prevent pain from interfering with the patient, therapy is supplemented by taking antispasmodics.

Air entering the pleural cavity occurs when there is injury or infection of the sternum and respiratory organs. The disease is treated with surgery.

The nephrologist is responsible for the treatment of kidney failure caused by back pain due to cough.

Complex therapy

If your back hurts from coughing, therapy should be comprehensive and include treatment with pharmaceutical drugs for both symptoms. Independent selection of funds is excluded.

Medicines prescribed for dry cough:

Stoptussin. The active ingredients are butamirate and guaifenesin. Dosage form – capsules, syrup, drops. The components help thin the mucus and make coughing less frequent.
Gerbion. The elements in the composition are of plant origin. Release form: syrup. Plantain, primrose and ivy have an active effect. The product helps remove mucus.
Omnitus. Affects the cough center. Available in the form of tablets and syrup. The active ingredient is butamirate.

For wet coughs, completely different medications are used:

Lazolvan. The active element in the composition is ambroxol. Release form: capsules, syrup, inhalation product. Affects the viscosity of sputum and speeds up the expectoration process.
Bronchobos. Dosage form: syrup and tablets. The active ingredient is carbocisteine. Stimulates the movement of epithelial cilia in the bronchi and promotes the removal of sputum.

Remedies for back pain include:

Voltaren. Available in the form of a patch and cream. Relieves inflammation and relieves pain. The active ingredient is diclofenac.
Doctor Mom. Warms up the muscles and has a distracting effect.
Mustard plasters. They cope well with the pain that occurs when coughing. They have a distracting effect.
Ben is gay. It is an ointment with a complex effect. Has a warming effect and relieves pain.

Traditional methods

Cough, chest and back pain are also treated using traditional methods of therapy. Before you begin, you must obtain your doctor's permission.

The most commonly used are jars. They can be used if there are no suspected contraindications. Medical cups are placed on the patient's back. A vacuum is formed under them, which leads to the resorption of inflammation and relieves the muscle structures of the infiltrate.

First aid: what to do in case of severe pain at home

If your back pain is very severe and there is no way to get medical help, you can try to relieve it. To do this you need to do the following:

Lie down on a semi-rigid surface. While lying down, turn on your side and slightly bend your knees and hips. You can place a rolled up towel under your waist and a small pillow between your knees. This pose relaxes the back muscles and reduces pain.

The best poses for back pain
You can take an analgesic - Analgin, Pentalgin or Ketanov.
If you apply pain-relieving ointment - Bystrumgel, Ketoprofen, etc. - to your sore back, your condition will improve significantly.

The prevailing opinion that you need to warm up a sore back is erroneous and dangerous if the cause of the pain is unknown. Therefore, it is not worth the risk. If symptoms do not go away and the condition worsens, you need to call an ambulance.

To quickly relax muscles and increase blood circulation, the use of a Kuznetsov mat is recommended.

Comprehensive treatment for back pain can completely eliminate your problems. These are medications and physiological methods of influence.

Prevention

Simple preventive measures will help you avoid situations in which your back hurts from coughing, and even both symptoms separately:

Treat infectious and viral pathologies in a timely manner;
Regularly ventilate your place of residence, while avoiding being in a draft:
Strengthen the body's protective functions, exercise, tone muscles, take vitamins;
Monitor the condition of your back, try not to overload or injure your spine.

Back pain when coughing has different causes. Before treating symptoms, you should see a doctor to find out why the discomfort is occurring. Therapy for pain when coughing should be comprehensive.

Diagnostic methods

To identify the causes of pain when coughing, it is worth conducting diagnostic studies. They should include the following components:

examination and interview of the patient;
tests;
instrumental procedures.

During the examination and interview, the doctor is interested in the time of onset of the symptom, the severity and nature of the pain. It can be shooting, aching or pressing. Of no small importance is the presence of a visible curvature of the spine and the characteristics of the cough - it can be dry or wet. You should definitely take urine and blood tests. Thanks to this, it will be possible to identify acute inflammation in the body.

A urine test helps evaluate the health of your kidneys. If necessary, a sputum examination is performed.

Based on the results of laboratory tests, instrumental studies are prescribed. To do this, perform the following procedures:

ultrasound examination of internal organs;
radiography of the spine;
CT scan;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
electrocardiogram.