Pain from lung cancer may feel worse when you breathe deeply, laugh, or cough. Although chest pain is a common symptom, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reports that 25 percent of people with lung cancer reported back pain as a symptom.īack pain from lung cancer can happen when a tumor in the lungs begins to put pressure on the spine. Lung cancerĬhest and back pain can also occur as a symptom of lung cancer. In addition to pain, other symptoms you may experience include muscle spasms and stiffness in the affected area of the spine, which may restrict movement.Īdditionally, there are some case studies in which a herniated disc in the upper portion of the spine has caused pain in the chest or chest wall. In some cases, a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine may cause pain to radiate to the area of the chest and possibly to the extremities. In some cases, pain may also occur in your back. However, some people may feel pain or tenderness in their chest. Many times, an aortic aneurysm will develop with very little or no symptoms. In some cases, this weakened area may tear, which can lead to life-threatening bleeding. An aortic aneurysm happens when part of the aorta becomes weakened. Your aorta is the largest artery in your body. Other symptoms you may experience include muscle stiffness, muscle twitching, and feelings of fatigue. Repetitive use or overuse of multiple muscle groups, for example through activities such as rowing, can lead to aching pain in the chest, back, or chest wall. Sometimes muscular problems may cause pain in the chest and upper back. The pain from pericarditis may also be felt as pain in the left shoulder, back, or neck. This pain may become worse while breathing deeply, lying down, or swallowing. It can also happen after a heart attack or heart surgery. It can be caused by an infection or autoimmune condition. Pericarditis happens when the pericardium becomes inflamed. The pericardium lines the surface of your heart. There are several risk factors that may increase your risk of gallstones, including being female, being pregnant, and being overweight or obese. You may also experience symptoms such as nausea or vomiting. The amount of time you experience pain from gallstones can last for a few minutes to several hours. Gallstones may cause pain to occur in several different places, including: Gallstones occur when this fluid hardens inside your gallbladder, forming stones.
Your gallbladder is a small organ that stores a digestive fluid called bile. It can also spread to your shoulders and back. The pain of pleurisy gets worse as you breathe in deeply or cough. Pleurisy can be caused by a variety of things, including infections, autoimmune conditions, and cancers.
When they’re inflamed, they can rub against each other, which leads to pain. Normally, these membranes move smoothly past each other. Pleurisy happens when the membranes that line your lungs and your chest cavity become inflamed. Some foods can also trigger the condition, including spicy foods, citrus, and fatty foods. You may also notice an acidic taste in your mouth or pain that gets worse while lying down or bending over.īeing pregnant, overweight, or obese can also increase your risk of developing heartburn. Heartburn tends to be worse after eating a meal or in the evening. It may also sometimes be felt in your back or abdomen. This causes a painful, burning sensation in your chest, behind your breastbone.
Heartburn happens when the acid or contents of your stomach comes back up into your esophagus. Women may feel pain in the back, neck, or abdomen in addition to or instead of chest pain. Similar to pain from a heart attack, angina pain can spread to the shoulders, back, and neck.Īngina symptoms can vary between men and women. It often happens while you’re exerting yourself. It can commonly occur in people with coronary artery disease. AnginaĪngina is pain that occurs when your heart tissue isn’t getting enough blood. It’s also important to note that some people having a heart attack may experience very few symptoms or none at all. Women are more likely than men to experience heart attack pain involving the back or jaw. sensations of pressure or tightness in the chest.Because of this, people having a heart attack may experience chest pain that can spread into the neck, shoulders, and back. Heart attackĪ heart attack happens when the blood supply to the muscles of your heart is blocked. Here are 10 potential causes of upper back and chest pain.