Tense muscles in the upper back can also cause symptoms in the upper back, shoulders, and around the chest. Several chest and upper back muscles are used together while performing upper body related activities, such as paddling, throwing a ball, lifting weights, painting walls, or washing windows. Both chest and upper back muscles may tighten at the same time, such as from overuse or lifting something that is too heavy. A strain or pull of the chest muscle can cause a sharp pain in the chest.
A muscle strain or pull occurs when the muscle stretches or tears. A heart attack is a medical emergency. A person should call 911 or the local emergency number if they experience symptoms of a heart attack. These symptoms usually appear after physical exertion and disappear after resting or taking medications.
Unlike muscle strain, pleurisy can cause additional symptoms, such as fever and muscle aches. A person who suspects pleurisy should visit a doctor, who will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to make a diagnosis. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, as well as any activities that may have caused or contributed to the pain. Symptoms of a chest muscle strain are usually due to an intercostal muscle strain.
A muscle strain in the chest can cause sudden, sharp pain. This happens when the muscle stretches or tears. Most chest pain comes from an intercostal muscle strain. The intercostal muscles are located between the ribs.
They help control breathing and stabilize the upper body. Muscles between the ribs can stretch too much or break partially as a result of overuse or injury. This can cause chest pain and shortness of breath. When you feel your heart racing and you start to feel chest pain, you may be worried that you are having a heart attack.
Chest pain on the right side may be caused by muscle strain, heartburn, or another undiagnosed condition. The type of treatment a person receives will depend on the underlying cause of their chest and back pain. Some other possible causes of chest and back pain include infections, digestive conditions, and injuries to muscles, bones, or other tissues of the chest. When in doubt, if you are concerned about your chest and back pain, go to an emergency room and follow up with your doctor for ongoing care.
If the tear or strain is of concern, the doctor may order an MRI or ultrasound. Pain relievers can also help relieve pain while your muscles recover, but you should talk to a doctor, pharmacist, or doctor about how to get and use them. This condition of unknown cause includes painful trigger points that can appear in the muscles and fascia (connective tissues) in different parts of the body, such as the upper back and chest. With less space, a spinal nerve can compress or become inflamed, causing pain to radiate from the spine in the upper back along a rib to the chest.
Pain found on the left or center of the back, in combination with chest pain, could be related to a heart condition or heart problems. For example, a strain in an intercostal muscle (muscle between adjacent ribs) can cause a band of pain that is felt along the rib, both in the chest and upper back. If your doctor discovers that your chest pain is due to another condition, he or she will recommend different treatments. For example, a bicycle collision can cause a herniated disc, fracture, and muscle strain that contribute to pain in the upper back and chest.
If you are recovering from a cold or respiratory infection such as bronchitis, you could suffer a chest muscle strain from a cough. People who are concerned about chest muscle strain or other chest pain should visit their doctor, especially if they are not sure of the cause. .
