feeling of pressure in your chest or like your heart is being squeezedĪngina is sometimes confused with a heart attack.It’s a fairly common condition, affecting about 9 million Americans. AnginaĬhest pain associated with angina: described as pressure, or a feeling like your heart is being squeezedĪngina refers to a type of chest pain that occurs when blood is still flowing to the heart muscle, but the supply is dramatically reduced. You may also experience heart palpitations or a racing heart. Sometimes upper back and chest pain may also have more than one cause or separate causes.Chest pain related to your heart is often accompanied by shortness of breath or other breathing difficulties. Many other factors may be involved with developing chest and upper back pain. Various problems or conditions can develop in the heart or lungs, which may send pain to both the chest and upper back. Similarly, degeneration within the costovertebral joint (where the rib meets the thoracic spine) could pinch an intercostal nerve and cause pain along the rib. When a spinal nerve in the thoracic spine (upper back) becomes compressed or inflamed, such as by a bone spur (abnormal bone growth) or thoracic herniated disc, pain may travel along the nerve from the upper back to the chest. See Upper Back Pain from Intercostal Muscle Strain Additionally, tendons, ligaments, or the muscle’s connective tissues (fascia) may become overstretched or inflamed and refer pain to the chest and upper back. When one muscle becomes painful or stiff, other nearby muscles may also become painful in response, such as if they need to work harder. Muscle inflammation or strain in the chest and/or upper back region can cause muscle tightness and/or spasms. Some of the underlying biomechanics that can contribute to both upper back and chest pain include: The chest and upper back are in close proximity to each other with both sharing many ribs that help protect the same vital internal organs. Some people may experience increased pain when sitting or lying down. Sometimes upper back and chest pain alleviates with rest or avoiding specific activities, but not always. Rib pain that travels along the rib or possibly between ribs. ![]() Pain that spreads into the neck and/or arm, which can range from dull to sharp, and could be accompanied by tingling, numbness, and/or weakness.Pins-and-needles tingling or numbness that might be felt along the rib or across a bigger area, possibly more in the chest or back.Trigger points in the upper back and/or chest that feel tender, sore, or tight, and can flare up and spread pain to nearby areas when touched.Increased pain while breathing or trouble taking full breaths.Department of Health & Human Services, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Website. Pressure or fullness in the chest rather than painġ Heart attack.Stiffness in the shoulder, chest, and/or upper back due to pain or muscle tightness, which can reduce the ability to perform basic tasks, such as getting dressed or driving.Burning, sharp, or electric-like pain that may worsen with movement, possibly radiating pain along a rib from the upper back to the chest area.Dull achiness that is felt in the upper back and chest, perhaps just on one side, and/or possibly extending into the shoulder area.People with upper back and chest pain usually have one or more of the following symptoms: This pain is typically felt more on one side of the spine, but it can be felt on both sides. ![]() Upper back and chest pain may begin gradually and worsen over a long period of time, or it can start suddenly without explanation or after an injury.
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