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Can Bronchitis Cause Pain In Upper Chest And Upper Back Area?

Posted on Mon, 9 May 2016

Question: does bronchitis cause pain in upper chest and upper back area the pain gets really intense with moving or doing nothing at all, I did have x ray done and said it's no pneumonia I just never felt this before with previous bronchitis in the past any advice would be appreciated my dr is suggested that I do steriods but I have been on and off steriods for the past 7 moths because of a recent toxoplasmosis reactive in retina which I was told Is not active anymore but worries me about getting back on steriods again

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you are mostly having musculoskeletal pain.
Bronchitis can cause similar kind of pain but it is also associated with cough and shortness of breath.
Only pain, is common in musculoskeletal cause.
So better to avoid movements causing pain.
Avoid bad postures in sleep.
Avoid heavyweight lifting and strenuous exercise.
Take painkiller and muscle relaxant drugs.
Apply warm water pad on affected areas.
You will mostly improve with all these.
Please let me know
1. Do you have cough?
2. Do you have breathlessness?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

I do have a cough but no as bad anymore as I use to get with bronchitis I am also doing breathing treatment at home, I've tried tynole and other stuff over the counter for pain but not helping all dr is giving me is steriods I'm just concern about taking to much steriods

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need to take steroids orally.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No need to take oral steroids.
You should take inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
Pain in bronchitis is due to pleurisy. And most common cause for this is lung infection. So you should also start broad spectrum antibiotic like levofloxacin or azithromycin.
Please let me know
1. Which breathing treatment you are taking at home?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (41 minutes later)

I was on azithromycin 2 weeks ago and as soon as I finished it the bronchitis came back I am now on augmentin , I think that how it's spelt. I am doing albuterol treatments at home. I have tried the inhaled ones but they don't do me any good

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Do you smoke?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can I can understand your.
So you are on Augmentin and still having cough, chest pain.
So, possibility of severe bronchitis is more.
So please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
2. Have you ever undergone PFT (Pulmonary Function Test)?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)

I do smoke I'm trying to quit I smoke about 6 or 7 cig a day, the pains hurt more in my upper back than in my chest most of the time, it does feel like it would be swollen with fluid . I have not had a pft test before ,. the steriods my dr called in for me would they help me or should I not take them

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Better to first get done PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
First of all, you need to quit smoking as soon as possible.
Second, get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) to know the severity of bronchitis.
You may need additional long acting inhaled bronchodilators (formoterol or salmeterol) and inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide or fluticasone).
It's better to take inhaled corticosteroid than oral steroids.
So in my opinion, you should not take oral steroid, better to get done PFT and start long acting inhaled treatment.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

what should I do in the mean time though I don't have insurance and I'm sure one of those test are not cheap. I didn't start with all this bronchitis stuff til may of last year when the toxoplasmosis reactived could this be related to toxoplasmosis? even though it's not active in retina I do have appointment next week with neuro optamologist because my vision is still messed up and retina specialist isn't sure why

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Which steroid drug is advised by your doctor?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
Yes, PFT is not that cheap.
But you can definitely quit smoking as soon as possible.
In between time, you can take steroid.
Please let me know, which steroid drug is advised by your doctor?
Newer steroids are safe and have minimum side effects.
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)

it's methylpredisolone dose pack, I'm working on trying to quit smoking on my own it's hard.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Better to take deflazacort instead of methylprednisone.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Better to enroll in deaddiction center where psychiatrist is available for counselling. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is also indicated in your case to ease the deaddiction.
And better to take deflazacort instead of methylprednisone. It is having lesser side effects as compare to methylprednisone.
Please let me know
1. Have you tried NRT for deaddiction?
2. What is your weight? So that I can guide you the dose.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

my weight was 200 but being on steriods off and on I'm at 230 now, I have not tried nrt

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Start with 30mg once a day for 5 days then 6 mg once a day.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You should definitely start NRT with guidance of psychiatrist.
And start deflazacort 30 mg once daily for 5 days then taper down to 6 mg once daily for 5 days.
Better to consult pulmonologist afterwards for long acting inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar