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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Lower Backache While Suffering From Pneumonia Be Treated?

I am home sick. Just got out of hospital with pneumonia. Chest X-ray las Monday showed it. After being on antibiotics for almost two weeks my doctor ordered another chest X-ray yesterday, exactly one week later. He said it was worse looking than the first, but when I went into the emergency room last Monday nite with fever and chills and a splitting headache, I had no complaints about my chest. In fact I had worked out that evening. I was shocked when they ordered the first X-ray and diagnosed me with pneumonia. Anyway as the week went on in the hospital my headache lessened and I began to feel more chest pressure. The last few days were the worst. Achy, fatigued, no appetite, short of breath. Definitely not myself. Hence the second X-ray. When he called he was ready to send me for a cat scan, but for the first time I feel better. The only thing is I have developed a lower back pain. Yesterday it was on my left lower back, today it is at the base of my spine. Very sore and difficult to move around. He said to call him tomorrow if it’s still there. He said it’s rare that it’s related. Rare but could be. What do you think. I am a teacher and have missed quite a few days as I couldn’t even imagine walking to my classroom from my car! Thank you for any input you can offer me!
Fri, 6 Jul 2018
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.


Back pain is one of the lesser known symptoms of pneumonia. As lungs are infected, one experiences back and chest pain when suffering from this disease. Back pain is usually observed in case of bacterial pneumonia. Most of the time, it is observed that chest and back pain aggravates with breathing. When the person breathes deeply, he experiences pain in the back and in the lower chest. The pain is not caused because of damage in the lung tissue, as it does not have pain receptors. But it is because of irritation to the pleura. Pleura is the delicate thin membrane like structure surrounding the lungs. Inflammation in the lung tissue will irritate the pleural membrane. Hence patient suffering from pneumonia may experience chest pain, back pain and sometimes radiating pain to the shoulder. Pain in back caused by pneumonia usually occurs when the person inhales deeply. Hence I suggest you to take proper treatment as prescribed by your doctor for pneumonia. Once your pneumonia gets cured, your backache will also disappear.

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How Can Lower Backache While Suffering From Pneumonia Be Treated?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Back pain is one of the lesser known symptoms of pneumonia. As lungs are infected, one experiences back and chest pain when suffering from this disease. Back pain is usually observed in case of bacterial pneumonia. Most of the time, it is observed that chest and back pain aggravates with breathing. When the person breathes deeply, he experiences pain in the back and in the lower chest. The pain is not caused because of damage in the lung tissue, as it does not have pain receptors. But it is because of irritation to the pleura. Pleura is the delicate thin membrane like structure surrounding the lungs. Inflammation in the lung tissue will irritate the pleural membrane. Hence patient suffering from pneumonia may experience chest pain, back pain and sometimes radiating pain to the shoulder. Pain in back caused by pneumonia usually occurs when the person inhales deeply. Hence I suggest you to take proper treatment as prescribed by your doctor for pneumonia. Once your pneumonia gets cured, your backache will also disappear. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.