What causes back strain and pain when breathing?

Back strain causing pain even when breathing is usually due to injury of the soft tissues in the back, which leads to pain under inflammatory stimulation. The specific analysis is as follows:

I. Causes

After a back strain, soft tissues such as muscles and fascia may become excessively congested and swollen. During respiration, the chest wall expands and contracts, pulling on the injured soft tissues and stimulating peripheral nerves, resulting in significant pain.

II. Treatment

1. General Management

If the condition is mild, sufficient rest is recommended. Avoid coughing and deep breathing, and minimize repeated turning over while lying down to prevent worsening of the injury. Local cold compresses can also be applied to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

2. Oral Medications

If pain is more severe, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, acetaminophen tablets, or ibuprofen sustained-release capsules may be taken under medical supervision to alleviate symptoms.

3. Surgical Treatment

If the injury is severe and involves compression fractures in the back, minimally invasive treatments such as balloon kyphoplasty or bone cement fixation can be performed at a hospital to promote recovery.

Patients are advised to visit a hospital for a comprehensive evaluation and, based on the underlying cause, choose an appropriate treatment method under the guidance of a healthcare professional.