coughing making my back hurt

Hi Monkies. I see you're new here, so welcome.

A cough and pain that's persisted for this long really needs medical attention - but it's easy for me to say living in a very safe area where I don't have to risk violence to seek medical assistance.

What you must realist is that we are not doctors here and can't give medical advice. But - I am recovering from illness with symptoms very much as you're describing. I started a few weeks ago with severe pain in the area you describe, coughing, and then the pain spread round my lower back and the front of my chest. I've been coughing badly, wheezing like crazy - I turned out to have bad bronchitis and pleurisy, and possibly in the very early stages of developing pneumonia. I've been on antibiotics and ventolin, and still feeling rubbish.

Have you got a fever? How well are you breathing? Do you feel like you're wheezing? Are you getting out of breath with your normal activities? If it's a yes - you really do need to make that trip to the doctor.

The pain in your chest - I know it hurts, but it's important you breathe as deeply as you can without causing yourself to have coughing fits. I'm finding that warm showers (with the water directed on the painful areas of my back) are helpful, as is inhaling steam. I know you guys are in summer there too - but if it's not too hot to tolerate it, or you're not too hot with a fever, something like a hot water bottle or wheat back on the painful areas of your back and chest might help some of the pain too.

Please do see a doctor - and check back and let us know how you're doing.

Laura

this is not good. the long cough with the pain you are describing can be a few things, pneumonia, pleurisy, or bronchitis. Look up pleurisy to see if that is what you are feeling. to be truthful you have to go to the dr some way or another because you need a chest x ray and some antibiotics. no matter what you are going to need to see a doctor on this one, can you try a cheap walk in clinic (i know the word cheap is useless when referring to medical care) but anything like that once you mess around with the back pain it can go from bad to worse quickly with lungs which can mean a very large problem both money and health wise. I have been a donkey about going to the dr when I was uninsured and went from bronchitis to pneumonia with pleurisy and ended up a week in the hospital. I do not want to scare you, had I gotten antibiotics I would not have been in that hospital bed. between now and then you need to get your lungs opened up. My doctor would tell you to drink hot tea, I know its summer but take a hot steamy bath or shower or even head over boiling water pot with a towel breath in the steam. if you can stick some eucalyptis or lavender in the steamy water it will break up the junk in your lungs. no alcohol at all right as it will impair your ability to stay hydrated. basically steam your lungs like I said, get to the dr when you can, look up pleurisy and definately take some ib profun. drink hot liquids even warm lemon honey water would help. also saline spray up the nose wouldn't hurt one bit if you are coughing because of post nasal drip. feel better and best wishes

Hi, i wanted to welcome you to our cp forum. Glad you found us but sorry you are having such a tough time with this cough.
Like the others I would definitely suggest you go to a dr. Waiting any longer will only make matter worse. It does sound like a bronchitis or pneumonia. Hope you can get treated soon.
Let us know how it all goes for you.

Suzane

So, I finally went to the Dr. and it turns out I did have pleurisy. I am now on antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicine. He said its not a big deal and I should get better with the meds. But that it could have gotten worse if I didn't take care of it...so very glad I went! Thanks a lot for the support!!

Monkies, glad you went to the doctor!

As I mentioned in my original message to you - I've just had pleurisy too (this is about the fourth time for me) so I know it's not fun. Rest up and hope you are feeling better very soon.

Laura

Welcome to HW! So many great people here to help! I was worried reading the post's then relieved when I read that you went to the Dr.!!! I hope you get well soon!!!