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What Causes Persistent Back Pain, Breathing Issues And Lightheadedness?
Question: I have been struggling with the back issue for a year. I am right handed. When I do house work, cooking and use the right hand I start feeling pain on my right side of the back. I have tried physical therapy, acupuncture. I was doing swimming, zumba. Was very active. Then I went to Chiropractor. He said he thinks I have stuck rib in my back(He manipulated through the all back). I had 5 treatments with him. When I came to him during my last treatment I mentioned problems breathing. So after the treatment I noticed it was harder to breath. After 7 days I had very bad symptom- short breathing and lightheaded and I was scared and went to ER. I was told that it was a kind of panic attack and next time when it happens I need to lie down(so like I have a mental issue). Now almost 7 days past I keep having this symptoms. They kind of always with me. Only if I stay in bad my breathing is better. Can it be something else other then stress, anxiety ? Thanks. Julia
Brief Answer:
Breathing and lightheadedness are unrelated to back issues.Some details?
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.
I understand your concerns and I shall try to explain them well to you. I feel confident to say that your breathing and lightheadedness issues are not related to back/spine problems. Spine problems may cause impairment of breathing pattern if the disease or pathology is higher up in the neck, and not in back,as you mentioned.Just like that,issues lower down at the back don't result in lightheadedness.
Anxiety/Panic attacks are of course,a common cause of these symptoms.However,other important differential is heart related issues.I would advise you to undergo a cardiac evaluation and an ambulatory ECG monitoring, so that any abnormal electrical activity of heart during such event can be picked,if any.
I would also suggest you to get Thyroid function tests done to rule out Thyroid dysfunction.
Meanwhile,please continue your antianxiety medications.
Hope that this reply is of help to you.If you have any follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer them.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Breathing and lightheadedness are unrelated to back issues.Some details?
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.
I understand your concerns and I shall try to explain them well to you. I feel confident to say that your breathing and lightheadedness issues are not related to back/spine problems. Spine problems may cause impairment of breathing pattern if the disease or pathology is higher up in the neck, and not in back,as you mentioned.Just like that,issues lower down at the back don't result in lightheadedness.
Anxiety/Panic attacks are of course,a common cause of these symptoms.However,other important differential is heart related issues.I would advise you to undergo a cardiac evaluation and an ambulatory ECG monitoring, so that any abnormal electrical activity of heart during such event can be picked,if any.
I would also suggest you to get Thyroid function tests done to rule out Thyroid dysfunction.
Meanwhile,please continue your antianxiety medications.
Hope that this reply is of help to you.If you have any follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer them.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Neck is also an issue. I have experiencing pains in the neck as well and chiropractor also touched the neck. It is hard to take deep breath and when I do it I get some sensation in my back. I have one MRI for back done only "thorastic spine"
It is easier to breath when I bend or stay horizontal position.
It is easier to breath when I bend or stay horizontal position.
Brief Answer:
Ambulatory ECG monitoring/Unrelated to back issues/continue anxiety meds.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being in follow-up with further details.
Still, your symptoms are not probably related to neck issues or back issues because if it would have been a spinal problem in the neck, symptoms would not have intermittent worsening and improvement,as in your case,the symptoms worsen at times and then improve when you get in bed or relax.
However,I would suggest you to get a digital X-ray for neck or cervical spine.Along with,an ambulatory ECG monitoring must be done to rule out any cardiac rhythm abnormality.
Besides,Anxiety or panic attacks are strong possibility and anti-anxiety medicines should be continued.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Ambulatory ECG monitoring/Unrelated to back issues/continue anxiety meds.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being in follow-up with further details.
Still, your symptoms are not probably related to neck issues or back issues because if it would have been a spinal problem in the neck, symptoms would not have intermittent worsening and improvement,as in your case,the symptoms worsen at times and then improve when you get in bed or relax.
However,I would suggest you to get a digital X-ray for neck or cervical spine.Along with,an ambulatory ECG monitoring must be done to rule out any cardiac rhythm abnormality.
Besides,Anxiety or panic attacks are strong possibility and anti-anxiety medicines should be continued.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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