Suggest Treatment For Tightness On Back That Radiates To Chest

Posted on Mon, 29 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 29 Jun 2015 Answered on

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been having a pain or tightness in my left back that radiates to the front of my chest (middle left side)
In the back it feels like a pulled muscle but the front almost like heartburn. It is worse at night when I lay down.
I can feel it when I breath in. It was really bad when the plane we were on landed in XXXXXXX It was a quick 10 minute plane change, but chest was very tight. The last time I felt like this I was sick with the on set of walking pneumonia. Don't feel sick. Not sure if I should go to walk in clinic or not. Had this for 3 weeks.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your problems seem to be related to muscle spasm

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have carefully gone through your query and feel that it is more likely that muscle spasm is the cause of your problems. Often a vicious cycle of pain/discomfort and muscle spasm sets in and one aggravates the other. Hot compress usually provides relief. Alongside you can take acetaminophen/tylenol. If that does not help you might need to go for muscle relaxant tablets a couple of times a day for a few days. But these muscle relaxants are prescription meds and you might need to visit a doctor and get it prescribed. So, even though you do not otherwise feel sick, you might need to visit a doctor if the previous suggestions do not help.

You might be having acid reflux. Taking prilosec/omeprazole should provide you relief.

Hope that helps.

Regards

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