Why Does My Back Hurt When I Cough?

Coughing can put an unexpected strain on your body, especially your back. If you’ve noticed pain when coughing, you’re not alone. The discomfort may result from several underlying causes, many of which are easily treatable with chiropractic care. Some conditions include:

Rib Misalignment

Involves a lot of movement, and if you turn your body slightly as you cough, you could inadvertently put pressure on your ribs. It’s one of the most common reasons. Rotating during a cough, like turning away to be polite, can shift the alignment of your ribs. Pain during movements like coughing, sneezing, or even putting on a seatbelt may be felt when the ribs are not properly aligned.

Disc Herniation or Bulging

Affects the discs in your spine, especially if they are already weakened or under stress. A sudden, forceful cough increases the pressure on your spinal discs, leading to a bulge or herniation and potentially pain radiating from your back and down into your legs. Chiropractic adjustments help reduce this pressure and alleviate your discomfort.

Muscle Strain

May aggravate an existing muscle strain. If you’ve recently engaged in physical activity like yard work or lifting, your back muscles may already be sore or fatigued. Coughing adds extra tension to these muscles, intensifying the pain.

Spinal Misalignment

When one or more of your vertebrae move out of their normal position, the misalignment places pressure on the surrounding muscles and nerves, making everyday movements more painful. Our chiropractic adjustments correct this issue and bring relief.

How Chiropractic Helps Relieve Your Pain

Our adjustments focus on realigning the spine and ribs, improving mobility, and reducing pain. Dr. Dan or Dr. Pascal will assess the movement of your spine and ribs to determine if there’s a misalignment. By making precise adjustments, they help relieve the tension caused by coughing and restore proper function to the affected areas.