Understanding My Upper Back Discomfort: Possible Causes
I am experiencing a distinct discomfort in my upper back, particularly right beneath my left shoulder trapezius. This follows a recent battle with a viral infection. I’m curious if this issue could be linked to musculoskeletal problems or possibly relate to my heart health. I’m a 30-year-old Black man with scoliosis. I began using cannabis at 16 and continued until I turned 29. Recently, I suffered from a viral infection that caused me to cough up blood. An X-ray revealed some signs of aortic calcification in addition to acute bronchitis. The pain in my upper back manifests during specific movements, yet it tends to lessen when I go running. My mother experienced gestational diabetes while she was pregnant with me. While I await my appointment with the cardiologist, I am determined to maintain a hopeful outlook.
Answers (1)
7/6/2025, 6:40:42 AM
OpenHealth AI
It’s understandable to be concerned about your upper back discomfort, especially following a recent viral infection and your existing medical history. The pain you’re describing could indeed be related to musculoskeletal issues, but other factors may also be at play, particularly given your history of coughing up blood and the findings from your X-ray.
Understanding Your Discomfort
-
Musculoskeletal Causes: The upper back pain you're experiencing could likely stem from muscle strain, especially if it occurs during certain movements. Since you mention that the discomfort eases when running, it suggests that movement may relieve tension, which is a common symptom of muscular issues.
-
Respiratory Connection: Since you recently had bronchitis, it's possible that postural changes while coughing or respiratory stress contributed to the discomfort.
-
Cardiac Considerations: With a history of aortic calcification and your family’s background with gestational diabetes, it’s wise to keep an eye on your heart health. While back pain can have many origins, it's crucial to be aware of any additional symptoms related to heart health, especially if they arise.
Next Steps to Consider
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a log of your discomfort, noting the situations in which it worsens or improves. This can help you identify patterns or triggers.
-
Light Stretching and Strengthening: Gentle stretching of the upper back and shoulder muscles might help alleviate tension. Additionally, strengthening exercises for the upper back can improve support and reduce pain over time.
-
Correct Posture: Pay attention to your posture when sitting, especially if you spend time at a computer. Ergonomic adjustments can prevent muscle strain.
-
Stay Active: Since you mentioned running helps reduce the discomfort, continue engaging in moderate cardiovascular activity, provided it's comfortable for you.
-
Use Heat or Cold: Applying a warm compress or heating pad to the area can relax muscles, while cold packs may help reduce any swelling or inflammation.
-
Stay Hydrated and Rested: Ensure you’re well-hydrated and that you’re getting adequate rest, as both can support recovery and overall health.
As you await your cardiologist appointment, maintaining hope and a proactive approach to your symptoms is admirable. Should your symptoms change or worsen—especially with any chest pain, shortness of breath, or increased severity of back discomfort—please seek immediate medical attention.
Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need additional guidance.
Related Questions
Could This Wound Be Infected?
Hello there! I am a 27-year-old man who is currently not taking any medications. Recently, I suffered an injury while jumping off a boat in Phuket. I'm reaching out to ask for your advice on whether or not this wound might be infected. While it doesn't feel excessively warm to the touch, it is indeed a bit warmer than the surrounding areas. The discomfort is comparable to previous injuries I’ve experienced. I've been diligent in keeping the wound clean, dressing it with a bandage twice daily. I would appreciate any insights you can provide about the condition of my wound.
Assessing Possible Brain Injury After Choking Incident
A few weeks ago, I experienced a troubling incident where I was forcibly choked multiple times by an individual significantly larger than myself. During this experience, I was lifted off the ground and rendered unconscious three times, only to regain consciousness and face choking once more. Following this, I underwent a CT scan, which fortunately revealed no immediate issues. However, I’ve been feeling unusually fatigued and my cognitive abilities seem diminished. I'm uncertain whether these changes arose directly from the choking episodes or if they might be the result of more recent factors. Additionally, I’ve moved into a new living situation that has noticeable water damage and potential mold growth. What steps can I take to determine if I might be dealing with permanent brain injury?
Persistent Swelling in Right Cheek – Doctor Struggles to Identify Cause (31-Year-Old Female)
Hello everyone, I'm reaching out because I've been experiencing **bizarre recurring swelling in my right cheek** for nearly a year, and thus far, no physician has been able to pinpoint what’s going on. # Symptoms: * The swelling typically occurs **overnight** (in about 90% of the instances) and remains for **2 to 3 days**. * While the swelling is **not painful**, it feels **hard or firm**, as if something is pressing within the cheek, potentially linked to the parotid gland. * Occasionally, there’s a mild **itchiness or tingling** sensation prior to the onset. * Initially localized to one region, the swelling has started to appear in **various areas** of the cheek since I received **Botox** treatment aimed at alleviating jaw tension. * The episodes now happen **roughly every two weeks**, although this is not stable — there sometimes are identifiable triggers (such as alcohol consumption, flying, or being unwell), yet it can also manifest on completely healthy days. # Medical Evaluations Conducted: * **MRI** – results were normal (although the swelling was not present during this scan). * **CT scan when swollen** – indicated inflammation but no evidence of stones. * **Sialogram** – revealed 50% narrowing of the salivary duct on the affected side. * **Blood tests, thyroid examination, allergy testing, and dental evaluations** – all returned normal results. * I attempted treatments like **lymphatic drainage, naturopathy, and reiki**, but saw no improvements. * Allergy testing - I am not allergic to any substances. Various doctors, including an ENT specialist, were unable to provide a definitive diagnosis. Initially, they recommended a sialoendoscopy with duct dilation but later mentioned that it might not yield results, proposing instead that my large jaw muscles could be exerting pressure on the salivary or parotid glands, prompting them to suggest Botox — which I underwent about two weeks ago; however, this has not eliminated the swelling but merely shifted its position. I'm currently traveling, which limits my ability to pursue further testing at the moment. I’ve been prescribed **doxycycline once** before, yet I’m uncertain whether to start it or if it would be of any benefit. Has anyone faced a similar situation? I would really appreciate any insights, recommendations for supplements, or personal experiences, as it’s increasingly frustrating not knowing the underlying cause or receiving a clear diagnosis. Thank you for any help! 🙏
Understanding Legionnaire's Disease Risks
A 39-year-old man, standing at approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 180 pounds, finds himself quite concerned about potential exposure to Legionnaire's disease. He does not currently take any medications, has never engaged in smoking, and consumes alcohol occasionally during social gatherings. Recently, he returned from a week-long vacation during which he had turned off his water heater and adjusted its temperature settings. Upon his return, he switched the water heater back on and ran some hot water to tidy up his bathtub and the surrounding areas in his home. About five hours later, he took a shower without considering that bacteria might have developed in the water tank while it was inactive. Now feeling anxious about the situation, he is pondering whether to visit a walk-in clinic to request antibiotics as a precautionary measure against Legionnaire's disease, or if he should simply monitor his health for the time being. He resides in the United States, which may be relevant for further guidance on this matter.
Experiencing Dizziness?
Hello, fellow Redditors, I am a 23-year-old female weighing around 130 pounds, and I've been dealing with some unsettling dizzy sensations lately. It feels quite peculiar, as if my head becomes heavy and tilts to one side, causing me to lose my balance and perceive the surrounding environment as skewed. I first noticed this on the previous day, but today the sensation appears to have intensified. In the past, I’ve encountered dizziness associated with hunger, but that was accompanied by different symptoms, such as a ringing or buzzing in my ears, a spinning head, and brief spots of darkness in my vision. My medication regimen remains unchanged, which includes Montelukast 10mg, a generic version of Claritin, and a daily multivitamin. To my understanding, my diet hasn’t altered significantly either, and my bowel habits are within normal ranges. However, I've observed that I feel significantly more fatigued than usual. Typically, I rise before my alarm sounds, but for the last few weeks, I’ve been sleeping so deeply that I only awaken when it goes off. As a result, I’ve woken up feeling quite groggy, although this grogginess has been persistent longer than my dizzy episodes. Today, I plan to take it easy and see if additional rest and nutrition alleviate my symptoms. That said, I will need to resume my normal activities tomorrow. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any insights or advice on what might be happening and how I can address it would be greatly valued.