Does anyone get these with their anxiety? I am having some bad back pains on the upper part on both sides and my chest is getting a little tight. It's getting a little hard to breath

I had an EKG and a Stress test done just over a month ago and they came back ok.

Any ideas?

I have been having alot of back pains the last few weeks and my anxiety has been through the roof. At first it was my left upper back, now its my right side i feel like a ball of nerves. The more pains i get the worse the anxiety cause i tell myself its my heart doing this and then i worry and the attacks start. I just had an echo, and nuclear stress test, and ekg and blood work done a little over a week ago, everything showed a normal heart but i still think there is something wrong and i cant let it go. I did look and see that muscular pains are associated with stress and anxiety.

I get upper back pain and chest tightness all the time with increased anxiety and stress. It hurts all the way up to my neck. I thought it was either a heart attack or something was wrong with my lungs. I went to the doctor and she explained that with increased anxiety and stress, it can cause muscle tension everywhere especially in the neck and shoulder areas. She also said when you are anxious you tend to use your chest and shoulders to breathe more and this could also cause the upper back pain. She told me to practice diaphragmatic breathing. She explained how your chest and shoulders should remain still and your stomach should be the only thing moving when you breathe. When I focus on my breathing and take slow, deep breaths using my diaphram, it not only relaxes me but helps my back and chest pain also. I hope this helps you a little.

Dude stress can cause a weird variety of symptoms plus you seem to have a wide variety of tests that all came back good. I recommend if you still have issues sit down with your Dr and level with him or her. Tell the Dr that you really need piece of mind and as much as it's had to worrying/stress can cause it to be worse.

Fear fuels anxiety. Even as I say that it's so hard to comprehend while it's happening.

I get upper back pain and chest tightness all the time with increased anxiety and stress. It hurts all the way up to my neck. I thought it was either a heart attack or something was wrong with my lungs. I went to the doctor and she explained that with increased anxiety and stress, it can cause muscle tension everywhere especially in the neck and shoulder areas. She also said when you are anxious you tend to use your chest and shoulders to breathe more and this could also cause the upper back pain. She told me to practice diaphragmatic breathing. She explained how your chest and shoulders should remain still and your stomach should be the only thing moving when you breathe. When I focus on my breathing and take slow, deep breaths using my diaphram, it not only relaxes me but helps my back and chest pain also. I hope this helps you a little.

Thank you, I laid down with my wife and my back relaxed and so did my chest plus my breathing was easier after about 10-15 min.

I just wanted to know if you suffer from any mental illness? Just curious of where the anxiety attacks come from...I get them alot. But, Iam also diagnosed Bipolar.

I just wanted to know if you suffer from any mental illness? Just curious of where the anxiety attacks come from...I get them alot. But, Iam also diagnosed Bipolar.

I think this whole anxiety/panic has brought out OCD with my obsession over my health, it's definately caused depression and I am definately a hypochondriac (sp?) but I meet with the Dr today to get the referrel for the psychiatrist/psychologist so they will make the official diagnosis. I also was to see the Dr about Adult Attention Deficit Disorder before this panic hit.

I just hate how quickly the emergency room Dr's and my Dr writes it off as anxiety/panic but I think it's hard sometimes to see the forest from the trees.

I know EXACTLY what you mean Mr_Panicky. My misery began last year, I started having panic attack which in turn led to depression and I have now been put on medication for OCD. I am diabetic and have every reason to be worried, but its completely taken over my life :( I have 2 small children and feel like I am missing out on them so much. I think its great your going to see a therapist. I started to see one earlier this year. The jury is still out on whether Im benefiting from seeing him or medication or both. But hopefully I am on the road to recovery and you will be too !! BTW I also had the heart stress test done last December which came back normal. My doctor told me that is is 99.9 percent accurate and of course with my head problems every twitch I feel in the chest/shoulder or back area I convince myself I will be that .1, but then I do what you did and lay down or try and do something else to occupy myself and the pain or twitch or whatever goes away. I guess it also doesnt help that I have back issues. When my nightmare began I had a full back xray done and they found spurs on my spine which can cause pain that radiates around to the front. So I just tell myself its my back and anxiety when I get the pains. Have you had a back xray done ? I would consider it if I was you :)

Yep, same. I obsess about so many things without realising. People actually say "hey, stop obsessing there is nothing to worry about".

But in regards to back pain, yes I get it all the time. I guess it happens when I get tense and tense my muscles to the point where they are worn out from being so strained.

I suffer with anxiety and upper back pain is one of my worst symtoms.

I always think its to do with my heart which makes me panic even more.

My doctor has told me its muscle tension, and although it does go when im fairly relaxed, i still panic everytime i get it.

love mandie x

I suffer with anxiety and upper back pain is one of my worst symtoms.

I always think its to do with my heart which makes me panic even more.

My doctor has told me its muscle tension, and although it does go when im fairly relaxed, i still panic everytime i get it.

love mandie x

Anxiety/panic can cause muscle tension and you sound exactly like me. I had back pains 2 nights ago and if I had my way I would have gone to the ER and after lying down for 10-15 min it went away and I fell at much peace.