15. Upper back pain
The lungs are situated in the back. With this placement in mind, it is odd to note that when a person experiences back pain they do not consider it to be an implication of lung disease. Granted, this pain in the back can be simply that, back pain. It could also point to an underlying pulmonary issue.
If a person is battling a chest infection, it is very common for them to experience pain or discomfort in their upper back. This could be when lying down when breathing deeply or coughing. While this is inconvenient and adds to the discomfort of the illness, it is at least known and diagnosed.
This kind of is also generally mechanical in nature and is simply due to the strain put on the muscles when one has a chest infection. There is, however, another kind of back pain which originates in the lungs. This is categorized as referred back pain and it could indicate an underlying or emergent lung condition. The distinction lies in when the pain in the back is predominantly felt.
If a person is able to twist and move their spine without worsening the pain, then it is most likely a pain which is originating in the lungs. This is obviously not true all the time. It is possible for a person to be able to move their spine, while still having pain which has its source in the back and its muscles as opposed to the lungs. A correct diagnosis can only be made by a doctor, after a full physical examination. Non-mechanical back pain still ought to be treated as a sign or symptom of lung disease.