There is a complex series of relationships between these muscle groups. Due to the variety of possibilities, then, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause or treatment.

Most of us know when we have overextended ourselves enough to cause an onset of upper chest back pain. However, if you have no idea why you are experiencing upper back pain, then see a doctor as soon as you can. Especially if you have upper back pain that spreads to your chest front, lower ribcage, or your abdomen, it is important to see a doctor.

Often, pain in the chest and upper back together means that there is inflammation in one area that spreads out to the other part of the body. One-sided chest pain while taking a deep breath could indicate a lung condition such as pleurisy.

Another common cause of back and chest pain is due to a pinched spinal nerve. There are various causes for such nerve compression, which include thoracic nerves firing due to a herniated disk, muscle spasms, a bone spur formation, or spinal stenosis. Here again, an exam is in order. If treatment does not relieve your symptoms within a month or two, then seek a second opinion.

Back pain while breathing is a common sign of muscular backache, since upper back muscles and chest muscles work in combination when you breathe. There are a few mechanisms in the mid-back and upper back that commonly cause combined upper chest back pain. If you have injured your diaphragm, this can also cause pain in the chest, along with tightening of the upper back. This could occur via a pulled diaphragm muscle during sudden, vigorous activity such as martial arts

The usual causes of most kinds of back pain may combine as well, to produce simultaneous pain in the upper back and chest: muscle tension, muscle weakness, improper joint motion, and pelvic imbalance. Chest pain can also result from sore ribs, such as occurs via a strenuous cough due to a cold or flu.

If you have injured your spine, or if your rib cage has been damaged or broken, then the nerve endings can send pain impulses into other parts of the body, such as the upper back. Such pain can be quite intense, and in most cases, a doctor will prescribe drugs to reduce inflammation and provide short-term pain relief.

A less common cause of chest and back pain is a heart attack due to heart disease. If you know that cardiovascular disease runs in your family, then get medical attention immediately, and be sure to mention this to the doctor. Pain caused by heart disease or related conditions may require some ongoing exercise and dietary changes, to provide lasting change, and thus to prevent a recurrence.

Any upper back pain with chest pain that includes a crushing or squeezing sensation, a heavy weight upon the chest, or any of the signs of a heart attack deserves immediate medical attention. Heart attack symptoms may include sweating; fever; shortness of breath; vomiting or nausea; dizziness; quick or irregular pulse; or pain spreading from the chest to the neck, jaw, or shoulders and arms.