Back Pain with Deep Breath

[HapkidoRN]

Hi, I am a 38 year old female who recently began experiencing a nagging pain in my back.  It's really difficult to pinpoint, it seems maybe much it it is referred pain, but I keep feeling slightly short of breath.  When I do attempt to take a deep breath to relieve the sensation of feeling short of breath, the pain increases with inspiration and sometimes it takes several tries before I can feel like I've gotten a good breath.
I am not overweight, but not in top shape.  I'm a martial artist but have had no recent obvious injuries.  Nothing where I felt like I was flipped too hard, or anything like that.  My weakness is endurance, I can only do a few minutes of martial arts before I am totally winded, and I was like that before this back thing.
Massage, ointments, aspirin are not helping.  Ibuprofen helps marginally. The pain also increases when I turn my neck to back out of the driveway (pain in my back not neck).
The worst part is, I have no health insurance.  Is there anything I can do without spending a billion dollars to see a doctor?

[HapkidoRN]

By OTC I meant Over the Counter muscle relaxers.  I apologize.  I'm beginning to think perhapsit's not my rib because yesterday it began to feel pretty good during the day.  Then last night, breathing was excrutiating as a lay down!
I feel  short of breath and unable to get a full inhale without sharp pain.
3 weeks ago I was assaulted, with fairly severe facial and some head trauma.  Am I going too far by suspacting it may be a clot?

[abhijeet v ghosh]

hi buddy,
rib subluxation is relatively unknown condition. So don't worry about that. we doctors always think of common conditions in the beginning.
What is OTC? can you specify the full form of OTC?
Ribs need time to heal, so keep cool.
regards

[HapkidoRN]

Thank you   for your insight.  Would this condition improve without medical intervention other than those you suggested?  Also, is subluxation of a rib a possibility?  I mean because the pain is strictly left sided.  Are the any OTC muscle relaxants?
Thank you.

[abhijeet v ghosh]

Hello hapkindo,
well without a medical insurance, it's a problem. Start by an X_Ray which is a cheaper investigation. It might show some early changes. In your case i am suspecting IVDP (inter vertebral disc prolapse).
and your previous history of active life style, is aggravating this problem.
Take rest( i mean no bending, no lifting heavy objects, etc)
Take some anti-inflamatories as well as muscle relaxants.

regards

Feel free to ask more.