itchy back from coughing

[illtelya]

I am a 26 year old male. On occasion (maybe once a week) I have a coughing spell...the cough is very chesty and almost feels like I'm clearing my throat. It only lasts a few minutes, but my main issue is that every time I get this cough I have severe itching on the right side of my chest and the same side of my upper back (as far as location, it almost feels that if you drilled a hole straight through the itch on my chest that you would touch the itch on my back). Each time I cough it itches even more. The itching is so severe that I scratch the spot on my chest and the spot on my back until it is raw. I have had this problem ever since I can remember, so I currently have scars in these places from all of the scratching. I am unsure if this is a normal side effect from coughing, or if it is something I really need to look into. I currently have no health insurance and would really appreciate an opinion on the issue. this question was asked before but no answer was given. it is happening to me now what 2 do?

[QuinnWyman]

Im 13 and i have had that issue since i was 7. Just dont cough or itch it makes it worse take cough medecine (generic or prescribed) and drink water. Take long breaths and ease the itching/coughing fit. It will end in about 5 minutes depending on the severness of your cough.

[ShannonMarieva85]

I just started getting this too..with a dry cough...any answers yet as to what causes it?

[yusuf_nbs]

hi i am 30 yrs old male from india.i am having some problem since more than 1.5 years.i do throat clearing all the time .more throat clearing after eating. as if a small mucus is stucked in my throat,which is not comming out.i was admitted for this in hospital.they have lots of tests including ct scan of chest,mri scan of throat,barium meal,endoscopy,24 hr esophagal ph monitoring,usg,blood tests.all are normal.no GERD.what should i do now?
please help me.

one thing i must tell u.this started at sep.2009.at that time,one day i sprayed baygon spray(for killing bugs and moquitoes) in my room ,and then i had to sleep in that room.since then my problem increased.there was some smell of spray.

i am doing this for 1 and half years.now i cant cough and hawk anymore.pls help. ..

[Angie75NC]

Ive had a cold  with a deep cough for almost a week now and I am going through the same thing.  It's on my right side of my back right at the bottom of my shoulder blade.  It's driving me crazy because scratching is NOT helping at all.  I hate that all of you are having it too but I'm glad I'm  not insane here.  

[Lannie37]

I have the same exact problem..started maybe 2 months ago. I cough and clear my throat from drainage constantly. My back itches so bad that I often have to get my husband to scratch my back, stomach, and under my breast. It drives me crazzzzy. I know that if I go to the hospital with no insurance they are gonna misdiagnose me..I thought I was the only one with this agonizing problem.

[Crazychick8]

This happens to me too sometimes.. and I cough like crazy for a few minutes and then stop.. I think this might have something to do with air humidity.. it would happen to me sometimes when I wake up after a rainy night and start coughing a lot and feeling that itch on my back. But the most interesting thing is that that itch feels like it's on the inside so it doesn't go away.. I think it also has something to do with anxiety. I don't really know why but this happens to me every time I start overthinking things.

[maryskey]

I'm 47. When I was about 20, I had a pretty bad case of "walking pneumonia" and my "itching" seemed to have started with that. Ever since then, mostly when I get a cold (with a cough), I would have a very specific spot in what feels like my right lung. The itch would transfer through to the skin on my back. I too have scratched so much it left marks and nearly drew blood! I've asked doc after doc after natural doc, and only ONE said anything that made any sense (or didn't at least look at me like I was crazy!). He said it sounds like it might be scar tissue in the lungs from the walking pneumonia all those years ago. Ok, great, but how do I get RID of it?!?! I've had lung X-rays that show nothing. Over the years, I have found that having someone "slap" my back in that area, does relieve it considerably. I know that some patients who have respiratory issues benefit from this, see https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000051.htm
Mine has gotten worse over the years in that it seems to have moved from that one spot to just a generalized lung area on both sides, and also happens outside of illness, and oddly, when I overeat or get too full (think Thanksgiving dinner). I drive my husband crazy asking him to slap my back. He has to slap pretty darn hard but it feels great! Ridiculous. LOL

[shantoni]

Hi am 18 and am having this same problem over weeks now I thought I was the only one too to itching is extremely bad and I want to know what causes if I scratch n scratch but won't stop I notice when I cough the itching is in my chest my breast and my back wheezing when I cough breath feels like its going to stop I really want this to stop please someone tell us what's the problem

[PatManDo]

I have this itch on the bottom left of my right shoulder blade and the bottom right of my chin when I cough.  However, this cough is only related to coughs associated with asthma.  Coughs with a cold or swallowing wrong never cause this.  Very odd indeed.  Scratching never helps.  The links to wiki above give an explanation I can believe in that constricted lungs irritate nerves inside leaving your brain to send false signals.  I've had it all my life and I'm in great health and good to go when I take my inhaler.  Therefore, don't think this is cause for concern, except you may have asthma (easily controlled).  Would love to surgically remove these nerves though ;-)

[doctor_avario]

hello my name is doctor avario and you case sounds very much like the typical copd (chronic obstructive pulmonry desease) so i suggest you visit your loca clinic for some tests

[krisybug]

The itch is not skin related that's why scratching does not help. When the muscles that your lungs sit on or irritated enough your brain sends the signal to the surface. Because it is confused on how to register the the feeling if you would like to know more go to http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_does_your_back_itch_after_you_cough_a_bunch

[psepse]

Yusuf and the.rest... I come from.Kenya...I have had a. cold for 2days no itching ...I don't know whether this.is a coincidence last night I sprayed mortein doom for mosquito ..this morning my cough is worse and I am itching crazy on my upper back and to be precise the spinal cord..its on. the inside each time I cough...we need a doctor to reply to this ..

[pinkysbrains82]

Just in case any of you didn't get to the bottom of this. I've started having the same symptoms so I Googgled it and found this. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_your_back_itch_after_you_cough_a_bunch

[1Phlebotomist]

I have had this for 6 months now following a series of colds flu and bronchitis late last year. It's very frustrating. The only thing I find that provides relief is using one of those dry brushes and scratching.

[Tamrae_21]

I have the same problem. i thought I was insane! check out this page. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_your_back_itch_after_you_cough_a_bunch#page1

[shibby696]

i have a cold at the moment and when i cough i get an itchy back just at the bottom of my ribs. it drives me nuts cos i just wont stop!
im also wondering what this may be a sign of??

[highpoint]

hi, did you ever get to the bottom of the itching on your back? i have had the same thing for a number of years now and no one seems to have even heard about it let alone know what causes it. all i know is it shouldnt be happening otherwise many people would experience the same thing or at least one or two people you know personaly would have experienced the itching too.
if you or anyone els reading this can enlighten me or anyone who suffers with this condition, please contact me and let me know, should i be worried?, i'm not sure what to think.
thanks andy
***@****

[Elektra5]

You should get tested for copd, I read it as being a symptom whilst checking for myself. I'm going to ask my doctor for a chest xray or ct this week.

[sb786]

I have been experiencing the exact thing!
It feels like a deep itching sensation in my back (lung area) no matter how much i scratch it doesn't help. I tend to only get it when i have a cold or my allergies are not controlled. I also have mild asthma so it maybe linked to that as i have heard of some asthmatics complain of an itchy back?? Anyone find out what is causing this??

[casey6885555]

This has started happening to me as well.  A short-lived bronchitis-ish coughing spell with an intense itching in one spot between my shoulder blades.  I'm almost positive that is allergic in nature.  It always happens when I spend the night at my girlfriend's house and eat cereal for breakfast.

[smile621]

I have something similar.  Right now I have a respiratory type cold w/ coughing and after a while of coughing, my whole back will itch.  Also, this happens pretty much every time I'm sick with this type of cold.  I wonder if it has something to do w/ oxygen levels??  

[Jake846]

Wow I thought I was the only one!  It happens every now and then when i have a sneezing fit.  It freaks me out like maybe somethings in my chest

[Bgirl0104]

Hi there illtelya.

I've had the same experiences for as long as I can remember as well. I've been researching it and haven't found out anyhting. Have you recived any info on hte strange phenom??