Hi I have recently read that shortness of breath and chest pain can be a symptom of a thoracic bulging disk, but also have seen other medics say this does not cause shortness of breath so which is it? I ve already had 2 emergency spinal surgeries in l2 & l4 area and have a disc that feels like it s popping between my shoulder blades regularly and I m recently becoming more and more short of breath even while lying down. I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and I am very fatigued all the time. Chest X-ray and ECG normal today as are blood work.
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your concern. No, bulging of Thoracic intervertebral disc can not cause breathlessness. Since your chest x-ray and ECG are normal, no need to worry about lung infection or heart diseases. Bronchitis can cause similar symptoms. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done 1. Clinical examination of respiratory system 2. PUT (Pulmonary Function Test). If PFT is suggestive of bronchitis then you need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for breathlessness. If PFT is normal then no need to worry about bronchitis. Hope I have solved your query. Wish you good health. Thanks.