Upper thoracic pain when deep breathing

Hello Doctors -

I think I tweaked my upper thoracic a bit during paused deadlifts, probably my trapezius or right rhomboid. As a result, my upper back hurts whenever I take a deep breath or do a Valsalva - stabbing pain, probably 5 on a scale of 10. I feel the pain around the bottom of my right scapula when I take a deep breath or sneeze.

It’s nothing I think I need to seek immediate medical attention for - nothing is obviously out of place, I don’t have any weird sensations of popping or grinding, and I don’t feel like I’m experiencing any pain in my lungs. A doctor would probably just tell me to refrain from physical activity, which I would obviously prefer not to do!

I’d appreciate any advice you guys have on exercises that I should can still be doing during recovery or exercises that I can substitute - excluding deadlifts I’m currently doing low-bar squats, belt squats, bench & shoulder press, barbell rows, triceps pushdowns and bicep curls for weight training, and planks, chin-ups and rowing machine cardio for GPP. Or if I just need to change my breathing technique - I tend to start from the diaphragm and then expand my chest, and it’s the chest expansion where I’m feeling the most intense pain in the back.

Thank you!

It sounds like you’re already on the right track with the exercises you’re still doing. I wouldn’t have any reason to change your breathing “technique” unless you find a particular way that’s more comfortable while this resolves. It should get better relatively quickly.