Pain from breathing is usually caused by diseases around the chest, such as any injury or lesion to the ribs, chest muscles, thoracic spine and intercostal nerves. Patients with rib fractures commonly experience spasm-like irritating pain when breathing, while acute strains and sprains of the thoracic muscles can cause similar symptoms. Patients with small joint disorders of the thoracic spine experience spasm-like pain in the back due to compression of the intercostal nerve, which is significantly squeezed when breathing. Patients with this symptom should go to a regular hospital for chest radiography or CT to rule out infection or lesions inside the chest cavity, such as pleurisy. The symptoms can be relieved by applying symptomatic medications to invigorate blood circulation and remove blood stasis after eliminating the internal lesions in the chest.