Managing the different types of pain that can accompany COPD

While chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly associated with symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, many of us also experience chronic pain. I was interested in learning more about the types of pain that may be associated with COPD and what can be done about it, so I did some research.

My search led me to an issue I’ve experienced: severe neck pain. I brought this up to my general practitioner (GP), who gave me exercises to do four times a day. He instructed me that when the pain became less severe, I could reduce the number of daily repetitions until I was only doing them once a day.

Truthfully, I only did the exercises three times a day, but they worked. The fact that my doctor gave me exercises instead of pain medication for this particular issue made me feel like I’d chosen the right GP for me.

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In addition to neck pain, I’ve often experienced cramping in the intercostal muscles of my rib cage. This is common in people with COPD. The cramps hurt and are visible to the naked eye as an elevated ridge of muscles. They can last anywhere from several seconds to a minute.

I find that stretching and staying hydrated helps me lessen the number of cramps I get. Massage therapy can also help to relieve cramps.

Although I haven’t experienced chest pain myself, it’s a common complaint among my friends and colleagues with COPD. They report having pain in their chest with each breath and tell me that just walking can trigger it. Chest pain in COPD may have various causes, such as lung overinflation, spasms in the airways, or respiratory infections.

Persistent coughing and the use of auxiliary muscles to breathe can also result in pain and cramping in different parts of the body. Others with COPD may experience pain due to comorbidities such as osteoporosis.

Solutions

Though over-the-counter pain relievers can help, they’re often not strong enough to provide me much relief. Some doctors may prescribe stronger pain medications for those with severe pain.

Other strategies may include physical therapy, applying heat or ice, physical activity, stretching, acupuncture, and general COPD management. Be sure to consult your doctor about which techniques might work best for you.

I once attended a pain management session that used emotional freedom technique tapping, which involves tapping on the body’s acupoints, or pressure points. I was skeptical at first, but this method successfully relieved the pain in the middle of my back, so I’ve continued to practice it.

I won’t describe the tapping technique in detail because each practitioner has a slightly different take on the proper way to tap. The Cleveland Clinic’s article and video, which I linked above, loosely follow the technique I was taught.

Pain can be debilitating, and it adds to the fatigue that COPD can cause. I’m always on the lookout for pain relief strategies that don’t involve opioids or shots in my joints! If you experience pain related to COPD, please share any tools that help you manage it in the comments below.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.