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Little air movement in lungs.

Kendavis359 profile image
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This is what the doc said to me, and i know what he means, its so painful and was wondering if anybody suffers to the degree that it pulls so hard on the stomach muscles that it causes them to go tense from straining if so what suggestions would heip to ease this pain. i struggle to walk and get told copd and asthma affects everybody differently. Pain killers are what he prescribed so far. but they wear off eventually.

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Kendavis359
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Hi Ken. I think doctors are often so focussed on getting our lungs functioning as well as possible they don't always think about the other effects. Constantly straining to breathe is bound to cause a lot of muscle tension, then there are the side effects from the drugs. It's not that drs aren't interested, they just have to concentrate on the big picture I suppose! Maybe your asthma nurse would have more time to talk through these problems and look at holistically?

I have bronchiectasis + asthma, so cough a great deal and have to do physio to get rid of the rubbish in my lungs. So I get a lot of pain under my ribcage and around my shoulders, and sore stomach muscles.

I try and have a massage every 4 weeks, which helps enormously. The osteopath says these problems are very common in people with chronic lung problems, as the struggle to breathe inevitably causes tension and this has a knock-on effect virtually throughout the body. She showed my husband a few trigger points where a firm circular pressure really relaxes a tight muscle. I also have a little book which lists simple stretching exercises for all areas of the body, which have been surprisingly effective. Also it's good to know you're doing something for yourself. A microwaveable beanbag is really good too (I have mine as hot as possible!)

But absolutely the best thing I have done is to buy one of those ""memory foam"" mattresses (has to be the full mattress, not a topper). Heaven on a stick! I can't tell you how effective it has been in relieving my various aches and pains. It's fantastic. They're not cheap but if you need it for health reasons you can get VAT exemption. Some people find them a bit hot so I have bought a pure cotton mattress cover for mine and I can tell you it's bliss. I used to wake up in pain every single morning but no longer.

I really hope you find something which helps Ken. Analgesics are OK but they're not the answer long-term are they? It's bad enough having crap lungs without pain thrown in too. It gets you down doesn't it? I know, I've been there too, to the point of desperation sometimes. But something has always come along which has helped me over that bad patch and on to better times. I am sure you will find this too Ken

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