Pain in COPD

[Mo13]

Hi

Anybody have back/neck/shoulder/upper arm pain with COPD. This was my prompt to go to GP and have just had diagnosis. Have subsequently read that pain in these areas can be a sign of advanced COPD. Grateful to hear experiences of others and what to do/take for relief from pain.

[Hidden]

I have never here'd of pain with COPD. I have pain in neck /upper arm /shoulder but it has never been connected to COPD. It could be something else I have just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I would ask to be referred to a rheumatology clinic. Take care

[jojam]

It is probably muscle strain due to your breathing, posture when struggling for breath. When you are short of breath the natural reaction is to tense up the muscles, try to relax your shoulders and use pursed lip breathing.

Best wishes

Jo

[casper99]

I have it all the time and I know it has nothing to do with my COPD.

I have fibro and an arthritic auto immune disease.

My neck is very stiff and painful and that makes me sit with my shoulders and back all tensed up. It's to do with my posture. xx

[Mandy6513]

Hi

I would have to agree with jojam.........i get all those pains to but i do think they are down to me being tense most of the time because when i make myself relax it eases off

[Mo13]

Thanks all. This is the link to the article I read.

everydayhealth.com/hs/chron...

[Lolly2 in reply to Mo13]

This link to the article is the first I have read that makes sense! I have pain as above, and my lung specialist said it was a 'mechanical' problem, which it may be, but that still leaves the pain. I have been left on the pain killers I had right at the beginning of this pain....low dose opiates and an anti-depressant at low dose. We seem to have the right dose for me, as, if I forget to change my patch, the pain begins. I was sent to a pain specialist at the start and he got it right. it is a question of finding the right doctor I think.

[Hidden]

Thanks for posting that link I have never here'd of that before very interesting. I will take a copy of it to my next appointment at the rheumatology clinic when I go in January. Because as I have COPD there isn't a lot they can give me for the psoriatic arthritis

[Tuttifruity]

It does make a lot of sense, hubby is severe copd, and he like you gets these pains, just never connected them before. Thank you for pointing it out Mo

Such a helpful sight this.

Linda

[emmo]

Thank you for this link, I have been assuming my pain was due to sleeping

propped up and general slumping, will certainly follow it up.

[PaMaBa]

I often get pain but mine is caused by tension. I take a couple of painkillers and try to relax my shoulders. It usually works.

[soulsaver]

I read somewhere that COPD breathing can eventually produce barrel chest. If this is accurate it could affect the shoulder bones & blades articulation causing inflammation/arthritis.

Additionally long term steroid use can cause osteoporosis which may exacerbate arthritic conditions.

I'm not suggesting this is your problem - just suggesting the possible connection between COPD and shoulder/neck pain.

[Mooskie]

I get severe shoulder pain that radiates up the back of my head. It usually comes on in the early evening especially if I am out and about. Sometimes it is caused by the changing barometric pressure and also just plain old tired muscles from working so hard to breathe. NASTY pain!!!

[onamission]

I get neck, across the shoulders and top of my arms pain have had it for years sometimes my arms feel so heavy but I never linked this to copd

[Mo13]

Seems a lot of people have pain of some sort or another. Perhaps another area where good pain relief might help general quality of life.

[Ergendl]

I get chest soreness around my left rib cage which my GP said was intercostal muscle strain. Taking 2 puffs of Ventolin before I exert myself helps me to avoid it. I recently had a severe attack and went to see an osteopath, who helped to relieve the tension in my diaphragm and muscles with massage and manipulation, making me feel a lot better in just half an hour.

[Hidden]

Hi there. I get pain, especially in my neck and shoulders. I also have arthritis so the pain could be something else. I have painkillers from the doctor but I try not to take too many . That's the problem if you have more than one thing - what helps for one may make things worse for another. I would ask for a referral too. You need someone to look at it all together. All the best.

[AVIE in reply to Hidden]

Same here. I have fibromyalgia, so it's hard to tell which ailment is causing what symptoms. I also take quite a cocktail of tablets daily.