Though pain is not a primary symptom, many people with COPD report chronic pain

Pain is not a primary symptom for those of us with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but many people who have COPD also have chronic pain. I was interested in finding the type of pain that may be associated with COPD and what can be done about it.

My search led me to a type of pain that I have experienced, and that is severe pain in my neck. I brought this up to my general practitioner, 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 them three times a day, but the vital information is that they did work. I noted that I had selected the correct general practitioner because he gave me exercises instead of pain medication.

Rib cramps

I have often experienced cramping in the intercostal muscles of the rib cage. The cramps hurt and are visible to the naked eye as an elevated ridge of muscles. They are painful and can last several seconds or a minute.

I find that stretching and staying hydrated helps me lessen the number of cramps I get. A massage therapist also instructed me to drink tonic water. Massage is another suggestion offered to relieve these cramps. Unfortunately, my therapist has closed their practice.

Chest pain

I have not experienced chest pain, but this is a common complaint that I hear from the people that I work with. They report pain in the chest with each breath and tell me that just walking can bring the onset of pain. The pain is caused by overinflation of the lungs.

While coughing and using auxiliary muscles when breathing are thought to cause neck pain and rib cramps, bone and joint pain may result from osteoporosis.

Solutions

Though over-the-counter pain relievers can help, they are often not strong enough to provide much relief. Heat, ice, and physical therapy may help relieve the pain. Physical activity, stretching, acupuncture, and chronic illness management strategies are recommended.

I was involved in a pain management session called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping. This technique relies on the pressure points used in acupuncture, but instead of using needles, you tap on the body’s pressure points. This method successfully relieved the pain in the middle of my back. I was skeptical of this solution, but I will continue to use it since I have found relief from my pain.

I will not describe the method in detail because each practitioner has a slightly different take on the proper way to tap. The Cleveland Clinic article and video follow the technique I was taught rather loosely.

Pain can be debilitating, and it adds to our fatigue, so I am always on the lookout for ways to avoid opioids and shots in the joints. I hope that you have learned something that may help with your pain.