Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Chest Wall Restriction

My MD says I have COPD.  The Pulmonologist, after reviewing Clear X-rays, a Clear CT Scan, two PFT's showing normal ranges and a FEV1 of 93 percent perdicted said I had reactive airways.  My major complaint is chest pain, and as I said to my MD, painful breathing is lousy breathing.  Painful breathing causes your breathing to frequently feel guarded.  Basicaly, I have muscle tension and pain in the neck muscles, shoulders, muscles involved in breathing on the sides, back and front of rib cage.  I also feel very uncomfortable with allot of tension and pain in the sternum.  Essentialy, the whole chest area, neck, back, sides feel frequently restricted.  They feel the most restricted when I am standing or sitting.  They tend to free up brisk walking and deep breathing, laying down on the floor and deep breathing, swimming laps in the pool and back bending.

Is this a true statement or not that I made to my MD, that muscle tension and painful restrictions of muscles, tendons, joints, the rib cage, sternum, costal joints, essentialy the whole structure the lungs have to work against and with to open and close can have the effect of making you feel like your breathing badly and can actualy make you breath badly from these tight restrictions?

All I know is that a month ago my chest hurt so bad after standing for a couple of hours I felt like I could barely take a deep breath and even full exhales hurt.  After a month of getting my back worked over by a shiatzu massage chair everyday, brisk morning walks, deep breathing excercises, and lap swimming in the pool everyday, the pain and sense of restriction is not nearly as bad, or frequent.
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I looked preaty deeply into Costochondritis because of the sternum pain I was frequently getting at the costal joints.  I preaty much found out though its not Costo.  It doesn't respond to NSAIDS at all.  You can't push on specific painful spots and get more pain.  Its primarily coming out of the back and shoulders on me, putting allot of pressure and constriction on the ribs and they are putting allot of presure on the sternum.  Since I have been loosening up the back and shoulder muscles, the sternum pain is all but gone, but there was a period of about two weeks in there that I would get sharp pains at different costal joints and I could take my hand and apply a light presure at this location on the sternum and get a pop at that joint.  Thats finaly gone away also.  Its slowly getting better.  Yesterday I overdid the back and shoulder massage and swimming.  This morning I am paying for it with tight neck and ballance problems.

Thank you for your input though.  You were thinking the very same thing I was for months, Costo, but it wouldn't respond like Costo and it does respond as neuro muscular.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I too have many of the symptoms you are referring to....and I was diagnosed with Costochondritis (a type of arthritis in the cartilage between your ribs).  A physical therapist diagnosed me - after I was referred to her from my primary care physician.  It is a 'scary' condition because it makes you anxious that something is wrong with your heart.  I joined a discussion board on yahoo.com that is helpful and comforting......comforting in a sad way I guess...knowing there are other people out there who endure the same symptoms you are experiencing.

Take care
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you!
Helpful - 0
242588 tn?1224271700
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The answer to your question is yes.  Your problem is not a lung problem.  It is a musculoskeletal or rheumatism type problem involving the muscles of your torso.  And the massage therapy you have opted for is probably one of the best things you can do.  One other thought.  Muscle tension is often a reflection of emotional tension and if present, relief of that might help as well.  In fact, any of a number of stress reduction techniques might ease your chest wall tension.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Respiratory Disorders Forum

Popular Resources
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Tricks to help you quit for good.
Is your area one of the dirtiest-air cities in the nation?
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.