We all know breathlessness, cough, and fatigue are common symptoms of COPD. But what about body pain?
If you have had long-lasting aches and pains, it may be because of your COPD. Somewhere between 44% and 88% of people living with COPD experience aches and pains. The two most common spots are in the chest and the back.1
Why does COPD sometimes cause body pain?
We don’t know exactly why some people with COPD experience certain kinds of pain. Several factors may play a role.
For example, people with hyperinflated lungs are more likely to experience chronic pain. If you have hyperinflated lungs, they stay expanded longer because old air is stuck inside. This may cause strain on the ribs and nearby ligaments. You may also experience pain because your muscles are having to work extra hard to breathe.1
Some of the other possibilities include strain caused by chronic coughing or physical changes caused by chronic bronchitis or emphysema that are painful.2
What is the impact of COPD body pain?
Chronic pain can have a negative impact on everything from mental health to daily activities. It’s hard to live well and function normally when you’re always in pain.
One study found that people with COPD who often experienced pain were more likely to have:
- Hyperinflated lungs, meaning they have air trapped inside
- Worse shortness of breath
- Depression
- Lower well-being and satisfaction in life1
The same study found that pain often stops people with COPD from exercising. For example, people dealing with pain are less likely to do pulmonary rehabilitation.1 But exercising often can reduce breathlessness, improve mental health, and increase your quality of life.3-4
What can you do to feel better?
Unfortunately, we still don’t know a lot about chronic pain in COPD. There aren’t a lot of clear, evidence-based guidelines for managing pain caused by COPD. Some potential recommendations include pain medication, palliative care, massage, and breathing exercises. Talk to your doctor to see if any of these might be right for you. Hopefully more research will tell us more about the causes and potential treatments for pain caused by COPD in the near future.
Share your experiences in the comments: Have you ever dealt with body pain because of COPD? How do you cope with COPD-related aches and pains?
Resources
- Lee AL, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Chronic Pain in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Prevalence, Clinical and Psychological Implications. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2017;4(3):194-203. Published 2017 May 21. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.4.3.2016.0172
- Bentsen SB, Holm AM, Christensen VL, et al. Changes in and predictors of pain and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Resp Med. 2020;171:106-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2020.106116
- Liu S, Yang A, Yu Y, Xu B, Yu G, Wang H. Exercise Prescription Training in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Benefits and Mechanisms. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2025;20:1071-1082. Published 2025 Apr 15. doi:10.2147/COPD.S512275
- Liu T, Ran H, Xu T, Xia X, Xia J. Effects of exercise on psychological distress in patients with COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(34):e44026. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000044026