Hi guys. I'm wondering if any of you can shed some light on this for me. I haven't been able to find any info online, and my doctors don't seem to know what the hell I'm talking about either.

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma. I have a severe case, with serious attacks happening every single day. The weird part is this: whenever I feel an attack coming on, besides the tightness in my chest and shortness of breath, I also get burning pain in my muscles - especially my thigh muscles. It sticks around for the duration of the attack (sometimes that means hours). It's almost as bad as the asthma itself.

What the hell?

Does anybody else ever experience burning muscle pain with asthma? I've been referred to a neurologist to see if there's some nerve issue going on, but before I shell out the exorbitant specialist co-pay, I was wondering if any of my friends here have experienced this or might know anything about it.

[Edited 7/24/10 8:36am]

PunkMistress said:

Hi guys. I'm wondering if any of you can shed some light on this for me. I haven't been able to find any info online, and my doctors don't seem to know what the hell I'm talking about either.

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma. I have a severe case, with serious attacks happening every single day. The weird part is this: whenever I feel an attack coming on, besides the tightness in my chest and shortness of breath, I also get burning pain in my muscles - especially my thigh muscles. It sticks around for the duration of the attack (sometimes that means hours). It's almost as bad as the asthma itself.

What the hell?

Does anybody else ever experience burning muscle pain with asthma? I've been referred to a neurologist to see if there's some nerve issue going on, but before I shell out the exorbitant specialist co-pay, I was wondering if any of my friends here have experienced this or might know anything about it.

[Edited 7/24/10 8:36am]

Wow.

Erin, I will ge back to you on this ASAP. I used to have it really severe as a young child but I don't remember burning muscle pain with it, "just" heavy attacks. But I'll ask my mother who saw it first hand.

NMuzakNSoul said:

PunkMistress said:

Hi guys. I'm wondering if any of you can shed some light on this for me. I haven't been able to find any info online, and my doctors don't seem to know what the hell I'm talking about either.

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma. I have a severe case, with serious attacks happening every single day. The weird part is this: whenever I feel an attack coming on, besides the tightness in my chest and shortness of breath, I also get burning pain in my muscles - especially my thigh muscles. It sticks around for the duration of the attack (sometimes that means hours). It's almost as bad as the asthma itself.

What the hell?

Does anybody else ever experience burning muscle pain with asthma? I've been referred to a neurologist to see if there's some nerve issue going on, but before I shell out the exorbitant specialist co-pay, I was wondering if any of my friends here have experienced this or might know anything about it.

[Edited 7/24/10 8:36am]

Wow.

Erin, I will ge back to you on this ASAP. I used to have it really severe as a young child but I don't remember burning muscle pain with it, "just" heavy attacks. But I'll ask my mother who saw it first hand.

Thanks.

The joint pain from the EDS was bad enough!

I'm sick of all this mystery.

I just asked a friend who also has adult onset asthma and he said he's never experienced that.

I hope you find out what going on soon, Erin.

Vendetta1 said:

I just asked a friend who also has adult onset asthma and he said he's never experienced that.

I hope you find out what going on soon, Erin.

Thanks.

PunkMistress said:

NMuzakNSoul said:

Wow.

Erin, I will ge back to you on this ASAP. I used to have it really severe as a young child but I don't remember burning muscle pain with it, "just" heavy attacks. But I'll ask my mother who saw it first hand.

Thanks.

The joint pain from the EDS was bad enough!

I'm sick of all this mystery.

I'm saying...

What do they suggested for you to use? They gave me Ventolin, which is like the default thing to give and also a different one called Becotide. However, I heard it's (Becotide) not even used anymore, since there are better ones. Well that's all fancy, but sometimes, a lot of times... (and it shows with EDS) Doctors are some clueless mother!@@#$$%.

Frustrating. Well, an update in about an hour max. Hope it goes better soon for ya.

I'm no human doctor, I just watch the House marathon tho.....

so 1st...I would wonder if the exertion of trying to breathe is building up lactic acid in your muscles causing mild cramps....

2nd....if you have allergic asthma (like I do/did), maybe there is an autoimmune problem going on causing muscle pain

3rd....the House episode, the woman came in for severe pain in her leg, but it tuened out she was bulimic and using ipecac to through up and it destroyed her muscles and she ended up going into respiratory distress and needed a heart transplant. I don't think you are bulimic, right??? (You better not be!)

I keep you in my prayers that you will feel better one day!!

NMuzakNSoul said:

PunkMistress said:

Thanks.

The joint pain from the EDS was bad enough!

I'm sick of all this mystery.

I'm saying...

What do they suggested for you to use? They gave me Ventolin, which is like the default thing to give and also a different one called Becotide. However, I heard it's (Becotide) not even used anymore, since there are better ones. Well that's all fancy, but sometimes, a lot of times... (and it shows with EDS) Doctors are some clueless mother!@@#$$%.

Frustrating. Well, an update in about an hour max. Hope it goes better soon for ya.

Ventolin inhaler

Albuterol solution for the nebulizer

Xopenex

Singulair

Symbicort

Nasonex

BklynBabe said:

I'm no human doctor, I just watch the House marathon tho.....

so 1st...I would wonder if the exertion of trying to breathe is building up lactic acid in your muscles causing mild cramps....

2nd....if you have allergic asthma (like I do/did), maybe there is an autoimmune problem going on causing muscle pain

3rd....the House episode, the woman came in for severe pain in her leg, but it tuened out she was bulimic and using ipecac to through up and it destroyed her muscles and she ended up going into respiratory distress and needed a heart transplant. I don't think you are bulimic, right??? (You better not be!)

I keep you in my prayers that you will feel better one day!!

No, I'm not bulimic.

The first and second, I've considered. Or maybe that not enough oxygenated blood getting to my muscles is causing cramps.

Thanks for your prayers!

2nd....if you have allergic asthma (like I do/did), maybe there is an autoimmune problem going on causing muscle pain

Sort of wondered this, I don't have asthma, but have various allergys and it would be hell whenever I was in Florida the air was so bad there.

paintsprayer said:

2nd....if you have allergic asthma (like I do/did), maybe there is an autoimmune problem going on causing muscle pain

Sort of wondered this, I don't have asthma, but have various allergys and it would be hell whenever I was in Florida the air was so bad there.

I did come across allergy/autoimmune stuff when I googled the problem. Maybe that's the road I need to go down. The air here is awful, and I didn't have breathing problems until I moved to FL.

MrsMdiver gave me the name of an allergist who helped her down here. It just sucks that it costs so much money to see all these specialists. I'm trying to narrow down the most likely path before I go throwing money around.

PunkMistress said:

paintsprayer said:

Sort of wondered this, I don't have asthma, but have various allergys and it would be hell whenever I was in Florida the air was so bad there.

I did come across allergy/autoimmune stuff when I googled the problem. Maybe that's the road I need to go down. The air here is awful, and I didn't have breathing problems until I moved to FL.

MrsMdiver gave me the name of an allergist who helped her down here. It just sucks that it costs so much money to see all these specialists. I'm trying to narrow down the most likely path before I go throwing money around.

So pathetic that in the self proclaimed #1 country a person has to consider finances in regards to health

paintsprayer said:

PunkMistress said:

I did come across allergy/autoimmune stuff when I googled the problem. Maybe that's the road I need to go down. The air here is awful, and I didn't have breathing problems until I moved to FL.

MrsMdiver gave me the name of an allergist who helped her down here. It just sucks that it costs so much money to see all these specialists. I'm trying to narrow down the most likely path before I go throwing money around.

So pathetic that in the self proclaimed #1 country a person has to consider finances in regards to health

Totally pathetic.

And I have health insurance.

I googled it in German and I came across a discussion where somebody said that when you have asthma you breathe a lot quicker and thus the muscles loose carbonic acid and that causes cramps in the lower legs. I fon't know if there is any connection to what you suffer from.

Serious said:

I googled it in German and I came across a discussion where somebody said that when you have asthma you breathe a lot quicker and thus the muscles loose carbonic acid and that causes cramps in the lower legs. I fon't know if there is any connection to what you suffer from.

Thanks so much!

I guess I never think about the fact that I'm not searching the whole Internet, just what's available in English.

well I don't remember having muscle pain, per se, but I do remember when I would have attacks I would contort myself into some crazy positions in the quest to breathe and open my diaphragm. I would end up having to sleep sitting up resting my head on a table or sitting backward on a couch with my head on the back, or propped up with like 5 pillows because if I laid down I felt like I would suffocate. Afterwards I would be a little sore from all those positions.

I would probably go with option one first because decreased oxygen causes an increase in lactic acid....

Financially I probably would say looking into an allergist before a neurologist. When I was growing up with asthma, it was severe (managed with Theo-Dur, no nebulizer or steroids), and no one ever looked into the allergy component. I had a job that was riddled with roaches, and when they went to tear it down I flared up extremely bad to the point I thought I would die. Basically I am allergic to roach shit. Once I moved out of NYC I actually did much better. I had another flare up around paint fumes and chemicals. So I know what I need to stay away from. Luckily smoke and pollen and animals are not issues so I do better in the South. My niece also grew up with severe asthma (with the nebulizer and the steroids) but it also seems she has an allergic component and seems a bit better as she gets older.

I vote for looking into allergy first.

PunkMistress said:

Serious said:

I googled it in German and I came across a discussion where somebody said that when you have asthma you breathe a lot quicker and thus the muscles loose carbonic acid and that causes cramps in the lower legs. I fon't know if there is any connection to what you suffer from.

Thanks so much!

I guess I never think about the fact that I'm not searching the whole Internet, just what's available in English.

You are welcome. It is also mentioned a lot that some pills against asthma cause muscle cramps as side affects, but it is not mentioned that those cramps happen while you have an attack . But if you take them when the attack starts, maybe they make it worse .

BklynBabe said:

well I don't remember having muscle pain, per se, but I do remember when I would have attacks I would contort myself into some crazy positions in the quest to breathe and open my diaphragm. I would end up having to sleep sitting up resting my head on a table or sitting backward on a couch with my head on the back, or propped up with like 5 pillows because if I laid down I felt like I would suffocate. Afterwards I would be a little sore from all those positions.

I would probably go with option one first because decreased oxygen causes an increase in lactic acid....

Financially I probably would say looking into an allergist before a neurologist. When I was growing up with asthma, it was severe (managed with Theo-Dur, no nebulizer or steroids), and no one ever looked into the allergy component. I had a job that was riddled with roaches, and when they went to tear it down I flared up extremely bad to the point I thought I would die. Basically I am allergic to roach shit. Once I moved out of NYC I actually did much better. I had another flare up around paint fumes and chemicals. So I know what I need to stay away from. Luckily smoke and pollen and animals are not issues so I do better in the South. My niece also grew up with severe asthma (with the nebulizer and the steroids) but it also seems she has an allergic component and seems a bit better as she gets older.

I vote for looking into allergy first.

That's really helpful.

I'm so glad you've gotten better!

I can definitely relate to the contorted positions.

Serious said:

PunkMistress said:

Thanks so much!

I guess I never think about the fact that I'm not searching the whole Internet, just what's available in English.

You are welcome. It is also mentioned a lot that some pills against asthma cause muscle cramps as side affects, but it is not mentioned that those cramps happen while you have an attack . But if you take them when the attack starts, maybe they make it worse .

Interesting. I didn't know that either.

gurl it hot as Hades anyway so if you have to go nowhere, that's a good thing! I can't even breathe right with this heat and humidity some days!

Well, not much of an update. My mom just said she can't recall me ever complaining about burning pain in my muscles when I was little, although as you know I had my fair share of pain anyway. Wish I could help out more. I've been fortunate that I haven't had a serious attack in 11 years.

BklynBabe said:

gurl it hot as Hades anyway so if you have to go nowhere, that's a good thing! I can't even breathe right with this heat and humidity some days!

I know that's right!

NMuzakNSoul said:

Well, not much of an update. My mom just said she can't recall me ever complaining about burning pain in my muscles when I was little, although as you know I had my fair share of pain anyway. Wish I could help out more. I've been fortunate that I haven't had a serious attack in 11 years.

Thanks for looking into it, Nick. You're always an inspiration to me.

I had asthma all my life... I was in constant pain until a few years ago.

Muscles need oxygen, without the oxygen they cramp up and pain occurs.

My lungs constantly hurt so much that I always had back pain and always felt weak. darkness around my eyes, bad skin, and I always felt groggy.

I never knew I was in so much pain until I got better years ago and now realize that a body is NOT supposed to feel that way. I took steroids for years, I have allerigies too, when my asthma flares up I am wiped out the next day. I feel like I got my ass kicked, I feel weak and sluggish. I can't do things like make my bed, without breaking into a sweat.

I get ultra bitchy too, I can't talk, I get short with people since I can't breathe.

I am so happy I am better, and I realized that for me, asthma attacks are in degrees. The more small ones you have and ignore the more damage. So now when I feel even a little bit out of breath I handle it pronto. One cough, I am on the meds. I don't skip until I feel strong like a horse again, for like an entire season.

Asthmatics tend to ignore symptoms until it knocks them hard on their ass, you need to slow down, and recognize what triggers you have and stay far away from them if you want to control your asthma... otherwise you will only get sicker. Asthma sucks.

paintedlady said:

I had asthma all my life... I was in constant pain until a few years ago.

Muscles need oxygen, without the oxygen they cramp up and pain occurs.

My lungs constantly hurt so much that I always had back pain and always felt weak. darkness around my eyes, bad skin, and I always felt groggy.

I never knew I was in so much pain until I got better years ago and now realize that a body is NOT supposed to feel that way. I took steroids for years, I have allerigies too, when my asthma flares up I am wiped out the next day. I feel like I got my ass kicked, I feel weak and sluggish. I can't do things like make my bed, without breaking into a sweat.

I get ultra bitchy too, I can't talk, I get short with people since I can't breathe.

I am so happy I am better, and I realized that for me, asthma attacks are in degrees. The more small ones you have and ignore the more damage. So now when I feel even a little bit out of breath I handle it pronto. One cough, I am on the meds. I don't skip until I feel strong like a horse again, for like an entire season.

Asthmatics tend to ignore symptoms until it knocks them hard on their ass, you need to slow down, and recognize what triggers you have and stay far away from them if you want to control your asthma... otherwise you will only get sicker. Asthma sucks.

God, I can relate to so much of this. I hate it. I feel like such a weakling, a weakling who just got beat to shit with a hammer. Going grocery shopping seems like running a marathon. There's so much that Chris has to take care of by himself and I just sit there. It's horrible. It gives me hope that you've gotten better.

Thank you for the advice - I'm slowly learning that I have to address symptoms immediately, instead of trying to tough it out and hoping it will go away.

PunkMistress said:

paintedlady said:

I had asthma all my life... I was in constant pain until a few years ago.

Muscles need oxygen, without the oxygen they cramp up and pain occurs.

My lungs constantly hurt so much that I always had back pain and always felt weak. darkness around my eyes, bad skin, and I always felt groggy.

I never knew I was in so much pain until I got better years ago and now realize that a body is NOT supposed to feel that way. I took steroids for years, I have allerigies too, when my asthma flares up I am wiped out the next day. I feel like I got my ass kicked, I feel weak and sluggish. I can't do things like make my bed, without breaking into a sweat.

I get ultra bitchy too, I can't talk, I get short with people since I can't breathe.

I am so happy I am better, and I realized that for me, asthma attacks are in degrees. The more small ones you have and ignore the more damage. So now when I feel even a little bit out of breath I handle it pronto. One cough, I am on the meds. I don't skip until I feel strong like a horse again, for like an entire season.

Asthmatics tend to ignore symptoms until it knocks them hard on their ass, you need to slow down, and recognize what triggers you have and stay far away from them if you want to control your asthma... otherwise you will only get sicker. Asthma sucks.

God, I can relate to so much of this. I hate it. I feel like such a weakling, a weakling who just got beat to shit with a hammer. Going grocery shopping seems like running a marathon. There's so much that Chris has to take care of by himself and I just sit there. It's horrible. It gives me hope that you've gotten better.

Thank you for the advice - I'm slowly learning that I have to address symptoms immediately, instead of trying to tough it out and hoping it will go away.

Asthma is the one thing you can't tough out.. I learned that the hard way.

I ended up in the ICU for two weeks 6 years ago, doctors told me that adults tend to die from asthma because they try to "ride" the symptoms too long.

When I am bad, I sleep siting up, propped up on pillows to help fluid move from my lungs.

I drink coffee, it helps me... and I drink fresh aloe vera w/ tea. Its like egg whites, I stay away from dairy and take long HOT showers. The steam helps. Extreme hot or cold weather sucks also, becareful on the hot days.

Stay on the meds even if you feel good. The preventative measures will keep you feeling healthy.

That's very true Sandra your advice, and I can't believe I forgot to add that. It does help majorly to react and take action right away. The specialist I had at the time told me, he said "even if you only assume an attack is coming. TAKE IT" And he told my mom: "I don't care if he's young you have to treat that right away" That was a good doctor.

PunkMistress said:

Thanks for looking into it, Nick. You're always an inspiration to me.

Most welcome. And you the same for me. You know what helps a bit also? Force a smile even if you don't wanna. Laughing and smiling can relieve pain as well. That's what my mom used to do. She said smile for me. Even if I didn't wanna I still did a little and then I started to feel better.

[Edited 7/24/10 10:19am]

I don't know how similar it is but both of my sons had bad cases of asthma. Anything would set them off, from exertion to season changes. They were both on theopylline and albuterol, I removed the carpeting, banned smoking around them, tried home remedies, etc., but nothing made much difference.

Then I took them to a Chinese herbalist who gave me some godawful concoction to brew at home. After about 6 months of treatment their syptoms improved to the point where the flair ups only occurred about twice a year instead of twice a month and were much milder than before. They were both able to play sports after the treatment.

They are both adults now. My 23yr old hasn't had an episode in 3 years and his older brother hasn't had one in the last 10 years, but that could be because they've outgrown it.

If you think it may help, call them...maybe they could refer you to someone in your area.

Po Seng Tong

Dr. Ching

NMB, Fl.

babynoz said:

I don't know how similar it is but both of my sons had bad cases of asthma. Anything would set them off, from exertion to season changes. They were both on theopylline and albuterol, I removed the carpeting, banned smoking around them, tried home remedies, etc., but nothing made much difference.

Then I took them to a Chinese herbalist who gave me some godawful concoction to brew at home. After about 6 months of treatment their syptoms improved to the point where the flair ups only occurred about twice a year instead of twice a month and were much milder than before. They were both able to play sports after the treatment.

They are both adults now. My 23yr old hasn't had an episode in 3 years and his older brother hasn't had one in the last 10 years, but that could be because they've outgrown it.

If you think it may help, call them...maybe they could refer you to someone in your area.

Po Seng Tong

Dr. Ching

NMB, Fl.

Very nice worth a shot.

Oh! I learned for me... it you can't sit up for more than ten minutes without feeling sore in your back then that means your lungs are in trouble... ya need to take medicine.

I rebound slowly, it takes me like 3 days to feel right again after an attck... it feels like I got a cold or something. So people that know me always think that I am always sick with a cold.

Are you on a steroid like Flovent, or Advair?

These help because the albuterol/proventil doesn't work too well at keeping you feeling good. It only opens you up temporarily. So controller meds are a must. Espcially if you are around triggers like

burning scented candles, smokers, dogs, cats, too much pollen from any plant, down pillows, carpeting, extreme heat (bad air quality outdoors), strong fragrances etc.

I can't do shit like, vacumn, sweep, dust, cut grass, etc. unless I'm drugged up. Then I'm good and can do that stuff with no issues after.