When I take a deep breath I get a sharp pain in the left part of my back

Hello Anonymous and thanks for your post.

There are many reasons why  you can experience pain with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD. Have you been coughing a lot? Extreme bouts of coughing can lead to muscle strains in your chest muscles and when a person also has bone weakness, such as in osteoporosis, it can lead to a broken rib. Even without couughing episodes,  having stabbing pains is common with COPD and inhalers may not be helpful in providing relief. If the pain continues you can seek support from your primary physician or a referral to a pulmonologist,a physician who specializes in caring for people with obstructive pulmonary diseases. Various treatments including medications, massage, heat,  physical therapy, and others cam be used to help reduce the pain and enable you to breathe more easily. Good luck to you, I hope you get help soon.

Best,

Pat