restrictive or obstructive?

Hoping you can help...
I am 39 year old female smoker who has  spondolyosis (cervical and lumbar spine & nerve damage) on medication. Lyrica 150mg 3 per day, MST 60mg 2 per day, Baclofen 60mg 3 per day and cymbalta 60mg 1 per day. 16 stone in weight, height of 5'4. Rare exercise (housebound). For 4 weeks breathless, I had problems with breathlessness & exercise for long time. I am breathless even when getting dressed. Going to bed I am completely breathless to the point that I am fighting for my breath. Occasional deep burning lungs but wheeze every night. I always wake every night in the early hours and sometimes more than once. I find it getting worse to do even small tasks and something like vacuuming is impossible not only because of my spine but the breathlessness.

Doctor ordered a Spirometer, nurse commented to me that I was just within the gray area and said that the medication she gave me had no effect so I did not have asthma. She also said that as I was just within the grey area that I did not have COPD. She did however point out that I had 'restrictive disorder' and made me an appointment to see the doctor. She told me there were lots of reasons that I might have this disorder, did not mention anything to do with my lungs. I have read of course about restrictive disease and understand that it may be due to some lung conditions but also might be due to other things like small lungs.

My question is firstly can restrictive disorder be caused my spondylosis (I have not had MRI of the mid section of my spine only upper and lower)? What about weight gain? Do my results and history suggest anything? (Of course I understand that you cannot give a diagnosis and would not hold you to anything) I live in the UK and not sure what my doctor will do next, so any help I can get can give me information to ask my doctor the right questions.

I appreciate your help, many

[National Jewish Health]

Yes, the "restrictive" changes seen on spirometry can be related to your spondylosis and also be due to your being overweight.  But the immediate question is, what is causing the seemingly rapid worsening of your breathing.  It could be the result of nerve damage, especially to nerves serving the respiratory muscles, but could also be unrelated to your chronic problems, such as worsening of asthma or recurrent clots to the lungs called pulmonary emboli.

We shouldn't assume that the breathlessness is related to your lungs or spondylosis.  Such shortness of breath could also be caused by heart failure.  This question should be asked of the doctor at the time of your examination.

While perhaps not the primary causes, smoking and being overweight are very likely contributing factors.  Each are preventable, although with chronic pain, smoking cessation and weight loss are not easy.

That you are wheezing every night suggests that you could benefit from the use of asthma medicines.

Good luck.

[Meachelle]

Thank you for your kind reply. I will indeed bring up the issues raised in your answer. I have taken steps to cut down on food but I dont really eat that much anyways. I think i am also suffering from the side effects of lyrica which is weight gain. I am also trying to exercise when i can though the breathlessness & pain makes it difficult.

As for smoking i am cutting down each day with plans to stop smoking at the end of the month.