Bone Pain

[Willowbug]

I was diagnosed with CLL/SLL in 2019. I have the usual fatigue all the time along with a few other issues. Now, I am having bone pain in my rib cage. It’s in my lower center ribs and along the edges of the bottom of my ribs but hurting worse on each of my sides and center bottom of my ribs.

has anyone else experienced this? I’ve never had a biopsy. It eases sometimes then comes back stronger. I’d really like to know what’s going on. I see my oncologist in the beginning of August.

Thanks everyone!

[Newdawn Administrator]

Just a thought but has your doctor ever considered Costochondritis which is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum). This area is known as the costochondral joint.

I’ve had costochondritis and can have unexplained episodes of it where my ribs hurt inexplicably. It’s not been associated with CLL in my case and of course your situation may be entirely different but I thought I’d mention it.

Do you have any lymphadenopathy or swollen spleen that could be causing discomfort?

Best wishes,

Newdawn

[Willowbug in reply to Newdawn]

I don’t know much about my status, I ‘m given the results of my blood work and told everything looks fine. I’m trying to get my doctor to engage more and tell me what’s going on. I have the 13q14 deletion in my FISH test so I’m supposed to have a good outcome. I will ask my primary doctor about your suggestion. Thank you for the information.

[Thursday45 in reply to Newdawn]

I’ve had costochondritis since being diagnosed with CLL. I had a scan and my spleen was normal. Costocondritis caused a niggling pain as you describe and it was difficult to get comfortable at night. I supported my left side with a pillow and just took ibuprofen to help with the pain. I stopped doing the hoovering for a while ( partner had to take over). It took a couple of months to go completely.

[PoisonDwarf in reply to Newdawn]

Newdawn do they have an explanation on the connection between costochondritis and CLL?

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to PoisonDwarf]

As I said PD, my costochondritis was never connected to CLL and I first started with it in my teens. A specialist did once suggest I’d torn cartilage playing hockey and the condition was very acute when I was pregnant but not linked to my CLL in later years.

Newdawn

[PoisonDwarf in reply to Newdawn]

My apologies Newdawn. I obviously misread didn’t as did. My bad, so thank you for setting me straight. I’ve had costochondritis when I fractured a rib & picked up a chest infection at the same time. I’ve recently had the same rib type of rib pain as Ymgaut described, along with a hard left flank. My liver was mildly enlarged & also some question mark if it was my spleen or other lymphoid tissue as well, I had dismissed costochondritis as a cause but then misread your post & thought I might have missed something. Sorry.

[Catherine67]

hi Ymgaut,

I’m W&W since 2014 and yes, I too had aching bones, especially my ribs and thighs. It turned out I had a very low Vitamin D level. Once brought back up to normal level the bone aches ceased. Might be worth getting your Vit D checked.

[bettyba]

Hello it's good to speak with your consultant and discuss what is going on. I had bone pain for many years which has disappeared with treatment with Venetoclax and Rituximab but I also have MS. Your consultant will be able to discuss this at more lengths and come up with a plan. All the best to you.

[Doggoneit101]

Does the pain come and go with breathing or no? I ask because before I was diagnosed I got pleurisy. It hurt pretty bad around the rib area but definitely got worse when I would breathe. I had to do a round of antibiotics. May want to see your GP to make sure it's nothing you may need antibiotics to clear. Hope you feel better soon.

[Willowbug]

bi, the pain is pretty steady.