Evening everyone
I was diagnosed with DLE and a few other issues in January this year.
Over the past two weeks I always feel like I have a sore throat and have terrible back ache.
The backache is worse when I go to bed. I can’t lie on my back due to spine hurting but also after a little while of laying on my side that also hurts.
As you can imagine I’m not getting much sleep.
Is this normal ?
I get pain over my upper spine and on my sides/ribs.
It is soft tissue inflammation which is sometimes visible and my ribs are very painful which makes it hard to breath comfortably when it's bad.
I take a cocktail of painkillers and sleep in a nest of pillows.
Can you discuss pain management with your GP or specialist?
Thank you happytulip.
I will mention it at my next consult.
Can you reproduce 'reproduce the pain on palpation?" Basically, if you press the area gentle for a short time with the palm of your hands does it make the pain worse?
If it does bring about the pain them it maybe soft tissue inflammation which sounds very unimportant, but it's not because it can be extremely painful.
If I press the area yes I can reproduce
Then it's inflammation I very much suspect. Costochondral pain takes a long time to settle and often needs rest and prescription anti-inflammatory medications.
Maybe speak to your GP?
Rest up and I hope you get better soon.
Sore throat plus muscle/joint pain could be an infectious virus like flu or covid and not necessarily lupus. If anti inflammatory doesn't relieve the pain I'd suggest calling the doctor, esp. if the sore throat lasts more than a day or two.
Hi Nicola, full empathy from me as I wake after 5-6 hours with back pain.
There is a condition called anklosing spondylitis and various other such odd names with the main characteristic of causing waking during the second half of the night (full list of signs: nice.org.uk/guidance/NG65/c... both autoimmune and a chronic inflammatory condition (I think)
Have a look and see if you recognise your symptoms
Sleep well, stay safe xxxx
Thank you x
I have this pain and the doctor told me that I have costochondritis. It's an inflammation of the cartilage that is around your rib cage it is extremely painful. Mine seems to go in Flair's it gets really bad for a very long time and then you get some relief. They had given me a medication called colchicine and it seems to help quite a bit colchicine is a medication for gout it brings down the inflammation in my rib cage. Hope this is I hope this is of some use for you. I am sorry I do not have any information about your other symptoms. I agree with you sleeping is a nightmare the pain gets to be intolerable.
Soft hugs❤
Kismetsoul73 is right. My chest flares up, usually before a period. I am on cholchicine 3 times a day everyday for recurrent pericarditis. Ibuprofen might help to but it's worth getting it checked out.
Wearing a bra can be very uncomfortable too!
Fortunately this does not sound related to your discoid lupus, and neither of these would be symptoms of it being systemic.
Sore throats are often caused by a virus or tonsilitis so worth checking with your GP if it doesn't ease after a week. Also beware of other symptoms as a sore throat is often an initial symptom of covid. If you get other symptoms then it's worth getting a test.
In terms of the back ache, lots of things can cause back ache and a lot depends on where it is on your back. Costochroniditis is usually rib cartilage and more commonly in your upper chest region, worsened by over reaching. Sciatica is pain from your sciatic nerve at the base of your spine so this can be very intense pain that often limits movement. More common things like posture and working from home without a proper desk can cause terrible lower (or even sometimes upper) back pain, that worsens when you stop moving. When I worked in an office I had terrible back ache at night and struggled to sleep until I learnt to manage it.
It's worth taking some anti inflammatories, trying hot / cold packs on it, and having a hot bath with some radox epsom salts (I've not found any others that work for any pain). The advice for all back pain (bar costochronditis) is to keep it moving and use hot / cold along with anti inflammatories so that you can move. The longer you tense it (because of the pain) and immobilise, the worse it gets. Some deep yoga stretches or following a youtube stretch video specifically for back pain can really help loosen things off.
If it doesn't ease soon or you aren't able to keep moving then definitely chat to your GP about it as you may need short term pain killers so that you can move.
Hope this helps and your symptoms ease soon.
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