Back and chest pain

[heyitsmee]

Merry christmas NRAS family!

Hope you're all having relaxing holidays

Just a question for those of you with RA... have you experienced back/chest pain? If so, what did/do you do to treat it? Since I was lowered to 4mg/prednisolone a day I've had sharp shooting pains in my chest and back with greater frequency. Also, a new kind of back pain where I end up needing to just lie on my back. Will be discussing with GP AND rheum team in the new year, just wondering how common this is for us?

Love!

[allanah]

Ice was amazing on my chest/ rib pain. I got something called costochondritis which I ask the rheumy about and he generally gave me a steroid shot. Hope you get some help soon x

[heyitsmee in reply to allanah]

I was reading about this and seems similar to what I am experiencing. Did the gp organise steroid shot/diagnose or was it your rheumy?

[allanah in reply to heyitsmee]

I get mind through my rheumy... My gp does do it. But call your surgery and ask. If not call your emergency rheumy line. But Ice is brilliant I found

[heyitsmee in reply to allanah]

Thanks so much allanah

[allanah in reply to heyitsmee]

Feel better soon x

[wishbone]

I get something similar, including sharp shooting pains, from time to time. It can be quite uncomfortable. I've had it off and on for years - currently on...but not as bad as it has been in the past. I used to think it was costochondritis, but am not so sure of late and now suspect the pain, which is mainly in my upper chest and to a lesser extent in the top of my back, is more to do with the osteo arthritis that I have in my lower neck.

[heyitsmee in reply to wishbone]

Yes I was reading about costochondritis and wondered whether this could be it.... Will definitely discuss with the rheum team. Thanks for sharing

[heyitsmee in reply to heyitsmee]

I'm happy that it's not as bad as it was in the past wishbone

[wishbone in reply to heyitsmee]

I'm certainly no expert but costo seems to affect the ribs in particular.

You can say that again about it not being as bad as it was in the past! Many moons ago I delayed going to A&E because I thought I was having a nasty flare of this condition when I was actually having a heart attack!...arrrrgh!! You can imagine the aftermath of that when for a long time after I wasn't sure if I was having a flare-up or another heart attack. That was 14 years ago and I'm still here to tell the tale!...well it was only a minor heart attack after all.

Good luck getting your complaint sorted.

[heyitsmee in reply to wishbone]

Yes I've been having the problem in my ribs and lower back...

Gosh that is terrifying! So great that you've gotten through it

Thanks wishbone !