RA flares and chest pains (Costochondritis)

[jimmx]

Has anyone else with RA experienced costochondritis when flaring?

It seems that RA can cause it.. - now when I have a flare, I also get the severe chest pains, which come and go away again next day.. - Naproxen eases it .

Just be interested to see if there's anyone else with the same..!

[dawkin_S]

Well that is very interesting, I didn't know that! I used to get costochondritis before my RA became apparent, so now I'm wondering if it was an early sign.

[jimmx in reply to dawkin_S]

Hmm that's interesting as well .. it's possible maybe ., but I only know what I learnt from Googling!

everydayhealth.com/rheumato...

[vonniesims in reply to dawkin_S]

M e too

[Marionfromhappydays]

Yes I get it all the time.

I'm not on any medication yet so probably explains the regularity of it but I get it quite often and its SO painful.

I spoke to my consultant about it and how anxious it made me (first time I got it it made me sweat where the pain was so bad, I had to kind of hug myself and regulate my breathing) and she wasn't surprised or concerned by it. I was stressing how bad it felt and she was like "yeah it can hurt " !!

Did make me feel better about it, now when I get it I've just got to think it will pass.

You are not alone x

Hope you don't get it too often though.

If you are concerned about it I would run it past your rhematology team just for your peace of mind x

[jimmx in reply to Marionfromhappydays]

Thanks Marionfromhappydays Xx

.. yes it's intensely painful isn't it- I don't go to bed when I get it - it's too painful, and hurts so much to breathe!

I tried co-codamol, didn't help at all, but Naproxen does ease it x

[Brychni]

Had this even before diagnosis. Hideous.

[jimmx in reply to Brychni]

Yes it's sooo bloomin painful, scary too..

[Brychni]

I used to get when I was pregnant too. Once it felt as though a rib had moved and was causing painful breathing. All I could do was lie on my back and force myself to take a deep breath and I distinctly heard and felt it 'pop' back into place!

[jimmx in reply to Brychni]

How awful for you - and it's soo painful too! x

[Freddiefan]

I had this several years ago , was told by GP it was caused by a virus. Long before I was diagnosed with RA.

[Antonia39]

Yes I get this, although not dx ra yet x

[Zip1]

I have also had it but never connected the dots, makes sense! Naproxen eases it for me too.

[jimmx in reply to Zip1]

I found this article about it, really interesting!; everydayhealth.com/rheumato...

[LinaM]

I’ve had it too ! Thought I was having a heart attack 😨 Hope it clears up soon for you.

[jimmx in reply to LinaM]

Thanks Lina Yes, it does feel like a heart attack ! Incredibly painful and impossible to sleep

[allanah]

Yes yes yes. My worst symptom. I actually get so bad I needed 3 days of steroid drops! Ice and naproxen sometimes manage it. I hate mine , it's so painful.

[jimmx in reply to allanah]

Wow, hope the steroid worked.. Naproxen does ease it eventually, but seem to take hours!

[allanah in reply to jimmx]

Typo above steroid drip! And that worked extremely quickly . Xx I hope it settles quickly , ice packs are excellent!

[jimmx in reply to allanah]

Thanks allanah 😀 - i'm glad the drip worked for you! Will try an ice pack, sounds a good idea! xx

[Angels54]

Oh I’ve had that the chest pain awful , try some bio freeze to rub in and then hot water bottle . Good luck

[jimmx in reply to Angels54]

I will try that, thanks!

[Vonnie10]

I had this same thing last week I think it was this anyway I was asleep and was woke up with this awful pain as others have said I thought it was a heart attack ..luckily it hasn't happened again.

[jimmx in reply to Vonnie10]

Yes, It feels like a heart attack! Unbelievably painful. Mine comes one day and then disappears the next!

[mmb50]

This is so interesting! I’ve experienced this on a few occasions and was worried it was my heart.

[jimmx in reply to mmb50]

Yes, I thought it was a heart attack too, except it usually goes away the next day - Naproxen helps ease it.. I found this interesting article that tells the difference between heart attack and costochondritis; everydayhealth.com/rheumato...

[mmb50 in reply to jimmx]

Thanks for your reply and link to everyday health,a lot of interesting articles on it. I’ve bookmarked it 👍. It’s great to have a community of people on this site who understand and help each other.

[jimmx in reply to mmb50]

Pleased I could help - It's comforting to hear from others about this x

[Karen12]

I started with costochondritis 3 years before my inflammatory arthritis and ended up going to a pain clinic as it was so bad and having an impact on my work and life in general. The doctor I saw as well as occupational health pushed me to get a second opinion, it was this as well as a well timed case of Achilles tendinitis and a few other things that eventually led to my diagnosis. Over the years I have noticed it is one of the symptoms to get worse when I’m about to flare. When it’s bad it’s very difficult to breathe. I still sleep with cushions along the wall otherwise it’s too uncomfortable.

[mmb50 in reply to Karen12]

Sounds like you have it bad. I’m fortunate it doesn’t affect me too badly, just good to know it’s not my heart. X

[jimmx in reply to Karen12]

Ooh yes, know how you feel - I have to sit up as well with it, can't go to bed. It it so painful to breathe with it; I have to try to relax and not panic with it, I watch Tv or go online to divert from it! x

[bubblyalex]

I believe that you need to go through the NRAS before you can post questionnaires here ??