Chronic chest pain

[BethRidout24]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to know if anyone who has RA or other types of inflammatory arthritis has ever experienced ongoing pains around their chest/upper back area?

The pains I’ve had for a few months aren’t muscular or heart related, but seem to feel more like nerve pain between my shoulder blades which sometimes wraps around the front of my chest too. It’s a warm/burning like pain that sometimes makes me feel breathless.

There are no signs of infection or a cough, just ongoing neuralgia like symptoms which I’m unsure if they are related to progression of my IA or not?

Any advice/comments would be appreciated.

[charisma]

No,never had that, Beth. I do often have upper back pain though eg if I lean forward with weight on elbows or hands whilst riding my exercise bike or seated at a table but it generally comes on afterwards.

The pain affects front chest too at times. No reason told to me in spite of several visits to GP and mentions to Rheumatologist. However, it is almost gone when RA is very subdued by Rituximab drug infusions.

I hope you get some answers to the puzzle in your case. 🌸

[Hidden]

Yes’s called 111 they sent an ambulance 🙄knew it wasn’t a heart attack.. I was told it was classic sign of severe GERD. This has now been confirmed with further investigation as I might need surgery.

[Marionfromhappydays in reply to Hidden]

Surgery, sorry to read that 😘

[Pippy25]

Thank you for posting this as yes I have been experiencing this kind of pain and initially given my circulation/swelling in my feet and legs thought it a DVT but with these pains have sent me to be check out re heart (as there is a history of heart problems). Although what you are describing sounds like what I am experiencing at the moment so will mention it to my GP. x

[Lolabridge in reply to Pippy25]

Hi Pip. See my reply to Beth and do get your symptoms checked out. My respiratory consultant said you don't need to have had a DVT to get PEs like I did. x

[Pippy25 in reply to Lolabridge]

Thank you Lolabridge, seeing the GP for a F2F on Tuesday and had some tests yesterday. xx

[Marionfromhappydays]

I get costochondritis, it's more of a severe acute pain. You definitely know you've got it as uts so painful.

I also get pain In my spine inbetween my shoulder blades and going around to my ribs. Its part of my inflammatory arthritis 🙄 I cant carry things like hand baskets in supermarkets as it aggregates it, it does make me catch my breath sometimes.

Sorry you are suffering

[Lolabridge]

Hello Beth. In addition to the pains you described do you also feel unwell and more tired than usual?

Last September I had been having pains like those you mention and mainly around the back, with breathlessness and tiredness, and contacted my GP. I had a Ddimer blood test (amongst others) and the result was just outside the normal range plus an ECG which showed arrhythmia. I was sent to the Ambulatory Care Unit at the hospital where I was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary embolisms, confirmed by a CTPA scan. I was prescribed Apixaban (an anti-coagulant) which cleared them (another CTPA scan to confirm that) and all the pains and breathlessness went.

The respiratory consultant I spoke to for a follow up appointment this week confirmed that those of us with RA are more prone to PEs, particularly if we have bronchiectasis (I don't) or a high BMI (I do). She recommended I stay on a maintenance dose of Apixaban.

May I suggest that you either contact 111 or your GP if you think your symptoms are similar.

[Deeb1764]

I was getting this a lot and a month ago diagnosed with fibromyalgia x

[Sorop]

Hello. I experienced pain in my sternum and all of my ribs about a month ago and after a chest X ray which showed no problem with bones I was diagnosed with costochondritis. It came on after I had a pancreatic scan where the cage over my ribs was quite tight. It is worse when I lie down and all my ribs seem sore and sometimes pain between my shoulder blades and can be uncomfortable to breath deeply. I was given pain killers and do hot and cold compresses. I have been told not to lift anything heavy and do not stretch too high or low. Because I have PMR GCA and peripheral neuropathy I am on steroids so it is not advisable to have any other anti-inflammatories. I have been told it can last a few weeks or months but better if I stay fairly quite and not do too much. I hope this is useful and hope you get better soon. x

[Angels54]

I wondered if it could be Costachocondaritis which is really painful, check it out .

[Tracy-NRAS]

I would definitely seek some advice from your GP Beth for anything that is a new pain and then ongoing.