Good morning,
I was wondering if any of you get rib pains with your arthritis? I always have a dull ache and every now and then I get a severe kicked in the rib pain and this then dies off a little but can last weeks and is all the way round my left ribs, from the front to the back. It is not connected to any strenuous exercise as I have been struggling with my breathing and haven't done any exercise...
Thank you for reading x
Yes! Note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as RA. My ribs hurt and stab and ache, rest is the best cure for me and warmth, I always wear a camisole unless it’s a heatwave as I find the slightest chill make my ribs ache unbearably.
Thank you so much for your reply. I have sarcoidosis and never quite sure with each ache and pain where it is coming from. Good advice, thanks. Xx
You can get costochondritis
Oh yes we can another friend of the autoimmune x
Ribs are my worst areas, but I have ankylosing spondylitis and I have fusion and inflammation throughout my ribs. I have only 0.8cm chest expansion, constantly feel tight and if I bend over or lie flat I feel like I’m suffocating. I have a permanent feeling that I spent a night in a field with a bull. The AS has shortened tendons that means muscles are restricted. I take baclofen to deal with the muscle spasms. Unfortunately I also have lung issues, I was already asthmatic, but because my lungs can’t e painfully I have areas of Atelectasis which is collapsed lung. I also have what they thought was pulmonary fibrosis due to the AS, but now say the damage is due to aspirating acid. Apparently my diaphragm is weak from not expanding which has resulted in a hiatus hernia which is contributing to the aspiration of acid. Sorry for the long winded response. I find heat helps, as well as stretches which I do daily. This is a disease which keeps on giving 🤗
Sorry to hear of your troubles with the rib pain Maureen. It does feel like we have gone a few rounds in the ring doesn't it! I will try the heat and I have been trying some stretches, but like you I am struggling with my breathing and tight chest. Thank you for responding x
It's poorly recognised but very common to get pain in other joints like the ones that join the ribs to the breast bone at the front (and they can be very tender). Or at the back where the ribs join the spine and that can cause referred pain along the line of the rib to the front.
Hi last October I had a chest infection & given antibiotics, a week or so later started with terrible pain that was from the left of my back, around my left side & under the front of my left ribs, it was so bad I couldn't sleep, lay on my left side or sit up at an angle but could sit up but leaning forward, the gp said pleurisy & possible cracked ribs! Prescribed orimorph (vile stuff) & the pain got even worse, sent for an urgent chest xray which showed a significant shadow under my left breast so sent for urgent MRI, results normal. During this time I had to stop my metoject whilst on antibiotics, once I resumed metoject after about 2 months it eased & only hurt very occasionally, however, I caught covid in March & had to stop metoject again & lefluminode for 3 weeks, lo & behold the pains back. When I saw the rheumatologist January & told him he said it must be muscular, I didn't think so, now I'm thinking is it something to do with RA as I first thought especially as it comes on when I've had a break from the meds, I'm hoping that it'll ease again over the next few weeks but will definitely mention it when I next see him
It makes things worse when the professionals are not sure what it is and how to treat it. I hope you are well ( ish )now. X
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