Rib pain

[Lanakay]

I am down to 9mg prednisone and was doing well. Monday I had an appointment with my new doctor and that went well. Tuesday I started having a bit of pain in my lower ribs on my right side. By yesterday it was so bad, not constant but feels like it cramps up depending on how I move. Then I would say it’s severe. I went to er. They did an X-ray and I just had all my blood work done on Monday. They gave me a muscle relaxer and said to take Tylenol. It’s ok when I don’t move but it’s about the same when I move about.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Did the hospital tell you what they thought it was? Obviously they have ruled out heart problems - but a very likely cause is costochondritis. Some sites tell you it is left-sided pain, but it can just as well happen on the right side. This tells you about it and suggests ways of dealing with it.

nhs.uk/conditions/costochon...

You have my sympathy - it hurts!!!!

[Lanakay in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for the information. The doctors seem to have ruled out heart, liver and kidneys. The pain and what feels like cramping is at the bottom of my rib cage going around to my back on my right side. If I am still it stops hurting but movement really seems to aggravate it. I was feeling so good the last couple of weeks. I should have known something would crop up!

[Mrsd12f in reply to Lanakay]

Pain in the rib cage was what finally sent me to the GP with what turned out to be PMR; I couldn't breathe properly, because I couldn't expand my ribs sufficiently. It was (and sometimes still is) worse on the left, but soon spread to both sides.

My sympathies!

[Lanakay in reply to Mrsd12f]

Thank you. Between muscle relaxer and Tylenol I did get my shower a little late today. What did the doctor do about your ribs?

[Mrsd12f in reply to Lanakay]

Nothing specific. Various painkillers, but nothing worked, as it was obviously the PMR. It was only resolved when I started the steroids. It's come back, now, as I've been trying to reduce - obviously a weakness with me. Coughing and sneezing are a nightmare, as no doubt you've found.

[piglette]

As PMRPro says it could be costochondritis. I had it round the right side and found it almost impossible to breath it was so painful. It went away again in a few days.

[Lanakay in reply to piglette]

Than you. I hope this does go away in a couple days. The sooner the better. This hurts!

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Try not to take the tylenol near the time you take your pred. When I take an NSAID, I take it a couple of hours before or a couple of hours after I take pred so at least the pred is out of my stomach.

[piglette in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Tylenol is not an NSAID so there should not be problems with the pred. It is recommended not to take NSAIDs with pred at any time.

[Lanakay in reply to piglette]

I have stomach issues anyway so Tylenol is about my only option. I’m seeing my regular doctor today so I am hoping for better answers. Thank you for the reply. All of you are terrific!

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Wonder why my doctors have told me not to take it with pred, then?

[piglette in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Goodness knows, they seem to be a law unto themselves. It would help if they read some of the papers on PMR.

[caterpillar]

I had pain on my right side ribs, which would go around my back to my left at times... I had it for ages, when I spoke to my dr ,on the telephone, she thought it was my fibromyalgia or poly playing up. I had it for ages, and, infact, reading this post has made me realize it has stopped, although I am not sure when...

I am, also, dealing with huge amounts of pain from my hip, if you are wondering how I could miss the stopping of painful ribs, I just notice whichever pain is screaming the loudest, like a naughty child, that's the one that gets my attention at any given time.... hope yours stops soon.....

[GCA1947]

Dear Lanakay

I had Costochondritis in May 2017, I thought I'd fractured a rib (I have a propensity for fracturing ribs), as I have osteoporosis as well G.C.A. Piglette was lucky that hers went in a few days, mine went on for months. The surgeon I saw said you'll just get better. Ease the pain with analgesia, suggesting aspirin or ibuprofen, but as I was already taking Paracetamol for a fractured spine bone I thought that would take care of it. I still felt the pain and normal activities that one takes for granted all hurt to a great or lesser degree. Like breathing, sneezing, coughing.

I wish you a speedy recovery and hope you get better quickly

Regards

Colin

[piglette in reply to GCA1947]

Having said it went in a few days perhaps it may have been a bit longer!

[Lanakay]

I want to thank all of you for your comments. I took it real easy over the weekend and will try to get back to my new normal a bit today. Nobody in my life just “gets it” like you all do.

[GCA1947 in reply to Lanakay]

Dear Lanakay

The difference on the forum that many or some of us have had the symptoms you are asking about so we can tell you how soon or not it will go away and what to expect pain wise.

Hope you're feeling better, you will definitely have to take it easier until you reach the plateau when the initial pain eases so usual activities don't leave you gasping for breath.

Colin

[Jamie345]

I am going through the pain in my right side I'm on tramadol paracetamol nothing has helped it does feel like I've fractured my ribs but will go eventually but always returns I'm on 12 and half predisinone as rheumy wants me to taper down