In my previous post, I mentioned that I was having pretty severe intercostal rib pain. The pain is the worst at night, when my pred has mostly worn off. No too bad during the day.
Does anyone know if there is any evidence of this type of pain being due to either PMR or pred?
A number of people complain of it. I wonder if it goes hand in hand with the muscle weakness we can experience after prolonged Pred use. Maybe related to carrying shopping or similar?
Ribby pain is mentioned a lot in connection with PMR here on the forum (do a search for RIB or COSTROCHONDRITIS)
I’m not sure that it’s actually part of pure PMR. I’ve never seen it listed as an official symptom. Maybe it’s our poor muscles under strain? Mine is usually to the left side and I found some gentle stretching helped, but it does move around somewhat. Mine doesn’t seem to be connected in anyway with breathing, but if it’s acting up I do feel it if I lie on that side.
Yeah, mine is on the left side also. I can breath OK. I think what precipitated it was doing crunches on a machine at the gym! (I probably should listen to my OH and take it easy). I agree, muscles are probably weaker on account of disease. You know, men and boys just never learn! Ron
I know 😉
I recently wrote a thread complaining of a pain in left side, by my belly button..
I was worried and went to my GP. She throughly check me out and said it was either a sensitive nerve or a pulled muscle.
I was worried it was PMR or Prednisone related.
GP advised to rest a few days, no heavy lifting ... it cleared up and all is back to normal in that area..
For your peace of mind I would go to your GP to get checked out. Worrying is not a partner for PMR ..
Hope it clears up quickly.
YuliK
I did go to GP, thinks it is a nerve problem. Have an appointment with ortho next Monday see what he says.
I am also consulting with rheumy about possibly going on Acterma. He is looking into the cost...
I am starting to feel that I have to do something... just don’t feel very well most of the time and feel like my life, or what is left of it, is slipping away because I can’t really do what I like, physically, without paying a price.
Would like to here good Acterma stories, if any.
Hi Manchild
Most of us feel down now and again, especially when we don't know the actual cause of our aches and pains. It's a small setback , but not a defeat.
It's such a good idea that you are getting a second opinion with an orthopedic doctor.
Sincerely hope you get yourself sorted out with a diagnosis as to your pains quickly, as stress is our enemy.
YuliK age 76
Thanks Yulik,
Unfortunately, my personality is such that I have to figure everything out. I read too many stories about people getting the wrong diagnosis or an incomplete diagnosis, basically because of the incompetence or in attention of doctors.
Sorry for the rant, just getting frustrated because the pred is not working as I expected it to.
What quantity of prednisone are you currently taking ?
PMR/pro has pmr intel advice like an encyclopedia..her advice is definitely worth adhering too..
I'm sure she will put you on the right path to recovery...
YuliK.
Ah yes - but are YOU doing YOUR part of the bargain? It takes two to tango - and to manage PMR well.
I am trying-on 16mg now and not sure it is working enough.
Yes - but what are you also trying to do? You have to adjust too, pred only mops up the inflammation, it does nothing to the actual disease process which continues attacking your body and making you feel as if you have flu and your muscles intolerant of acute exercise. If you do too much your muscles will tell you - developing delayed onset muscle soreness as if you had tried to run a marathon without training for it. You have to learn to pace and rest appropriately:
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......
Costochondritis is something else - neither pred nor Actemra will alter that. You have to be patient until it resolves. Sorry - sometimes that is just the way it is.
It is not costeocondritis, but intercostal muscle pain between lower ribs on left side.
I’ve never felt mine is costrochondritis either. Like you say, pain in the muscles between the ribs, and mine usually on the left, but occasional echoes on the right. My ‘solutions’, gentle stretching (over to the right to stretch the left side), some anti inflammatory gel, a heat pad, and a glass of red wine (not necessarily in that order 😉)
Sometimes it seems to be just a question of time, coming and going as it sees fit, and I can’t find a specific trigger, except maybe L.Doris!
If you get an answer, please let me know.
My rib pain was far worse before I started on preds now I am reducing my preds it is the first pain that comes back. Sometimes so bad I feel I can’t breathe
Got to say mine was there before pred. 20mg zapped it into touch. It’s less now, still moves around a bit, up a bit, down a bit, left, right....shoot! (Remember The Golden Shot?) But has never hindered my breathing, in fact I’ve tried deep breathing when I have it and it doesn’t alter. It may be associated with reduced pred, or too much activity, or poor posture or......
It doesn’t hinder my breathing really i had my oxygen level checked but it is all over my chest not just Ribs and feels like I can’t breath properly
Gone too low on your preds?
Yes I have that but my doctor blames my weight ,Its ok an hour or so after I get up .Odd .
Your weight? How?
Said as I am lying down my weight compresses my ribs .I am overweight but not really big enough for that to be a consideration .If I smoked it would be that probably .Really he didn't know what it was and that is the lazy answer .I see the Rheumatolgist on my 6 month visit soon I will ask her ,She is more on the ball .
😮
Good job he’s not my doc, he’d probably say it was because I was too thin!
Maybe collect and print some threads from here that show it’s an oft reported problem. Hope you get a sensible answer and not another lazy one.
I have asked around looking for a new surgery ,No one seems happy with theirs ,we have a couple of good ones but of course you can never get an appointment. Different doctor every time so how can they possibly know what you are about .The system has gone to pot hasn't it . I will take that advice and print some ,good idea .
I'm a sufferer as well. There have been a few posts on here about rib pain which makes me think that it is somehow associated with PMR. My GP referred me to a Physio who identified that my shoulder and back muscles on that side are weakened - maybe because the PMR has stopped me using them as much as normal and so my pectoral muscles have done extra work whilst themselves being affected by the illness - hence the soreness. She's given me exercises to strengthen my rotator cuff and lattisimus dorsi muscles. Hope it works!
Makes perfect sense to me. My chiro always says my lattisimus Doris is tight (that has auto corrected but I’m going to leave it, I like the idea of Doris being tight 😉)
Hmm I am awaiting an operation on my left shoulder ,Tendons are detached and the original damage limitation op re attaching them after a scan has now been deemed impossible ,Nothing to attach .Its only taken years of physion and buck passing to get to this stage . I have an appt on Friday to have students see what woman who worked and drove for a living with tendon damage looks like ! .High pain threshold I am told .High pain threshhold = Overheads self employed ,bills ,Only wage earner, until Mrs May put me out of work with the Windrush debacle . I will mention all your advice to the Rheumy .Thanks all .
See suet’s very similar question 8 days ago. Lots of useful replies there.
Link for ease in years to come healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
Will do .
There is no official acknowledgement they are associated - other than they are both due to inflammation! However, as alangg suggests, problems with muscles in gneral aren't made any better by PMR and tight back muscles may aggravate costochondritis.
Pred also softens the ligaments so that they are more easily stretched, so it could also be pain from over stretched ligaments you are getting.
Is Ibuprofen safe to take with Prednisolone?
Does pred cure or simply suppress symptoms?
Nagging discomfort along lower ribs
acid resistant capsules 
PMR Increasing pain, ear pain. 
