Muscle pain in chest

[masieg]

I have muscle pain in my chest which has been ongoing for 4 months. I've had a myocardial perfusion scan as it started on my left side and a chest xray which were both negative. I know it's muscular as it only hurts when i move. So, if i reach for something that part will hurt and go away after about 30 minutes. The same when I get up or get in my car etc. Its mainly in the front and sides of my chest. I have Polymyalgia which I've had for a year and am now down to 4 mg daily. My GP talked to the Rheumatologist who said i need physio for my back? It doesn't stop me doing anything - I'm a runner but it is really annoying and the thought of living with it is a bit daunting. I'm 62. Any ideas?

[SnazzyD]

Can you put your finger on the pain, press and go ouch? Is it particularly around the chest plate bone where the ribs attach? Last question, are you still running?

[masieg in reply to SnazzyD]

No, I cant put my finger on it as it only hurts when I move. Yes I'm still running .

[SnazzyD in reply to masieg]

It was at these low levels my musculoskeletal bits started to feel problems, not of the PMR sort but of the general strain and tendinopathy sort. Pred muscles don’t appreciate repetitive strain I’ve found. It may be the intercostal muscles are needing a rest from the running. How often do you do it?

[masieg in reply to SnazzyD]

2-3 times a week

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) that causes my back muscles to be very tight and even spasm. It takes the form of inflamed muscle fibres that can be felt as hard knots in large muscle groups including the shoulder muscles, lats and piriformis muscles. They make the rest of the muscle tender - and can also irritate nearby nerves from the spinal column supplying the relevant parts of the body and causing referred pain there. I sometimes get pain in the ribs as a result of that - I also find physio helpful but not in the form of repetitive exercises which can actually be poison to both PMR and MPS. Here our local hospital physio dept provides therapeutic massage and manual myofascial release as well and both of those are really valuable in keeping me relatively pain-free. Once the muscles are no longer so tight, you can work on them to improve matters.

It MAY be that your muscle problems are affecting your running gait - and making things worse by continuing.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

How often do you have the therapeutic massage. After not being able to walk for 4 months I feel I should be keeping on top of things rather than waiting for problems.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

Not as often as I'd like! I get 12 sessions at the hospital - and discussing it with the doctor afew weeks ago I said what I thought would work well was a massage/mobilisation session once every 3 or 4 weeks combined with a Pain Clinic appointment every couple of months. He agreed and said I could do that - unfortunately the Pain Clinic is still in abeyance due to Covid - no idea why, hardly anyone in hospital with it at present and single figures ICU patients.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

That's excellent re their numbers of cases etc, but as you say, a puzzle as to why you can't get what you need.I'm guessing I need to find a sports therapist ideally.

Plan for today.... thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

I'm waiting on the physio and I will spin it out once it starts. The pain isn't too bad and what there is will resolve with physio I think. I have also had 2 sessions of extracorporeal shockwave therapy - same principle as lithotripsy for renal stones but aimed at soft tissue - one more to come for the greater trochanteric problems. I am wondering if it is having an impact on the lower back stuff. The guy swears by it, they've been using it here for about 4 years so there is a fair bit of experience with it.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

hmm off to google that!!!

[piglette]

Has anyone considered Costochondritis? I had it and it was really painful at times.

[masieg in reply to piglette]

Maybe - I'm trying taking Celecoxib for 3 days to see if that makes a difference

[piglette in reply to masieg]

I would have thought a pain killer such as Celecoxib would make a difference and help the pain. I must admit I am always a bit worried about Celecoxib because of its history, but it has now been OKed so it should be fine.

[masieg in reply to piglette]

I've always been ok with it _ I take Omeprazole with it . Let's see if it makes a difference !

[piglette in reply to masieg]

It was the cardiovascular stories that worried me. As an NSAID It should be fine if it works well for you.

[masieg in reply to piglette]

It's been cleared for any cardiovascular risk otherwise they wouldn't be able to prescribe it . I think that was Vioxx - this is very similar but apparently doesn't have the same risk - let's hope so !

[piglette in reply to masieg]

I agree. I am probably being paranoid, because it was nearly banned when I was working with the pharmaceutical industry. I think a lot of the problem was possibly drug companies fighting against each other. On the other hand that is probably true of an awful lot of drugs.

[Gibguy]

Consider tietze syndome

[alangg]

I had similar chest pain on and off when I had PMR and was taking Pred (at 62). Coughing or sneezing was incredibly painful and I couldn't get comfortable at night without Ibuprofen. Medics couldn't come up with a diagnosis apart from old age and a bit of arthritis but a private physio gave me exercises to strengthen chest muscles which I think probably helped. The pain has 'gone away' now as has the PMR and I am no longer taking Pred but whether that is all related, I don't know.I hope yours subsides soon as well.

[MiloCollie]

I think piglette could have a point with costochondritis. I think I had it last month. I only found out on here and only last night. It’s gone now. Hope yours goes soon. Ease up on the running maybe?

[South123]

If its any help my Polymyagia (2 years) seems to move around my body over time. Its mainly in my shoulders and neck... but in the last few months it has moved to my upper chest. I am on 5mg but after around 3 to 4 weeks the pain increases and I actually feel that I am having some sort of heart attack. I increase to 7mg and within a day its gone. I then drop back to 5mg for a few more weeks. I am a very fit 67 year old and still teaching paddleboarding all year around.

[Sandyowl in reply to South123]

I am on 5mg. My PMR morning aches have also moved around since being diagnosed. Currently I wake with backache between my shoulder blades and bruised sternum/rib pain. Really weird and if I take a big breath I swear it’s more uncomfortable too. Thought I might have heart issues for a bit but assume it’s inflammation moving around again.

[masieg in reply to Sandyowl]

I spoke to one of the doctors at work today - I work in a GP practice and she suggested upping the pred dose and see if that makes a difference . The Celecoxib has made no difference .

[Sufferinginsilence]

I've also had upper chest pain since (with a tenderness in the breastbone) before being diagnosed with PMR in March this year. It was treated as costochondritis to start with and then linked to the aching in my shoulders from PMR when I saw the rhuematologist. I still wake up every morning with discomfort in neck, shoulders and chest but it eases during the day. I find gentle stretching exercises, paracetamol and heat helps. The severity comes and goes.

[Nightingales]

It’s interesting that your rheumatologist focused on your back. I had the same pain for a long time. It was one of my worse symptoms. A thoracic spine X-ray showed disc and narrowing problems. I had steroid injections to the thoracic nerves and rib muscles under X-ray guidance and it has gradually resolved.