Painful ribs?

[Daisymaud]

Hello everyone. I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMR after starting with a painful groin which was initially thought to be arthritis of the hip.Then the pain spread round my body so eventually blood tests indicted PMR. I’m taking 25 mg of prednisolone ( down from 30mg) which has helped greatly but yesterday woke with painful ribs! Is this normal?

[Mrsd12f]

It was my first symptom.

[123-go]

I believe that rib pain can occur with PMR. How long were you on 30mg Pred before reducing to 25mg ?

Have a look are 'Related Posts' on the right of your page.

[Daisymaud in reply to 123-go]

One week 20mg, then increased to 30mg for 2 weeks and 3 days, now down to 25mg (only 4 days ago)

[123-go in reply to Daisymaud]

I take it that the initial 20mg wasn't sufficient to manage your symptoms. Quite a jump to 30mg but it may well be that you didn't stay on that dose long enough.Others will advise regarding that.

I do sympathise. PMR is a lonely journey at the beginning so I'm glad that you've come to this community where you'll find lots of support and will benefit from advice from more knowledgable members and also people who have experience of the symptoms you describe . Don't despair. You may well be asked lots of questions but persevere to enable people to reply in an informative way.

[Daisymaud in reply to 123-go]

Thankyou. I hadn’t even heard of it before I was diagnosed. I don’t know anyone who has had it. The steroids make me feel very weepy. On top of everything else I now have been told I have to have at least one tooth out before I can go on Alendronic acid to protect my bones to prevent something called necrosis of the jaw! 😢

[123-go in reply to Daisymaud]

Very few people had heard of PMR before they were diagnosed so it does come as a shock. Weepiness is very common but it will pass or at least lessen over time so don't lose heart.

Alendronic acid to protect your bones should really only be prescribed after a Dexa scan to assess the condition of your bones as they are now, as you may not need it. If you haven't already had this scan, if I were you I'd politely decline this medication until you have had the scan and can see the results so do ask for this.

Reading your reply to SheffieldJane, it is clear that your PMR pain isn't being controlled and the inflammation has built up again. To remedy this mis-management you should return to the Pred dose where you were last relatively pain free and stay there for a good three to four weeks: then, and only then you should slowly reduce by small amounts. See 'Tapering Steroids' in the Pinned Posts section.

You don't say if you are under the care of a GP; unfortunately some are less knowledgeable about PMR than is desirable and if you feel this is the case you should ask to be referred to a specialist rheumatologist-or change your GP.

So, return to 25mg if that was the dose that gave you at least 70% reduction in PMR pain but don't reduce too quickly so that a good 'handle' is obtained on the inflammation. Secondly, ask for a Dexa scan and thirdly ask for an investigation for the rib pain if it doesn't lessen after an increase in Pred.

I have to point out that nothing written in reply replaces the advice of a healthcare professional and suggestions and advice from members of the forum are made in good faith. At the same time, people on the forum are often more knowledgeable than the GP because of their own research and experience (I aspire to be one of them one day).

Don't hesitate to come back with any questions or even if you just want to 'rant'. 🙂

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you been doing "normal" activities since the pred worked? Both PMR and pred can make it easy to overdo things even with far far less than was normal before and you get sore muscles very easily.

Where is the rib pain? Could it be costochondritis?

[Daisymaud in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve not done much at all as I feel very dizzy and lightheaded, especially in the morning. I used to go to a gentle exercise class for over 50s but I can’t face that at the moment.

[SheffieldJane]

My PMR presented like this ( groin pain, very disabling). The rib pain I got was Costochondritis, I called it the PMR hug. Not much helped, except rest and painkillers - I don’t think it was a primary PMR symptom, more like a result of PMR’s effect on the muscles and tendons in my case.

[Daisymaud in reply to SheffieldJane]

When the original pain agony disappeared after the first dose of steroids I was so relieved and happy but now I’m having all these side effects it’s very depressing, especially as I believe this is going to be a long haul.

[borednow in reply to Daisymaud]

It is difficult to start with but you will be OK - you'll get lots of advice on how to manage your PMR yourself from the great people on this fantastic site. Won't go so far as to say some day you'll look back on this and laugh BUT certainly lots of smiles. I was diagnosed in 2017 - down to 2mg a day and smiling! Be kind to yourself.

[SheffieldJane]

I know Daisymaud. X

[Linny3]

I have been dealing with pmr for 6 years and have been on 15mg most of that time. I have a lot of ligament problems in the rib cage area. Been to the hospital twice thinking it could be heart. I have learned to be very very careful to not put any pressure on that area when bending or stooping over. It is quite the balancing act to try to be up and around and accomplish the simplest of tasks and not hurt myself.Good luck and sorry you have to be on this journey. You have come the right place, that is for sure.🙂

[Daisymaud]

Thankyou all for your replies and support. I’ve had a much better day yesterday (best day for weeks) and even managed to plant some winter pansies! so good to do something normal and productive. My main problem over the last couple of weeks is an increase in migraine auras. I had 5 in one day.