Costochondritis & PMR?

[HamishPMR]

Is there a connection between costochondritis and PMR? After developing PMR in 2018 last year I developed (what I am sure is) costochondritis. The ache ( there is no acute pain) is around the sternum.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sounds about right though you are lucky there is no acute pain because when there is it is awful!

It happens in PMR patients but I don't know there is a direct link between PMR and it. It is also not uncommon in RA patients

This is an interesting description:

cureus.com/articles/53842-a...

as is this:

everydayhealth.com/rheumato...

which conclude that it is due to mechanical irritation and the inflammaion of RA (and possibly PMR is the same) predispose the development.

[HamishPMR in reply to PMRpro]

As always PMRpro you help is much appreciated.

[suenewberry in reply to PMRpro]

I too have just been diagnosed with this. Doctor telling me if you have one autoimmune disease you will probably get another. The interesting part is I have been off steroids now since 2018 when wedge fractures were discovered. He has advised me to take Naproxen to help with the pain which is not severe, but it hurts to breathe. Can anyone advise what treatment they had and what is best for this please. I have just tried the links, but not linking at the moment.

[HamishPMR in reply to suenewberry]

Thank you for that.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to suenewberry]

Don't think costochondritis is autoimmune really - painful though. If you want answers to your question you'd be better starting a new thread as very few will see it where it is. I can't help - never had it so far!

[Blearyeyed]

It appears quite commonly as being linked to various chronic conditions, and if you see the amount of posts about it that happen on the forum , the proof is in the pudding , as it were!

Now , your post is active you will see the list of related posts on the right hand side of the page . If you have costochondritis, especially if it is currently mild , it would be worth reading through those as I know that I've included replies with tips for managing it on a few , and that others have included their tips and links to help manage it too. The posts will certainly help you ascertain if what you are feeling is costochondritis or something else , and , if this has been going on for sometime informing your GP is important and having , at least initially, a phone consultation about it is required in case they want to do any other checks , but essentially because you need the incident recorded in your medical records in case it happens again , or gets worse.

Pace things well and slow in the meantime as less physical exertion, rest , and breathing exercises are the best way to improve it or triggering worse symptoms.

Take care , Bee

[HamishPMR in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you for your comments.

[Merryfield]

Hamish, I too developed costochondritis at the same time as PMR. Doesn’t hurt but I have a visibly enlarged right breastbone with swollen flesh around it. MRI analysis described it as marrow edema in the bone and something effusion in the flesh.

[HamishPMR in reply to Merryfield]

thanks for that.

[papadapadoo]

Wow.Mine was the opposite, in that I had costochondritis for several months, then it disappeared. Three months later began my PMR. Interesting.

[Alchemy8]

Just probably a rather simplistic thought but it is generally accepted that we in the West do not breathe properly. Deep belly breathing, taken up to the chest and then right to the top of the lungs help to free up the diaphragm. A restricted diaphragm means restricted chest muscles, internal organs etc. leading to knock on chronic effects in our health. And not forgetting its connection to the psoas. Every time I go to my osteopath his first port of call is to release the diaphragm. It is also the main lymph pump so for us with autoimmune issues this is very important too!