pectoralis major discomfort ??

[Fishtacoqueen]

Hi,

For a few months before I was diagnosed with PMR I had discomfort across my upper chest. I attributed it to everything from poor posture to muscle strain even though I felt I had done nothing to aggravate it. It lasted several months , went to a physio thinking it would help and I did the recommended exercises . A couple of month s later I had typical PMR pain which involved shoulders, hips and then backs of knees. Doctor diagnosed and prednisone almost immediately stopped all pain. That was in May 2023 . Titrated down to 4, had a flare , went back up and now back down to 5. All that time there was no upper chest discomfort. I am now noticing this again. It’s not painful but I am aware of it. Sorry for long story but just curious if anyone else has experienced this or knows about this. I have never read anything about it being part of PMR but this disease seems to have some surprises. Thanks for any input.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What do you mean by upper chest? I had decided discomfort across my collarbones - the sternocleidomastoid muscle is a double headed muscle that attaches at the sternum and collarbone and that can all be seen as inflammation in PMR

[Fishtacoqueen in reply to PMRpro]

That is exactly where it was. Just didn’t pinpoint it properly. I mentioned that to my rheumatologist and she didn’t really say much. I wonder if this is starting up again if I might expect a flare? I have only been on 5 mg a couple of days. Thought I would give it a few until my body adjusts….

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Fishtacoqueen]

Could be though I suspect it can play up without a generalised flare. But if it spreads - don't ignore it!!

There are stretches for SCM tightness. SnazzyD has posted a lot about SCM problems and we do have lots of people posting who get the set of links from Snazzy and me! So it isn't uncommon.

[Fishtacoqueen in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Fishtacoqueen]

Haven't seen this one before

posturedirect.com/sternocle...

Loads on there though!!

[Fishtacoqueen in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Some good stretches here !

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Fishtacoqueen]

piglette says a friend showed her a stretch in a cafe and it looked as if she was tying herself in knots - pretty sure it is in one of the links I found!!!!

[marionofnorwich]

Helpful thank you. Does anyone know a good stretch for the muscle that runs from the outside of the knee to the ankle, sorry of between shin and calf? I get very painful area below my knee and think it is a tight band between knee and ankle

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

Below the knee or the side of the knee?

Below could be patellar tendinopathy

nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/....

To the outside it is possibly iliotibial band syndrome

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

and this gives a set of exercises to stremgthen the requisite muscles

mskdorset.nhs.uk/knee-pain/...

It is difficult to stretch because it is a fascia problem and the fascia doesn't stretch, Since it tends to be an athlete's problem the stretches that would work tend to be "in your dreams" for us! However, No 2 here

wellandgood.com/how-to-stre...

is one that is used for a lot of problems including piriformis and isn't too horrendous to achieve. But your glutes are the region to work on really - all part of the same sort of system.

This

worcsacute.nhs.uk/documents...

if about the only realistic set of stretches I can find!

The second one here using the band might be an option

youtube.com/watch?v=i6SpciI...(Not working as expected?)

[marionofnorwich in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, I will give some of these a try. It is below the knee but to the right hand side. Not really involved in the knee joint as my osteopath just pointed out

[YogaJM]

As part of my symptoms, I had a tightness across my upper chest, above the breasts, and I couldn't extend my arms out straight horizontally. It, along with all my other symptoms has gone now, 18 months into decreasing Pred. Best wishes.