Rib discomfort

[Gilly1372]

Hi all, just a little question. I’m fairly new to this condition, awaiting a referral to a Rheumatologist after many tests and problems which my lovely doctor has been scratching his head over! Anyway. I’m still trying to get does of pred right, but I’ve started to get pain in lower ribs and if I’m out of breath for instance, it’s quite painful breathing in. I’ve very recently had a CT scan and all was normal with chest….thanks all

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hi and welcome.

" I’m still trying to get does of pred right"

That is a long-term strategy and not really something to worry about initially. You start with a dose that is higher than is expected to be required and then taper VERY slowly with small steps at 3 to 4 week intervals until you find the lowest effective dose, below which the symptoms return. How have you been going about it?

What problems led to the head-scratching?

[piglette]

I wonder if the pain is Costochondritis? I got it at one point. I am not sure whether it has anything to do with pred or not.

Symptoms

A sharp chest pain that's usually on one side of the breastbone and affects more than one rib. The pain can feel worse when moving or breathing, or when pressing on the area where the rib joins the breastbone.

[Gilly1372 in reply to piglette]

Hi Piglet, It’s lower ribs, not chest, Sometimes just in lower ribs in back and sometimes both front and back

[piglette in reply to Gilly1372]

It was the lower ribs with me and I found breathing really painful. Basically it is the bottom ribs where they join the breast bone. Look it up on Google. I think they mean it is above the waist ie the chest!It is not a very good description.

[Gilly1372 in reply to piglette]

Ah ok I’ll look that up. It tends to come and go depending on how bad I feel . Still trying to get my does right. My doc seems to want a quick reduction

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gilly1372]

He might want it but it doesn't work and in the end you will take more pred than if you do it the way we talk about all the time. You need enough to manage the inflammation at all stages, if you go below the symptoms will relapse and over time you will need more and more pred to sort it out.

[piglette in reply to Gilly1372]

You have the PMR not your doctor, so just reduce slowly.

[Gilly1372 in reply to piglette]

Absolutely. I’m increasing by 1mg today to see if it helps a little more. It doesn’t help that I’m on the waiting list for a total hip replacement so I’m in pain with that . Who said these were the golden years 😆😩

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gilly1372]

If you have hip problems, the pain seems to "feed" the PMR in some people. A few have had their hip replacement and then been able to taper the pred.

[Gilly1372 in reply to PMRpro]

Oh wow, thank you for that info. I shall mention this to doctor to see if he can push to get me further up the list. A year of waiting for a total hip is ridiculous!

[piglette in reply to Gilly1372]

I have had both hips replaced. The surgeon I first saw actually blamed the steroids! The first was on the NHS and the second one private as Covid had virtually stopped any hip replacements happening in a reasonable time and I could not put up with the pain any more. I think things are getting better now.

[Gilly1372 in reply to piglette]

Oh wow, both hips must have been hard going . Was there a fair time scale between them? I’ve been waiting a year now for mine, so had that problem before the PMR. I actually started with it after a second colonoscopy. I had one and they couldn’t get one of the polyps so a doctor had to do second and about a week later I started with the shoulder and arm stiffness which got progressively worse over a couple of weeks

[piglette in reply to Gilly1372]

There was quite a while between them. I have friends who have had both done at the same time. You won’t know yourself after the hip op. Even now I think back to the awful pain.

[Gilly1372 in reply to piglette]

I cannot wait, the pain is getting worse. A friend had a replacement not long ago, was away in Greece 4 weeks later having a whale of a time!

[piglette in reply to Gilly1372]

I was not allowed to drive for six weeks which I suppose was a bit limiting.

[Gilly1372 in reply to piglette]

Oh gosh, I never thought about that. I’m stuffed then, let’s hope it won’t clash with my holiday in May

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gilly1372]

Oh gosh, I never thought about that. I’m stuffed then

Why would you not think about not being able to drive after hip replacement?

Since I was windowed I’ve had 3 replacements-hip, knee and shoulder, all meant no driving for 6 weeks afterwards. Inconvenient yes, but no great shakes.. always a friend or a taxi to get where you need to.

Have a look at this- and good luck when it does happen -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[Gilly1372 in reply to DorsetLady]

I have severe asthma and heart issues which restricts walking too far. I’m recently widowed so live on my own and apart from my one son who lives not too far but works shifts and just had a new baby, my other kids live miles away

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gilly1372]

I’m sorry to hear about your other health issues and widowhood, but I didn’t have any family close either [like many others on this forum] …which is why I mentioned friends and taxis.

Just surprised you hadn’t considered the no driving that’s all… Hope your ribs soon improve,🌸

[Gilly1372 in reply to DorsetLady]

I know, I should have considered that, but there is so much going on at the moment, I’m not thinking straight. I’ve had the most horrendous 14 months with the death of husband, a major flood in my kitchen /conservatory which took almost 10 months to get finished with the insurance company, then all the problems of hip heart and now this. Head is all over the place to be honest. I’m sure I’ll manage, and I’ll drag my daughter away with me, she can drive ☺️

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gilly1372]

Certainly sounds horrendous…sometimes life is a real bu%%er isn’t it?😵‍💫.. but we do struggle on and get through it somehow.. Best wishes

[Gilly1372 in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you, yes we do, and my beautiful grandchildren are my reason for fighting. I’ve missed doing things with them this summer. We had lots of plans, now shelved for next year 🙏

[Gilly1372]

yes I tried to tell him what I had read from this forum but like thyroid, they have little understanding don’t they

[PMRnewbie2017]

I get rib pain from time to time. Usually rhs below breast radiating to the side. I can connect it to several things. 1. An impending flare

2. Stretching too high with my right arm. I'm 5ft2 with short arms so everything is out of my reach!

3. Wearing my bra too tight.

Breathing in deeply feels very like a broken rib. I've never had it investigated as it goes with rest and i think is probably muscular.

[Gilly1372 in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

We have the same problem with height then haha! Also 5’2! I have asthma so when I get out of breath it does make me gasp a bit but a recent CT scan has shown allok there. Maybe when I can get doses right it will disappear

[CALGD in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

I’ve had exactly that pain, too. It subsided after 3-4 months. I assumed it was PMR-related. Now it’s my wrists….

[Gilly1372 in reply to CALGD]

Seems to be a gift that keeps giving dosent it! Here’s to a very quiet winter !