pain in ribs

[Mumdadlove]

good morning all, I hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas.

I am currently on 22and a half mgs of pred, under Rod Hughes, my journey is now 2 years, I saw him 2 weeks ago and he has advised to stay on this dose until the New Year then try to taper again, I also have neck problems so the reducing has become complicated as to is it GCA or neck, last week I started with pain in my left rib, radiating from my back and under my breast bone, I haven’t done anything that I am aware of to cause this, it’s very painful to touch and move, I went to my GP on Monday, and he could hear a slight crackle on my left lung, he gave me antibiotics which haven’t touched the pain, Rod Hughes also prescribed an ibroprofen type drug, this hasn’t helped either, I’ve never been diagnosed with PMR, does this sound like that to any of you? I really don’t want to up the pred, I am at my daughters at the moment and home Monday so think I will get onto the GP again and ask for and xray and scan, in myself I feel ok so this is a real shame, thank you all

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Possibly costochondritis?

nhs.uk/conditions/costochon...

 SnazzyD has some good info on that -hopefully she’ll see this and be along soon.

Hope you soon get it sorted and feel better.,,

[Mumdadlove in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady and PMR pro, I will look into this, I really don’t want it to be anything to do with having to up the steroids so really pleased your saying doesn’t sound to PMR ish, I think I’ve sorted my neck problems out and now think not GCA related, Rod Hughes on board, I paid to see him privately for about a year and he has now very kindly got me on his NHS clinic, everything crossed for a more positive 2025, for all of us, thank you!

[SnazzyD in reply to DorsetLady]

Was that me? Anyway, here is a link that has a picture which I like.

webmd.com/pain-management/c...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes that what I was thinking about 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Very similar one in my link.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - I was about to ask if it could be costochondritis - it sounds too localised for PMR itself.

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[SnazzyD]

I wonder if the crackle was an incidental find. If you can poke the ribs and find an ouchy spot, I’d suspect it is more external to the lungs. Pleurisy can be sharp though and radiate but an x-ray should help with finding that. I once got a bottom rib issue just from reaching round the back of a toilet to clean the floor. It was debilitating once it set in but was sorted quite quickly by an osteopath. That pain ran from back to front and could be found with a finger as the offending tissues were just under the skin. Painkillers were largely ineffective.

[Mumdadlove in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you for your reply, definately tender to touch on the ribs, this evening rubbed with voterol and taken painkillers, just got to get through tomorrow and if no better will go back to GP on Monday, I think you are right about the crackle, I haven’t had a cough or any other symptoms and not noticed any difference with anything re the antibiotics