For the past year and a half I have had symptoms of pericarditis but I have not been to card and Pulm lately but have previously and they say they can’t find anything and that it must “just” be inflammation. I am on medication but still have to basically sleep sitting up. Anyone else have this chronic problem?
Hi Eagle,
I get a lot of pain in the chest/rib area, been tested zillions of times on the heart and no problems found there, so mine appears to be costochodritis or else a possible lupus cause. Have you been checked for costochondritis? It can cause pain the the breastbone area. Here is some info on it: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/basics/definition/con-20024454
I do know that taking my Lyrica does help to decrease the pain for most of the day.
The other possibility might be asthma? Have you been checked for it? I also have it and gives me a very tight, painful feeling in my chest. If I didn't know through bookoo EKG's, I'd think it was the heart. I'm sure you know how that goes.
Okay, that didn't really answer your question, did it? But maybe a few possibilities?
I had either costochondritis for pleurisy for a long time. I wasn’t diagnosed with lupus until the end of it, and the plaquenil finally got rid of it, though it still pops up short term if I get too tired. Or stressed. Both things are inflammation, one of the lining of the lungs, one of chest wal lining. Lying down was okay, but only if I lay flat on my back with my body lined up very straight. I was so exhausted by the pain. Took about three months for the plaquenil to kick in. I hope you feel better soon. I also had pain pills, and they didn’t help much. It helps to eat with Vicodin, enough to keep the bausea at bay. I still have a lot of problems with pain, but not chronic in my chest. I know ut hurts you to breathe. Do you hsve a rheumatologist? They are the ones who deal with symptoms of lupus the best.
You might want to see your Pulm. I had trouble breathing and coughing. My pulm did a high resolution ct scan and found I have interstitial lung disease.
I also had mycoplasma pneumonia. That was diagnosed by my dermo because of the rash on my legs. amd breathing with no lung congestion z-pak took care of that. These diseases are so strange I still can't believe she diagnosed that by the rash on my legs.
I guess anything is possible
Cindy
I have been going through almost the exact thing. I have had off and on left rib cage pain for months, but after a few xrays, doctors blew it off. They said I probably just had "Chest Wall Pain" which I think is another way of saying costochondritis? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Then it became worse a few months after I had a mastectomy. My oncologist did a lot of tests and found nothing. I was sent to a cardiologist and pulmonologist who didn't find anything. Again, they called it "Chest Wall Pain". The last two weeks in December, the more mild pain in the upper left near the sternum suddenly became very painful. So much so, that I couldn't lift anything, cough, or laugh without involuntarily moaning, or crying out. I've basically have done nothing that requires major movement in that area and have been applying heat. It has finally subsided. I went to my rheumy last week, and after looking at past test results,he agreed with the other doctors. It's frustrating that it is something that they can't see! Each time one of them said "chest wall pain", it felt like they were giving me a placebo diagnosis. It is very real. I hope you start getting some relief soon.
Gentle hugs...
I wonder if ultrasound imaging would pick up the imflamation around the lungs? Isn’t this a fairly common secondary condition to SLE Lupus, inflammation causing restriction of the lungs.
Lupus needs a seperate hospital, filled with knowledgable docotrs who specialize in diagnosing and treating Lupus, seems most docotrs are pretty ineffective with the disease.
When I would go to a family doctor and say that I had bilateral muscle pain, this was before Dx of Lupus, he Dx’d as a muscle spasm, I asked him, muscle spasm for 30 years? But they kind of look like they think it is all in your head, when they can actually see that all the muscles are constricted, all the time.
Thanks so much for all the replies. Cindy, I find it very interesting that you say that you had a rash on your legs. I do as well but my derm took a biopsy and says it is just granuloma annulare.A horrible lookibg but harmless rash. It had gotten horrible right before my last horrible flare that landed me in the haipit a year Ann’s a half ago. Details of that horrible essay are in my introductory bio.) My rash got better after 8 mo of high dose pred.)
I think I may have costo ongoing but this pain feels very deep. I can’t even get to sleep if I sleep flat on my back because of the pain and I feel like I can’t breathe. I can get to sleep on my side but wake up hours later in severe pain and feeling like my lungs are full. Once I move around and cough a bit it gets some better but a heating pad to my chest and reg Motrin are the only thing that helps. Sometimes it is sharp and I can feel it through my back and up neck on both sides. Taking Colcrys and plaquenil. Was taking Cellcept that was apparently helping but it made me very forgetful,etc. But after being off I can tell it was helping. I had to go back on pred over the holidays with the added stress and work schedule. (Really wish I could work part time!) Just get tired of this sharp deep pain in chest! Thanks for letting me vent. Dr wants me to try Benlysta but kind of afraid of the biologics. I tend to get every possible side effect known. But will see rheum in a couple weeks for quarterly appt. Thanks again!
Hi eagle41
I have had at least 10 biopsys on my legs or arms in the last 3 years. In fact one on my arm proved Lupus. this last biopsy (in Nov) said "erythema multiforme. That biopsy was done by the AARP in the dermo office. My rheumy sent me to the dermo the day before Christmas and I saw the MD in that office. She' kept saying "I don't like that rash" she said I'm on call all weekend and I want you to call me if it gets worse. She said I had mycoplasma pneumonia one round of the Z pak and I feel so much better, much better. My cough is gone I picked up that bacteria in Vegas I think. I will never go back there.
. My rheumy says " long term use of prednisone is not recommended". I don't have much pain except in hands and L wrist.
I get a lot of side effects but some of them are just diarrhea. I can deal with that if the antibiotic works.
Eagle41 said:
Thanks so much for all the replies. Cindy, I find it very interesting that you say that you had a rash on your legs. I do as well but my derm took a biopsy and says it is just granuloma annulare.A horrible lookibg but harmless rash. It had gotten horrible right before my last horrible flare that landed me in the haipit a year Ann's a half ago. Details of that horrible essay are in my introductory bio.) My rash got better after 8 mo of high dose pred.)
I think I may have costo ongoing but this pain feels very deep. I can't even get to sleep if I sleep flat on my back because of the pain and I feel like I can't breathe. I can get to sleep on my side but wake up hours later in severe pain and feeling like my lungs are full. Once I move around and cough a bit it gets some better but a heating pad to my chest and reg Motrin are the only thing that helps. Sometimes it is sharp and I can feel it through my back and up neck on both sides. Taking Colcrys and plaquenil. Was taking Cellcept that was apparently helping but it made me very forgetful,etc. But after being off I can tell it was helping. I had to go back on pred over the holidays with the added stress and work schedule. (Really wish I could work part time!) Just get tired of this sharp deep pain in chest! Thanks for letting me vent. Dr wants me to try Benlysta but kind of afraid of the biologics. I tend to get every possible side effect known. But will see rheum in a couple weeks for quarterly appt. Thanks again!
Gee, and I thought that costochondritis belonged in the fibro family only. I guess not! And it's sure unnerving to see SO many people here get nothing more than a placebo diagnosis on the matter. Tonight mine is also in my upper back and it is mostly presenting there as pins and needles. It seems like the Lyrica I am taking takes longer to kick in now and wears off faster than before. My eyes are also acting up, they feel like I got Ben Gay into them, as they are also burning with that pins and needles feeling.
Yes my doctor has a name for this i just cant remember. Antiinflammatories should help. Curcumin and ibprofen Sorry stay strong. God loves u
I have chronic inflammation of my airway and plursily, both will definitely causes pain,discomfort and a burning or irritated sensation in th chest. It’s really difficult to see airway inflammation on any scan but a pulmonary function test helps to diagnosis it . The only drugs that every helped me were cytoxin (chemo therapy infusions ) and high dose cellcept. These drugs are very strong and are reserved for moderate to severe autoimmune diseases. Feel better 