The more I'm reading about lupus or other inflammation issues, the more I'm realizing that certain things I've just been dealing with and chalking up to something else might actually be a symptom I should mention to my dr.
For instance, I've just thought for a few years now that I have bad ribs that "go out". I get a pain on my right side on my ribs that radiates up into the neck area....always in the same spot. At times it "catches" when I breathe in, sometimes it doesn't. I'd never heard of pleurisy until the last couple of weeks ... does this sound like it, or does it sound more like I need to see a chiropractor?
I've never had pleurisy (that I know of), so I can't speak to what it feels like, although I've heard that it's extremely painful. Also, I think it would involve a fever and a general feeling of malaise, but then we lupies have that most of the time anyway. What I DO have is "rib" pain. It goes away when I am on a high dose of predisone, and comes back when I try to taper the prednisone below 10 mg. Seems like I can get to 10 mg and no lower. I have decided that my rib pain, which is particularly painful upon inhaling or when I tense the muscles of my torso, is actually inflammation of the attachment points of the ribs as well as of the attachment tissue (ligaments, muscles, whatever). Whenever I mention it to my doctor, he acts like he didn't hear me. I wonder if a cortisone injection in that rib space would help reduce the inflammation permanently, but, like most of us, I am tired of being experimented on. Good luck!
It could be pleurisy but that usually comes with a fever and trouble breathing.
You always tell you doctor about any symptoms!!!
However, it sounds like what you might have is called costochondritis. It is inflammation of the chest wall and connective tissues of the ribs. It is very common in Lupus. It will hurt in the front and your back also. It will be more painful every time you move, like leaning forward, deep breaths etc. Please tell your doctor in an appointment very soon. Never wait on chest pain. Always tell your doc right away. If you need more information please let me know or go to Lupus.org
I get sharp stabbing pain usually in the right side,(lower rib area) difficulty breathing, sometimes cough. Always been told it is pleurisy, except when I have pneumonia. My rheumy always treats me with steroids. Sometimes short term sometimes long term. Had it for years, off and on.
Is it pleurisy? I have had pleurisy/costochrondritis, depending on the doctor. It lasted for months at a time, and it hurt constantly just to breathe or talk, and it was exhausting. , like Blondie said.I sometimes get it now, but it’s usually a direct reaction to stress and goes away with the stress. I think my lupus meds, probably pred, keep it under conbtrol. You are describing more like a pulled muscle, which I also get. If it’s worse than a day here and there, tell your doctor that clearly. The way you are wording it here doesn’t sound like pleurisy to me, but of course it could be. The doctor can tell by listening for a rubbing sound, and he might order an x-ray. Only your rheum can diagnose you, though. You might go to lupus.org to see if there’s an article about communicating with your doctor.
I'm not too sure but you should mention it to your lupus dr and they can better direct you as to what kind of dr to see for that. It's funny after you get diagnosed you do wonder about all these other issues you've had for yrs if they are actually symptoms from the lupus or not. It's important that we do tell our specialist any/all of our symptoms, whether related or not.
I have no idea, it could be a muscle? It was really hurting yesterday, but I took 3 ibuprofen and this morning it was gone. Well, I think ... still hurts on that right side, but now it's on the lower part of the ribs.
You need your rheumatologist to see you because lupus pleurisy isn’t the same as regular pleurisy- it’s inflammation caused by lupus, not an infection following a cold or something. It’s treated with different meds. Don 't put it off. I wasn 't diagnosed when I had it so badly, and. I had to wait 3 months to see a rheumatologist after having it for ages. It’s serious stuff, Lupus. You could take notes on when it hurts. I read a blog wherein the person had put all her symptoms on power point and filled it in every day. I just have a datebook where try to put down major events. Depends on your personality! Bit it helps to know if it hurts somewhere every day or once every 2 weeks.
Thanks I’ve been writing everything in my phone calendar. I still am in the testing phase, haven’t been diagnosed with anything so I’m still seeing my GP. Next appointment isn’t until November.
Does it come & go, like not hurt for a day then get worse for an hour or so? Also feel slightly like I need to catch my breath, like I get a little cough here & there. But I’ve als had a sore throat today; might be getting sick.
Wow. I started reading through this post and my ribs are constantly “out”, and have been for years. An occupational therapist even taught my how to put the top two back in place myself, which I need to do at least a few times a day. I’m absolutely convinced I have costochondritis now and will mention to my rheumatologist next visit. I’ve never mentioned this chronic, and painful, issue to my dr because I was treating it with an OT, and didnt even think. Connecting these dots is SO helpful so THANK YOU ALL for this post. It’s funny too how I looked it up. Looks like 1st treated with NSaids- doesn’t help me. 2nd step: try opiate meds- didn’t help. 3rd step: try things like gabapentin (which I am already on for neuropathy) - not helping my back, and 4th is steroidal injections- I will ask?? Regardless, I’m just so…relieved? To make sense of why this happens. Bad backs run in my family so I just thought that was it. Thanks everyone. This helped a lot for me.
You look down and turn your head at a 45 degree angle opposite side you are trying to fix. You hold your arm in reverse L shape, downward, and as exhale, flick your arm upright until it is an L shape. It’s much more simple than it sounds. But it’s obvious that it works.
I’ve been writing everything in my phone calendar. I still am in the testing phase, haven’t been diagnosed with anything so I’m still seeing my GP. Next appointment isn’t until November.