that sounds like what i'm experiencing. never had a name. but i find when i'm active i feel worse through the night and the next day. thanks for a name.

Why you're welcome, my partner in misery! :o) My physiotherapist is awesome - I knew she'd know what it was and it really helps to know so you don't worry so much about it (not that your lungs grinding up against your chest wall sounds like a good thing!).

I thought it was just me having a very delayed reaction to overdoing it ! Do you put ice or heat on those kinds of pain and is massage good for it ???

I don't know! That was my first time experiencing it, to my recollection. I was hoping someone else would have an idea. I just doubled over and then it went away a half hour later when I sat down and relaxed. :o) Not too scientific a method, is it? I'm sure heat would have helped more than cold, though.

I have read somewhere that this condition might be caused by methotrexate...

Hmm.... well I haven't taken Methotrexate in nearly 3 years. I think I just exhausted myself doing too much. That was the first time I had walked around a big mall in a looooong time. Normally I would take my wheelchair. I think it was my lungs' way of saying "sit down!".

I've had it as well. It's hard to describe. It makes you not want to take a deep breath in. You're not out of breath, just afraid of how bad its going to hurt. Ha! Trust me, you do not want to get into a sneezing fit while its happening. Ouch! It's caused by inflammation of the lining of the chest can be caused by rheumatic/inflamm/autoimmune conditions. The same thing can happen with the lining of the heart with the same types of conditions (pericarditis). I know from my line of work, that pericarditis can be treated with prednisone, but am not sure if it works for pleuritis/pleurisy. I personally noticed that mine went away after starting 60 mg pred. It has mostly resolved. I do notice it for a couple of days after I decrease my pred dose, though. I'm not sure if that is coincidental or if there's something to it. Hope you get some relief soon!

Thanks for the information. I do take prednisone, but am weaning down my dose. I think I have experienced this before, while on that devil methotrexate. I think I'll just be more careful to take a rest period. Unfortunately there wasn't any place to sit down at the part of the mall I was in so I just kept walking. It happened at the end of a fun but long day. Yes, I'm sure I wouldn't have wanted to be sneezing at the time it was happening! Owwww!

I have never taken methotrexate either and get it all the time.
Need to work on your back and side muscles. Might help support the "core" area.

Don't be fooled....it's part of the disease.

Yes, that's what I figured it was. And I certainly do need to work on my 'core' as well as all of my craptastic muscles. :o)

Tell me about it. Craptastic is a fabulous word!!
My trainer shakes his head all the time at me cuz my muscles make NO sense. Freakishly strong in some areas....craptstically weak in others. (used it already!!)

I've had a coupla massages where my massage therapist (he's the BOMB) says my muscles "behave" oddly OR they move in a way that's like they have a mind of their own.
Think it's kinda oddly cool to be so unique, HOWEVER i'm also a "medical person" so i find it interesting. I saw all the time that this would be much more interesting if i weren't the patient.

hahaha - I agree - I have endured lots of procedures that would have been interesting if done on someone else!!!

Tomorrow I am having a bone density test to see if 7 months of lying in a hospital bed and years of being on prednisone has screwed me. Oddly enough my physiotherapist sent a fax to my doctor asking that this be done so she would know what exercises to recommend for me. She's very very good. On the other hand, as soon as they say my bones are fine - I'm riding a rollercoaster, dammit! I LOVE rollercoasters and haven't been on one in 3 years. To me, that's not living!