Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Has anyone experienced intermittent upper back and chest pain?
When it started out I thought it was reflux or gas pains, but nothing OTC for either has helped. It is kind of in between my shoulder blades and feels like a gas bubble, not tight at all.
It has not moved anywhere, it just comes and goes.
I saw my PCP about a week ago and he was more worried about the sound of my lungs at the time, gave me an inhaler and inhaled steroids. They have cleared up, but this stupid pain persists.
I have also had tingling in both hands since last Friday, that also comes and goes, but lasts for quite a while at a time.
I suppose I should call the doc, but I get so tired of sounding like a whiner.
Thanks for the vent and any advice that you may have.
Kim
When it started out I thought it was reflux or gas pains, but nothing OTC for either has helped. It is kind of in between my shoulder blades and feels like a gas bubble, not tight at all.
It has not moved anywhere, it just comes and goes.
I saw my PCP about a week ago and he was more worried about the sound of my lungs at the time, gave me an inhaler and inhaled steroids. They have cleared up, but this stupid pain persists.
I have also had tingling in both hands since last Friday, that also comes and goes, but lasts for quite a while at a time.
I suppose I should call the doc, but I get so tired of sounding like a whiner.
Thanks for the vent and any advice that you may have.
Kim
Yes, I think calling the dr is the right thing to do. I hope you feel better as the day goes on.
Peace
Bluedogs2
I always thought it was part of my stomach problems. I have mentioned it to my doctors but they are vague with their answers. I'm afraid to take pain medication for this because if it is stomach related it would just make it worse.
If you find out anything please let me know, I would be very interested.
Sorry, I do not have any advice for you.
Hope you get to feeling better!
It's swelling and inflammation in the lining of your lungs.
I take 800 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours to reduce swelling.
Most of the time with RA our flares/swelling are outside the body but remember it can affect our internal organs as well.
If I remember correctly when I've had pleurisy it was not only my lungs but my chest, rib cage, and upper back. The first time I got it I was 30 and swore I was having a heart attack.
Just a thought :). Get feeling better soon!
Xoxo MLC.
My hands drive me crazy between the cervical & RA pain. The chest & back pain are awful.
The sooner you start looking for the cause the better. None of these symptoms should be ignored.
My cervical went on to long & now have neuropathy. The chest pain confused some of the doctors but with me it was triggered thru spinal problems. There may be more then one thing going on, but listen to your body & make that appointment.
Good luck & god bless, Sammy
I just had a head and neck MRI done about a month a ago for the tingling. They were both clean.
I get hand, arm, feet, leg and face tingling, but that doesn't usaully last but for a few minutes. The Neurologist thinks it may be inflammation, but the Rheumie says I am not swelling, so I circle between specialists.
I had a conversation with my PC when I went in for bloodwork on my thyroid and told him about the mixed messages. His answer was that doctors don;t always know everything, they do the best that they can.
He told me to just keep living my life, I am getting older and things change.
My "favorite" part of the conversation was when he told me, well at least you don't have cancer or RA or anything like that... UMMM Doc, i do have RA. His response was 'Oh, I didn;t read your chart"
I have seen this man for about 35 years, his office is the one that sent me to the Rheumie because of my blood work and symptoms to begin with.
I know Docs are overworked, but really, he couldn't look back one page?
I guess it is time to look for a new Doc. I have moved and he is about 30 minutes from my home, but he is close to my mom's, so I always have a reason to stop by and visit because I am in the neighborhood.
I hate the thought of finding a new doc after all these years, but I think that the time has come.
Can they diagnose pleurisy through x-rays or will I need to have something else done?
Thank you for everything.
Kim
Just wanted to chime in and say I get the same pains.
Right now, for the past few weeks, it's my mid-upper-back area on the right side - my ribs in that area feel very sore.
But I've been ignoring it b/c the major pains are in my hips. I do sometimes wonder "what one earth is this pain and tenderness" but following through on everything can be overwhelming.
I agree with the others you need a new doc. I know, what a pain in the butt, but you are worthy of better care than that. Don't give up.