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...

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Pain in ribs

vetteme4
vetteme4
I have pain in my rib cage. I have one spot that really hurts when you touch it and also, the pain wakes me up at night if I lay on my right side. Does anyone else have this? I asked my rheumy about this and he had a name for it but I can't remember what it was. Along the lines of inflammation in my ribs. Do I need to do anything about this like maybe a MRI or whatever to see how much inflammation? I don't see my rheumy again till June. Thanks. Also, I just had a mole removed from my back that was pre-cancer melanoma. Could this be related to RA and the meds I am on? I started on Plaquenil then went to Remecade by infusion and am now on Orencia by infusion. Mtx was one I could not tolerate. I have learned so much with this group, so thank you all very much.
Wendy
bluedogs2
bluedogs2
Hi Wendy

When I have an "Ouchy" spot, I use Ice and then heat - at night, I use an electric blanket (if everything is "yelling") or heating pad set on low which seems to help me through the night

Peace
Bluedogs2
depotblue
depotblue
call your dermatolgist, or your oncologist those are serious questions (mole and cancer links et al)

as to rib pain, cardiology usually has to rule out first usually...

but if it is ruled out then it could be plain ole costochondritis which sucks (painful) but is just another fun place for RA to go. mine always takes a while to ebb. it moves in and hangs around (chostochondritis)

BUT you have a lot of co things - go see one of the doctors.

depot
carrottop50
carrottop50
If it is Costochondritis which is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone. I have this and it can hurt like hell... it can make you feel like you are having a heart attack... in fact my doctor said that it sends a lot of folks to the hospital thinking they are having a heart attack and some are even young folks. This type of pain can go away as fast as it comes or it can stay for a long time. I can get an injection from my Rheumatologist that can help with that pain. It sounds as if you had this check out which is good but if you haven't please do see your doctor.

I also have had lots of skin cancers (16 ) removed and if you had it removed you should be ok... but watch it very close plus your whole body for other spots. Some Dermatologist do whole body scans for skin cancer screening yearly and the scans usually are free... so I suggest that you get checked out at least once a year or more often if your dermatologist wants you to.
If you are worried about these please do check with your doctors. The skin cancer can be caused by your RA meds so my doctor has told me but for me it is important that I take the RA meds. Plus I had about 6 skin cancers removed before going on RA meds years ago so I guess those skin cancers were caused by something else. Skin cancer might be something you want to talk with your Rheumatologist about too.
Hope you feel better soon.
vetteme4
vetteme4
Thanks Bluedogs 2, I will try the ice and heat. Depot, I have been cleared by the cardiologist and the dermatologist wants to see me every 6 months. Carrottop50, that is what the rheumy called it. I couldn't remember. Thank you all for the great advise. Have a great day!