I do not have lupus and my RA symptoms are mainly hands, wrists, so I do not get rib pain.

But - One big question is whether this is rib pain or chest pain. As you probably know, there are a lot of causes of chest or rib pain in lupus that are due to problems with the lungs or the pleura (the "coating" of the lungs). You can get inflammation of the pleura and / or fluid in that space between the lung and the chest wall or rib cage, and it is very painful (and can be felt in the back or shoulders too.) The pain also gets worse when you take a deep breath. If you are having bad pain that is not getting better with all those things you usually try, you should definitely get this checked out.

Chest or rib pain is so difficult because you cannot immobilize those joints and muscles...they move when you breathe and you cannot stop that.

I hope you figure out the cause and are feeling better soon.

I had chest pain last week, not bad like you are saying, but I didn't feel like RA. I scared myself with a lot of googling, my family doctor offered no help. So, I finally did my weights, including the universal. It hasn't hurt since. So for me, some kind of muscle spasm? RA related or not?

Anyway, my point being is that as doodlebug says above, and google says, there can be many sources for this sort of pain, and that can include RA, my doctor did say. Please see someone, because it may not be RA, and you may need some different kind of treatment. Or is may be RA and you may need a different med, physiotherapy, etc, etc.

I hope you find the cause, and solution to this pain.

I agree with all that's been said. Rib pain is not "classic" with RA.

i figure you have worked through with your primary care to rule out chest infection, pneumonia, pleurisy, you know all the lung-y stuff I guess with a chest x ray and/or cat scan or whatever the pcp thinks. from there if it is frequent my pulmonologist is a key part of my health.

as an aside I kicked off my early 40's hello RA with chostochondoritis - I also had chostochondritis at age 23 - an acute bout that was so much fun. Costochondritis pain for me is in the front of my rib cagey area. since you are a ra 10 year veteran you are probably used to introducing new places of challenge to report to your rheumatologist. I hope this flare passes soon. isn't rib pain gross?

depot

i put a hydroculator wrapped up in a piece of terry cloth on my rib cage. forgot to tell you that.

depotblue

What is a hydroculator?? I've never heard of it before... hope you see your doc about this Julie; does not sound like it should be ignored.

a hot pack .

depot

Went to see the rheumatologist yesteady and received many shots of Traumeel in the worst areas for a total of 9 shots in my front and back ribs. The pain is better but still lingering in my back area. The doctor said it is a bad flare with lots of swelling. The shots were difficult and his pressing to find the worst areas was almost more than I could take. I yelped quite a few times and thought I was going to vomit from the pain. Much better now.

Sounds like you'll finally have some relief. Glad you saw your doc about it. Hope you feel much better soon.

Thanks depot for decoding for me ;)

I had to look this up - Traumeel.

It is a homeopathic mix of botanicals and mineral
Mountain arnica
Marigold
Witch hazel
Milfoil
Deadly nightshade
Monkshood
Chamomile
Comfrey
Daisy
Cone flower
St. John's wart
Calcium sulfide

your rheumatologist injects homeopathic herbs into your rib cage area? are you going to a naturopath or a naturopath that treats rheumatology or a board certified rheumatologist that is treating your lupus? how does this type of herbal treatment affect your lupus or your liver numbers if at all? did your primary care ever get around to evaluating you for the cause just to be sure? sorry but I get chostochondritis with some frequency. no way is anyone coming near me with multiple needles and inflamming the areas by pushing and injecting herbs. you're a trooper.

depot

I had never heard of this medication or this type of protocol so I took a moment to look it up for yucks.
There is not a lot of good literature (like good randomized controlled trials) and some info is sponsored by the company that makes it, but it is mostly used for acute injuries as it seems to have the best chance of effect in early inflammation. They way it treats inflammation is poorly understood, and it comes in lots of forms.
I am thinking the injections were into trigger points or particularly tender areas along the ribs, and not joints (with the joints of the rib cage being where the ribs meet the spine and the sternum)???

I agree it's important to figure out the underlying cause - since rib pain is not typical of RA (though anything goes), and there are other reasons for the pain in lupus.

I hope you have relief of your pain, but I am not sure this will impact the underlying process. Let us know how you are feeling after this.

I'd echo Depotblue on Chostochondritis. I had a bout a few years ago (before RA symptoms) and WOW did that hurt! Mine was in the lower part of my right hand side, so couldn't be confused with chest pain. An anti-inflammatory cleared it up in a couple days. But I don't know if that would work now, in the context of RA.

Yes I have injections of Traumeel because I am a type 1 diabetic and steroids make my blood sugars uncontrollable after these types of injections, but Traumeel does not elevate my blood sugars so I try this first. If there is no relief after a few days I go in again for cortisone. The injections are done directly into the rheumatoid nodules and also in the affects joints. I've had costochondritis before and have had these types of injections in my sternum area as well. My MD is a certified rheumatologist however he practices both eastern and western medicine. I'm also on benlysta every 4 weeks, and pain meds and anti-inflammatory meds that are extended release. I also have prednisone that I use when I feel a flare coming on. But lately it seems like I'm having more bad days than good days. I'm going to discuss with the doctor changing pain meds and the frequency of benlysta to see if I can get ahead of this.... I'm so tired of feeling this way.