chest pain when I breathe | Arthritis Information

Hi,

I was just wondering if any of you have chest pain when you breathe? I've had this alot here latley it seems. Tonight it's on the right side of the chest, last week it was on the on the left. It sticks around for a few days & then seems to go away for a couple days. My RD said that it could be pleuricy (sp). Its only painful when I take a breath in. Pain meds only make it bearable....i can't take anymore for a few more hrs. Does anyone else have this problem? Is it RA related? Can my RD do anything about it?

Sorry for all the questions. Any suggestions are appreciated..

Leann

i am guessing it could be RA because it can effect the organs. i would have an xray done to rule out pluricy with my primary care doctor. w.w.You should definitely get it checked out. I am surprised your RD mentioned pleurisy and didn't want you to come in.

I have chest wall inflammation and inflammation along my sternum due to RA. Very painful. There are things that your dr. can do. Pain meds didn't due much for that pain either. I now get nerve blocks to help. It has made a bit of difference, not a ton.

Please talk to your dr. There really are a ton of reasons for chest pain-we are just guessing. I hope you feel better. Oh...and welcome to the boards!

You RA dr. should have ordered some tests or told you to go to the primary ASAP! Breathing is rather important. What if you have an infection? [QUOTE=MsLane]Hi,

Sorry for all the questions. Any suggestions are appreciated..

Leann

[/QUOTE] Hi Leann,

Please go to have it checked out, pain is your bodies way of telling you there is something going on. I have a history of Lung problems and if you delay treatment is will only get worse.

Hope you get to the bottom of your pain soon...........Annie

I agree with the others that it should be checked out thoroughly and soon.

Though it is highly possible it is RA. My chest has hurt from it. Even my boobs have hurt from it.

It's a myth that RA only effects our joints. In my experience, I hurt from the nose to the toes from RA everyday, with different spots being worse some days and not others. One day my feet may feel like they are standing in fire and another my hips are out. The rest of me still hurts all the time also but not as badly. RA pain moves and changes. It is nasty that way.

Every single joint and muscle hurts in my body from inflammation and sometimes I can literally feel the 'heat' from it through my skin. If Neve just touches me or climbs on me in the way kids do, I scream and I don't mean too.

RA can cause all sorts of things and yes, it can effect organs, eyes, speech etc etc. By the time I was dxed I was nightblind and the inflammation was effecting my speech, it still does at times.

It can also stop you swallowing by your glands being swollen. It is simply amazing what this disease can do and the variables of symptoms we can experience.

Get it checked out ASAP though to eliminate anything life threatening like heart disease etc. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
Does it feel better when you lean forward? If so, you may be dealing with pericarditis. Hie thee to the doctor immediately.As everyone else said, chest pain can be serious, so get it checked out immediately. That being said, it may be costochondritis, an inflammation of the chest wall and ribs that is common in those with RA and fibromyalgia. Here's some info:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626

Leann,

I had the same issue a while back and it got worse over a period of about 2 weeks. I finally went to my RD and they told e it was pluerisy. I had been taking prednisone and they took me off for a period. It took about 2 weeks before it went away.

I agree with the others that you should go see your doctor. I think my RD also gave me a short course of antibiotics.

If its your chest, err on the side of extreme caution and get in to that doctor! I was first dx with pleurisy then costochondritis, right before my RA dx. But you never know, and deserve to be know exactly what is causing the pain and how you might fix it...ESPECIALLY if it's your chest that hurts...

Well actually I was in her office when I told her about this. It wasn't bothering me that day but i did tell her about it. She just listened to be breathe in & out. I don't notice that it helps to lean foward....but leaning to the side yes.......so if its the right side of my chest that hurts, I have to lean to the left in order to take a deep breath, which I feel is needed when I feel this way, so I guess it somewhat makes me feel SOB (short of breath). When it gets "really bad", like last night.....the pain was like piercing thru to my back, around the shoulder blade area.....Its still there today, but I have to yawn or take a deep breath to feel it, or if I move my shoulder a certain way I can feel it in my chest. My rheumy didn't seem to be too worried about it though.