1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Anyone else have PMR with some serious sternum/rib cage pain?

Posted by ksidorov @ksidorov, Jun 3, 2023

Doctor suggests it is Costochondritis which I have read is possible with PMR. The pain is not only in my sternum (like, serious pain when trying to cough or roll over in bed) but now also in my back rib cage area.

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grallo41952 | @grallo41952 | Oct 13 11:18pm
In reply to @mark77 "affirmative for chest area pains, worse if lifting something or trying to hold two sides of..." + (show)
@mark77

affirmative for chest area pains, worse if lifting something or trying to hold two sides of something together, Internist has checked out heart and said not the problem and not costochondritis as no particular sore areas along rib/sternum connection areas. Have been off pred for seven months. would like to get back on but MD not agreeing d/t SE of pred. OTC analgesics dont do much, cant take the nsaids d/t gastrointestinal SE. Another rock and a hard place it seems.

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Went on prednisolone 25mg after diagnosis and weaned off after aboutc12 months. Then, what I thought was a flare-up of arthritis, I am now thinking is a return to pmr. Apart from the other pains I now have pain on deep breathing in the bottom of rib cage on the back as well as sternum pain. Back pain I have attributed to diaphragm and this time I will ride out the pain/discomfort rather then return to steroids.

REPLY
jabrown0407 | @jabrown0407 | Oct 14 8:18am

When I have a significant new pain I always check it out with an appropriate specialist. It is easy to lump pain into the PMR bucket since there is not anyone able to confirm it. You might go to a pulmonologist to confirm there not another cause. I had three abdominal tumors, required surgery. I have an impingement in my neck causing neck and shoulder pain. I had a pocket of inflammation in my shoulder that required aspiration. I have trochanter bursitis that requires dry needling. Just because it could be PMR pain does not mean it is.

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yogabonnie | @yogabonnie | Oct 14 11:19am

I did have costochondritis with PMR about 2 years in. very painful took about a month -6 weeks to go away. tylenol helps. I did NOT have it around my back . good luck!!!

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1 reply
wsu333 | @wsu333 | 4 days ago

I was diagnosed with PMR in July. Started out on 20mg prednisone. Now I am on 4mg. Suppose to be done on July 1. We’ll see. My ribs feel raw sometimes. I use something like Bengay to help it feel better. Anyone else have this symptom?

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wsu333 | @wsu333 | 4 days ago
In reply to @yogabonnie "I did have costochondritis with PMR about 2 years in. very painful took about a month..." + (show)
@yogabonnie

I did have costochondritis with PMR about 2 years in. very painful took about a month -6 weeks to go away. tylenol helps. I did NOT have it around my back . good luck!!!

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I was wondering if Tylenol would help the costocondritis. I usually take ibuprofen for that, but they don’t want me taking that while I have PMR

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yogabonnie | @yogabonnie | 4 days ago

It did help me!! I cant take ibuprofen either. just dont take too much!! good luck! It DID go away.

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