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severe chest pains after laying down for an hour or more
Diagnosed with PMR 6 weeks ago, put on 5mg/day of prednisone. This helped my pain/symptons except chest pain. I still experience severe pain in my chest. This happens when I start to yawn or sneeze, and after laying down for an hour or more. The yawn and sneeze never complete due to pain in chest when it starts. I will generally run a fever and will get relief after a sweating session, only to return 4-6 days later. Anybody else experienced severe chest pain similar to this?
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Obviously that needs reporting to your doctor. It could be gastric. Do you always take the prednisone with food or milk and drink plenty of water during the day?
Hi @crewss, I'd like to add my welcome to Connect along with @megz and others. I agree with @megz that this could be serious and I would contact my doctor or rheumatologist as soon as possible. You mentioned being diagnosed recently with PMR. Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) which is associated with PMR can have chest pain symptoms similar to what you describe. Here's some information on the topic:
"Does giant cell arteritis cause chest pain?
Dizziness or problems with coordination and balance. Jaw pain when eating or talking. Persistent sore throat or difficulty swallowing. Occasional chest pain."
-- Giant Cell Arteritis: https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/giant-cell-arteritis
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2 ReactionsI have. Also went to ER and they thought heart attack because heart rate was fluctuating high and low. Tests came in negative for heart. My digestive system seems fine. Pain is all around the rib cage and intense. Yes, to the rest, chest pain was there before the steroids.
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1 ReactionI did it was terrible, I also could not complete a sneeze it felt like someone was stabbing me below my shoulder blades. That subsided about two months ago and started at the onset of PMR which was June of 2024.
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2 ReactionsThank you for letting me know I am not crazy.
I am 2 years into this disease and have just started with clavicle pain. I hate to sneeze it hurts so bad. I am down to 2 1/2 mg prednisone along with Methotrexate. I don’t think the Methotrexate has helped at all.
Probably due to costochondritis and/or a combination of arthritis and inflammation anywhere around your upper torso.
I've suffered a lot over the years with real discomfort and severe pain across the whole of my chest region even radiating into my sides, my spine and between my shoulder blades.
As you said, lying down can make it feel worse after a while. I sometimes can't even draw a breath particularly if I'm on my left side. Sometimes just pressing lightly with my fingers on my chest is painful. Especially between any of the ribs.
Costochondritis is believed by many to originate from the spine which I believe may be true, for me at least, because my osteopath can relieve the discomfort by working on my spine. I often feel like I can breathe more easily when he's done.
I have had a still do experience the same exact pain a sneezing is stuff. I can still exercise but can’t take a deep breath
I’m on same combo 8.5 mg prednisone an methotrexate once a week for 4 weeks (1 dose in)
I was hoping it would help me off of prednisone completely