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Chest rib pain
I’ve had PMR for 9 months an am on the weaning side of prednisone.
I’m on 15mg. I have had chest soreness an deep breaths are a strain.
My shoulders are stiff as well. But nothing like the beginning when it was my whole torso that was inflamed.
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@farnhamlaf1, Another member @marg47, mentioned similar symptoms with her PMR in another discussion here - Lung complications with PMR?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lung-complications-with-pmr/.
She mentioned she was going to follow up with her rheumatologist on a reference article I shared in her discussion and may have some additional information or suggestions.
What you are describing sounds like costochondritis to me.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371175
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I had bouts of costochondritis and my rheumatoligst didn't seem overly concerned about it. I remember exactly what she said when I told her it was hard for me to take a deep breath without sternum and rib cage pain. She reassured me that it wasn't cardiac pain. She just said it comes with the territory I was in --- referring to my autoimmune disorders and "systemic inflammation." She didn't say costochondritis was caused by PMR but it occurs with many autoimmune disorders.
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The following link explains Tietze Syndrome. However, general inflammation of the cartilage in your rib cage is called costochondritis.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23565-tietze-syndrome
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You may want to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. I think it can be associated with PMR but more often with inflammatory arthritis. I was diagnosed with both PMR and inflammatory arthritis so my rheumatologist collectively called everything "systemic inflammation." I could never pinpoint exactly where my pain was ... I would complain that the pain was everywhere.
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2 ReactionsI had symptoms like what you are describing. This was toward the start of my PMR journey when I was on higher doses of prednisone and had more symptoms. I have had PMR for almost 4 years. It hurt to take a deep breath with the pain seeming to come from my ribs. I also had pain under my shoulder blades. I do and did not have any lung problems and prednisone was my only medication. It felt to me like the muscles and tendons in my rib cage area were tight and inflamed. I was pretty sure it wasn't my lungs and the pain went away over time. Your case may be different though.
Wow, thanks for input. I feel a bit relieved to know someone else feels that way.
I have costochondritis - actually dealing with it well before PMR. Certain foods and overeating make symptoms worse for me. Routine of deep breathing/holding/slow exhale really, really helps me...along with trying to regularly do tai chi which helps me stay mobile while working through PMR.