Bad pain in chest/back/neck

[Cos]

Hi All,

I've been diagnosed with lupus for 20 years (I'm 31 now), and had a kidney transplant 12 years ago. Luckily, the more serious symptoms of my lupus are under control at the moment, but I still suffer from the usually aches, pains and tiredness.

At the moment I'm suffering from this weird pain that feels like it's in my right shoulder blade, but deeper. It usually spreads to my neck and chest too. It gets worse with my breathing, and is really sore when i lie down. This then setlles after a bit.

I've been to my doctor with it before, but they can't detect anything!

Does nayone else have anything like this or any tips on how to deal with it?

Thanks :worried:

[Lily]

(((((((((Cos))))))))))))

I would be inclined to see the doc about it. It certainly deserves more investigation. It could be a number of things, from simple inflammation (is it ever simple with us :rolleyes: ) to something far more urgent in nature. That in itself deserves a thorough workup. I'm hoping it is just inflammation but any pain that involves shoulder/neck and chest can sometimes indicate a heart problem. We present very differently to men when we have heart problems and the pain can be in the shoulder, jaw or neck.

Let us know how you get along. If your GP is unhelpful then its time to ring the Rheumy. If they arent sure they would send you to a cardiologist to at least rule that sort of thing out.

love
Lily

[Cos]

Thanks for your advice. It's still going on, although it seems to come and go, and all my GP did was prescribe me morphine! This helps a bit with the pain, but i can't really function properly the next day, so work is tricky.

i have an appointment in 2 weeks time with my consultant so will discuss with him then.

thanks

cos
:)

[Dawn23]

Hi Cos,

This is my first time on this forum and the only reason I've logged on is because I've been trying to get to the root of my chest/back pain now since last October (2006). I started to get a straining pain across my chest when lying on my sides at night and then it gradually got worse over the next couple of weeks and it began to hurt to breathe and I was admitted to hospital. They checked for clots and found nothing and my heart was ok apart from a slight bit of fluid around it. It eventually started to get better and I was able to lie back on my sides again in December. However, during my time in hospital I also developed pain on belching (everything I eat or drink nowadays causes indigestion), and it also started to really hurt to laugh and yawn (i.e. take a deep breath it). The problems were always worse when lying down. These symptoms although imporved continue to exist. I've had a gastrocopy which shows nothing and I've stopped all medication accept iron tablets. I'm beginning to think I should just accept this as normal lupus now but I'm still hoping to get to the bottom of it. My doctors are baffled!! For now the pain continues mostly at nights and some nights it is worse than others and I have to prop myself up with several pillows to get comfy. I'd been interested if you get to the bottom of your back/chest/neck pain and see if mine may be similar. Good luck.

[BKK]

Hi guys,
I am new to this also. I have had symptoms for almost 4 years, but my blood work always comes back good. It took me awhile to find a doctor who would listen to me. I finally found a great Doctor (a rheumatologist) who understands that positive lab work does not always have to happen. My daughter who is 12 has a mixed connective tissue disease. She and I both suffer on and off from the chest pain you are talking about. I have all of the heart and lung tests done. Everything looks good. My daughter has had tests done also. things look good. But the pain is so bad at times. I have gone to the ER before thinking I was having a heart attack. I have also taken my daughter once before in the middle of the night. My doctor told me that our rib cage is made of bone and then turns into cartilage. It is much like a joint. Not of course like out knees and elbows, but still is a joint. Therefore, that area will have pain much like the other joints. Mine is very scary at times. I am not saying that this is what your is, but I know it can be very painful. I would have things checked out just to be safe. Chest pain is nothing to mess with. I hope this helps you. Write me more if you want to.
Love,
Sonja

[lmerrill09]

I seem to be experiencing some of the same pains in my right shoulder blade and the back of shoulder and neck. It also is worse when lying down and causes trouble breathing. The pain is so severe it causes me to cry. I have been checked thoroughly for heart problems also and was cleared.

My symptoms developed since I came down with pneumonia and pleurisy. The sharp pains in the ribcage area when breathing, belching, yawning, laughing. I'm going to get another chest xray this week.

I pray that we all can find solutions to our current ailments.

[AmandaB]

This is now my only reoccurring symptom! I get like a sharp pain in my shoulder which travels up my neck. Sometimes it makes my arm ache and other times I can't lie flat.

I got diagnosed with inflammation of the diagphram which caused my lungs to shrink! I have to take Neurofen plus to keep it at bay. I have an appt next week with my Rhuemy and was gonig to bring this pain up again as it wakes me at night on a regular basis! I'll let you know the outcome..

Amanda

[KitKat]

I have had pnuemonia, pluresy, pnuemonitus and pericarditus in the last 15 months. Since then I have aches and pains. My Rhuemy and lung guy say that it is because of scaring from the other diseases.

The only time I worry is when I get a fever with the pain. I have found when the pain gets really severe it is often a precursor to a flare but when I have the pain none of the tests show anything so DR's ignore it. Only in about 2 weeks time when I am really ill do they do anything so I have given in going to Dr's at that stage.

I also find that propping myself up on more pillows (sometimes 4 or 5) means I dont lie flat so it is better.

Hope some of that helps

God Bless
KitKat

[sue90x]

Hi,
I've had very recent aches around my chest that radiates to my arm shoulder blade, flank and neck, I was utterly convinced I had angina or my heart was struggling somehow, but rheummy changed my antacid med! I thought he was totally gaga but the pains have more or less subsided, I've started with something else since!
take care do mention it to your GP and rheummy if it gets bad get to A&E ,
love and hugs
Sue xx[CODE]t/CODE]

[Dawn23]

Thanks to everyone who has written comments to say they have been experiencing similar. It's nice to know I'm not alone in experiencing this symptom. My rheumatologist seems baffled whenever I mention it but now I can go back to her and say that other people have been experiencing too. I would love for it to resolve but I'm not sure its going to. It's such a pain when it's keeping me up at night though. If there's one thing we need it's a good night's sleep!!

[Pollyanna]

Having had the same pains as everyone else; plus having had coronary artery disease with a stent in one artery and a heart attack two years ago; AND ongoing angina...<phew; let me catch my breath!!> I want to offer the following possibility.

Even tho' I do not have acid reflux or GERD, my gastroenterologist determined that I was experiencing esophogael spasms. <Lord that's a lot of big words!>

Of course, coming from the one who had her heart attack at age 45, please don't disregard the pressure in the chest, tightness in the throat, any pain in EITHER arm, indigestion that won't go away, or even pain in your back.

Someone already mentioned that we present differently than men when it comes to heart attack. And that is so true. My dad just came home from the hospital and he had arm pain in the right arm. He ignored it because it wasn't the left one. Go figure! Be safe ladies and gents!

Hope this helps someone. Hugs to all,

Love, Pollyanna :love2:

[angeleyes98]

HI
i have had similar pains for about 2yrs now but last year a great doctor in my a&e dept told me what they were from she reckons it is severe inflamation between the small bits of cartlidge between the bones (breast bone,ribs,shoulder joint etc) and the reason it gets worse when you move i.e cough, lie down etc is because the cartlidge rubs even more. she upped my anti-inflam med and after a day the pain started to ease and but i am usually left with a dull aching after for a few days. i started to monitor when i was getting the pains and they do seem to come more when i am at my worst or if i have over done it the previous day.
hope this helps abit x