[Surferboy]

Folks, I went to my GP & A&E recently as I've been getting a lot of mid chest pain and pain around the stomach and surrounding areas. These pains have also been accompanied by pins and needle on left hand and feet

But the GP told me that if there was any ORGAN involvement in my lupus I would not feel the pain from it as it would be affecting the kidneys etc silently, and the only way to detect it would be via blood, scans and biopsy. He put it down to anxiety but I know that when all these pains started again I was not in the least bit anxious - in fact I was beginning to accept this illness.

Is what the GP told me about "no pain in organ involvement" true or a myth? Can anyone who has organ involvement offer any advice please?

I've done as was recommended by him and took pain killers but the pain is still there - sometimes bad sometimes not so bad.

 

[lazylegs]

Hi Surferboy,

The following page might help with your concerns about kidney involvement.

http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/web...new_aboutaffects.aspx?articleid=100&zoneid=17

Take care,
Lazylegs

 

[Maia]

Kidney organ involvement in lupus is almost always painless. There are other types of organ involvement that can be painful however. But your particular constellation of symptoms with the chest pain, early morning awakening, and pins and needles sensations with the chest pain are much more in line with anxiety being the cause. Hence, why your doctor has said what he has said.

I believe you've been very thoroughly tested too in recent months to verify that you do not have any other problems that need any additional treatment beyond what you're already getting so that probably adds weight to your doctor's belief anxiety is underlying many of these issues.

 

[Zoi]

Hey there,

Like Maia already mentioned in her post kidney involvement in lupus is completely painless; however other forms of organ involvement are pretty painful indeed.

Anxiety is a very sneaky thing you know.... You don't necessarily need to be incredibly anxious right at the moment a physical symptom arises for anxiety to be the cause behind that symptom. Do also bear in mind that when your doctor suggests your symptoms might be anxiety related he is under no circumstances suggesting you are making things up.

Did your doctor have any suggestions as to how you might deal with the anxiety he believes is causing your symptoms? Since the painkillers you are taking aren't doing much to help ease the pain, you might want to go back to your GP at some stage and discuss your options in dealing with this matter.

Zoi

 

[Raglet]

the only time I have experienced pain in an organ is when it has become swollen. I had a very enlarged liver once, and that hurt like heck, but it was very obvious to the doctor who was examining me - he could feel my liver was bigger than it should be.

The only other time has been infection - kidney infection, appendicitis, they both hurt.

But yes, the doctor is right, lupus involvement with organs is generally painless. Chest pains can be part of indigestion.

hth

raglet

edited to add - I recall a doctor telling me that organs don't have many (if any, can't remember which) pain receptors, which is why they generally don't feel pain, unless they are swollen. No idea if this is true, just what I remember someone telling me.

 

[Surferboy]

Thanks all for the replies. But this time round I am certain that my pains aren't anxiety led as I was totally happy and dealing with my lupus - no pains, no meds, nothing.

But then this pain crept up out of the blue. Even the area around my chest feels tender and sore to the touch. And every so often I get a sharp pain either in the chest or lower mid areas.

I've been advised to take some paracetemol for a while to see if this helps, and if not to pay the GP a visit.

PS If there is any heart involvement, would there be pain?

 

[cath]

Hi Surferboy,

Pain in the chest area that hurts to touch - ie you can trigger the pain by pressing on the area is usually costrocondritis. This happens a lot with lupus, and is fairly common amongst otherwise healthy people too.

It is inflamation in the "joints" between the ribs and sternum where the cartilage is. It is usually worse with momement and deep breathing.

It can be quite severe pain and can be a real pain, but the good news it is itsn't life threatening and doesn't mean your heart is inflamed.

Next time you see your rheumatologist, ask him aboout it.

X C X