I have been posting regularly on the fibro board as the dr.s have dd this two years ago. I have been in a flare since september and have just gotten worst as each month passes. This is my third go around with prednisone and my rheumy is starting to suspect something else is going on. They have tried different pain meds within the last week as I have never had pain like this before. I have been to the hospital because nothing has given me relief. My pain is in my back and my ribcage. It feels as if my insides are going to first catch on fire and then explode. I am going for a bone scan on thursday and in the meantime on Percocet and prednisone. Has anybody else had this experience?

Hi, I am not sure how much help I can be, but I can tell you when I was in the worst flare ever I had the rib cage pain you mention. I thought my ribs were breaking. It hurt to breath and a friend hugged me and I just about screamed in pain. Mine didnt last that long, a month or more, I have the pain (Fibro) now, but none as bad as the rib cage pain. I hope you find the cause and get relief soon. Bless you. Pattie

for your input. What med's did they put you on for the rib pain? I just had the bone scan done and won't get those results for a couple of days yet. So yours just went away on it's own? I can't imagine living like this. Pamela

Hi what you just described sounds similar to what I have been going through only add the boalting, and night sweats on torsol area. The pain is unlike FM and the fatigue of CFS kicks in with it. I was desperate to get reief and so I was trying just about everythin on the counter. My last attempt was antacid pill -no name brand. It actually helped. At first I thought it was a very bad case of heart burt and acid reflux,...my doc ruled that out. Discovered APS and severe vitamin D -deficiency. Please ask your rheumy to run special lab work regarding proteins in your blood and urine, possible vitamin defiencys in blood and anemia. My right hand -index and middle are not functioning as they used to be. Also, my doc also advised me to take a daily coated asprin -Bayer 325mg until I see the specialist he referred me to.

I hope the antacid pill works for you. It does not relieve the oain entirely but does provide some temp ease.

Fell better

T~

I am scheduled to see the hematologist & oncologist next week.
[This Message was Edited on 04/06/2007]

My bone scan came out fine and so did an m.r.i. The only thing they could figure out that it was just bad muscle spasms in my back and one really twisted one. As soon as my primary put me on a muscle relaxer, all of the pain went away. I have found that this medication works for all of my pains from fibro.

That was some kind of pain though. I thought I was going to die. Just wanted to update you. Appreciate your concern. p

Hi, your symptoms are exactly what I have been going thru for years, back pain, rib pain, insides on fire. I was just diagnosed with endometriosis. Have you ruled out endometriosis? If you have endo your uterus swells and can cause pain, bowel problems, back pain, leg pain, anxiety, sweatings,fatigue, a lot of symtoms. I wish I'd figured it out years ago. Good luck to you, hope you find some relief.

Have you ever heard of costochondritis? That is what I assumed I had with all of the pain from my rt. side (on and under the rib cage). The pain would travel all the way through from the front to the back. It turned out to be spasms. Yes, spasms. The doctors even though it may be a kidney infection or stone because the pain was so intense. They even did CAT scans on me!

Mine wasn't chostochondritis, but it was muscle spasms by my ribs. I ended up at GI doctor. He ordered dicyclomine(generic Bentyl)---it was magic! I couldn't believe that tiny blue pill could totally stop all of those symptoms and pain! I had so much pain that it hurt to even breathe.


[This Message was Edited on 01/14/2008]

Kim, I don't think it is endometriosis as I am in menopause but yet I don't know if you can still have that after you are in menopause and yes I do have costro and I usually will take half of my muscle relaxer to help east the pain but will mention the other pill that to my Dr. as well.

I really believe it was a trigger point with a nerve in it and it hasn't come back. I have trigger points now elsewhere but I have learned all about them and how to do work them out with my theracane. At least it all led to my diagnossis of Chronic Myofacial Pain. P

My symtoms are the same as yours regarding rib pain, but I have a fractured rib and ra. Going to gp today to get bone scan results. I need something to help sleep during this time, was on klonopin, wondering what type of muscle relaxer I could suggest that others that are working for them. Thanks Nancy

I had pleuresy (sp) one time and my I thought my ribs were goint to explode, I also have FMS. Bobby

Wow, the symptoms you just described are exactly as mine. I can barely get dressed. I also noticed that my shoulders are weak and hurt like
_ _ _ ! Like not being able to lift my arms to grab some thing. I almost thought that I had broken a rib and clavicle. the burning and pain is unbareable and if my son wasn't living with me; I would check myself into a medical facility.

I am following up with the GI doc soon; follow up of H. pilori TX -two times now. Last tx may have helped a bit as I don't have to take the antacid pill every day. I now take it two - three times a day. I modified my diet, less spices.

Still the pain in my neck, lymph nodes -swollen, fever off and on, back and ribs hurt more than the usual. It hurts to breath.

You may want to heck for h. pilori infectio. My first biopsy was negative, but cause internal bleeding. The lab work is what revealed a positive.

Q: The first time the Rheumy gave me an injection of predisone it worked wonderfully. I almost felt human again and was smiling the rest of the day. I loved it! A month later I called and he gave me another injection to help deal with the pain, but I didn't get the same result; very little help. My last injection was given to me two months later and it didn't help at all. Why is that? Any input would be appreciated!

T~

My doctors also suspect Fibro but when I went to the rummy and told him about my pain he
noticed swollen lymph nodes and said he wanted to keep an eye on it. He seemed more worried about my Lymph nodes then my pain. I had Mono and ever since I've never really felt like I did before Mono... I was in my 20's recently been getting worse plus dizzyness/light headed/fatique pain in my bones/back/shoulder/neck pain... is all getting worse. At first it was once in a while and I have lost weight in the last few months without trying and seems like I can eat anything and I don't gain...I have nausa but attribute it to the pain... At first I was like yay!! .. but now I'm worried. My next doc visit is a Neurologist. I have lots of small Bruises on my legs that I have no idea where they came from. Feels like my bones hurt.

My ribcage hurts too/chest pain/shortness breath (even if I'm sitting in bed) /burning pain/electric shock pain too/nawing pain/aching & major Fatique ...

Keep me posted on how you're doing Mujuer

Tara =)

[This Message was Edited on 05/17/2009]