Thoracic-chest pain

pug65
pug65 Member Posts: 8
edited 24. Feb 2013, 02:48 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello all.

This is my first post so please forgive me any errors. :oops:
Ive had joint pain Oa for 20 years in shoulder at first then in the last couple of years ankle and feet which has taken a little time to get the meds right, seems my stomach did not like anti-inflam drugs :oops:

Ok to the point. In October last i had pain in right lower ribs and pain in stomach, felt like i popped a rib in my sleep and that my kidney area had been hit with a base ball bat. Went to docs and he thought kidney stones so ordered a ultrasound plus x-rays of chest. he also wondered if it could be muscle/skelton so asked for physio as well,guess he wanted to cover all bases.

so results came back, ultrasound negative and xray negative.
so off to physio, she said it would appear to her that the problem was mid/upper back but asked to lay on bed so she manipulate the spine, long story short she calls her collague to check her findings and then both tell me that my thoracic spine is fused solid and that a specialist needs to look at me urgently, during the session i was given some exercises which helped reduce rib pain.

Anyone had similar problems? To be honest i was in shock really and as they were trying to explain some of the info did not go in my head, the bit about me being an ex rugby player and that was probably the reason for the problem, that i did hear!

The pain at night, muscle spasm up the sides of my spine and the tightness of the chest area which if i take deep breaths makes my back creek is up there with some of the worst pain i have ever had including dislocating my shoulder twice.

Any feed back will help, we are all suffering on here and when i read some of the post on here i feel very humble.

Thankyou :wink:

Comments

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, pug65. It's good to meet you. No errors at all, you're posting in the right place and there's absolutely no need to feel humble. We all have our arthritic problems and no-one can say how badly another person's is or how badly their circumstances affect it. Pain is pain is pain.

    I really don't think I've come across anyone before whose vertebrae have fused without them being aware of it. Over many years of RA, my ankles and wrists have fused themselves but, boy, did I know about it at the time :roll: I guess the rugby is the culprit? We're you in the scrum?

    Anyway, that was then and this is now. I hope some of our 'back people' will be along soon to help. As it's OA, the treatment will be pain relief, exercises and, if necessary, surgery. You're already doing the pain meds (which could explain why you've not felt the pain in the spine?) but maybe the GP could tweak them a bit given recent events. You don't say why you can't do anti-inflamms. Have you tried them while also using a stomach-protecting med? Another thing that comes to mind is asking to be referred to a Pain Clinic. Many on here have had success with them.

    You are being referred to a specialist and that's the best thing for you. Meanwhile, I guess, it's a matter of dealing with the awful pain. As I said, a change of meds might help plus the exercises. And, if they don't, you can always come on here and swear at us :wink: We understand where you're coming from.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello pug65
    And a warm welcome
    I have OA in quite a few places, the spine included, over 2 years ago now I posted on here about rib pain, I didnt get many answers Im afraid , but the good news for me is it disappeared after a few weeks....I sometimes get a twinge, so now you have got me thinking.
    I do hope you get that appointment very soon,and I do wish you well with it,
    Please let us know how you get on .
    Love
    Barbara
  • pug65
    pug65 Member Posts: 8
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thankyou all

    The problem i had with anti-inflam was they caused a bad smomach ( very bad) :( it took us my Gp and myself different combination of meds but i think it was the way the tablets were coated that was the problem, if i take any meds that are in a plastic capsel then i get bad stomach. but now i take Meloxicam and Pantoprazole which work very well for my ankle.

    I think the pain problem has been there for some time but i was 24 stone and have lost 5 stone in last year, it funny in a way but when i complained of back ache in past they always said it was weak stomach muscle!!

    Exceptence is the key I think and learning to live with pain all be it with meds, at a exceptable level is really all we can ask for but the pain at moment especially in the morning is to high and work is a nightmare.

    The physio said the pain in ribs or stomach was probaly caused by "nerve root pain" and not real but caused by pressure on nerves between vertibrea and stretching exercises would helpwhich they have to a degree.

    Thankyou all again. paul
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I’m one whose stomach was totally messed with anti-inflamms and can’t take them at all now. I don’t think an allergy to the coating is required :roll: All of them can damage the stomach. I’m glad you’re now on a stomach protector.

    You’ve done well to lose 5 stone in a year. I guess it would help matters to some extent. Working, especially with pain levels so high first thing in the morning, must be difficult. I’m sure you’re right about the value of acceptance (Have you seen our thread on it near the top of the page?) We each have to find a pain-level that we can tolerate. However, getting rid of any ‘unnecessary’ pain is key, too.

    I bet you’re finding it hard to believe that your pain is ‘not real’ :o It sounds very real to me but I get what the physio is saying and, if you can relieve the pressure on the nerves by exercises, it has to be a good thing. I hope it goes well for you.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Paul this is very interesting, I was never told the rib pain could be coming from my back, you learn something every day.
    The antiinflams messed up my stomach has well, its time they came up with something that helps without the side effects.
    I do hope you can get some relief, but you do sound a positive person , and that can help .
    You take care
    Love
    Barbara
  • PollySid
    PollySid Member Posts: 343
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I get this type of pain sometimes (not that regularly thankfully).
    I have OA in my spine plus protruding discs in my neck and lumbar spine.
    My thoracic MRI came back clear of disc problems.
    I thought maybe the pain was not spinal related, but one day I was excersising my neck by tilting it up and down, side to side and when I tipped my head over to my left shoulder the chest pain nearly made me jump out of the chair. From this I have deduced that mine is caused by the problems in my neck.
  • pug65
    pug65 Member Posts: 8
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi all
    Went to see orthopaedic specialist today must have been the fastest consultation ever! :roll: Not sure if he was just in a hurry or im a open and shut case :) . But did book me a MRI scan for 20 March to look at T4-T12 so all good at least it moving forward.
    My doctor when i saw her in January said the waiting list for scan was 4 months and said the only way i get earlier one is to go private!!
    It leaves me a bit fed up im finding it really hard to work with this leval of pain and if i increase meds then i turn into a zombie and no way should i drive,which i need to do to get to work.
    Question for you all if you are signed off work with no real diagnosis what benefits if any can you get? i dont think i will get sick pay as i only work part time on low wages and my doctor keeps saying it back strain! lucky i saw a Dr in October who took me seriously and arranged the Physio and specialist or i not sure were i would be now.

    Any help will be appreciated

    Thankyou Paul
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi paul

    lovely to meet you :)

    I think you get SSP statutory sick pay after three day's waiting and your employer should pay it to you and claim it back him/herself. At least that certainly used to be the case :oops: . If you ring the ACAS helpline they should tell you far better than me

    I am well-impressed by the speediness of your MRI and very pleased taht they are helping you :)

    By the way many congrats of that terrific weight loss!!

    Toni xx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, I can't help on the benefits front but have you thought about saying you could take a cancellation appointment? I know I am very lucky in that I live just a three minute drive from my hospital and I have had a number of very quick appointments because they have rung and said 'Can you come in at 2pm for an MRI? We've had a cancellation.' Your date is about a month away and that is a stretch of time - I hope this might be an option for you. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • PollySid
    PollySid Member Posts: 343
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I was working 24 hours a week on just over minimum wage when I had to go off sick.
    I got maximum SSP as I had not used up the allowance they give you (I hadn't had a lot of time off sick previously).
    You get that for 24 weeks and then have to apply for ESA if you are still unable to work.
    Then you go through the farce that is the ATOS medical and all the 'fun' that ensues after that.
    If you pass the medical and they say you are not fit enough to work you get ESA for 12 months if you are on contribution based, unless you are on the highest of the 3 levels. There is not a time limit on the Support Group, but they do send people for further medicals periodically.
    They are - Initial phase which is £71pw, WRAG (Work Related Activity Group) up to £99.15 or Support Group up to £105.05.
  • lizzy100
    lizzy100 Member Posts: 235
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i think what sick pay you get depends on your employer, should say in your contract. a for benefits, i dont think you'd get any, but not sure.

    it may be worth just paying private and getting it done. depends how much it is.
  • pug65
    pug65 Member Posts: 8
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again
    Wow bit shocked today got a copy of a letter sent from the specialist to my Dr :shock:

    The report went on abit but the main part says his best guess before scan is that my spine is showing signs of degeneration and this has led to what he perceives to be entrapment of the 10th intercostal nerve on the right hand side but expresses his surprise that other areas as yet are not affected :( . Shocked me a bit after all i only had problems since last October and never had a problem with my back before.

    Dont know if it the weather being such a cold wind but it seems taking a deep breath causes a sharp stabbing pain in the centre of my back and a tightness out around my ribs, very painfull. There always been a tender area on the skin above the spine but i cant tell by touching wether that relates to the area he refering to, never was very good at human anatomy at school more of a sit at the back of the class and daydream type!! I guess there lots of nerve roots that spred out along the ribs in the Thoracic area i think they all getting a bit of a tweek at moment and i wish they would settle down soon pain killers dont seem to touch this area much.

    I say roll on the MRI and then see what they can do to help, stay positive and think of a new way to loose weight, apart from not eating as much!! seems my cycling days on the road are numbered but theres an idea get one of those bike stand-turbo trainer things wot you me call its, just need a way of getting on it,a winch perhaps lol;)

    Paul
  • PollySid
    PollySid Member Posts: 343
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just looked it up and it looks as if the pain from problems in the thoracic area can be quite widespread.

    Quote - 'Besides local symptoms, the thoracic disorders may cause pain that radiates to the lumbar region and the lower limbs, to the neck and shoulders, to the rib cage and to the abdomen.'

    It is so difficult to work out which part of the spine pains are coming from as the human nervous system is so complicated.