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Chest Pains...is This Associated W/rheumatoid Arthritis

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January 11th, 2004
I pray that someone can help me with this!

For the past several months I have had chest pain that is very uncomfortable. The pain is so uncomfortable that I can not sleep laying down. I have to be propped up at almost a 90 degree angle. A month ago I ended up in the hospital because I had an episode where I had severe chest pains and I had a hard time breathing.

I went through numerous tests: ct scans, scans of my heart/lungs, x-rays, and lots of blood tests. I was hooked to a heart monitor for 2 days. With all of that testing, everything came back negative. Doctors thought it could be pericarditis or pleruisy associated w/ra, but were unsure.

The pain is still with me and it seems to get worse in the cold months. There have been several times that I walk for a period of time and I can not walk anymore. The pain is so bad and it is so hard for me to breathe. The pain is mostly in my right side of my chest and radiates to the other side of the chest. I continue to sleep sitting up and the only thing that takes away the pain is vicodin.

Can someone please help me?? I am tired of not being able to sleep flat and the constant pain in my chest. Is this associated with my ra? I know there is something wrong with me but no one seems to know. I just want to sleep normal and be pain free.

Thanks to all that respond.
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First Helper anabelfighter
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angela1
replied March 15th, 2004
Chest Pains
I had something similar last year. What you have might be called chostochrondritis...Sp??
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User Profile
sandyallen
replied March 15th, 2004
Extremely eHealthy
R/a
Talk to your Dr. And see about getting something for the arthritis and something for the anxiety because a lot of times when you have pain you tend to freeze up (i know because I live with pain and arthritis) and the anxiety and stress makes the pain worse! It's just a suggestion.
Always,
sandy
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HD Rider 1992
replied March 16th, 2004
Chest Pains/ R/a
Be aware of the side effects of medications you may be taking. I don't have r/a, but was on vioxx after c/t release surgery. I developed frequent chest pains, etc. Eventually being taken to the e.R. For possible heart attack. All tests showed my heart was okay, they couldn't explain the symptoms. I read where vioxx has been associated with these symptoms, and although my doctor insisted it had nothing to do with it, I pursuaded him to switch me to celebrex. I haven't had any problems since, but now both vioxx and celebrex carry the warnings in their literature. Do your own research, and don't be afraid to challange your doctor... He's working for you.
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morelandmj
replied January 17th, 2006
Chest Pain And Ra
I have been diagnosed with ra in my chest and rib cage. I, too, thought only vicoden and weekly massages were the answer until my doctor told me to try yoga. It has worked wonders. I have been able to stretch out all of the knots that the stress from the pain has created and strongly recommend it. I still feel the pain when its cold, or have a stressful day but just taking a few poses helps in no time.
:)
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kokako88
replied January 18th, 2006
Self Help Chest Pain
You have to help youself because the mindset is to believe in taking herb,wild lingzhi(known thousands of years by the japanese and chinese). It is wild that has high nuitritional level not commercialized, man cultivated lingzhi. Wild is scare but is a "gem" to this treatment.

Secondly know what you take because sliced wild lingzhi brew as drinks prefer than capsule. Taken a short period of time will help to detox the body system by disposing thru' bowels. There will be no pain. Wild lingzhi contains polysaccarides that help liver to detox and adjust and rejuvenate the body system.

Thirdly, avoid deep fried foods and take more selective vegetables and fruits like green vege, papaya, apple, pear, cherry less acidic fruits.

If you need help I am most willing as suffering is sometimes unbearable!
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still looking
replied March 22nd, 2006
Maybe Two Things?
I was actually on here to see if I could find people with what I have. I have
anklongsing spondyitis, it is a form of arthritis, but it also from my understanding, can fuse the rib cage so it cant expand, along with causing inflammation to the muscle.
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RBD
replied March 24th, 2006
the Truth Shall Set You Free!!!!
Did you know that even the new england journal of medicine agreed that a more natural approach to health care is needed in this day and age. Check it out edit
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dawn608t
replied December 11th, 2007
I Have the Exact Same Symptons:what I Found!
I have been diagnosed with rhuematoid arthritis. I have been experiencing the same symptons. I also have to prop myself up at night as the pain gets to be too much to sleep. Sometimes I ended up in the ER. I also had many echocardiograms and chest x-rays but they also came back negative. This went on for over 2 years. Finally, just this past October, I was seen by a pulmonologist who had me go through an LFT (lung function test) and a CT scan. What they found was that I also had inflamation in the walls of my chest which they diagnosed as arthritis in the chest. They also found that the air sacks in my lungs lost some elasticity and, therefore, do not expand like they should so I don't pull in enough air when my heart rate goes up, causing a shortness of breath.

This sounds like you may have the same issues. I hope you have been able to find out the cause of you problem. Though they have found the cause of my chest pain and I take meds for the rhuematoid arthritis, I still suffer from the symptons and still have to prop myself up at night often.
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dawn608t
replied December 11th, 2007
I Have the Exact Same Symptons:what I Found!
I have been diagnosed with rhuematoid arthritis. I have been experiencing the same symptons. I also have to prop myself up at night as the pain gets to be too much to sleep. Sometimes I ended up in the ER. I also had many echocardiograms and chest x-rays but they also came back negative. This went on for over 2 years. Finally, just this past October, I was seen by a pulmonologist who had me go through an LFT (lung function test) and a CT scan. What they found was that I also had inflamation in the walls of my chest which they diagnosed as arthritis in the chest. They also found that the air sacks in my lungs lost some elasticity and, therefore, do not expand like they should so I don't pull in enough air when my heart rate goes up, causing a shortness of breath.

This sounds like you may have the same issues. I hope you have been able to find out the cause of you problem. Though they have found the cause of my chest pain and I take meds for the rhuematoid arthritis, I still suffer from the symptons and still have to prop myself up at night often.
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Helgi25
replied August 23rd, 2009
Chest pain
I had the pain you describe 3 years ago and they put it down to coso-chondritis but I am bow going through tests again to see if it I'd RA. It affects my left side and sometimes radiates down my arm. I am only 25. I think you should go doctors, asked to be referred to a rheumatologist, in the mean time if your not already take anti inflamatries (these don't really work for me, but they do for others). Good luck and I hope you get it sorted. P.S try a hot bath or shower before going bed!!!
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Wright88
replied April 8th, 2011
Chest pains- arthritis related?
I have the same symptoms and I am only 22. I have had chest pains for over a year now, and I have had numerous tests, heart monitors, x-rays, etc. all came back negative.. Mine is not so bad at night, but its really bad in the morning.
My doctor says that I may have Rheumatoid Arthritis in my chest, but my the rheumatoid factors in my blood have come back normal?
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anabelfighter
replied May 10th, 2012
hello, I go through this problem and have been tested and been in the hospital and no one could find the problem but I got seen by this lung specialist and all my test came back normal but my pain was even worst and he ask me where the pain was I pointed and he pressed on it hard and it was very,very painful he said that there are joints in there and that was the RA affecting the Rib cage and it was inflamed that's why I was having the problems to breathing now my Lupus Doctor has his last words to tell me whats next until I see him I can't say what will happen but I can tell you that there aren't meaning medications and may have too learn how to adjust to this and how to live with this as soon I find out I'll keep you posted Smile
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diane26
replied May 17th, 2012
Hi Anabel,

I have having all these issues too. I have been on heart meds for 40 years, started at 18. In those 40 years i have been hospitalized a few times. Lately, the pain is terrible. Feels like it could be a heart attack....not that I would know for sure, but from what I've read. Also...I have RA and I do recall when I was in my 20's, a doctor injecting cortisone in the chest and it helped so much. About 8 years ago, I went through a cardiac cath. and a 40% blockage was found on one artery, not enough to merit the pain that I was in. Two years later, went in for a CT scan becasue of chronic pain and nothing changed. So here I am again, with sharp pains at night that keeps me from sleeping. And I have dull to medium pain always. Aspirin does help some. My breathing and my heart rate is affected.
I do wonder if I have Lupus as well. I do have Scleroderma so perhaps this is all getting more complicated. I enjoyed your post and I do hope you are doing better!
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Aaro2
replied September 23rd, 2012
Do ya,ll drink alcohol!?
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dpro
replied October 15th, 2012
Sounds like RA to me
I was recently diagnosed with Reiter's Syndrome, and we're still trying to get the RA part of this madness under control. When my "flare" is real bad, it affects my entire torso/rib cage when I lie down for too long (over night). I do believe, from your explanation, that this is RA related. Go see a rheumatologist and get something that will do better for you than vicodin/pain killers. Better to treat the cause than mask the symptom. Good luck!
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