I have lupus and extreme left chest pain please help

i have lupus and become  weak and have extreme left chest pain that is extreme I also have pain in left knee and walk with and I am scared!!!!

[Carol139]

Hi there, did you go to the doctor about the chest pain yet?  Did they say what it was?  The only pleurisy I had was so painful, you can't lie down. You can't breathe without it stabbing you worse than you could even imagine.    If it is a heart problem, they can tell right away with a few tests at the hospital.  Chest pain is usually put to the front of the list for being let in to be examined.  Don't wait.
I hope you are okay!!

Carol

[lupussufferer48]

Yesterday I saws general physian and he did not know, maybe muscles spasms did not know and didn't take tests to see. All I know from that visit is I have a kidney infection only because i persisted on a urinalysis!!! My doctor is getting old and as soon as I am up and around I am changing my PCP! Next week i have  with urology and orth my appt with the rheumotologist isnt until the first  week in Febuary and I travel 45 miles for that! Chest still in pain. and i guess I am anxious about the appt with rhuemotology!!! I am getting discouraged!

[lupussufferer48]

yes  laying down is extremely painful. I want to thank you for replying!

[Carol139]

you can hear pleurisy when they listen to your chest, that is probably why he didn't order a test.
Bring up the chest pain and anything else you are worried about with the  rheumotologist.  
Initial time with pleurisy, you cannot lie down it is too painful.  Sitting up or standing is all you can take.  And shallow breaths.  
It is - well hard to explain - but it is like you are being gripped by a vice with claws that are digging in.
I had a pulled chest muscle when I was 20 or so, and it was hard to breath and hurt to lie down or breath in, but it was negative to chest issues, it was painful - very painful.  But the pleurisy - topped it by a long mile.

Keep your chin up and write down things you want to ask so you don't forget when you get in there!

[whatdabuck]

Hey!

     I've got lupus and I've had chest pain for what feels like forever. I have chostchondritis which is the inflammation of the cartilage between your ribs and sternum and it is very painful to the touch, almost feels like you are bruised but much more painful. I also get pleurisy which is what it sounds like you have. It can affect my whole chest but most often is directly t the left of my sternum over my heart. There's not a lot they can do for it besides pain meds and treating lupus, but Carol139 is right in that if it's really bad the docs can hear it by listening. Usually it sounds like your lungs are rubbing. If it causes a buildup of fluid you can see it on chest x-rays but usually they come back negative. But it hurts really bad to lie down or take a breath, when mine gets really bad it gets really hard to move my left arm and it'll hurt up into my back. It ***** but it's nothing life threatening so it's nothing to worry too much about =D Hope you're doing well and if you have any questions don't hesitate!

-Andrea