Chest Wall Pain

[Sherbe]

I'v have Fibromyalgia sice 1996 and have delt with it on my own with all the pain,stiffness,not able to sleep etc, etc, etc. and doing pretty well,knowing what will trigger a flairup,I do my best to try to stay healthy and not over do it physicaly and emotionally and keeping a good eye on the weather
My doc (who I use to see on a regular basis till I moved out of state)told me not to blame all of my pain/illness on the Fibro.
Sometimes I still do that, For the last couple of months I have been having right side bolts of pain in the area of the right last two ribs, it comes as fast as thow I have been hit with a stun gun or a cattle prod. its very Painfull and has brought me to my knees,it comes and goes with no warning, there is no certin movment or position that causes it, It comes so suddenly, so strong, that I jump and grab my side and squeez the area till it goes a way, it last about a minute or so, nothing I do will make the pain go away,I saw a Doc and he thinks it chest wall nerve intrapment? He gave me a RX for some P/T, the only thing at P/T that works is being Taped with Kinesio Tape, It makes the pain more controlable and It helps me not jump out of my skin every time the pain comes. Is this part of the Fibro, are my nerve ending changing again???  What is it?

[tigercat1]

was diognosed with fibromyalgia 18 years ago. i have dealt with the pain for this many years.. until reacently i was bit by a tick coused my flare up realy bad with other symptoms i never had.. i have alot of the burning all over even in my chest. back arms face like im on fire  i thought maybe i had lyme do to the tick bit had several blood test all came back fine.. but still the burning.. im still not convinced i dont have lyme. becouse i was fine with the fibromyalgia until the bite. i have always had my pain and everything eles that comes with fibro. you name it i got it.. but its been worse with more symptoms.  does anyone out there ever get the burnning in there bodys so bad you feel like your on fire.. and then get chills.. thans sw

[sesa]

I too have had fibromyalgia for many years (since 1996)  Recently I have been having sharp stabbing pain deep into the area around my heart and thought it might be my heart.  I saw a cardiologist who ran all the tests and said everything is normal.  Normal - you say, I thought, thanking God that at least I'm not at risk for a heart attack, but still, frustrated and worn out from yet another new pain and one that does cause alarm.  I have been taking Neurontin for my fibromyalgia for years and it really does keep my pain level down.  I stopped seeing a rheumatologist years ago and have been seeing a neurologist for years, who also diagnosed a sleep disorder and prescribed trazodone 50mgs at bedtime.  This helps me fall asleep without jumping awake at every little sound in the house.  I am able to work fulltime, with days off here and there, I'm a legal secretary with a lot of stress involved.  Before the Neurontin, I was basically feeling like an invalid, so I am grateful for modern medicine.  I just wish the "heart pain" would stop.

[OHMaryMargaret]

I have  had the same type pain - from my sternum all of the way through to my back. I thought it might be heart trouble, so I checked that out pretty thoroughly. It seems my heart is fine. I have tried tylenol and the like, with no change in pain at all. I am open to any help or information anyone can shed my way.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgis in 2001 or so.  

[kjs08]

I have had Fibromyalgia since my car wreck in 1998...I too experiance the exact chest pain as you descirbe. It feels like a Heart Attack. I see several doctors, two of which, a Neurologist, and a Lung Specialist for the treatment of my Fibromyalgia. They both agree that it is the Inflamation of the Chest Wall associated with the Fibromyalgia. I had been taking prescription Ibuprohen for years to help with the inflamation, but my Gastrologist took me off of it because of the high risk of damage to my stomach (Gastritis---Inflamation of the Stomach Lining) and Liver. Cold weather is when my Fibromyalgia is at it's worst (needless to say I am not a big fan of winter).Besides the cold weather, I don't know what triggers the pain, but when it hits, I'm usualy down for several days. I take Darvacet only when I can no longer tolerate the pain. I have found that using a heating pad sometimes helps.

[bish72]

I have had fibro. since about 1992. the pain was so bad so much of the time we changed houses to one where if it is really bad I don't have to go up or down stairs. What I really want to tell you may be hard to hear. I joined a gym in summer of 05 and have a personal trainer (PT) and it's been amazing how much better I feel. I hardly ever really feel much pain from the fibro. It even has helped my balance, stamina and mood. I think that if you don't have depression before fibro. you'll have it after!! I didn't want to hear people say to move more or 'take an aerobics class!" I couldn't move!!  But I can now tho' the hot humid weather does make me feel less well. Not everyone can join a gym or have a trainer but just a few sessions with a trainer will help you know how to do the exercises and get you moving a little. There are a lot of women at the gym I go to that don't use the weight machines properly so are not getting the benefit of their hard work. The one thing exercise hasn't improved is my sleep and I take medication for that tho' I hope someday to not have to. Sleep is so important with fibro. Hope this helps or just gives you another way to think about fibro.

[always hurting]

I have fibro to for 19 years and i feel for u. I have this pain in the center of my brest bone or i should say sternum, it starts there and goes to the center of my back. does any one have this too.

[idesofmarch]

A patch would be your last resort, I think that your doctor is trying to shut you up.  Get a new one,one that isn't so worried about his ego or getting to his next patient. You pay him to treat you, you know your body better than he does, So that would make you the boss-the one that makes the final desision. He should treat you with the utmost respect and if he can't do that then he should be fired. Find and interview a RA doctor. Ask for a consult but ask the questions that you need answered like your breakthru pain -what would that doctor have done for you? It is your body,your life and you can't just pick anyone to treat you-You have to beable to trust their knowledge and treatment plans. That goes for everyone really, not just people with chronic illness'.  Best wishes to all.

[Lotus55]

OMG I HAVE a doc who does exactly that...every new symptom is my fibro and I get brushed off.  I am on narcotics for my pain and I know there are 2 different schools of thought on this.  Well I tried eveyrthing else and NOW I have some quality of life though NOT pain free by any means.  HOwever my doc will not listen to me when I say I need 3 breakthrough pills a day.  Not 2 or 4 I need 3.  I have proven this over and over that is exactly what my body asks for  3 pills.  He refuses to give me an extra norco for breatk through but offered a fentanyl patch(i belive it is morhpine related_)?
Anyone dealing with this?  Thanks!  Lotusflower

[snootynan]

I've had that for a couple of years now.  The first time it happened it scared me to death.  I thought it was a heart attack.  I was afraid to move, because when I moved it would do it again.  I kept calling it a jolt.  I went to Kaiser  and they said it was something called chondritis or chrondritis.  It's spasms of the chest wall.  I hate them, they scare me each time it does it.  Luckily, I haven't had one for awhile.  They told me to take Motrin (yeah, right) and a muscle relaxant.

[idesofmarch]

It is so good that you have a doctor that DOESN"T BLAME ALL YOUR AILMENTS ON THE FMS.  He's a keeper!  Sometimes doctor are too quick to pass off new symptoms to the FMS syndrome and that could be deadly. My doctor does tests for everything that is new to my body because FMS mimics so many bad diseases that she won't take the chance on missing a different illness.  I've been with her since 12-2000 when she diagnoised the FMS.  I had already figured that I had it thru MDwebsite but my regular doctor was acting like I was a hypocondriac and actually refused to give me the referral to the RA doctor that I wanted to see. I threw a fit and so did my husband who was with me.  The doctor finally aproved a referral THE NEXT DAY! He had a hard time facing me after my diagnosis was confirmed and thankfully is no longer in my area-he was not a good doctor anyway!  I've had bouts of rib pain but not as severe as you. Mine were actually pulled muscles and spasms.  Two of my docs verified it.  Listen to your body and your gut.  Good luck and have you tried Capacin cream(SP?) you can find it with arthritis rubs.

[Sherbe]

Thank you PG for your help , the world needs more people like you out there
;)
Sherbe

[PlateletGal]

Hi Sherbe,

We aren't allowed to give links (other than government links) here in this community and especially links to other communities. This is my understanding of the rules, anyway.

If you use a search engine such as google, you can find fibromyalgia support groups. I know there is also a website, Co-Cure (just google it and you will find it), that has a "good doctors' list". The doctors on their list are supposedly very good at diagnosing and treating fibro and CFS. There is also the Marshall Protocol, a research protocol that does not use research medications. I'm on it for CFS and there are more and more fibro patients' joining the community every single day. You can post in their community and one of the Moderators will e-mail a list of MP physicians' in your state. There is a member here in this community who has fibro and is on the MP. She recently e-mailed me and told me that she was feeling good. The MP is long protocol --- we are talking 1-3 years and there are restrictions. It is for those of us who have had enough and are willing to try something new. There are many success stories, although the protocol is relatively new. Anyway, I just give the information of course and it is entirely up to you whether or not you want to check it out. I always like options. = )

[Sherbe]

Thank you for your comment, is there any way for me to get in contact with any of these people and or a Doc to ask more questions regarding this issue

[PlateletGal]

I don't have fibro, but I am a member of a community that has a LOT of fibromyalgia patients'.  Some of the members' in the community have described the same type of pain you've mentioned.