Re: Flare in the ribcage

[Guest guest]

Could be costochondritis, which I think is not uncommon with people who have

PsA.  It's inflammation in the muscles or tendons or whatever that are around

the ribs. I have it from time to time - usually induced by twisting my trunk

during water workouts.  My physical therapist takes care of it but it can become

a more chronic condition that needs additional medical treatment.

Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

This is probably my most painful symptom. I have had it for 5 years now. It gets

much worse in the winter and if I get alot of cold air in my lungs. The only

thing that seems to help is not to move that area - don't lift anything. Heat.

And I recently found to sleep on side or back without a pillow, or much of one.

Nothing to torgue the trunk. Till the inflammation subsides. Haven't found a

cure for it yet.

[Guest guest]

I have had this pretty severely for the past 5 years. It is a lot worse if I

get cold air in my lungs.

Sometimes it goes into pleurisy.

I have tried everything, finally MTX and Humira seem to be helping a bit.

A few things that have recently really helped it calm down:

1 ‹ If you are a woman ­ wear a very supportive, no wire bra always.

I sleep in one, and threw away any that I had with wire. That wire

Digs into the inflamed cartilage. I now wear a Hanes

Bra that I get at Walmart in a box, that is very comfortable and I wear it a

Cup size too small, so it holds everything very still.

2- Sleep as flat as possible, I used to sleep on my side with 2 pillows, but

I have found that if I prevent curving of my ribcage or any torquing, it

Helps a lot. Same thing goes for things like fastening your seatbelt ­ try

not to twist.

3 ­ Do not lift anything over 2 lbs. until inflammation subsides, especially

Anything that requires you moving your arms above your elbows.

4 ­ Heat, heat heat.

I hope these little tips help someone ‹ this has been probably my worst

symptom.

Kristy

[Guest guest]

You can have more than one autoimmune disease at a time. I have PA, but also was

diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome. My eyes are constantly dry and feel like

someone has dumped grit in them, with occasional blurring, burning, and redness.

The Sjögren's syndrome was confirmed by a positive Ro antibody test in the past,

and a positive Schirmer test at the ophthalmologists. My dry mouth symptoms are

much less severe, and I have never had a lip biopsy. Alternatively, if you do

have respiratory symptoms, it is possible that if you have allergies or asthma,

your eye symptoms could be related to that as well. It would be worth checking

both alternatives out instead of assuming it's all related to PA.

" dreimutter1957 " <dreimutter1957@...>

lori sandolo <antlo2003@...><< wrote: I have frequent burning in my eyes, some

redness and I have been told by an eye doctor that my eyes were swollen during

an exam before I was diagnosed with PsA. Does anyone have any thoughts or advice

on how to proceed with this to confirm what I suspect? >>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all the response to my questions! I have PsA along with

fibromyalgia. My family doctor wasn't sure if it was just one of the first two

or a combination of both. He wrote in my file costochondria. I have been told I

had it before but it had never been this bad. My family doc started me on Lyrica

for the fibro last week. The symptoms I was having are starting to let up.

Whether it is just the costochondria having run it's course or the Lyrica, I

couldn't say.

I now have a list of questions and concerns to address with both my rheumy and

my family doctor later this month. I too have been experiencing dry eyes lately.

But I also have diabetes, which can affect the eyes. It is also spring which is

a bad season for me with allergies. So I will be asking about that.

Thank you all so much. This is what makes this group so great!

Gentle hugs,

Dalene