Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I HATE THORACIC PAIN!!

Dear god, I hate thoracic pain. I haven't felt anything like this since I started on Remicade 4.5 years ago. I'd forgotten. CRAP!! It's nauseating. Those of you who get pain in this area will know the spot. In between the thoracic spine and the shoulder blade, about the size of a quarter? Kind of goes hand in hand with teh numbness in that area that I've been experiencing. Sure as hell isn't numb right now!

I have Celebrex and will take some, but have hesitated to do so thus far because I don't recall that Celebrex ever actually did much to help pain in this area. Mind you, unless I took my full daily allowed dose (400mg) all at one time, I never found that Celebrex did much anyway, other than dulling things a tad.

I'm supposed to go to my dance class tonight and am loathe to miss as it's a difficult dance and I'm having trouble with parts of it as it is. Normally, I wouldn't let anything stop me from going because I always feel so much better after my class, but I don't think I can hold my shoulders the way I'm supposed to without screaming right now. My sweetie has hopped in the car and is driving through rush hour traffic from the city next to ours to pick me up at the office. It being end of month, I've been chained to my computer for the last 8 hours. I do shoulder rolls and stretch and things, and make sure to swing my arms as freely as possible when delivering work to people, but I can't lean back, and can't sit upright. My body is doing a lean to the left, resulting in my left elbow sitting on the armrest of my chair, which is creating the numbness in my left baby and ring fingers.

Anyway, just needed to kvetch. Thanks for listening. Mut get back to typing again.

Warm hugs,

Hey Kat,

I feel for you! It's right in that spot you can't get to yourself, isn't it??? And stretching just doesn't seem to cut it, does it?

How about you get your chauffeur to turn into a masseur when he's got you home? Ice pack, then a rub down with NSAID cream and some gentle muscle massage??? Might do the trick.... (X fingers)

Hope it's a transient thing.... usually is for me.

when everyone talks about thoracic pain, just sort of assumed they (you included) were talking about pain right over the spine, like i get sometimes but not too terribly, think that's a disc that showed a mild bulge in the latest MRI.

but this pain that you describe, that's the one (other than the SI) that has completely changed my life, was the first problem i had (along with my wrists). hope you can get it under control again soon. when its just a little bad, heat helps, when its worse ice helps, when its even worse, ultrasound normally settles it down (and now having a home unit is marvelous). but this fall, the only thing that helped even a little was an IF stim machine. its the pain that caused me to start taking muscle relaxants (mostly at night before bed). but its also what disabled me from working all fall and into the winter. still think i tore muscle or tendon or something back there, but why it never "healed" is the real mystery. and yes, its the one pain that is so unbelievable, takes over the whole body....guess i'm just saying, i understand and so sorry! if only we could take away one anothers' pains

Hi Louise and Sue, yup that's the one. Nope, stretching doesn't help much. Rolling shoulders and swinging my arms does, a bit. Ice, a very good idea.

I'm home now. Realized as I left the office that my wrists and knuckles were bright red. Inflamed. Yay.

My sweetie is going to put the salve on my back in a moment. I have my Remicade tomorrow and an appointment with my rheumy's Fellow (and then, hopefully, my rheumy for a few minutes). I've been typing a list for the last week of changes since my last infusion and questions. It's on my freaking desk. If I can, I'll leave a little early for my infusion and pop by the office to pick it up. Good grief.

Thankfully, the pain isn't at the point yet where exhaling knifes through me, so deep breathing isn't completely painful yet. Just on the inhale. My sweetie was so sweet. As soon as he knew how bad I was, he hopped in the car to come get me. No way his Kat was taking public transit feeling like this! Now, I'm surrounded by cats and the dog and my sweetie. He's heating up the chili I made yesterday (perfect day for it - chilly and raining - grrrr) and as soon as it's ready we're putting Enterprise in the DVD player and losing ourselves in the future for a while.

I'm so grateful to have this place to come to every day.

Warm hugs,

feel better soon

and your comment about swinging your arms, this fall, taking a walk and swinging my arms while walking, the only thing that lifted the pain temporarily. so maybe a gentle walk tomorrow? and thank you for being there for me this fall when i was going through this.

Kat i am sorry the pain is back.I admire you for you dancing and hope this dosent slow you down to much.When ever i stop doing for awhile it takes so long to get back.
Bradford

Hi Kat,

I know exactly what you're talking about. I have constant thoracic pain that doesn't go away. My doc says to do more stretching and swim. It helps a bit after I do it, but it makes everything worse the next day.

I think its time to try something new, but the doctor wants to try the new dose of medicine for a while. The biggest problem is people around me don't understand what its like. Suggestions like "ignore it" aren't very helpful.

Jeff

your post made me think of something else, not while in the bad part of a flare, but important for me to keep those muscles as strong as i can. of course, their constant low level spasming does the exact opposite, like a constant battle between the spasms and me. anyway, band exercises, light (2-3 lb) weights, help. i know kat does pilates, etc so i know she keeps those muscles as strong as she can, probably would have more problems, more often if not for those things. the muscle strengthening, just another tool.....

Sending warm, gentle, massaging vibes your way. Somehow I can feel the pain for you and I'm gasping as I read your post because I can't catch my breath!
Wishing you quick relief, indeed.

Thanks everyone. I had my infusion yesterday, so I'm feeling much better. That'll last 4 or 5 weeks, the way things have been going. My rheumy and I are now considering my med options: looking toward Enbrel, Humira or Simponi. He's content to leave the ultimate decision to me, as he knows I do my research and take an active role in managing my disease.

Argh.

Warm hugs,