[Cricket183]

I have had RSD/CRPS for 5 years now. It started in my right arm/shoulder. In Feb 2008 it moved into my chest wall and left arm/shoulder, neck and later my spine. Since it moved into my chest wall I have had five cases of what the doctors have diagnosed as pleurisy and feel as I am now coming down with a sixth case. I have a terrible sharp shooting pain when I breath in and slightly less pain when I exhale. It feels better if I put pressure on that side (the right) but of course, that makes the RSD pain worse. I am not congested and do not have any other cold-like symptoms, just the pleuritic chest pain. It's always on the same side, in basically the same area. Sometimes you can hear a friction rub with a stethoscope sometimes not. It generally lasts about 2-3 weeks whether I take antibiotics or not. I am wondering what keeps causing this. Is it possible that I am breathing too shallow because of the RSD and chest wall pain and that is leading to the pleurisy. Does anyone else have RSD in the chest wall and are you also susceptible to pleurisy? I know a lot of theories out there say RSD is an autoimmune disease and I have read that there is a connection between pleurisy and autoimmune diseases....maybe that's it. All I know is I am already in enough pain I don't need anything else added to it. I just got over my last case about 4 weeks ago and here we go again. I am so frustrated. If there is something I can do to prevent it I want to know what it is.
Cricket

[Sonny1]

I do not have RSD in my chest wall however I did have pleurisy years back at the same time I had mono. That pleurisy is a horrible feeling...it felt like being stabbed with every breath I took. The doctor that treated my pleurisy explained it as "the lining of the lung dries out and gets inflamed so when breathing it rubs together giving us that sharp jabbing pain". I do not remember if I was given any medication for it though. good luck!

[keep smilin]

Originally Posted by Cricket183

I have had RSD/CRPS for 5 years now. It started in my right arm/shoulder. In Feb 2008 it moved into my chest wall and left arm/shoulder, neck and later my spine. Since it moved into my chest wall I have had five cases of what the doctors have diagnosed as pleurisy and feel as I am now coming down with a sixth case. I have a terrible sharp shooting pain when I breath in and slightly less pain when I exhale. It feels better if I put pressure on that side (the right) but of course, that makes the RSD pain worse. I am not congested and do not have any other cold-like symptoms, just the pleuritic chest pain. It's always on the same side, in basically the same area. Sometimes you can hear a friction rub with a stethoscope sometimes not. It generally lasts about 2-3 weeks whether I take antibiotics or not. I am wondering what keeps causing this. Is it possible that I am breathing too shallow because of the RSD and chest wall pain and that is leading to the pleurisy. Does anyone else have RSD in the chest wall and are
you also susceptible to pleurisy? I know a lot of theories out there say RSD is
an autoimmune disease and I have read that there is a connection between pleurisy and autoimmune diseases....maybe that's it. All I know is I am already in enough pain I don't need anything else added to it. I just got over my last case about 4 weeks ago and here we go again. I am so frustrated. If there is something I can do to prevent it I want to know what it is.
Cricket

Dear Cricket,

I understand your inquires of your chest wall involvement..I too have just had my Yrly appt. With Dr.S.. I was DX. With RSD now internal following the brachial plexus down into chest wall and even my tummy is giving me rock solid feeling of food stuck sometimes when. I eat..Depending what I eat.. The chest/back pain is like a like a knife in your chest, change my position often and yes, it is pressure dependent.
often I feel like A horse with sattle bags, mid back and breathing cold air..Did I describe it ok?? It is a scarey feeling!!! My RSD began in 2007, following rt. Knee surgery.. I hope that it helps you to know that I am thinking of you and I am truly sorry for your despair..RSD is just mean..And Iam sorry...

Hugs, Kathy