OK, help a sista out!
What causes super sore ribs and muscle spasms in that area? It’s incredibly painful. Is it enthesitis related?
Does anyone else have this?
I just ordered three camis with shelf bras, even though my girls probably need a little more support than these will offer. But I am so uncomfortable, even in my Genie bras.
I’m all flared up in my hips with bursitis right now, too, so I’m wondering if it’s related to the PsA.
Have you ladies got any good tips to going braless without looking like a Woodstock hippie?
Hope you all are having a great day. It’s 82 degrees here in NC which is a welcome relief from the 99 degree temps we had last week!
1 Like
I get that type of pain as well. Sometimes it wraps around to my back, right at bra level. Mine doesn’t seem to be made worse by the bra, but I wear a pretty soft bra type. When I need more support I can double them up. This is what I wear usually - http://www.hanes.com/shop/hanes/women/bras/wirefree-bras/the-bandini-hanes-bra-h299?redirectLoop=true&originalReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
I have some degree of soreness in this area a lot of the time. Sometimes it is very uncomfortable. As it stops short of actual pain I’ve never really pressed for a big explanation, though costochondritis i.e. enthesitis around the ribs (I think) is what gets mentioned in passing by rheumys.
The discomfort generally increases the longer I wear a bra. I have these very soft, light bras but sometimes a more substantial bra (definitely not underwired ones though!) seems more comfortable as the over the head ones have to be a little tight under the boobs to stay in place at all whereas the more ‘engineered’ ones spread the load!
I have no answer to the Woodstock look dilemma which is all too familiar to me. Sometimes the bra is off & on all day … popping to the shop - bra on, get home - bra off. Someone comes to read the meter … oh damn it, who cares!
5 Likes
Spread the load! Ha! Yeah and the Woodstock Hippy look is preferable to the uniboob look of some sports bras! I am a Hippy at home and wear a lot of black tops as to camouflage the goods.
Bras have always been uncomfortable since the PsA came on but this pain is fairly new in intensity. I don’t see the doc for 2 months.
Made me laugh out loud and it’s me too!
1 Like
Had it for about 3 months last year. Used to swap sides too. On ribs towards the side when my arms are. It was hellishly painful but bras or lack of them made no difference. Breathing was painful as was laughing, coughing or sneezing. I utterly thought it was PsA related. Used to rub Volterol on the area. That helped quite a bit. Thankfully it finally disappeared. I hope yours does too. x
I think mine is also PsA related. I found some wonderful (I thought) underwire bras last year until it got to the point where the underwire on the left side aggravated a permanently sore spot on my ribs. Wasted a lot of time and money on those jobs.
Meanwhile, I’m wearing my old underwires, which are damned uncomfortable on both sides of my ribs. I’m at the point where when I’m at work, the thing gets unsnapped sometime in the afternoon. It’s become somewhat of a joke when my husband comes to get me in the afternoon and sees the bra in my book bag. We were driving home from court this past Monday; yep, that thing got unsnapped when we were on the interstate.
After a lot of thought, I’m finally, after 30+ years, switching to wirefree. I did my measurements today as part of my desperate search for something I can wear and not be all Woodstock. No way in hades am I an A cup. No way, so next time we trek to Lexington, I need to get a professional to do it. Yay.
1 Like
I get this a lot and have for the last 10 yrs. I have other back issues (mostly lumbar spine), but I DO think it’s all related and part of the PsA. It worsened significantly at the same time as my lower back and right knee, so I find the timing very suspicious. I mostly deal with mine by stretching and doing certain exercises taught to me by a physical therapist 7 yrs ago. She is my “back girl,” knows me (and my spine!!) pretty well, and has helped tremendously. Sometimes my bra still aggravates it, but I feel worse when going without…probably because of my cup size though. I truly need a reduction (I’m a 34G), but I usually save my money for the never-ending knee surgeries. 
I get this too. Rheumy has suggested enthesitis . Often it is active when enthesitis is bad elsewhere. I findvit so challenging and find sometimes a wire free bra is better and sometimes a good low soft underwire…depends where the worst pain is. I reckon I was born larger than an A cup so the mono-boob look is always a risk with some bras and I go to Woidstock every afternoon as soon as I get home haha
3 Likes
I gave up underwires a few years ago as they felt like torture devices! I look forward to receiving my camisoles with built in shelf bras from Amazon. I’ll let you know if they save the day!
On another note, do any of you have a difficult time getting much information about enthesitis from your doctors? My rheumatologist thinks that if your labs are normal, pains aren’t related to it, or inflammation. Drives me nuts.
1 Like
I’ve not discussed how enthesitis affects me very much with my (new) rheumy. However she told me that for some of her PsA patients, enthesitis is their main symptom. She’s a renowned PsA specialist.
My rheumy and I had a long talk about enthesitis two or three years ago when I had a bout with my left Achilles(?) I remember the talk, just not the particular “part” giving me fits
I just had another one with his fantastic Nurse Practitioner two weeks ago because in the last nine months, she’s treated trigger fingers on my left hand, both hands, my right thumb and now my back. I got a set of facet point injections and a warning that I would likely need another set soon.
As she said, my PsA has decided enthesitis is the current means by which it says I’M HEEEERE.
On the bra front, it’s just after 11 a.m. here in Kentucky (EDT). I’m about ready to undo the bra I put on this morning. I may look on Amazon and see if I can get camis with shelf bras to fit my DDD or F girls.
1 Like
I’ve the same rheumy as Sybil and she totally takes on board that most of my pain is enthesitis related and is my main symptom. She seems very sympathetic about it too which does make feel better and moreover validated. Thank God she does frankly as I’ve next to no joint pain ever.
1 Like
It might be enthesitis and it might not be. But what is happening is those muscle groups aren’t moving enough and the muscles get spastic and cause all manner of pain. My daughter and niece fought it for a long while until they got approved for reduction surgery. You can help the situation with a couple of stretches one needs help. lay on your back with legs up on a chair (sitting position while on your back) raise your arms and arc back to the floor as far as you can… IWith a helper also lay on your stomach with arms folded and locked under your face and have your partner pull them forward and release in time with your breathing. essentially its Back-pressure arm-lift artificial respiration. ( without the back pressure)
ANYTHING to expand the chest and move the ribs up and down.
On the Bra front BE SURE and consult with a certified fitter (not the experienced bra sales gal at the department store) When I was forced into retirement, I had to visit Voc Rehab My goal was to become a certified fitter and those guys wouldn’t pay for it…
It should be either a ABC or BOC certified person. It isn’t necessary that they be National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) cerified but its nice if they are. BTW I am dead serious on how important this is (not serious on the fitter thing although I have repeated it a number of times.
This really is serious matter for all of you gals, sorry its coming from a guy. The people I know in the Biz say 80% of you have the wrong size/style bra and that haldfof surgery could be avoided if you did have the right size.
1 Like
In the UK there is the most fabulous bra store called Rigby and Pellar. They sort out the Queen too. They have shops mainly in London and the home counties and are the best bra fitters I’ve ever enountered. Their bras are expensive but so worth it as first they fit correctly and secondly and consequently are so unbelievably comfortable. I haven’t got any presently but all this talk has made think to go and see them again.
Lamb to the rescue! With a little Google work yesterday, I found two stores with BOC certified fitters, one in Lexington and the other in Louisville. Given where the one in Lexington is located, they’re each about 45 minutes away from me. The one in Louisville, however, said aside from their bread and butter post-mastectomy work, they also fit women like me in their website. I need to call the one in Lexington to see if they do.
2 Likes
Omg I have had this pain on and off for about 6mths now and have dr googled the crap outta it giving myself all types of diagnoses and cancer! It’s good to know I’m not alone…mine feels like I’ve been shot with an arrow in the lower left side of my back and they left the arrow in! Sometimes it’s under my armpit and sometimes in my chest…it’s like costochondritis and follows my bra strap and moves around from day to day. Coughing is agony when it’s flaring and as we coming back into flu season soon I’m dreading a flare up during a chest infection…I’ve also had pain like this in my right shoulder for many years and after much help from physios it still comes back so I’m thinking it’s related to the enthesitis I’m getting in my heels and maybe PsA? I use lidocaine patches, cold gel and heat patches (altho not all at once!)
My rheumy said to come back and see her if my pain gets worse or I get joint swelling but I’m not sure this warrants a visit? I get swollen feet and ankles and they are itchy as hell which results in repeated staph infections but I know others are worse off than me…advice greatly appreciated!
You are right, I’m sure Lamb! Haha on the Voc Rehab thing…I think the closest store to me is a place called Breakout Bras in SC. But I’m old enough to remember the “Meat Packers” in nice department stores who were expert bra fitters.
Too bad it’s not a service offered anymore at the upper crust stores like Macy’s, etc.
That’s it. I liken it to what I would imagine being stabbed is like. Mine eventually went so hopefully yours will too.
I also have that problem. It can really hurt at times. I have three remedies: I go braless at home quite often. Also, bathing suits hold things in place without the stress line on my ribs and lastly, the genie bra that is supposed to be a sleep bra is good under clothes, yet loose around the ribs. Hope this helps some. I know it is a big issue for me too.
Blessings, Toni