pleurisy a concern?

[tcronrath]

Hi, I wrote in a few days ago wondering if my chest and back discomfort is pleurisy.  I believe it is.  This has gone on now for over 2 months, but has gotten a bit more uncomfortable the past two weeks.  If I take my hand and press it on the sore spots on my rib cage, it makes a popping sound and feel. I am not running a fever, or sick, just sore and feels like I have a catch in my side. Do I need to see a doctor? I always thought pleurisy just had to run its course?

Thank You,

Tammy

[LisaMarie]

Last winter, I had this.  I did go to the doctor and they did give me something to help clear it up.  But I can't remember what it was. 

[DragonflyC]

Pleurisy is more common with lupus, but it's not unheard of with Sjogren's. I've had two bouts myself. At my first appointment with my rheum, he asked me specifically if I'd had pleurisy and was not surprised to hear that I had.

You definitely should see a doctor. They won't really have much to offer you if it's pleurisy, but it's worth going to be certain. I was on tylenol with codeine, I think, when I had it. The pain was terrible. It's an inflammatory condition, so they'll primarily want to treat the inflammation.

What you describe sounds pretty serious, so you don't want to self-diagnose. If it's pleurisy, then you'll rest, take pain killers/anti-inflammatory meds, etc. If it's something else, though, you'll want to catch it as early as possible. Your lungs are too important to take chances!

[mshistory]

I have pleurisy, and I was at first instructed to use two naproxen twice daily, but that caused horrible stomach pain after a week. I also have a Rx for Tylenol with codeine but am trying not to use anything unless the pain becomes really bad again. I also have bronchitis again... and needed a breathing treatment over the weekend. Definitely have a doctor check it out - they'll probably want to order a chest x-ray as well.