Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion General Message Board for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Related Diseases AS Chest Pain Question

How do you tell the difference between AS chest pain and chest pain that comes from a heart problem?
I just wonder if people with AS would know if they are having a heart attack, or would you think it was chest inflamation?
ken Mc

I asked my internist this. She said I would know because pain from a heart attack is deeper and gets worse if you move around.

Whenever I have chest pain and I get freaked out, I climb some stairs (not a billion, just a few). If the pain doesn't get worse, I stop freaking out.

I also push on my chest the way someone would if they were giving you CPR (not as vigorously). This will usually help the AS pain because I've moved the costochondral joints, which is were the pain is coming from.

I would not hesitate to talk to my doc if I were you. It's a very valid question.

Hi, ken Mc:



From mariposa:


This is exactly how I used to tell--in the now distant past when I had terrible costochondritis, which often affects more the sternum, but wraps around to the back in a front-downward, back-upwards arc. Changing pains when lying or rolling on my side was always a giveaway. Problem is that chest inflammation is a sign that there is inflammation in other places we might not be able to feel--like my heart valves that now have some baubles due to AS. NSAIDs masked things long enough for this to happen.

Good luck,
John

I have severe AS chest pain due to severe costochondritis over 1 year. Basically I cannot lie on my stomach or chest. Whenever I go in for SI injection or hip injection procedure I cry like a baby because I have to lie on my stomach and chest. My angel anestheologist cradle my body and try to relieve my pain and pressure directly on my stomach and chest away fron the bed as I fall asleep. Even when I lie on my back, my sternum, entire rib cages above my breast and below as well the back area around shoulder blade & shoulders(front, back, up & below anywhere there are bones I am in horrifying pain) are completely in pain and inflamed. When doctors try to examine and touch even slightly any parts of those area, I AM IN PAIN.

I know it is also AS pain because every time I get SI joint injection or hip injection my costochondritis symptoms improve temporarily and get worse as those steroid worn out. Too bad Enbrel and Humira is doing absolutely nothing for costochondritis so far.

I hope this answers your questions.