Chest pains?

Yes, it is common in RA and Fibromyalgia.  It is called Costochondritis and is TERRIBLE.  I have it too, and it can sometimes be more painful than any of my RA and other Fibro symptoms.  It is inflamation in the tissue of your rib cage by your heart.  It is not dangerous and it is just "superficial" pain.  I have found that a warm heating pad on my chest helps as well as a hot bath.

Hope you feel better soon.

Holy Schmoly!  THANK YOU!!!!   I have had this off an on for YEARS!!  Complete with the occasional, expensive and ultimately unproductive trips to the emergency room!  I thought I had this chalked up to asthma, which I also have, but it still never sat totally square with me.  Allergist kept saying the pain must feel like "heaviness when you inhale".  I'm finally like, well no but ok cuz that's the closest thing I've found to an explanation.  But really?  Really truly?  It's a total sharp pain like something grabs you out of nowhere and it completely stops you in your tracks.  It's like you don't even want to move or breath cuz it hurts so bad.  Is that what you guys experience?  It even makes me holler out sometimes, scaring the crap out of the cats not to mention the kids.  I've had same response from Rheumy too. He's like, "Really?  Huh." Then moves on.  It's just frustrating cuz it HAS to be something.  I'm not making it up!

You say chest pain? But is it near the breast bone? If so....Ive had this for yrs to, The doctors thought id started suffering with panic attacks, Which isnt me at all....So ive learnt to live with this symptom for around four yrs now....Im wondering wether its medication related?

Rachel xxx

YES, and it is agony.  I had extended pain from several crushed discs in my spine due to an accident, and there are times when this chest pain is almost that intense.  Heat alleviates the pain to some degree for me, taking 600 mg. of Ibuprofen in addition to my Arthrotec 75 helps, as does taking Paramecetol.  (These are not recommendations to follow without asking your doctor!)  I have found this helps, often considerably, but, of course, it doesn't prevent the pain from returning.  The symptom is one of the more extreme manifestions of RA, and, fortunately, many RA sufferers do not get it.

Your doctor, like mine, has heard this all before and it is part of the big picuture of RA.  Remember, regardless of New Age silliness, no ones feel your pain but you - no one lives in your body but you.  If your doctor fails to focus on the quality of your life, I would - and I have - look for another physician. 

I know this is an old thread so I'm not sure if anyone will read, but:

I too have been experiencing hideous chest pains. Sometimes it will be short (as in, a few minutes short) and more recently, I've had two separate instances of prolonged pain over a week. The first was on my right side, and currently is on my left (although it's clearing up now, and I will be going for a bone scan tomorrow). I do not have a clear diagnosis from my rheumatologist at this stage, although given my family history and current symptoms I believe that I am developing RA, and I have a strong feeling this is related to the RA.

Yes, it could be Costochondritis.  I use DMSO, pharmaceutical grade, on my chest and it disappears completley.