Rib pain

sunshine14

Hi it's sunshine again,

I'm concerned as last night I started with pain under the left breast and around it and also the left ribs just below it. I put it down to indesgestion and thought it'd be gone by the morning. It kept waking me up in the night, at one point I thought I'm going to have to go to the emergency drs. I took some tablets and finally got back to sleep. Breathing hurts it, it feels as though it's coming from behind the left breast. Anyway awoke this morning and it was still there took some more tablets and seemed to go off a little but then came back. My ribs on left side just under and around my left breast as so painful and if I touch them they really hurt. I can now feel it on the ribs down the left side. I now know it's not indesgestion, but I don't know whats causing it. I remember having this about a year ago roughly, GP just said it's not your heart etc. I had an ECG and that was fine. Does anyone get this pain?

Sunshine x

magenta

Hello again Sunshine,
I've had this type of pain for a while. It's not too bad just now though. It was really bad over Nov/Dec and I had a rhuemy appt that resulted in me getting some xrays-one of which was for my chest. I get the results next week. I thought I had something really badly wrong with me. I was getting alot of sharp pain around my shoulder blades and across my chest bone-sharp and dull aches that lasted weeks. I also get really bad pain around my right boob. I was nearly going to drs to get a breast exam. At it's worst, I get pain in every rib and they are very tender to touch. I've heard some people on here have had costochronditis, think it's described as inflammation in ligaments around ribs? Since I've been put on etodolac, the symptoms have eased a bit. It comes back now and then (especially when I wear a particular bra!). Hope this helps? Ask away if there's anything else I or anyone else can help you with. I posted on this exact same subject a while back, maybe you could have a wee look at some of the replies? Take care,
Magenta x

mash65

hi,i would mention it to gp as when i was dx in aug08 my rhmy said i had costochrondritis.the pain causes inflammation in the ribs,stern(breast bone)collar bones,& causes breast pain (similar to mastitus)
it is painful & extremely uncomfortable.i would get it checked out. try not to worry. debs

sunshine14

magenta wrote:

Hello again Sunshine,
I've had this type of pain for a while. It's not too bad just now though. It was really bad over Nov/Dec and I had a rhuemy appt that resulted in me getting some xrays-one of which was for my chest. I get the results next week. I thought I had something really badly wrong with me. I was getting alot of sharp pain around my shoulder blades and across my chest bone-sharp and dull aches that lasted weeks. I also get really bad pain around my right boob. I was nearly going to drs to get a breast exam. At it's worst, I get pain in every rib and they are very tender to touch. I've heard some people on here have had costochronditis, think it's described as inflammation in ligaments around ribs? Since I've been put on etodolac, the symptoms have eased a bit. It comes back now and then (especially when I wear a particular bra!). Hope this helps? Ask away if there's anything else I or anyone else can help you with. I posted on this exact same subject a while back, maybe you could have a wee look at some of the replies? Take care,
Magenta x

Thanks Magenta. I live on my own with my daughter who's 8 and she's used to me suffering with joints etc, but I have been trying to hide this pain from her as I really don't want her to worry. I have nobody really to talk to apart from my daughter and my dog and at the back of my mind I was starting to think I was having a heartattack or something. What do you do for the pain in your ribs? Do you think I should see a Dr or is it something the rheumy can deal with on 26th? I'll have a look for your post about it, how long ago did you post it? Thanks again x

sunshine14

mash65 wrote:

hi,i would mention it to gp as when i was dx in aug08 my rhmy said i had costochrondritis.the pain causes inflammation in the ribs,stern(breast bone)collar bones,& causes breast pain (similar to mastitus)
it is painful & extremely uncomfortable.i would get it checked out. try not to worry. debs

Thanks mash65. I'm seeing the rheumy on 26th, it'll only be my 2nd appointment. At the first appointment he was sure RA, gp told me he's looking at Lupus aswell, so I'm hoping to know more on 26th. I'm glad I asked on this website, as I would never of even thought of inflammation in the ribs. Thanks x

mash65

cant help u on lupus or r/a.i have o/a plus others.good luck with ur appointment.i only take ibrupofen 4 the inflammation.many other meds for the rest.If uv got any qs on lupus r/a just post & some1 will get back to u.this site has helped me no end im addicted now. hope u get to the bottom of ur probs.debs

magenta

Hiya Sunshine,
I had to look it up-couldn't remember the date It was 'Rib pain' and I posted it on 12th November-there's only a few replies but I just thought you might like to read them.
I too thought I was having a heart attack! For the rib pain, I had hot showers in the morning, warm baths at night (couldn't always relax properly though-need a bigger bath ) and I tried to watch my posture. Also had to undo bra at night :shock: It used to take my breath away and I know how scary it can be for others-my hubby nearly had me at A+E several times. I take co-dydramol and amytriptilline at night and this helps. Hope you feel better soon,
Magenta xx

PS I held off, for too long, going to my GP. Main reasons being that when I tell him/her I've got joint pain they tell me to go and see my rhuemy! The other reason is they're rubbish My rhuemy ordered an xray. If your GP is understanding, I would make an appointment.

sunshine14

magenta wrote:

Hiya Sunshine,
I had to look it up-couldn't remember the date It was 'Rib pain' and I posted it on 12th November-there's only a few replies but I just thought you might like to read them.
I too thought I was having a heart attack! For the rib pain, I had hot showers in the morning, warm baths at night (couldn't always relax properly though-need a bigger bath ) and I tried to watch my posture. Also had to undo bra at night :shock: It used to take my breath away and I know how scary it can be for others-my hubby nearly had me at A+E several times. I take co-dydramol and amytriptilline at night and this helps. Hope you feel better soon,
Magenta xx

PS I held off, for too long, going to my GP. Main reasons being that when I tell him/her I've got joint pain they tell me to go and see my rhuemy! The other reason is they're rubbish My rhuemy ordered an xray. If your GP is understanding, I would make an appointment.

Thanks. I've had a look at your post on rib pain, we had exactly the same heading I probably won't be able to see a Dr before my rheumy appt anyway. Did you get the results from your chest xrays? Sunshine xx

magenta

Hiya Sunshine,
I get my results of xray on the 29th Jan. I would let your rhuemy know next week. Take care,
Magenta x

sunshine14

magenta wrote:

Hiya Sunshine,
I get my results of xray on the 29th Jan. I would let your rhuemy know next week. Take care,
Magenta x

Thanks I will. It's around my back aswell now. Let me know how you get on xx

colinone

Hi guys
first of all it doesent really matter who tells you what when you get chest pain it scares you and becomes a matter of concern. Its great when the doctor tells you its not your heart but when it continues for long periods of time it is still scary. I have had this problem for a couple of years on and off but of late its more on. mainly on the left side but some to the right or just underneath the bottom of my right rib cage. also colla bones one time they swelled so much i feared i would choke. After lots of tests Rheumy says no problem with heart thats great but i still get scared. I have Ra and Pa and was told that some types of arthritis can effect your muscles and ligaments. some time the pain goes for weeks but returns.
Take care hope you feeling better soon.
Colin

j0nn13

I have something similar to this at the moment. Pain on my right side, at the bottom of my rib cage that spreads to the back and front.

My Rheumatologist took it quite seriously and sent me for a chest x-ray which came back clear and also sent me for an upper abdominal ultrasound to check, stomach, liver, kidneys, gallbladder which also all came back clear.

My GP reckons it's stomach pain from sulphasalazine and has had me on 40mg Omeprazole daily, but it hasn't helped an awful a lot. Still from all the tests i've had i'm happy its not anything more serious so i'll just have to live with it!

I'm sure that yours is probably something similar!

colinone

Hi Guys, I know i posted early today, what i should have pointed out is that anyone with chest pain should see the GP or doctor as soon as possible. Yes its probably arthritis but its best to be be safe than sorry. Take care all
Colin