rib-cage pain

[kgaurora]

Hello,
Have any of you experienced arthritis pain and inflammation of the ribcage? I had a cold/sinus infection 6 weeks ago, which turned into a dry cough, which I still have. 3 weeks ago, I started getting a pain around my lower right-side of my ribcage. It spread all the way over to the other side within a days, and then moved around all over the ribcage. I saw my doctor, and after numerous xrays to rule other things out, he said it was most likely muscular-skeletal inflammation.

The pain is now localized around one rib, and lessens or worsens. Right now, the pain is deep, tight and sharp. Everytime I put pain-relief cream on it, it feels better. This is so strange, and I hope it's not a lasting thing.

Have any of you experienced this? If so, what do you do for relief?
Thanks so much,
Kathleen

[robwilliams]

Kathleen,

Welcome to my world. I have had rib pain for quite some time and my Rheumatologist and my Pain Doc both agree it is Costochronditis. This is possibly what you have as well. Sometimes it hurts soo bad I can't lay down to go to sleep. It almost feels like a broken rib. I usually eat some pain meds and it helps a lot.

Rob

[nyoki]

Rib pain is one of the nastier aspects of this disease. So far I've only had it once and it was bad. I wouldn't wish that on a1. I couldn't get a full breath for weeks. I finally got a combo pain reliever, NSAID and muscle relaxer till it calmed down and finally stopped. I get a bit of a panic attack if I even think it might be returning. I would strongly recommend that you see your rheumy right away, before it gets worse.

Also (I'm honestly not trying to scare you) I would get a test for infection. Sometimes what starts in the sinuses ends up on the interior of your ribcage.




Blaidd Drwg

[nla]

Dear Kathleen,

I am truly sorry to hear about the pain you are experiencing. Several years ago I remember my mom having similar rib pain following a horrible cold which involved LOTS of coughing. Ended up she had some really pulled muscle from all the coughing. It even hurt her to take a deep breath. Since your doc has done xrays and ruled out other things, perhaps a visit to your rheumy is in order to rule out PA. I pray you get to the bottom of this soon and GET RID of that pain.

If there's anything I can do to help, please say the word.

Til then, hugs and best wishes....
Nancy

[pgerpup]

Hi Kathleen,

I'm sorry you have so much pain in your ribs. I think Nancy is right, you need to see a rhumy or another doc that can help with PA pain.

Hope you feel better soon,
Love,
Fay

[kgaurora]

Thank you, everyone, for your advice about the rib pain. I see my rheumatologist on Wednesday.
I've never heard of costochronditis nor an infection in the ribcage - thank you for bringing this to my attention.
I hope it's just PA - I'm not ready to add another "condition" on top of all the other ones!
Have a great holiday!
Cheers,
Kathleen

[mamaooch]

Dear Kathleen,
My PA orginated in my ribs. I was first dx as having costochrondritis (inflammation of the rib cage), but 2 years went by and I had no relief. It was not until I got pppp that the dx was given. I know how you feel, it is a horrible pain, and it makes it hard to breathe. Initially the Docs wanted to rule out anything to do with the heart/lungs. After all of that, my initial treatment was prednisone to get the flare under control. I was in a great deal of pain. I am now on Remicade and MTX and it has cleared my pppp and I can function with the PA pain now. It was constant and on the left side of rib cage in between 3 ribs. It comes and goes now. I am doing well at this point.

When you see your Rhemy be very specific about your pain. My Rhemy poked and pushed me every way but loose.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Here is the link to my original post:

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19511&highlight=ribs

Take Care,
Cindy

[Gemstar]

This is a nasty type pain. I have had this for years. It gets better and then comes back again. Right now I have it in my rib cage and my breastbone. I have found that a heating pad does wonders - even though it is only temporary but worth the relief. Hope yours goes away and does not comes back.

[jojocat]

I have had two epidsodes of this kind of pain. The most recent lasted about two months. I had shortness of breath along with the pain. Now I am wondering. I am going to read up on costochrondritis.

[squeepig]

I have had two epidsodes of this kind of pain. The most recent lasted about two months. I had shortness of breath along with the pain. Now I am wondering. I am going to read up on costochrondritis.

It's "costochondritis", in case you're having a hard time finding it. ;)

It's not a disease. The word just means inflammation at the junction of a rib and its cartilage.

You can also have rib pain where the tendons attach.

Good article: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic116.htm