Rib cage tightness: Not sure what it might be

Hi there I've just joined and read your comment
I have rib tightness 3yrs now .Can you let me know was this tightness in your sides and middle back also .Thank you .

I have severe ribcage tightness when I lay down in bed at night & sometimes with certain bending movements. Feels like a huge cramp. Doctor I saw today says it could be from the hard coughing I do daily as a result of Stage 4 esophageal cancer surgery 4 yrs ago. It also could be due to a nerve problem in my spine in my mid back. He'll do an intercostal nerve block and hope that fixes the problem.

I have experienced tightness in my chest that is definitely from muscular cramping and not cardiac related. I also get cramps and spasms and Charlie Horses all over, in addition.

I am sure that hard coughing can strain those muscles enough for them to go into a spasm.

Generally, my cramping will reduce (a bit anyway), if I hydrate optimally. Really drink those 8 glasses of water...and every single day.

And then, I have watched my electrolytes. I drink Vitamin Water, which is a natural version of Gatorade.

I assume that reduces my cramping experiences, but I can't say directly.

But hydration? Yes. I tend to forget to hydrate enough. And when I remember, the cramping lessens.

I would imagine some specific stretching might help. I guess it depends if the muscle is already too overstrained to work it more.

But, it certainly might be a good question to ask the doctor.

And I wonder about heating pads. They say that dry heat can drain the muscle? So, it might be bad. I use heating pads and they definitely help. So, that would seem to be another reasonable question for the doctor.

By heating pad, I mean I use it generally, during the day...before there is any sign of cramping, not just when the cramps hit. I try to use it as a preventive measure.

I will say that when I get profound cramping in my chest...my first thought is not, "oh, this is nothing by a muscle cramp." I immediately go to the fear that it is cardiac (because I have skipped heart beats generally anyway). So, nothing about getting cramping in the chest is at all pleasant. Always very scary, even if I tend to think it is muscular. First 30 seconds are the worst. After that, with no other pains, I come to realize it is most likely cramping...and then I calm down.

I am thinking of applying to a fantasy universe where none of this happens.

I also have experienced this and it usually occurs at night when I’m lying down in bed. It’s a constricting feeling and I go through the same mental agony of wondering about cardiac arrest. And 80 now, and have been in pretty good shape for my age, and I am diagnosed with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and have had lifelong constipation issues. I try everything I can, and milk of magnesia has been my saving grace along with prunes, A water, reminder, app, stool, softeners, walking, recently added physiotherapy, watching what I eat and of course I love sugar and chocolate. I also develop some breathing issues while walking in the past two years especially when it’s cold outside. I also have seasonal allergies with dry and itchiness, Allegra does help with this. For the tightness you experience, I recommend stretching exercises that open your chest area, spreading your arms as far apart As you can, and reaching over your head, as far as you can, clasping your hands together behind your back and pulling down as much as you can. I’m convinced anxiety contributes to this tightness as well so walking as much as you can is highly recommended. Good luck and God bless you.

I have rib squeezing which gets worse throughout the day. Sometimes I can actually see it spasming up. I do have epigastric nerve damage and possible adhesions from a surgery in that area. Not heart related. I also have nerve damage of my digestive system. It’s frustrating not to be able to deal with this.

I was crushed in a tornado over 18 years ago. Most of my back is a titanium cage. And, there is spinal cord damage, but I'm able to walk and function without any issues if that. I have had this pain since the tornado. Oh, I broke all the ribs on my left side, too. I start feeling the squeeze pain in my diaphragm and it eventually encircles my entire midsection. My back is squeezed so badly. I've never known what causes it because it's been the bain of my existence for a very long time. I need to know who to talk to about it and what exactly do I say it is?

So sorry you are suffering with this. I have same symptom. I fell 1 year ago and broke 4 ribs, punctured lung, diaphragm, and spleen nicked in surgery. They did robotic surgery 10 incisions and pre op had chest tube for 3 days. I recovered well but my rib cage feels too small for my organs. Yawning, coughing, sneezing are painful in addition to the normal discomfort and my stomach has increased in size which is also uncomfortable.
I hope they find a solution for you. No Dr so far has acknowledged my complaint other than a hmm, you had a lot of surgery. Hope you do better. 💗

@julzw @beachcomer You may be interested in a physical therapy treatment called myofascial release. Basically, when you have scar tissue and tight fascia that limits normal movement in the body, that tightness can cause compression of muscles and nerves. This is done by a therapist who trained in the John Barnes techniques of MFR. It is a bit like massage, but the therapist pushes to create a shearing force, and just waits for the fascia to unwind itself. It takes many sessions to work through layers of tight tissue, but it can be effective, and also help with surgical scar tissue that gets tight.

I also have ribcage tightness caused by thoracic outlet syndrome which affects the expansion of one side of my rib cage. This has helped me, and I continue to do my home stretches to maintain flexibility.

Here is our discussion for information.

Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/