@charliemclain
“About 8 months ago, I had an injury while closing the door of a tempo traveller. The door suddenly bumped back with force, and I immediately felt a sharp line-like pain starting from my mid back and radiating toward my upper abdomen. At that time, I ignored it thinking it was just a minor strain.

Over the following months, the pain gradually became worse instead of improving. The sensation feels like nerve pain — sharp, radiating, burning, and wrapping around the rib/upper abdominal area. Along with the pain, my abdominal muscles feel constantly tight and strained, almost as if they are being pulled from inside.

The muscle tightness has also affected my digestion and bowel movements, leading to constipation and discomfort in the abdomen. Sitting for long periods, travelling daily, twisting movements, and poor posture tend to aggravate the symptoms.

I underwent a thoracic spine MRI, but the report came back normal, which was frustrating because the symptoms are very real and continue to affect daily life. Despite the normal MRI, the pain pattern strongly resembles thoracic/intercostal nerve irritation or thoracic radiculopathy, especially because it started immediately after the injury and radiates in a band-like pattern from the back to the upper abdomen.

Living with this for months has been physically and mentally exhausting, especially when scans appear normal but the pain persists every day.”