Rib cage tightness: Not sure what it might be

Posted by greekcan @greekcan, Jun 10, 2022

I am at wits end with this hugging tightness around my rib cage. Does any have any idea what might be causing this and who can help me. It started almost 4 years ago when I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. That got repaired but the squeezing tightness never went away. It will calm down at night but during day it start buy end of day it leaves me so uncomfortable and it’s gotten worse. Doctor I am seeing is ruling out MS. Thanks for reading my post.

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gdanker | @gdanker | Jul 30, 2022

I've come to the conclusion that there is not just one cause for this condition. I'm sorry for your experience with tightness around the rib cage and, who knows, what you describe with mold could very well be the reason. I don't, however, have a problem with mold or dampness so I can't attribute my condition to that.

What makes this whole tight rib cage, and also midriff in my case, so frustrating is that there are multiple possibilities. I've been dealing with this, constantly, for over 4 years now. It is truly unbearable and sometimes I become very despondent over it.

Yet, that kind of attitude doesn't help so I am going to, once again, make the round of doctor visits, peruse the Internet, and, hopefully, receive more messages from people like yourself, so that we can find some answers. Thank you for your response!

whatisthis | @whatisthis | Aug 1, 2022

i keep checking back and it doesn't look like anyone is following this thread any longer. i hope anyone who needs the info i posted about diastasis recti sees it. it is common with pregnancy and a lot of the info on it is about that, but it can also be caused by other things.

bfort | @bfort | Aug 2, 2022

Has anyone mentioned it might be costochondritis? This is the inflammation of the cartridge in the rib cage. It raps around your whole rib cage and can go into your lower chest. I have had this for about a year. The only thing that has helped me was PT and exercises. It can be very painful.
Good Luck.

sherrykt | @sherrykt | Aug 14, 2022

In reply to @bfort "If you want more information on MALS, there are 2 great Facebook pages I belong to...." + (show)

I am searching for an answer to my chest wall tightness. Your recommendation gives me someplace else to look.

applejay | @applejay | Dec 8, 2022

In reply to @gdanker "Yes, it is difficult to explain to people just how uncomfortable this feeling is. If you..." + (show)

@gdanker

Yes, it is difficult to explain to people just how uncomfortable this feeling is. If you say to them that it is not exactly painful, they minimize it. Yet, to me, it's as if I have some medieval torture device around my lower ribs and midriff. How I've managed to live with it for 4 years is simply that I've endured it. Also, I wear a hernia brace around my middle which seems to counteract the pressure somewhat. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia at one time but then it didn't show up on two separate CT Scans, so I don't know if I have one for sure or not. I have an appt coming up with a new gastrologist at the end of Aug. as I'm tired of evasive answers and no definite answers and a bottle of pills for heartburn shoved at me for non-existent heartburn. I don't however think it's related to that anyway but I still want to know.

As far as the brace goes, it's more as if the pressure is coming from the brace and not my body so much. It gives some relief but not really that much. I'm still very much aware of it. The only respite I get is when I lay down in my bed.

Now, I am beginning to think that there could be different causes for different people. Some people with MS have what is called MS Hug apparently. but I do not have MS. I'm thinking that in my case, it might be due to tight fascia in the rib cage area or maybe something to do with my diaphragm.

I do have pulmonary problems as well but my pulmonary doctor told me that it was not related to my lungs. He suggested it could be due to spinal problems dealing with the vertebrae and trapped nerves and so forth. It's worth considering as I do have some degenerative changes in some of my vertebrae.

Before Covid, I was still seeing doctors about it but it's been quite a while since I've actively pursued trying to find a cause and treatment. Now, I am again getting so fed up with the quality of my life, that I am going to take the bull by the horns and tackle it again.

I wish you well, as a fellow sufferer of this somewhat rare condition. My GP
is well-meaning and has sent me to different doctors but he really doesn't know much about it himself. I hope you have a good GP who can assist you in getting you the right treatments. If I come across anything of value, I will let you know, and hope you will do the same. Good Luck!

Jump to this post

It's been 3months, Tightness at the bottom rib started same day of stomach burn, stomach burn relieved. But this feeling of tightness at the bottom rib and pain in flank and back just not getting over..i am fedup and it's messing my life... MRI, CT scan shows no abnormalities... Pls let me know, once you are able to fix this.
Thanx.

janefeather | @janefeather | Dec 9, 2022

In reply to @whatisthis "i keep checking back and it doesn't look like anyone is following this thread any longer...." + (show)

I’m new to Mayo Clinic Connect. I will check out Diastasis Recti. Thank you.

annewoodmayo | @annewoodmayo | Dec 14, 2022

I'm not a doc- just a fellow patient.

Has any doctor considered an inflammatory disease like costochondritis? That is the inflammation of the cartilage of the rib cage. I get a similar pain, at least it sounds like it might be similar. My primary diagnosis is spondyloarthropathy. I see a rheumatologist for it.

In the meantime, maybe you could try arnica gel, icey hot or other topical pain relievers.

With sympathy!

TSB | @terrirussell | Dec 15, 2022

Is it possible you have high anxiety? Check out the signs for Generalized Anxiety Disorder…..GAD……everyone presents anxiety differently and this may be your presentation. I have it along w the hiatal hernia and when I’m stressed I have tightening. It’s gone away since I’ve been on Effexor xr for the last 25 years. I also found out I had a lot of food allergies that stressed that entire area feeling like gas trapped, and really hurt. I used to live on soda as it would take down the gas pain in the esophagus…….you might want to check out the GAD and meds……Effexor was my Godsend

astra | @astra | Dec 18, 2022

Hello, I have had that chest tightness also; it was benign for many years, but it has become quite intense. I have hiatal hernia and GERD. My GI does not think it's related to these two conditions. My old PCP said that it was a "conspiracy of muscular-skeletal and digestive problems." My condition gets worse when I am seated, of hunched, so there may be some truth to what he said. BTW: the GI recommended IBGard for me, but she did not know that mint is really bad for GERD and IBGard or its equivalent has mint. Please be mindful of that, too. Wishing you well.

willows | @willows | Dec 19, 2022

In reply to @astra "Hello, I have had that chest tightness also; it was benign for many years, but it..." + (show)

Have you been tested for asthma by an allergist? I have tightness in the rib cage and discomfort when my asthma related allergies kick in . I also have GERD and the pain is not related to asthma, they feel quite different.

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