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Rib cage tightness: Not sure what it might be
Digestive Health | Last Active: Nov 3 1:50pm | Replies (98)Comment receiving replies
Hi know this is a year old post but was wondering how you are doing. I too have this tightness that comes entirely around my ribcage. It used to just be under front ribs but now full ribcage. It sometimes feels like the squeezing is outside like a band but now I also have pressure from inside pushing out. Like it is going to explode. Yikes. I have a mild hiatal hernia, bad GERD and pancreatic issues so it makes so hard to know what causes it. I thought of MS but mine comes on right after eating. I was originally given Hyoscyamine and a PPI. That helped but now the under front rib pain and total front and back ribcage pain is worse. I even get upper back and shoulder pain which can be indicative of pancreas but for some reasons docs don't think that's it. They assume it is spasms from GERD. I go to a top gastro doc in LA so I hope he knows. It is very painful! I think it would help to know for sure so I don't worry along with the pain. You were first person I saw that posted similar symptoms. Are your symptoms right/soon after eating and have you gotten any help?
Replies to "Hi know this is a year old post but was wondering how you are doing. I..."
I am sorry to say that no, I have learned nothing new, but then, I have not pursued it like I should. I already have several medical problems and it seems that going to doctors does not really help with any of them! I just keep discovering more health issues, the further I pursue them. Lots of diagnostics, but no real treatments! So, I'm just dealing with this condition as best as I can, for the time being anyway.
I do think, though, that my pulmonary doctor may be on to something as he believes it to be what is called "referred" pain from a bulge in one of the T vertebrae that seems to correspond in area to where I feel this encircling tightness. Some kind of nerve entrapment, I guess! I also have upper back and shoulder pain! I have some disc degeneration in that area!
I have read of a few others who have this problem, and to make this even more of a puzzle, and difficult to know what direction to go in, is that several also had a hiatal hernia. Mine, apparently, has not been visible on X-rays, as of late, so I don't know what's going on there! I have some rib case spasms, from time to time. Not sure, of course, if it's related to this specific condition or not!
I wear a soft, elasticized 4-5 inch width hiatal hernia band , or actually , I have found an umbilical hernia band to be better, around my lower rib cage area. It has a Velcro closing and I wear it loosely, during the day. Oddly enough, this kind of has the effect of feeling as if the tightness comes from the band and not my midriff, though, of course, it is not really worn very tight at all. It's not helping as much as it used to, and I cannot say whether it would help your or not. I live with this tightness round the clock. When I'm laying down, I feel at my best. Eating does not help it any and sometimes does seem to even increase it a bit!
I will keep you in mind, as a fellow-sufferer of this "mystery ailment" and if I ever do get to the bottom of it, I will let you know. I hope you will do the same and also, while my comments might seem a bit negative, I really believe that it's necessary to keep one's spirits up as much as possible! Who knows, unless we keep trying?
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I have tightness in upper stomach all the time. My bras keep feeling tighter even using suspend fasteners. I have lost weight so is not a weight issue. It gets worse as day goes on. I do have severe acid reflux that causes inflammation in my vagus nerve and severe vagus nerve pain. Sometimes I feel pain in upper left rib. Does this sound like a hiatal hernia?