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Rib cage pain on both sides. Anyone else experience this?

Posted by LPRSOB @jdbarr1, Aug 31 12:20am

For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom all the way to the top just below my armpit). Usually, I only feel it when I tap my rib cage, but recently it is happening on its own. It started towards the end of my time smoking, and it just never left. I fear it is permanent.

I have a 4cm hiatal hernia. I've also occasionally had random body aches which I felt could have been fibromyalgia (however I was never diagnosed with this even after thorough examinations).

I have had all relevant scans from a Pulmonologist trust and they have revealed ZERO damage. Everything has came back completely clean despite having smoked marijuana and cigarettes for about 10 years (I quit a couple years ago).

Does anyone else have this experience? It is on both sides, it is all the way up and down my rib cage. Typically, it is just when I tap my sides.

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slkanowitz | @slkanowitz | Aug 31 2:42pm
In reply to @jdbarr1 "For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom..." + (show)
@jdbarr1

For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom all the way to the top just below my armpit). Usually, I only feel it when I tap my rib cage, but recently it is happening on its own. It started towards the end of my time smoking, and it just never left. I fear it is permanent.

I have a 4cm hiatal hernia. I've also occasionally had random body aches which I felt could have been fibromyalgia (however I was never diagnosed with this even after thorough examinations).

Has anyone experienced this with a hiatal hernia? Any ideas of what this could be?

Again, it is on both sides, all the way up and down the rib cage. It is typically only when tapped but recently I have felt it on its own a bit more.

Jump to this post

I think costochondritis is very likely. The inflammation in the cartilage could flare up with other inflammation episodes. It’s not serious but can be painful. It should respond to anti inflammatory meds like ibuprofen or naproxen, both OTC, and a heating pad can help too. Pleurisy causes sharp chest pain when taking a deep breath. It’s not brought on by touching or pressing on the rib cage but that’s classic for costochondritis.

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 31 2:44pm
In reply to @jdbarr1 "For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom..." + (show)
@jdbarr1

For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom all the way to the top just below my armpit). Usually, I only feel it when I tap my rib cage, but recently it is happening on its own. It started towards the end of my time smoking, and it just never left. I fear it is permanent.

I have a 4cm hiatal hernia. I've also occasionally had random body aches which I felt could have been fibromyalgia (however I was never diagnosed with this even after thorough examinations).

Has anyone experienced this with a hiatal hernia? Any ideas of what this could be?

Again, it is on both sides, all the way up and down the rib cage. It is typically only when tapped but recently I have felt it on its own a bit more.

Jump to this post

@jdbarr1, It does sound a little like what others have described for slipping rib syndrome.
-- Is anyone familiar with slipping rib syndrome?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/slipping-rib-syndrome/

REPLY
sharronm | @sharronm | Aug 31 4:36pm
In reply to @jdbarr1 "I'm wondering if that's what is causing mine as well. Does your whole body hurt during..." + (show)
@jdbarr1

I'm wondering if that's what is causing mine as well.

Does your whole body hurt during the flares? Where do you feel pain?

Jump to this post

Pretty much all over. I had all but 1 of the pressure points when my rheumatologist did my exam.

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bsi15 | @bsi15 | Sep 1 1:26am

pneumothorax
but probably not - I wished I had not replied

REPLY
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Sep 1 12:47pm

@jdbarr1 There is a condition called pleurisy - an inflammation of the tissue between the ribs and the lungs.
Here is a description from Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pleurisy/symptoms-causes/syc-20351863
It is inflammation, often from a chronic cough - have you tried taking ibuprofen to relieve it?

REPLY
1 reply
kjofmd | @kjofmd | Sep 1 9:47pm
In reply to @jdbarr1 "For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom..." + (show)
@jdbarr1

For the past few years I have had pain in my rib cage (from the bottom all the way to the top just below my armpit). Usually, I only feel it when I tap my rib cage, but recently it is happening on its own. It started towards the end of my time smoking, and it just never left. I fear it is permanent.

I have a 4cm hiatal hernia. I've also occasionally had random body aches which I felt could have been fibromyalgia (however I was never diagnosed with this even after thorough examinations).

Has anyone experienced this with a hiatal hernia? Any ideas of what this could be?

Again, it is on both sides, all the way up and down the rib cage. It is typically only when tapped but recently I have felt it on its own a bit more.

Jump to this post

Have you checked the description/diagnosis of costochondritis to see if it sounds familiar? That seems to be fairly common in those of us with fibromyalgia, that you may also have.

REPLY
jana13 | @jana13 | Sep 2 9:22am
In reply to @sueinmn "@jdbarr1 There is a condition called pleurisy - an inflammation of the tissue between the ribs..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@jdbarr1 There is a condition called pleurisy - an inflammation of the tissue between the ribs and the lungs.
Here is a description from Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pleurisy/symptoms-causes/syc-20351863
It is inflammation, often from a chronic cough - have you tried taking ibuprofen to relieve it?

Jump to this post

I have experienced pain in my ribs on the left side. I figured since l had had an asthma exacerbation that the three days of oxygen had caused me to have pleurisy. I used a pain patch over my ribs and the pain was gone in a day.

REPLY
anonymous999 | @anonymous999 | Sep 5 12:31pm

Interstitial rib pain can usually be caused by inflammation , caused by smoking. This will clear up once smoking ceases.

REPLY
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