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Severe debilitating rib pain and crushing back pain 28F
28F 115lbs I have excruciating rib pain that has gotten worse over the years. It wakes me up out of my sleep and my left rib tip feels like it’s being smashed with a hammer and it hurts to breathe flat on my back. I have to sleep elevated. I also get on and off crushing upper spine pain. It’s making it hard to care for my toddler, palpitations, adrenaline dumping, migraines, extreme fatigue, plus all over body aches. all my blood tests and ct scans are normal besides enlarged liver. I have SVT, ovarian cysts, high blood pressure, had preclampsia and post partumpreclamisa in my only birth 2 years ago, gallbladder removal turned septic after and now I suffer with sphincter of oddi syndrome I can only eat a handful of safe foods without it feeling like a gallbladder attack. My physical therapist said I have a connective tissue disorder but she doesn’t know what type. I’m extremely hypermobile, but this rib pain sometimes will turn into stabbing, deep severe throbbing, sometimes burns. On and off sternum pain. I’ve been in the ER twice the past 2 week. Seven ct scans this year. My primary told me she is sorry and she has nothing else she can do for me. No explanation to the liver enlargement ether. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t eat fast food just my couple safe foods. I had a old doctor in my teens suspect slipping ribs because I would have flares a couple times a year now it’s become chronic and before my period it’s debilitating and I can barley care for my toddler. I feel it pop and shock my when I put him in his car seat, I can’t take opioids because of my sphincter of oddi it triggers an attack. My physical therapist said I had a extreme rib flair as well. My dad has sarcoidosis he had to go to the Mayo Clinic to get diagnosed as well as his aunt, my grandmother has a heart defect and I’ve been told my family has other strange disorders on her side. My fingers go flat to the back of my hand with zero resistance amongst other things it’s like I don’t have cartilage.
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yattedmama, some people have the rib removed. This doctor , he may be the only one, stabilizes the rib https://medicine.wvu.edu/News/Story I was reading that he has reconstructed ribs that have been removed because of slipping rib.
Causes of enlarged liver can be inherited conditions or might be include fatty liver disease and hepatitis, but it can also stem from cirrhosis, heart failure, infections. You deserve to know what is causing the enlargement maybe by seeing a hepatologist.
Are you receiving any treatment for the sphincter of oddi dysfuncrtion, some benefit by seeing a gastroenterologist for a simple botox injection.
It would be very difficult to care for a child and deprive you of some of the pleasure of that caring.
You might look at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20362149
Bless your health with some luck.
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1 ReactionHey, sorry to hear that, do you think your insides are pushing out against your ribs? Mine do that from time to time and I've broken a few ribs. I do have osteoporosis btw, but still . TravisG.
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1 Reactionyattedmama; The following are two quotes from your post that caught my interest "I’m extremely hypermobile" and "My fingers go flat to the back of my hand with zero resistance amongst other things it’s like I don’t have cartilage." Those symptoms plus the host of other seemingly unrelated difficulties you listed might interest you in looking into EHLERS DANLOS SYNDROME. Basically it is a systemic tissue disorder evidenced by most if not all of the connective tissue being weak and easily over-extended or hyper-mobile. The health of that tissue can affect functions as varied as heart rhythm to enzyme and hormone control, all of which, if not in balance can cause all kinds of "disease" especially those that are labelled "idiopathic"( a professional sounding way the medical field uses to say "I don't know"-which is not helpful-I've heard it too many times). In some circumstances this syndrome might not be well known, but from my scant understanding most competent geneticists should be aware of this because it is believed to be genetic. Also, perhaps other places on this site might have more info than I can provide. Wish you well, as I do everyone here.
Hey, I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I know it might be a long shot but I just wanted to put this on your radar. Have you considered vascular compressions being an issue. It's common in patients with connective tissue disorders, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and hyper mobility. Specifically pain that is on your left side in your ribs could indicate Nutcracker syndrome. It is where your left renal vein that connects ur IVC to your kidney is squished. It causes a lot of the symptoms you described and is super under diagnosed. I have nutcracker syndrome and am going to mayo to get surgery for it. I know it could be a stretch but just wanted to make you aware of it- best of luck!
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1 Reactionannmarie, let us know about your surgery at Mayo. What does that surgery entail. Thanks for the valuable post and best wishes with that surgery.
@travisg123
Anyone else have this problem maybe?