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Serious Rib Cage Pains help please
I am 20 years old been to the doctors many times for serious pains throughout my rib cage almost as if somebody was tearing me apart on the inside. I've had many x-rays and taken plenty of medication to try and help and have had no relief. I have been putting up with this pain on and off for a year now and now it is spreading to my shoulders, back, knees and ankles but the pain is most dominate and painful in my ribs. Only one doctor said that it could be Fibromyalgia but he basically said that the pain will come and go for the rest of my life and I will have to learn to deal with it. After hearing that I gave up going to the doctors, but now the pains are getting harder to handle and I would really like help. The pain prevents me from having the energy to do everyday things. I struggle falling asleep and stay up late rolling around trying to find a comfortable position that hides the pain. I take really warm showers that help for a little bit but sometimes it hurts to shower too and I struggle to wash my hair because I have to hold my rib cage there is so much pain. I live in Ontario, Canada so heath care is free but I feel like doctors are not taking me seriously. I have been told it is just stress when I know it is not, it is one of the happiest times of my life at the moment and for a while my parents didn't believe me and told me it was all in my head when I knew that this pain that was so severe some days I would curl over and cry. If anyone has any referrals or same problems or can help please comment thank you sincerely Holly
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
I am really sorry to hear about your suffering .Your symptoms are those of Fibromyalgia .The chest pain associated with fibromyalgia is referred to as costochondritis. It is an inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the chest bone. It is this inflammation that causes the sharp chest pains inside the chest wall. The pain of costochondritis often mimics the pain of cardiac problems, including heart attacks and stroke. This can be quite scary for some sufferers; however, costochondiritis rarely causes any physical complications. Costochondritis affects about 60% to 70% of fibromyalgia sufferers. Costochondritis rib pain can last for weeks and even months, and can reappear at different intervals throughout your illness. Please visit a pain clinic or rheumatology clinic because they deal with Fibromyalgia . Please take good nutritious diet with multivitamins , multiminerals and Omega 3 supplements . Antioxidants like Vitamin A , C & E play an important role in relieving the symptoms . Please take light exercises . This will not only relieve the muscle problems but also help in getting a good night sleep . Hope this helps you . Take care and regards !
I am really sorry to hear about your suffering .Your symptoms are those of Fibromyalgia .The chest pain associated with fibromyalgia is referred to as costochondritis. It is an inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the chest bone. It is this inflammation that causes the sharp chest pains inside the chest wall. The pain of costochondritis often mimics the pain of cardiac problems, including heart attacks and stroke. This can be quite scary for some sufferers; however, costochondiritis rarely causes any physical complications. Costochondritis affects about 60% to 70% of fibromyalgia sufferers. Costochondritis rib pain can last for weeks and even months, and can reappear at different intervals throughout your illness. Please visit a pain clinic or rheumatology clinic because they deal with Fibromyalgia . Please take good nutritious diet with multivitamins , multiminerals and Omega 3 supplements . Antioxidants like Vitamin A , C & E play an important role in relieving the symptoms . Please take light exercises . This will not only relieve the muscle problems but also help in getting a good night sleep . Hope this helps you . Take care and regards !
I have had fibromyalgia for over 40 years, even when most people did not even know about it. It is not as well know as Arthiritis or Osteoarthritis.
The procedure normally followed is that you go to see your family doctor who will give a reference to a rheumatologist. I live in Quebec and let me tell you there are few and in between. Possibly in Ontario they may be more. They are aware of this syndrome. They call it a syndome because it is not recognized by the goverment as a disease.
The rheumatoligist will do a tender point test and verify that you truly do have fibromyalgia. These are the doctors that specialize in diagnosing Fibro.
I went for physical therapy for my breathing, learning to de-stress my body because stress is one of the biggest trigger points for fibromyalgia. Eating healthy and mild exercises is especially beneficial. I don't do any high impact aerobics, do a lot of walking and swimming (really good -- relaxes the body -- and gives you back some energy).
Once established that you have fibromyalgia, most patients make changes to their lifestyle and eating habits.
Dealing with the syndrome and knowing you have to change your lifestyle is difficult to accept. Most a list is created to know exactly where your boundries are, it's easier to accept your limits.
We cannot go back to the way we were, but we can go forward, but with difficult goals in mind.
You can also check with your doctor for a mild slieeping aid -- as a person with fibro needs at least 8 hours sleep for your body to regenerate for the next day.
I was in my early 20's when I was diagnosed and I am now 60 years old. So I guess I am a PRO now. Ran a support group for a couple of years and if you have one in your area; it would be beneifical to talk with people who understand your syndome.
My family ignored my pain and pretended it never was happening. It's very hard when you feel you are alone with this struggle - support groups I feel are essential.
Family doctors do not really diagnose fibro. A rheumatologist will.
I do hope this helps. Talk to your family doctor and make a plan for approaching all areas of your syndrome. Even 20 years later, I take a small dose of sleeping pill so I could get a good night sleep and repair my body for the next day.
If you would like any other questions answered, and if I can I would be glad to answer them for you. You are not alone.
The procedure normally followed is that you go to see your family doctor who will give a reference to a rheumatologist. I live in Quebec and let me tell you there are few and in between. Possibly in Ontario they may be more. They are aware of this syndrome. They call it a syndome because it is not recognized by the goverment as a disease.
The rheumatoligist will do a tender point test and verify that you truly do have fibromyalgia. These are the doctors that specialize in diagnosing Fibro.
I went for physical therapy for my breathing, learning to de-stress my body because stress is one of the biggest trigger points for fibromyalgia. Eating healthy and mild exercises is especially beneficial. I don't do any high impact aerobics, do a lot of walking and swimming (really good -- relaxes the body -- and gives you back some energy).
Once established that you have fibromyalgia, most patients make changes to their lifestyle and eating habits.
Dealing with the syndrome and knowing you have to change your lifestyle is difficult to accept. Most a list is created to know exactly where your boundries are, it's easier to accept your limits.
We cannot go back to the way we were, but we can go forward, but with difficult goals in mind.
You can also check with your doctor for a mild slieeping aid -- as a person with fibro needs at least 8 hours sleep for your body to regenerate for the next day.
I was in my early 20's when I was diagnosed and I am now 60 years old. So I guess I am a PRO now. Ran a support group for a couple of years and if you have one in your area; it would be beneifical to talk with people who understand your syndome.
My family ignored my pain and pretended it never was happening. It's very hard when you feel you are alone with this struggle - support groups I feel are essential.
Family doctors do not really diagnose fibro. A rheumatologist will.
I do hope this helps. Talk to your family doctor and make a plan for approaching all areas of your syndrome. Even 20 years later, I take a small dose of sleeping pill so I could get a good night sleep and repair my body for the next day.
If you would like any other questions answered, and if I can I would be glad to answer them for you. You are not alone.
I also have costochondritis. It flares and subsides, etc. I can't even press on my upper ribs when it is inflamed and I know what you are going through. Ice packs help it. With me, when my joints start hurting it does also. When I am very fatigued and ill from Fibro, it's always present. It's inflammation in the tissues I guess...I feel for you believe me.
Thanks for the heads up on all your information. I had changed my eating habits and found that trigger foods such as starches, sauces, MSG were a big factor.
You are right about storying energy. I use it to my advantage and use it when it urgently needed. I plan through the day.
Sorry to hear that traditional medicine did not work. I am glad to hear that you are taking an alternate route.
Stress, emotional trauma is a big factor. I had a trauma when I was very young. It stayed with me for a long time until I got psychological help. I found through therapy that my emotional and phsyical pain was reduced at least 75%. It is still ongoing but
after the first year it made a big difference in my life.
I shall check into myofasical "trigger point" therapy. Will do some investigating through the net.
A pleasure to meet you and another fibro patient. Hope to hear from you through postings here.
You are right about storying energy. I use it to my advantage and use it when it urgently needed. I plan through the day.
Sorry to hear that traditional medicine did not work. I am glad to hear that you are taking an alternate route.
Stress, emotional trauma is a big factor. I had a trauma when I was very young. It stayed with me for a long time until I got psychological help. I found through therapy that my emotional and phsyical pain was reduced at least 75%. It is still ongoing but
after the first year it made a big difference in my life.
I shall check into myofasical "trigger point" therapy. Will do some investigating through the net.
A pleasure to meet you and another fibro patient. Hope to hear from you through postings here.
On a final note when I take a shower I find it very difficult to wash the sides of my rib cage as even today it goes into spasm. I use a long wash stick and it works really well. I don't have to stretch too much to clean my back, and the sides of my body.
You can get on of these in the Dollar Store.
You can get on of these in the Dollar Store.
Thank you so much everyone for your support and advice I have not been on for a while as my bf and I are looking for a new place to live, which is kind of stressful so I find my ribs are in and out of pain. I will be sure once I am settled in my new place to go visit a rheumatologist and I shall try the other advice too I was really wanting to get a WII (video game consol) it has some games that are like exercise there is a Yoga one and a few other light games for the system that will help me enjoy exercising. Also Ice Packs do help me too a little bit though I think it rather numbs the feeling of pain for a short time. But once again thank you everyone and I would love to keep hearing from you all as all of you feel for me I feel for you as well, we are strong people to keep striving to live through our pain and be happy, and together we shall help not only ourselves but others as well. =]
Here are some things I found that really helped me: Cut out as much sugar, white flour and other simple carbs as you can! I would be in far more pain whenever I'd go on a "carb binge". Also, do whatever you can to get plenty of sleep--make sure you get plenty of magnesium; melatonin or 5-HTP, as well as various herbal products can help also. Cut out or learn to deal with stress more effectively--meditation, cognitive therapy, whatever...just watch and see the correlation between stress and pain. I've learned that most of those with fibromyalgia have supressed emotional pain that they haven't dealt with--your mind may forget, but emotional energy gets stored in your body and stays there until you're consciously ready to handle it. One more thing--get some help with myofascial "trigger point" therapy. Myofascial pain syndrome often occurs with--or is even confused with--fibromyalgia. I got a workbook and a "Thera-cane" to work on myself, and this helps tremendously! Speaking for myself, traditional medicine didn't help me much at all, so I'm currently looking into alternative as well as "energy" medicine for some help. IMHO, I believe that the huge increase in fibromyalgia cases points to it being more of a spiritual/psychological issue. Take care, and hope this will help you.
A related discussion, Ribcage pain was started.
I just stumbled on this because I've had costochondritis numerous times since I first got diagnosed when I was about 15. I had my heart checked then, at 15, and again last year a few days after doing yoga on the Wii. I thought the yoga would be a good idea since there's no way I can do situps or anything strenuous, but even the seemingly light arm/chest cavity stretches brought on horrible pain in my left ribcage. I couldn't sleep for two weeks because everytime I breathed it was like my cartiliage was tearing apart... I ended up having to get ANOTHER heart scan and a CT scan to rule out pulmonary embolism because I'm on birth control. So PLEASE, if you have costochondritis be VERY careful doing yoga stretches!! (As an FYI- I am a 24yo female, thin and in decent shape)
But in spite of all that I said, I hope that the yoga does help you (or maybe it already has!) because I know how hard it can be to find good ways to exercise with this condition... and most people don't take you seriously about it and just think you are being lazy!
But in spite of all that I said, I hope that the yoga does help you (or maybe it already has!) because I know how hard it can be to find good ways to exercise with this condition... and most people don't take you seriously about it and just think you are being lazy!
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