left side of chest/ribs swelling (hard bumps) and painfull**no formal diagnosis

[micrazi]

(30 year old Female) I Noticed one paticular day last August as I was walking, that my chest area was hurting.  I placed my hand on the area and there was a noticible protrusion of what felt like my rib (hard not moving, close to sternum).  I asked my OB at my yearly and she suggested possible chostocondrtis, and told me to take some Ibprof 600mg.  That did nothing.  Then the beg. of Jan, I noticed I had another area that was protruding (lower than first).  This was most noticible at night when laying down and very tender with constant dull pain.  Went to my PCP and he said it probably was chostocondritis as well, though he thought it was strange that this was going on since Aug (5 mo), and there were multiple areas affected (3rd, 4th rib).  I got an x-ray.  Results=no abnormalities.  Went back to doc, asked for CT scan, results= tilting of sternum, not assoc with other osseous abnormalities of the sternum or adjacent soft tissue abnormalities, air in left sacroiliac joint, small amount od tissue density adjacent to ascending aortic arch in the anterior mediastinum (could represent residual thymus), mild prominence of spleen.  The pain is getting more noticible and I have another protrusion (below my left clavicle).  I have not gone back to PCP for fear of looking like a lunatic.

ANY IDEAS as to what this is?  Are there any other tests we should focus on to determine a correct diagnosis?  Is this a wierd form of chostocondritis that doesnt go away?  What does tilting of sternum mean in terms of my situation?  Thanks for the help, much appreciated!

[AnnJ]

I don't think anyone would call you a lunatic, and I think you should definitely go back to the doctor. A general practitioner should at least be able to refer you to a good specialist who would probably have experience with your condition. It is my understanding that calcium deposits can develop on any bones, and they generally do not just go away. Not trying to diagnose, just a thought. Good Luck with everything.

[mleigh23]

I am a 23-year-old female with nearly the exact same problem!  I have been frustrated by dismissal as costochondritis (sp?) as well.  Even steroids had no effect on it and there are more locations now than their used to be.  My breast on the left side is nearly a full size larger than the right, which I think has something to do with it.  My spleen is often enlarged as well, though sometimes worse than others.  I was just wondering if you had found-out anything.  Because of my age, it is often dismissed, but has gotten worse.  Please let me know if you've found out anything relevant.  Thank you!

[nisad31]

I am a 19 year old female- dealing with a similar condition for the past 9 years. I was frustrating as a child, because I was unable to understand the doctors diagnosis, and my mother would not allow me to take any medication for the pain. As soon as I turned 18, I began to see doctors on my own. I have done it all- blood tests, MRIs, Ultrasounds, Breathing Tests – you name it. Every doctor I have seen to this day has either stated that this problem simply does not exist (psychosomatic – in the head) or a possible condition that I am just going to have to live with. Believe me it is frustrating, but I am not about to give up. The pain has set in to all of my joints, and it seems like every problem that would be miniscule for most, is a major issue for me. If anybody has a lead- please please help!

[neelie99]

My daughter has very similar symptoms. She is 11. We did all the tests and finally went to a sports medicine doctor who prescribed physical therapy to strengthen the rib area. This helped my daughter a lot and the pain subsided. Once we stopped PT the pain returned. We will continue with PT as this is working!

[ladybugs40]

My son had chest pain and went to a hospital out of town.  They checked him for heart trouble and it came back good.  They did a CT of the chest and told him he had a 2.9 cm. mediastinal mass.  An Oncoligist talked with him and told him he needed a biopsy of the mass.  He wanted to come back to his home town and see a Thoracic Suregon.  The suregon had a radioligist in our home town to read the original films and they did not agree.  They said they believe it is Residual Thymus.  I am very confused and need some advise as what to do.  Does the residual thymus need to be taken out and should I request the doctors still do a biopsy just to be on the safe side.

[missquest]

That's wild, I have the exact same story.   I'm a healthy 30 yr old, I have two children and I'm pretty active.  I had one bump like you described on my left rib near the sternum.  I had a chest x-ray which revieled nothing.  I then noticed it was getting larger and I was getting a similar bump on the next rib down.  I had a CT scan, the doctor said I had a minimal residual thymus, but didn't seem to think that was a problem.  They seem to think it's up to me if I want to pursue this any further.  I live in a fairly small town, so I don't have 100% faith in the doctors.  Any ideas from a big city diagnosis?  I feel like it's spreading and I'm starting to notice the ache worse.

I also have been bruising more than before and I feel exhausted all the time (but that might be due to my two small children!)

[aurya1013]

I too have been experiencing the same thing. Last Friday during workout, I started to have sharp pains just below my left rib cage, well the sharp pains subsided and I now have swelling on my lower left rib cage and feel slight pressure on my ribs. I went to the er on Monday because with military healthcare it can take time to get an appointment. After a UA and bloodtest they said I was fine. The swelling has not gone down and the dull ache is gradually moving upward. I have a follow up appt tomorrow and I am hoping they will diagnos it properly, I have very little faith in military healthcare, they usually just want to get you in and out and arent the brightest doctors out there. From the sounds of it, it could be costochondritis or residual thymus. I just want to have all my ducks in a row so I can inform the doctor, I dont want to live with this dull ache and swelling for much longer.

[kez706]

I have been suffering for 7 months fist it started with 3 very bad chest infections with came with a bad cough, 1 month later my ribs on left side poped out of my skin and i struggled breathing in and out pain was bad. Then 1 month later i was told i had costochondritis and it would go away in about 10 weeks no more.......But 3 months later i had ,had a x-ray and they said i had some calcum in my kidney nothing to worry about.
Then 1 month later i had an ultra sound and they found i only had one kidney and it was on my left hand side but it was bigger than normal and they wanted to run more test, 6  months later i had an C T scan as they are unsure if it is an normal kidney a double kidney or a duplex kidney going for results today.......
the thing is they treat you like you touched in the head, like your making the pain up, god i have been in so much pain for so long i'm getting stressed, anxiety is in over load and i have had to stop working due to me no able to sit down for long periods of time.
my life is on hold and you start to think all sorts of things are wrong with you thinking the wrorse.
I am only 26 and i have 2 kids it's so hard to keep going at the same time cope with the pain.
i will post back with C T results.
Kerry

[ChrissieAnn]

I have had costochondritis ( l thought this was a spanish tummy bug ) Twice, extremely painful. For the last 4 weeks l have had a growing lump on my upper chest wall between the 2nd rib cage where the sturnum meet. X-ray and ECG fine. Docs just old me it was "soft tissue swelling" Dont think so! I have lost the ability to cough, and a few days ago l nearly choked on a small bit of jelly sweet and it hurt so much in the "lump" area. Cant bend down as the "lump" really hurts. Got Traxam to rub in, no help. Feel that l have got something wrong with me, not in my head. Where do l go from here? Can anyone help at all. I feel so sorry for you all, such awful pain.

[Melliebellie]

My daughter is 17 and she is experiencing a similar problem and I feel like the doctors think we are nuts.She is in a lot of pain in the morning and has a hard time sleeping comfortably. She has bumps on her fibs but the docs have done CT scans and ultrasounds and Xrays, they cannot find a thing wrong with her. She cant cough or sneeze and now her right breast feels numb when she lifts her arm. Its a ll so confusing, I feel very bad for her and just want her well. This all developed during a spell of bronchitis. My daughter also has asthma, pectus excavatum, abdominal issues (gastroparesis), and is currently in a lot of pain due to thiese bumps on her chest. I thought maybe she had broken her ribs from coughing so hard, now im just worried its something more serious that the doctors are overlooking. Its overwhelming. I am sad that all of you are in such pain too but somewhat relived to see that she is not alone.
    Any ideas on what this could be? Have any of you received any news from your doctors on your health conditions?
Thank you, Melanie

[miniminiman]

I'm a 22 year old male, who have had a swollen thing on my left chest for something like 8 months. I had an MRI on it and it showed nothing. I was told it could be a severe strain..but I don't buy that..it would have gotten away by now then. Sometimes, especially in the evening, it can be sore. It feels like it's my rib, because it's rock hard, but it's way too think to be a rib. So I guess it might be a mucle, cause it keeps getting bigger.. After all I work out a lot.