pain under right rib for 4 months after a terrible cold

[Tash123]

Hi, sorry it might be a bit too long but this strange pain under my right rib started around 4 months ago and noone can tell me what is it. so in September 08 I caught a terrible cold, couldn't stop coughing (I was up every night all night for a few days) thought I had a pneumonia, had an x-ray done, showed nothing. first, pain was so strong that I couldn't really tell where it was hurting, my whole chest was in pain. slowly my cough got better and most of the pain in the chest has gone except it was still hurting alot(bottom of the rib cage on the right)when I was taking a deep breath in. I went to see a lung specialist, he used my 2 month old x-ray and said it looks fine to him and this is probably a muscular thing or a broken rib. it's now 4 months since this started, I still have same problems with breathing. I noticed that it goes away after I have a rest(sleep or lie down). it doesn't really matter how long I am resting for but it comes back after 10-20 minutes after getting up. I saw my GP a couple of days ago, he's got an ultrasound machine in his room so he had a quick look if I had gall stones (and probably other serious things) but couldn't see anything. he said that he thinks that I don't have anything serious but he can't guarantee anything. so, now he told me to come back in 2 months because "the picture might change". I haven't done any tests. the pain is irrelevant to what I eat, only on inhale. I am 27, I understand that for me it is less likely to have some serious diseases but it doesn't make it impossible. I've got 2 little children 2 and 3 y.o. to look after and I am really scared that it might be something serious. do you have any idea what it can be? I know it's almost impossible to give a right diagnosis but any suggestion would be appreciated. thank you very much in advance.

[National Jewish Health]

What you describe suggests that the original injury to your chest occurred in September, due to severe cough.  Most likely you tore or fractured rib-attached cartilage or a tearing of muscle from its attachment to ribs or costal cartilage.  One muscle particularly prone to tear in this fashion is called, the internal oblique.  One way to assess this possibility would be to obtain ultrasound imaging of the area in pain, called sonography.  This allows for the radiologist to visualize the site and characteristics of the tear.

Another possible injury that can be associated with severe coughing is rupture of the diaphragm resulting in a hernia.  Your doctor might want to inquire of a radiologist, the best imaging techniques to visualize these sites of potential injury.

Good luck.

[Tash123]

thank you very much for your answer doctor and for your support toppaz13. Still having a pain, had another xray done, blood tests- all normal. also my doctor had another look to make sure he didn't miss anything first time, it was difficult because the area in pain is behind the ribs, so he checked my gall bladder again, kidneys, liver...all normal, he also managed to do a sonography in case if I had a hernia or if he could see any other muscle abnormality that can cause such pain. he couldn't see anything.  after that I had an xray done, the results came back today, all normal. I have this pain for 6 months now so hopefully my doctor will find the answer as soon as it possible.  

[toppaz13]

Don't know what it is but I have the same problem. I have had it since 2007 and it comes and goes with exertion. My tests were the same as yours: they showed nothing to the doctor. If you get any kind of answer I would be interested in it. In the meantime, know you are not the only person with this. It is NOT in your head and it is real.