muscle spasms under breast in ribs

[judybg1]

I have muscle spasm in or around the ribs on both sides (in the front under the breast and sometimes in the back at the same horizontal position), it feels like a ball rolling, in that it switches sides. It occurs even at night during sleep, painful enough to wake me.  I only know that when I relax and stretch (the side where the knot is) using several positions I have to wait till it goes away, in many cases to have it return in other places described above. What does it mean, how do I treat it.  I have high blood pressure and the meds deplete my potassium so I take a prescription supplement for that.  What should I be asking my doctor.

[Sharon2714]

hmm ... how about asking ur docs for a contrast medium abdominal cat scan ? or even a colonoscopy (the hepatic flexure is right where u describe the pain)
i have some huge ovarian cysts and my first symptom was indigestion for 2 years
and high blood pressure then pain under my right rib ... i urge u to ask because without looking at the whole area u may not get a diagnosis ... i feel empathy for all those with
"unexplained symptoms" my sister had OVCA for three years before she finally got a diagnosis and treatment and now she has it for the third time and numerous post op complications her best advice was to be persistent as u know ur bodies and know its not right good luck ya'll
sharon

[Ann4202]

I have the charlie horses in various places around my body, legs, feet, hands, under the ribs, under the breasts, etc.  The pain can be excruciating.  It can literally bend me over, make me cry, and scream out in pain.  It happens in the shower, walking, using the bathroom, sitting in a chair, sleeping, etc.  There is no particular time that this occurs.  I can be doing nothing at all but laying on the sofa watching TV.  If I get them in my legs, I have to walk them out.  There's been times where I could hardly finish my shower or using the toilet because the pain was so bad that everytime I tried to finish doing what I needed to do, the pain would come back.  Try sitting on the toilet for half an hour so you can finally clean yourself.  The doctors are useless.  I've had every test there is and they cannot find any issues.  However, I can tell you that if I take calcium supplements 2,000 mg daily - two 500 mg pills once in the evening and once in the morning per day that they are greatly reduced.  I can always tell if I didn't take my calcium because I will start getting the charlie horses worse.  I'm also on high blood pressure medication.  There is one more thing I want to mention.  After I started taking high blood pressure mediation, the charlie horses got worse.  They started when I was a teenager.  Up until I started taking blood pressure medication, Yoga seemed to help me a great deal.  Unfortunately, Yoga doesn't seem to help me now.  

[agnetha1974]

If I bend or twist slightly, my whole side and under my breast tighten so much, I am rigid, cant move for at least 20-30 seconds, I find it hard to take a breath and it is very frightening.  I am scared to twist incase it starts up.  I have to hold my breath until the pain starts to subside.  I am on blood pressure medication. I am a bit nervous to go to the doctor incase its something serious.

[ebeaver53]

This is all very interesting.  I have had the same pains under my right breast for quie some time now.  I first noticed when I was working out trying to do abdominal crunches. It is very painful and the only way I can get it to go away is to rub it out.  It almost feels like a charlie horse.  I too take blood pressue medications, maybe it is a connection.  You tell your doctor and he just looks at you like it is all in your head.  

[wd051593]

i feel much better reading all your entries !  i have all the same symptoms, and "leg cramp" type pains under my left breast all the time.  wakes me up in the middle of the night also.  and, the next day, if feels achy.   i TOO am on high blood pressure medicine.  had all the tests done, nothing shows up, dr thinks i have head issues.  

[phinca]

OMG...any time I bend over....the pain under my right breast is unreal.  I can't breathe...yes, feels like a charley horse and happens sometimes at night when I turn over in bed.  I don't take high blood pressure meds, and actually I have low blood pressure.  I also take tons of potassium citrate for my kidneys.   Thanks for posting all this info.  It was very helpful.  Since no one has had any results seeing a physician, I guess I won't be seeking a Dr.'s help any time soon.  Please, please if anyone has taken anything that has helped, please post it.

[Goldberry740]

I have had these sudden cramps under my lower right rib since 2009. They happen whenever I bend to tie my shoe. It is very painful and feels like a tight knot that lasts a minute. Doctors shrug and seem puzzled but that's all. I cannot sit straight up again until it subsides. It's so sharp and paralyzing. Makes me not want to ever bend over .

[Goldberry740]

Also, it started when I was 53. I have low thyroid, hiatal hernia, abdominal surgeries in the past.