HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Rib pain in back?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/2/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone i'm Shelly. I'm new to the board. I've posted over on the IBS board though. I was dx'd with Fibromylgia and CostoChrondritis about 5 years ago. Supposedly I have a "lighter" case of FM then some my Reumo Dr had seen. I Thank God for that because if mine is "lighter" then i'd hate to know that the worse cases are. cry Most of my pains are in my Upper body, Arms, shoulders, neck, back chest, collarbones etc... But my Question is has anyone ever had pain in their ribs in their lower back? Awhile back I noticed that the ribs on my left side wayy down on the bottom hurt. It made my back hurt so bad but went away after awhile. Now it's back. If I touch the end of the ribs it hurts like fire! smhair I just wondered if I was the only one? I don't have a reumo Dr anymore since she moved to Arizona a year ago. Thanks for the help.
Posted 10/2/2008 12:55 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Shelly!

The rib pain does seem to be a common ailment for Fibros. I endure it on many occasions as well. The odd thing about it is that Ibuprofen seems to help with my rib pain. My personal opinion is that the pain is in some way associated with a Fibro's tendency to not breathe properly because of our pain. If that is the case it would explain why Ibuprofen seems to help.

Good luck and let me know if this helped in any way. I am interested to see if you come up with the same conclusion.....

Posted 10/2/2008 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, check your mycoplasma levels if your dr is opme to do so. My issue with mycoplasma started with this strange pain in my back in the rib area and is under control when the myco is ...
Posted 10/2/2008 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Shelly and welcome. Since you have had the pain before and it went away it is probably fibro but you might want to bring it up to your PCD. Try using moist heat on it, rice bags you put in the microwave are great. You can make them yourself with uncooked rice in a tube sock and tie the end.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 10/2/2008 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Shelly and welcome!

I'm new to this as of last spring and I have been spared any rib cage pain so far! Plenty of shoulder, neck, upper back pain though. I've been going to Physical Therapy and it seems to loosen up my upper back and it does help the pain. She taught me yoga, and pilate exercises and it helps stretch out our knotted up tissues. More should be along that may have had your symptoms and what they did about it. Moist heat like Marlee stated helps me too.

Nice to meet you! GamJill
Posted 10/2/2008 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Just was here to ask a question, but had to say... YES on the rib pain... I have heard that there is a major nerve path along the ribs and there I get very severe pain (but usually for me on the side) If I put something warm on it or just pressure, it helps... someone's hand or my own feels best. Usually I can quiet it down that way eventually.
Posted 10/2/2008 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
If the rib pain is costochondritis then the ibuprophen will help because it's an anti-inflammatory or NSAID and they work well on the "itis" pain. Also, ibuprophen, acetometaphen, aspirin, naproxin sodium and other over the counter pain meds will often help with fibro symptoms because they are analgesics that work on the pain perception part of the brain as well as the pain perception part of the body. The mechanisms by which they work are not fully understood, only that they work for pain and so are used as such. They are palliative measures that treat pain without affecting the underlying cause of fibro.

Each of the above mentioned meds has a list of side effects a mile long so read your labels and TAKE THEM WITH FOOD! My mother in law neglected to do this with naprosin and ended up spending Christmas day in the ER almost dying from internal bleeding. Once they found the cause they gave her four units of blood (that's about 1/2 her total amount) and sent her on her way, with orders for no more naprosin. I understand others have not been so lucky and many have died from undiagnosed stomach bleed outs. Tylenol can wreck your liver if you take too much and the list just goes on and on.

The hot rice bag, moist heat and heating pad are excellent choices if they work for you (and you have the time to sit and wait for relief) because the side effects are minimal. Costo is certainly a pain, especially when it limits your movements to the point that you feel like a robot. Hope this info helps.
Posted 10/3/2008 5:05 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks so much everyone for the warm Welcome and the help.   I've used the Rice in a sock before, don't know Why I didn't even Think to use it this time. lol.   At first I was getting worried that I might have a kidney stone or infection but it doesn't hurt when I touch my Skin below the rib just the Rib end it'self.  weird.   I've only had it happen There a few times before.   Now my Upper ribs in my chest wall feel like they're going to crack right open sometimes and I know that's normal from my past experiences.   When I was first DX'd I had a bone scan done because of a lump that came up under my left collarbone and lots of pain in my upper body.  They dx'd FM and CC.   I have taken Neurontin before but it made me so woozy headed that I just couldn't take it.  I used to do Acupuncture and it Really helped but with Everything costing soo much more now I just can't afford it.  And the closest Acupuncturist is over an Hour away.   As of today though it's not bothering me much in my back.  My shoulders, arms, back and chest hurt though. 

I try hard not to take pain relivers if possible because they end up hurting my stomach.  I have GERD and ulcer stuff going on too.  not fun for my stomach to hurt but then if I Don't take pain reliever then everything else hurts.   I wish I knew of somthing I could take for pain that Wouldn't hurt my stomach.  

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions!!

Posted 10/5/2010 8:20 PM (GMT 0)

HI EVERYONE,

I'N NEW TO THE BOARD TODAY. I WAS SEARCHING FOR PAINFUL RIBS AND FIBRO AND LANDED HERE. THE RIB APIN STARTED about 8 MONTHS AGO. IT COMES AND GOES AND I CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE TRIGGER. SOMETIMES ITS AFTER I EAT. IT DOES GO AWAY BUT COMES BACK about EVERY THREE WEEKS AND LAST FOR about A WEEK. I WILL TRY THE RICE. I AM IN THE SAME BOAT WITH PAIN PILL BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY DISORDERS. FOR PAIN I THESE DAYS IT COMES IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT WAYS INCLUDING OLIVE OIL. ISN'T SO STRANGE HOW WE ALL HAVE FIBRO BUT WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS. ITS SUCH A TRASH CAN TER DONT YOU THINK?


Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 10/11/2010 3:55:19 PM (GMT-6)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply