HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Swollen rib cage

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/4/2009 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Iwoke up this morning with my ribcage swollen on the left side and slightly sore but not bad. Anyone have this symptom? Thanks D
Posted 7/4/2009 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I get it pretty bad a few times a year. My entire rib cage will swell sometimes. It's very uncomfortable. Try to take it easy and try not to twist. Nothing really helped me with the pain besides steroids years ago. But with having Lyme, steroids are not good for us. I rested alot, put a heating pad and tried to stay still.

I hope you get better soon.
Posted 7/4/2009 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you CG. Do you think it is from the Lyme?? D
Posted 7/4/2009 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it is listed as one of the symptoms that Ticker posts. If you look back on my posts, I posted about this too, LOL. Doctors call it costochondritis.
Posted 7/4/2009 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks alot! I have actually had costochondritis but I did not have the swelling with it, just the pain. D

Post Edited (Dowa) : 7/4/2009 2:07:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/4/2009 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
No problem hun. I know how bad it can hurt. I hope you heal from it soon.

Another thing. Deejavu said that doing a detox bath a few times a day may help relieve the pain and soreness.
Posted 7/5/2009 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
Costochondritis is the swelling of the cartlidge between the ribs. It can manifest from mild symptoms to such intensity that a patient can think they are having a heart attack? Wonder how we know? Heth.

Dee is right w/regards to detoxing. We found that gentle, very gentle application of pure EMU oil (one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories). The oil has the ability to penetrate all 7 layers of the skin rather quickly. It is simply Omega 3-6-9. It turned the costochondritis around for our daughter.

You must be faithful w/applying it consistently, thinly. (It washes out of clothing, off sheets, etc..)
Remarkable.

We use Thunder Ridge Emu - just google the search. Love it!
As with anything, check w/your doc. U may need to provide printed info.

Blessings,
Sojourner
Posted 7/5/2009 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Sojourner,

Thanks for the info. I haven't found anything yet that helps. I even tried a cream from the chiropractor with chondrontin and something else to reduce swelling. It didn't touch it.

I have a question about the oil. Does it burn at all? Can you feel it penatrating like muscle rub?

I will look it up and maybe get it for the next time I have a flare up.
Posted 7/5/2009 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
No burning unless there would be an open cut or scratch in that area.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/costochondritis - for additional info related.

We have also personally benefited fm application of a heat pack (wrapped in a damp thin cloth).

For those reading this thread, it is important to rule out cardio vascular if your pain is in the region of the heart and presenting as symptomatic of a myocardio-infarction (heart attack), myocarditis, etc..

Blessings,
Sojourner
Posted 7/5/2009 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks hun.
Posted 7/5/2009 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
my ribcage isn't swollen, but its painful feeling
Posted 7/5/2009 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Dear James,

Your ribcage itself would not be swollen if costochondritis. In that case, it is the cartilage in between that would make ur ribs feel painful.

Touch your rib, then feel between the rib and gently apply a little pressure (I have this vision of a whole bunch of you doing this as you read, by the way :). Does that hurt as well?

Then, do that at different locations around the rib cage to include the sternum. If you have that tender pain, then the inflammation is in the cartilage and worth a discussion w/your doctor.

Blessings,
Sojourner
Posted 7/5/2009 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
i don't have any pain in between the rib cages, but below both rib cages i feel a little tender spots.. maybe lymph nodes that are swollen that are fighting the mono? i'm not sure..
Posted 7/6/2009 12:21 AM (GMT 0)

I can't believe I missed this post.... or didn't post it myself!  When I had my first "heart" incident (that's what I call them)...... I thought  for SURE I was having a heart attack and was rolling around on the bed... we didn't know if we should call an ambulance..  It lasted about 30 minutes..... and then disappeared.

The second time about 2-3 days later I said F'it and my husband called 911.  Everything was normal and I was coming "out of it" by the time EMS got there... I had to sign a "waiver" that I did NOT want to go to the hospital..... everyone's is trying to CTA.

I went through ALL OF THE HEART TESTS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.... and was determined to be 'healthy'... as far as my heart went.

Anyway, my shrinks kept insisting that I was having PANIC ATTACKS.... but I absolutely did not want to take a Xanax at that point..... and if I did it tasted disgusting and did nothing to help.... I KNEW it was NOT a panic attack.

Now I believe it's a muscle 'spasm'.... I think all the muscle and cartilage in my rib cage are just seizing up.  I lay face down on my bed with my head slightly hanging over the edge.  Some times I drop my arms over the edge.  I take deep rhythmic breaths... and wait for it to pass.  They seem to be getting less intense... I also feel very 'round' in my chest area, where before Lyme I was flat as a board....

I got to get better guys,.  I don't know how much more I can do or how much more I can take.

Posted 7/6/2009 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
i have the rib pain only on my left side. it happens aboutonce a month or so. i usealy think its from sleeping on that side for to long. but i just tried to do as sojourner said, hehe.. anyways it hurts plan and simple to touch my ribs at all, let alone inbetween them.
Posted 7/6/2009 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
RD,

It hurts when I touch mine too. I had to take an ultrasound of my liver and nearly passed out in pain. It hurt that bad. The tech probably thought I was crazy. I nearly jumped off the table. I had to literally put my mind in a different place because I couldn't take him pushing on my ribs like that.
Posted 7/6/2009 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
i am so sorry you had to go thro that. and i understand how much the pain is. i feel that at times even somthing as small as a aint crawling on me will make me hurt all the more. its so unreal. maybe 1 day soon they will find something that really works to give us relief
Posted 7/6/2009 6:11 AM (GMT 0)
I sure hope so because it took my pain pill an hour to start working today. I was in so much pain.

My daughter is about to drive me nuts too. I've been so stressed out since she's been back. She has no consideration for others. I told her not to stay out late last night when she went out. She didn't get back till 4:00am!! And now, she just walked to the door to go friggen smoke. My husband is sleeping. I'm just about fed up with her already. She puts all her stress on me and I just can't take of anymore. I just told her that's it! No more of that crap. This is my house and I need to be stress free. If she didn't like it, she could find somewhere else to go. I mean, I'm fighting for my life here and she doesn't give a crap. She cares about herself and her stupid, petty problems. I just want to scream!!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply