RibCage Back Pain
Posted , 8 users are following.
I have chronic ribcage & mid back pain at the bottom of my shoulder blades the last 4 months. There is loud grinding sounds in both sides my ribs when I raise my shoulders up or down.
I use heating pads every single day & take ibrupofen which used to help but not anymore.
I am so tired & drained from this pain. I've now been diagnosed with anxiety & feeling really depressed.
I've had X-rays, ECG, I've had massages, seen a physio & a chiropractor and I'm just getting worse.
I'm starting to feel like I'd rather not live.
0 Reply
0 likes, 26 replies
Delvzy rose05272
Posted
Your story sounds so like mine I did a lot of push-ups and planking then was half out of a chair and sneezed violently that started me off. My ribs got inflamed and tightened and the more I stressed and tried to carry on the worse I got. I flew o/seas and it really kicked in when I got back . 4 months later and packets of pain killers later the rib pain started to subside I had to stop all my osteo chiro and physio spots because they were making it worse. I have had to take 2 weeks off work and use a heated wheat bag and totally rest it. Lower back pain still there but ribs make lots of cracking popping noises the pain at one stage was so bad I was vomiting up just water. My dr ordered a bone scan which I had Monday but I am very stressed waiting for results. I think rest and not stressing is the key
rose05272 Delvzy
Posted
Thank you for replying
I've been resting as I can't do much else without being in pain.
How long have you had your pain? Did you have any other tests or just the bone scan?
I'm so confused as to what to do and where to go next.
I hope you find the answers and you are feeling back to normal very soon xx
Delvzy rose05272
Posted
I had mild pain for 2 months them severe pain for 9 weeks. I have been to 4 different gp's 2 said Costo and 2 said it can't be as I have had it too long. I have had X-rays and now a bone scan which is very stressful. My ribs have calmed down I think all the different people working on me were making it worse. My dr also prescribed a muscle relaxer called norflex which I had 2-3 times per day and a prescribed 50mg voltaren every 4 hours. I couldn't even turn of in bed it was so painful
Ranger507 rose05272
Posted
I'm in the same boat as you pal iv had this on and off for a year 1-2 months of severe pain now moderate pain and iv now been diagnosed with anxiety and depression aswell because of it , feel free to drop me a message any time i know how hard it is lol it sucks lol take care
rose05272 Ranger507
Posted
It's so horrible
thank you for your reply. Do you get the grinding/snapping sounds when you move your shoulders & ribs too?
cherralyn23710 Ranger507
Posted
Can't sleep in pain ribs so sore if I turn feels like all body out of line just drags you down when you got this day after day keep chin up
Ranger507 rose05272
Posted
I mainly had kind of sternum "pops" like they felt like a skipped heartbeat or something so it freaked me out,I went to a chiropractor which helped as my back was out of alignment which wasn't making my chest any easier to I would recommend that aswell
rose05272 Ranger507
Posted
Oh ok mine sounds more like when you crack your knuckles. But it's in my ribs towards my back. I saw a chiro who adjusted me, he made my whole back crack which helped other areas but made this rib pain worse. I'm so lost as to what to do. It's been so many months. Thanks for your replies lovely x
cherralyn23710 Ranger507
Posted
At moment I could not stand the pain ribs and back so sore I don't think it will ever go I'm glad u found somthing to ease your pain
cherralyn23710 rose05272
Posted
Hi Rose I'm the same so fed up with the pain it gose for a while then back even worse
grace28398 rose05272
Posted
Have you ben diagnosed with Costrocondritis? When the costro is bothering me I have those same pains as well, but not a grinding sound? what has your dr said about that? Dont feel hopeless....We are all in this together! I take a medicine called Neurontin...really helps pain alot and a TENS prescribed by your dr helps alot too. soft ice packs always help me. Also anxiety and Costro seem to go hand in hand. I take anxiety meds as well as the Neurontin. Ask lots of questions when you see your dr. Dont ever give up. You will be ok
I understand your frustration. I also pray alot!
rose05272 grace28398
Posted
I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet, so far the couple of doctors I've seen just seem baffled by it. Today I woke up & it seems even worse, my whole upper back & rib cage feel like it's dislocated. I'm seeing a rheumatologist next week I'm so scared.
In the last 4 months mine has never gone away it started off on my right upper back/ribs now it's my whole upper back & rib cage, my mind has convinced me I'm either going to live in pain for the rest of my life or get diagnosed with something like cancer
cherralyn23710 rose05272
Posted
I've had it for months as I say it comes and gose it drags you down I cry most of the time as it's so painfull doc just gives me pain tablets sometimes it feels like your going to die hang in there
grace28398 rose05272
Posted
cherralyn23710 grace28398
Posted
No doc has not done any blood work yet but I'm waiting to go for angiography as my heart is wired up wrong one of the arteries gose through his the heart muscel bur the pain and tenderness in my ribs and back become unbearable at times and he say it's this costochondritis but it's llk come at once and it just drags u down
grace28398 cherralyn23710
Posted
cherralyn23710 grace28398
Posted
Thanks grace I hope I will it's nice to talk to someone in same position I think I've drove my friends round the bend keep moaning but no one knows what it feels like
grace28398 cherralyn23710
Posted
We are all in this together Cherralyn! the pain sucks, but there is help out there...lots. Just keep asking questions and bugging your drs. Also look up exercises for Costro when you are up to it. Very gentle streches do help. warm baths with epsom salt help too.
rose05272 grace28398
Posted
All I've had is an X-ray. I'm so scared of having an MRI I am so claustrophobic I had one of my head years ago & had to tell them take me out. What does a rheumatologist do? I hope he can figure out my problem.
grace28398 rose05272
Posted
I too am claustrophobic. If you had ct scans or x ray showing nothing fractured or any growths thats good news. No worries. A rheumatologist does different bloodwork than a regular dr. They can rule any auto immune diseases...Lupas, MS, etc. Ask your dr about neurontin or a TENS unit. As these things really help. I promise this too will pass and get better. I pray alot and also see a counselor. Anxiety definitely ramps up this condition. So try and be calm , and just know you are not alone with this condition!!!!!