Hi,
this is my first posting, does anybody
have a clue what is wrong with me.
I am a 42year old female. In august this
year I develpoed a pain under my lower
left ribcage. I had not had any accidents
although I had a bad cough. On the 21st
august I was admitted via ambulance to a
local hospital with pain....On par with
childbirth!!!! In fact to get me out of
bed and for the journey I was put on gas
and air.
When I got to the hospital I was examined
by the docter whom said I had either
broken ribs or cartlidge / muscular
damage. What really annoyed me was no x
ray was done, as they said what ever is
the problem, they can only treat it with
pain killers. To say I was shocked was an
understatement. I have no problems
breathing.
I still am in pain especially when
relaxed, if I move slightly in the wrong
direction. Trying to get comfortable in
bed is impossible, I can't lay on my left
side, my front and back and the only
position that I can scrape by with is
laying on my right side. Being a
passenger in a car when it turns a corner
also brings the pain on.
The way I can describe my pain is like I
feel like I have been kicked by a horse on
the lower left ribcage. When the pain is
at its worse I get a tingling and numbness
to my left leg. It is a continual bruised
feeling like my ribs have been crushed.
It hurts when any pressure is placed in
that area.
I have tried very strong painkillers which
sometimes takes the pain away but not
always. I have tried hot
compresses....But it hurts to place the
compress on and feel comfortable.
It is now 5.20 am I have been awake since
3.15 when I turned in bed and screamed out
in total agony.
It is running me low, I am really fed up
now. My docter said if I had broke my
ribs I would feel better in 6 weeks, if it
was anything else eg cartlidge muscular I
was looking at 3 months...It is now coming
up to 3 months and I am still in pain.
I am going back to my docters, I can't
stand it any longer.
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iamdacat
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Texas
Posted: 11-27-05 22:17pm
Did you get a diaganosis? You may want
to visit a gi doc. I have similar pain.
Very tender to the touch and have had
about 3 months. There are some days no
pain, other days very intense pain. I
had a ct scan..Nothing. I am scheduled
for an abdominial mri this week and I am
going to see a gi. You may want to try
loading up on fiber to help your colon and
I am loading up on some good probiotics.
It seems to have helped, because over last
3 weeks I have had more better days than
bad days.
Good luck
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DRB
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 7
Posted: 11-28-05 00:50am
Hi,
i have been back to my doctors this week
and she is now suspecting 3 broken ribs at
the point of cartlidge. She is sending me
now for x rays to see if anything shows
up, so fingers crossed. Like yourself,
some days I am not too bad others it makes
me nervous to attempt certain movements
etc to avoid the pain. If I touch the
area with a flattened palm it always hurts
no matter if I am having a good day or
bad. Still can't lay on my left side,
back or front. Like you say it will just
be nice to know what is wrong, if this can
be found out.
Take care
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iamdacat
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Texas
Posted: 12-01-05 20:59pm
Drb, what did the x rays uncover?
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DRB
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 7
Hi Posted: 12-02-05 00:30am
Nothing yet, as I have not been able to
get to the hospital, it is an open
appointment and I can go at any time, but
over the last week hubby has started a new
job, and my hospital is 25 miles away. I
am going on monday, but my doctor has said
it takes 2 weeks for the results anyway.
Note the unearthly hour os this
reply...Yep 5.27am...Already been up 40
mins.................. I can't sleep,
with the pain. It is worse when I go to
bed, I can only lay on my right side and
if during my sleep I roll over on to my
back etc.,......Thats it I am doubled up
in a crushing pain like a horse has
decided to have a lunchbreak on my
chest.
I will update this when I know.
Thank you for asking, at least somebody
understands what I am going through.
Diane x
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katrice0321
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Maryland
Similar Pain... Pericarditis Posted: 12-02-05 13:49pm
I will share my experience with you. It
may shed some light on your situation.
In early 2005 I began to experience a
deep, dull and nagging ache under my left
rib cage. It hurt especially when I lay
down to sleep, even when I laid on my
back. Stubbornly, I allowed the pain to
persist for weeks, as it was more
irritating than anything else because it
would never go away.
Finally, a friend all but threatened me if
I didn't go to see the doctor right away.
I went to the urgent care facility and
was fortunate to see a very good doctor.
He diagnosed it as pericarditis, which is
an inflammation of the lining or sac
around the heart. It is not usually
dangerous if caught early, but if not, can
cause fluid build-up to the point that it
affects heart function and could even
cause a heart attack. I was prescribed
naprosyn, an anti-inflammatory, and the
problem went away within days.
I was 30 at the time and in relatively
good health. Though I have a family
history of heart disease, that is not
necessarily a risk factor. I mentioned
my diagnosis to a friend who is about my
age and is a very healthy and active
dancer. It turns out that she
experienced the same thing in her early
20s. There's usually no identifiable
cause.
The thing about it is that once you've
been diagnosed with it, it can tend to
flare up again over the next few months or
even up to a year or two later. I have
noticed that the pain has reoccurred a few
times since then. I take the naprosyn
and it usually clears right up within a
day or two.
I hope this helps. Please do not let
your doctors disregard your situation.
If they will not help you to your
satisfaction, see someone else if you can.
Unfortunately, these days you must be
your own health care advocate in many
cases. :wink:
