There are Many Possible Causes for Rib Pain
Author: George McKenzie
Identifying the cause of rib pain can be difficult because of the number of possibilities. There are a lot. First, let's take a look at someof the obvious ones: rib pain caused by injuries.
Fractured (Broken) or Cracked Ribs - People who have had cracked or broken ribs say it's one of the most severe kinds of pain possible - right up there with gunshot wounds, childbirth and kidney stones. A cracked or broken rib is usually easy to diagnose, however. The most common reasons for cracked or fractured ribs include accidents and falls. Painful breathing is a typical symptom. The injured area is likely to be extremely sensitive, and any movement involving the arms or torso will cause discomfort.
Cartilage Injury - When the cartilage that joins your ribs to your sternum (also called the breastbone) is injured or damaged, the resulting pain will feel like a rib injury. Symptoms of cartilage damage in your chest resemble the symptoms of a broken or cracked rib, but may not be as severe. Nonetheless, it can be uncomfortable to laugh, cough or even breathe.
Soft Tissue Damage - There are a number of soft tissue structures that crisscross the ribcage. An injury to any of these muscles, tendons or ligaments will cause ribcage pain. Moving or using the affected area will be painful. The area is also likely to be sensitive to pressure.
Bone Related Issues
Joint inflammation - Many middle-aged people and seniors are familiar with this one. Joint inflammation near the ribs can feel like rib pain. Two very common conditions include the following.
Osteoarthritis - Cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone and backbone wears out with age. The resulting inflammation causes pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis - When you have this disease, you body's immune system attacks itself. When this happens in joints and connections around the ribs, it causes rib pain.
Rib Pain Caused by Lung Conditions and Diseases
There are several diseases and conditions of the lungs that cause pain in the ribs. These include:
Pleurisy - When the lining between your lungs and your ribs (known as the "pleura") becomes inflamed due to an infection, it results in sharp pains in the area of the ribcage.
Pneumonia - Pneumonia is a lung infection. It may trigger sharp pain in the the rib cage when you cough, laugh or sneeze.
Tuberculosis - There are a number of symptoms of tuberculosis, including ribcage pain. Some of the others are fever, coughing and fatigue.
Rib Pain and Other Diseases and Disorders
Several types of cancer can cause pain in the ribs or ribcage area. The most common of these include lung cancer and multiple myeloma.
Lung cancer patients often have rib pain in the upper back, and ribcage pain is a symptom in about 80 percent of multiple myeloma cases.
Rib pain is often a symptom in several diseases related to extended exposure to pollutants. Mesothelioma and asbestosis lead the list in this category.
Ribcage pain from mesothelioma is caused by long term exposure to asbestosis, resulting in damage to the pericardial lining of the heart and the pleural lining of the lungs. Similarly, asbestosis is caused by a build up of scar tissue caused by asbestosis fibers.
Other Causes of Pain in the Ribs
The following causes for pain in the ribs fit into the "miscellaneous" category:
Gallbladder problems like gallstones or a gallbladder attack. Pain pain can occur in the abdominal area near the ribs, or,in some cases, in the upper back between the shoulder blades.
Nerve issues (especially caused by damage to the spinal column).This category includes shingles, a nerve condition which often starts with acute pain in the ribcage area of the torso.Beforelong,it erupts into an extremely uncomfortable rash on various parts of the body.
Abuse of steroids is another risk factor for rib pain.
Stress and anxiety that causes deep breathing sometimes overextends or strains the muscles around the ribcage.
Chest pain from angina is a possibility. Angina is a classic symptom of heart disease.
Final Thought
Obviously, there are dozens of diseases, disorders and conditions that can cause rib pain. While some are very minor and resolve on their own with time, some can be very serious. If your rib pain lasts for more than a few days, or seems to be growing in severity, it would be a good idea to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/there-are-many-possible-causes-for-rib-pain-2634141.html
About the Author
George McKenzie is a former TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host.
Severe Pain on Left side just under rib cage?
I keep getting this sharp pain under my rib cage. Last for about a week. I have had laparoscpic surgrey before so I know trapped gas feels like and this feels different. I have fibromyalgia but I don’t recall that area being a tender spot. Any info would be appreciated.
pain all over my body? and at night pain under my rib area?
I am starting to think the pain all over my body (which is all the time) might be fibromyalgia but i a m concerned about the pain under my rib cage taht goes all the way around to my vack it gets worse at might and feels like someone is crushing me along with sharp pains. my upper part of my stomach has been protruding which never happen in my life…benn going on a few months any ideas on what it could be???
actual physical changes to the body are not fibromyalgia
fibro is a neuro disorder taht does not involve any inflammtion or visible body damage–have you been to a doc
Is this fibromyalgia? When I am touched or poked in the ribs the pain lasts over 5m & is very painful?
Even a slight bump or joking jab or poke to the ribs will bend me over in pain and actually take my breath away for a second or two. I can feel the exact place I was touched for over 5 minutes and the pain level is near excruciating. In general I have an extremely high pain tolerance and have been a high level athlete and long distance endurance type athlete so very few things make me complain.
Nope..that is pretty much through out your entire body…you have something else going on
Recurrent UTI/yeast infections and severe rib pain and body pain.?
I am SOOO tired of going to the doctor and wasting $$, but I just keep getting worse and worse and I can’t seem to get any relief. I have had like 4 UTIs and yeast infections, I sleep a LOT, and I am in pain A LOT. Mainly one-sided and seems to be a “nerve problem,” but I also have fibromyalgia and it has gotten to where I have painful popping and get stiff a lot. The main thing is I am in excruciating pain in my ribs; under my diaphragm on the right; and sorta under my sternum when I laugh, cough, whatever. I get chest pain that stops me in my tracks. It seems there is pain predominantly on one side of my body all the time (head to toe, as weird as that sounds, but true). Then there is my hip. It’s horrible and it runs around several areas down in my pelvis to where even doing Kegels hurts me. My arm/leg hurt on this side, as well — pretty much my whole body on that side. My neck, back, shoulders, hands, and feet pop easily and painfully (for the feet, shoulders, and hands, it’s bilateral). I don’t mean to sound like a hypochondriac, but I am realllly in a GREAT DEAL of pain the majority of the time and I’m tired as hell and sweat so bad I ruin all my clothes. I am dog tired all of the time. To top it off, I worked my butt off last year to lose like 38 pounds, and have gained about 20 of it back yet I exercise quite a bit. I’m tired of trying to get answers from doctors, because most of them don’t want to hear it if it isn’t one little thing and the trouble is it’s always more with me. This is quite depressing to deal with. The only thing I can think is that I was shocked once and it was a grab-ahold kinda shock, not just a quick shock. there was spit coming out of my mouth and a hole in my finger when it was over and I was a nervous wreck but that was back in 00. I know this sounds like a lot, but please be kind and no rude comments.
Thanks for the advice/info. And for the one who put Tramadol, I will remember that, because it’s hard to find a medication that actually works and which is tolerable.
I have severe rib, back, and chest pain?
Im in horrible horrible pain now, for about 4 days. Its absolute horrible pain when i lay down in my ribs, and when i sit or stand up the pain moves into my chest and back. I have cfs/fibromyalgia but this pain is somehow worse. Im about ready to go to the ER, thought someone on here might be able to help. thanks