What Causes Intermittent Sharp Pain In The Rib Cage In An Elderly Person?

Posted on Tue, 12 Jul 2016

Question: My Sister is 79 years old. Recently she has been experiencing intermittent sharp pain in her left rib cage. There is no warning and she can go days or weeks without any symptoms. The pain is almost always preceded by moving her left arm across her body to the right. It is instantaneous and very sharp. Moving her left arm in this manner does not always cause the pain. However, the onset seems to have coincided with the start of a mild exercise program at a gym. It does not necessarily occur on the same day as the visit to the gym.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I think she has pulled muscle or hair line fracture

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case. I think she is most probably having a muscle pull or a rib fracture.Before I advised you any thing I would like to know little detail of the illness.
1.Is she has pain during coughing or sneezing?
2.Is she on any medication for BP or heart problems?
3.Is she has any other medical illness like Diabetes?
Please send me answers of these questions. I will try my best to help you.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (8 hours later)

Answers:
1. No
2. No
3. Fibromialgia, Degenerative Disc Disease

Questions:
1. The pain only occurs during specific situations. Wouldn't she be in CONSTANT pain if she had a fracture or a pulled muscle?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
muscle pull causes pain on specific movements.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
A healing fracture or muscle pull causes pain only in some specific condition and not all the time. So it is very likely that she has done of them.As she has fibromyalgia so she can have a tender point also. I would recommend you following.
1.Hot water fomentation.
2.Volitran gel local application.
3.Injection of Teriparatide can be given. It can be given at home and it helps in bone strength and specially active in ribs and spine injuries.
4.Avoid any jerky activities.
5.A steroid injection can be given at most tender point.This will helps a lot in resistant cases.
i hope these steps will be helpful for you. Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar