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What Causes Pain In Rib Cage After Recovering From Influenza?
Question: I am an 81 year old female. Recently had Influenza and recovered well but have pain under my left rib cage that continues and extends to the back. I was hospitalized and examined for the pain. Chest X-Ray was negative for pneumonia; EKG was normal; MRI for lung blood clot was negative. Sent home with pain meds thinking it might be some type of inflammation. Pain is persistent and has continued for 2 weeks sometimes more severe that other times. It is quite steady but feels like a hitch. The above was eliminated but don't know what the cause is yet. I plan to call my internist on Monday. What possibilities are there for this constant pain? I am concerned.
Brief Answer:
You probably coughed too hard and strained the lower ribs
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through the details provided by you. Although you need to be examined clinically, it seems more likely that you have a condition called Costochondritis. The ends of the ribs joining to the sternum (chest bone) are made of cartilage. The cartilagenous ends of the lower ribs lie below your ribs. These could have been inflamed. Inflammation can give rise to the soreness or pain that your are describing. It is not likely to show up in any investigation. It could be that when you coughed too hard due to the cold, your lower ribs got strained and the condition resulted.
Treatment is simple and consists of:
* Treatment with analgesics like aspirin or naproxen (to be taken in full stomach).
* Non-medicinal measures can be tried for relief of pain in costochondritis. Examples of such techniques include: Hot compress and Ice application, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Gentle stretching exercises, Avoidance of sports or activities that worsen the pain.
Hope that answers your queries. Your internist would definitely be able to guide you better.
If you found my answer helpful, please leave a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
You probably coughed too hard and strained the lower ribs
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through the details provided by you. Although you need to be examined clinically, it seems more likely that you have a condition called Costochondritis. The ends of the ribs joining to the sternum (chest bone) are made of cartilage. The cartilagenous ends of the lower ribs lie below your ribs. These could have been inflamed. Inflammation can give rise to the soreness or pain that your are describing. It is not likely to show up in any investigation. It could be that when you coughed too hard due to the cold, your lower ribs got strained and the condition resulted.
Treatment is simple and consists of:
* Treatment with analgesics like aspirin or naproxen (to be taken in full stomach).
* Non-medicinal measures can be tried for relief of pain in costochondritis. Examples of such techniques include: Hot compress and Ice application, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Gentle stretching exercises, Avoidance of sports or activities that worsen the pain.
Hope that answers your queries. Your internist would definitely be able to guide you better.
If you found my answer helpful, please leave a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you,
I have taken analgesics as well as tramadol for the pain with little relief.
The past couple of days the pain is radiating around to left side of back. Also I have times when I feel very hot for a few minutes. Not sweaty or hot to the touch, just a burning feeling in my arms and upper torso. does not last long.
I sound like a real mess, but I am a healthy person. However I was released from the hospital two weeks ago today and haven't improved. Just don't know where to start. Wonder about gall bladder, pancreatitis, ulcers?
Any ideas would be helpful to pass on to the internist.
Have an appointment with the internist this afternoon.
I have taken analgesics as well as tramadol for the pain with little relief.
The past couple of days the pain is radiating around to left side of back. Also I have times when I feel very hot for a few minutes. Not sweaty or hot to the touch, just a burning feeling in my arms and upper torso. does not last long.
I sound like a real mess, but I am a healthy person. However I was released from the hospital two weeks ago today and haven't improved. Just don't know where to start. Wonder about gall bladder, pancreatitis, ulcers?
Any ideas would be helpful to pass on to the internist.
Have an appointment with the internist this afternoon.
Brief Answer:
Clinical examination is required to comment upon the cause
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking back. I would really apologize for not being able to write back earlier.
There is definitely a possibility of gall bladder stone, pancreatitis or even gastritis (ulcers). But these are conditions that can be easily diagnosed and since you have already undergone tests like MRI, the advising doctor should have already looked into these probabilities.
A clinical examination could help me to locate the actual cause but that is not feasible. If you can mention the findings of your internist, perhaps I would be in a better position to comment upon.
I am sure that you are otherwise absolutely fit and fine. You would surely return to health once this issue is taken care of.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Clinical examination is required to comment upon the cause
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking back. I would really apologize for not being able to write back earlier.
There is definitely a possibility of gall bladder stone, pancreatitis or even gastritis (ulcers). But these are conditions that can be easily diagnosed and since you have already undergone tests like MRI, the advising doctor should have already looked into these probabilities.
A clinical examination could help me to locate the actual cause but that is not feasible. If you can mention the findings of your internist, perhaps I would be in a better position to comment upon.
I am sure that you are otherwise absolutely fit and fine. You would surely return to health once this issue is taken care of.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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