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What Causes Pain Under The Left Rib Cage While Coughing?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Jan 2017
Question: I woke up this morning with sore ribs on my left side and when I cough, it hurts, whats happening??
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rishu Saxena (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Costochondritis!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Firstly thanks for choosing health care magic for your query!

The symptoms you are having is because of costochondritis.
Costochondritis causes localized chest wall pain and tenderness that can be reproduced by pushing on the involved cartilage in the front of the rib cage. Costochondritis is a relatively harmless musculoskeletal chest pain but is very painful.
It is an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone, or sternum. The condition causes localized chest pain that you can reproduce by pushing on the cartilage in the front of your ribcage.According to you, pain increases on coughing ;which is highly characterstic for costochondritic pain.
One more diagnosis which comes to my mind is it can be Tietze syndrome ;often confused with costocondritis and is missed by cardiologists.As opposed to costochondritis in which there is no swelling, Tietze disease is accompanied by a localized swelling at the painful area (the junction of the ribs and breastbone).

The main treatment of costochondritis is anti-inflammatory medicine and high dose steroids used for a short period of time, As you have written you can't take anti-inflammatory ;in that case you can take high doses of methyl-prednisolone for few days for relief .
Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, are often used to control chronic pain.
gabapentin (Neurontin) also has proved successful in controlling chronic pain.
Consult your cardiologist for considering these drugs.

In case you have any other query i would be happy to help you!
Thanks
Dr Rishu Saxena,
Cardiologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Rishu Saxena (1 hour later)
Thank you very much.

I sent another note displaying my BP and the medicine(Lisinopril 20mg) I took for it cause I was curious if it was ALL connected. Thanks again!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rishu Saxena (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No they are not related.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
Dry cough can be a side effect of Lisinopril, which is a ace inhibitor,but it has nothing to do with costochondritis.

Thanks you in case you have any other query feel free to ask .
Please do write a review!


Thanks,
Dr Rishu Saxena
Cardiologist
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Rishu Saxena

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 696 Questions

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What Causes Pain Under The Left Rib Cage While Coughing?

Brief Answer: Costochondritis! Detailed Answer: Hi, Firstly thanks for choosing health care magic for your query! The symptoms you are having is because of costochondritis. Costochondritis causes localized chest wall pain and tenderness that can be reproduced by pushing on the involved cartilage in the front of the rib cage. Costochondritis is a relatively harmless musculoskeletal chest pain but is very painful. It is an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone, or sternum. The condition causes localized chest pain that you can reproduce by pushing on the cartilage in the front of your ribcage.According to you, pain increases on coughing ;which is highly characterstic for costochondritic pain. One more diagnosis which comes to my mind is it can be Tietze syndrome ;often confused with costocondritis and is missed by cardiologists.As opposed to costochondritis in which there is no swelling, Tietze disease is accompanied by a localized swelling at the painful area (the junction of the ribs and breastbone). The main treatment of costochondritis is anti-inflammatory medicine and high dose steroids used for a short period of time, As you have written you can't take anti-inflammatory ;in that case you can take high doses of methyl-prednisolone for few days for relief . Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, are often used to control chronic pain. gabapentin (Neurontin) also has proved successful in controlling chronic pain. Consult your cardiologist for considering these drugs. In case you have any other query i would be happy to help you! Thanks Dr Rishu Saxena, Cardiologist