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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Severe Pain In Rib Cage Area And Shoulder. Have Lupus, DJD, Cervical Disc Disease. Diagnosed Bilateral Carotid Artheromatuous Calcifications. Concerning?

Just got results from X-rays I had done for pain beneath rib cage and left shoulder. No fx seen. I have lupus, DJD, cervical disc disease,etc, . It was noted bilateral carotid artheromatous calcifications. Should I be concerned? Family history of atherosclerosis with surgical repair. I am 66 years old. Still in severe pain in left rib cage area. Currently taking 10 mg lisinopril and Hctz.
Wed, 4 Sep 2013
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

Thanks for posting,

The condition on its own can lead to stenosis, embolization and/or thrombosis of the carotid artery. Atherosclerosis is a degenerative disease of the arteries resulting in plaques consisting of necrotic (death) cells, lipids and cholesterol crystals. The above processes can then lead to the following possible complications:
- Amaurosis fugax (transient visual loss)
- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
- Crescendo TIAs
- Stroke-in-evolution
- Cerebral infarction
- Myocardial infarction
- Angina pectoris
- Others such pulmonary embolism

Treatments will be aimed both curative and preventive. Depending on the extend of the artheroma, a surgical intervention could be done to remove. But if it is not too severe, the condition can be treated with antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants such as aspirin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, warfarin etc.
I do believe that you will need the opinion of a specialist such as a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon.

Hope this helps
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Severe Pain In Rib Cage Area And Shoulder. Have Lupus, DJD, Cervical Disc Disease. Diagnosed Bilateral Carotid Artheromatuous Calcifications. Concerning?

Hello, Thanks for posting, The condition on its own can lead to stenosis, embolization and/or thrombosis of the carotid artery. Atherosclerosis is a degenerative disease of the arteries resulting in plaques consisting of necrotic (death) cells, lipids and cholesterol crystals. The above processes can then lead to the following possible complications: - Amaurosis fugax (transient visual loss) - Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) - Crescendo TIAs - Stroke-in-evolution - Cerebral infarction - Myocardial infarction - Angina pectoris - Others such pulmonary embolism Treatments will be aimed both curative and preventive. Depending on the extend of the artheroma, a surgical intervention could be done to remove. But if it is not too severe, the condition can be treated with antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants such as aspirin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, warfarin etc. I do believe that you will need the opinion of a specialist such as a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon. Hope this helps