Hi all,I've been been trying to find an answer to this for a while but not come up with much.
I had an exacerbation that put me in hospital on 15th September since then u have had a constant dull ache in my rib area (specially my back). My asthma is back under control and I've been to visit my osteopath (who is normally a miracle worker) but nothing has helped.
It's nit stopping me exercising but it's a constant ache that makes me uncomfortable. The ache gets worse when I'm tired and een busy but I don't know I'd its worth seeing the GP about it or just leave it..
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Pinkpaddler
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I've had side/back pain (flank). Was told it's costochondritis from coughing so much. When I haven't got an exacerbation I don't have it, so must be down to constant coughing.
Thanks all. Appreciate your responses. Oddly I don't get a cough with my asthma so not sure what to put it down. It would make sense if I had been coughing. Almost feels a bit pleurisy esk in terms of the ache. I'll get it checked out.
I agree with others here to get it checked out, but I see you plan to which is good! I also suggest calling the helpline before your appointment, in case they have any suggestions to mention to your GP. 0300 2225800 or WhatsApp on 07999 377 775 Monday-Friday 0915-5pm
I will say that after a bad asthma attack, or sometimes even just after struggling overnight with it, my chest and ribs will ache even if I wasn't coughing. I suspect it's due in that case to my body bringing in all the various accessory muscles to help with breathing and giving them a workout.
Not sure that would persist for this long after with controlled asthma though - unless as someone else suggested, it's costochondritis which can really drag on. I got it from asthma in the past and the GP said it was tricky because she normally advised people to rest and avoid the activity that flares it, but she couldn't really tell me not to breathe! Perhaps if your original attack set it off then it's a similar situation here because you're still breathing as normal, even if your asthma is under control now.
This isn't medical advice of course or a diagnosis - I'm qualified to do neither and this is a forum so it's good you're going to see your GP about it. But if they're happy nothing else is going on and don't have another diagnosis, then you could ask about costochondritis and whether they have any suggestions.
I was going to suggest an osteopath but I see you've already seen one and they haven't helped this time. Would it be worth trying a physio just in case they have a slightly different approach that works better for this? Maybe even someone who has experience on the respiratory side as that may make them more familiar with this issue. (I saw a physio who does musculoskeletal now but used to be a respiratory physio, and while my issue wasn't breathing-related, it helped her understand the context).
I get a back ache when my asthma gets worse without having a cough and it is one of the signals for an asthma attack for me, with my back ache it start in the chest/ribs moves to the back and progresses down to the lower back. this is normal for me and happens regularly.
If it was a new symptom i would always advise seeing the doctor as it is better to be safe than sorry there are loads of reasons and the doctor should be able to take the history and give advise as to what the cause may be
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