'Bands' round chest.

[BelleBea]

I often get a pain in my ribs at the left side and also feel like there are tight bands round my rib cage. These do not hurt but are uncomfortable and feel like  pieces of string are tied around my chest. My GP. Thinks this is muscular and connected to my diaphragm. Has anyone else experienced this and have you any remedies? Physio? Massage? Any advice will be much appreciated.

[libbygood]

Hi BelleBea, I occasionally get a feeling of a tight band round my chest, I think maybe it could be muscular because I take a pain killer and it eases it somewhat, and I do have a problem with my diaphragm from when I had abcesses moved from my lung, left a space and a muscle in my diaphragm pushes through if I bend in a certain way, so possibly it is muscular (but I'm not a doctor!)

Libby

[libbygood]

Also BelleBea the band feels tightest around my right side and it was my right lung and the right side of my diaphragm that suffered, also after a CT scan three years ago I was told that I had a fractured rib on my right side.

[maureenjjj]

I find by eating less but more often prevents the tightness around rib cage. Also have a bra extender when i know i will feast a little too much. lol

[ingy]

I too suffer with this tight band. Bought bra extenders, bigger bra, but even not wearing a bra it feels like I need to take it off. Most uncomfortable!! My husband rubs my back gently for ages lol, it brings comfort. I think its muscular with the effort of trying to breathe.

[Wiggins]

I get it occasionally when I'm walking as I put it ' beyond a speed I can walk '. It feels as though my lungs are expanding in to my rib cage. Another thing I get ferquently and I don't know if it's related is soreness where my bottom left rib joins my sternum. The Dr just says it's a common bone infection and nothing to worry about. I never get anything for it as she says it clears up on its own. It does, but then comes back!

[BelleBea in reply to Wiggins]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. Like libbygood I get some relief from painkillersI. May be seeing a physiotherapist soon and will mention this problem then. Keep any suggestions coming in and I will post a comment if I find anything new. Once again, many thanks.

[yesithurts in reply to Wiggins]

You may have that "Extra Rib" that they talk about. "Google" it....you will see, it is quite common to be born with an extra, small rib. Then, ask your doctor about it....did he ever do an X-ray to see? If it's a bone infection, he should have given you long term antibiotics.

[yesithurts]

The physiotherapist will get to the root of the problem. I have this also, if you "Google" it, you will find it results from an injured disc in your back (nerves are effected) and the area you feel it, pertains to which disc it is. Mine is right where the bottom of your bra would hit. In the morning (after rest it's no longer inflammed) my bra feels fine. By 3 in the afternoon, it feels as if my bra is about 3 sizes too small, and squeezing me all around the ribcage. I also so a Physiocist who did MRI's & Catscan...to find it is a ruptured disc. It is very painful at times, and I am on Pain Meds to keep it at bay; but then it is not the only one that is ruptured, I also have one where my neck connects to my shoulders (this pain runs across my back from shoulder blade too shoulder blade)...and one at the Base of my spine (Lumbar).....it took me 12 yrs to get Social Security for this, as all the primary care doctors diagnosed it as Fibromyalgia....and that is not accepted as a disability in the US. Come to find out it has been my back all along. I was a Hair Dresser, Standing and Using my body alot my whole life, and with age, or even without age, it breaks down. Surgery should always be a Last Option, they say recovery is years, and sometimes you end up in a wheelchair, so always get more than one opinion and exhaust your other options first. ASK him, make a list.....but ASK..."What are my Options with this"