Rib tightness: Hey guys, I just wanted... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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Rib tightness

MADMEL74 profile image
15 Replies

Hey guys, I just wanted to ask if anyone has experienced an awfull feeling i had last night. It was my monthly, big shopping day yesterday and as usual, I really over did it. I was in so much pain all over by the time I got home and also exhausted.

After shopping, I usually feel quite unwell. Within an hour of getting home i start to shake all over and i get a flu like ache over my whole body. My words become slurred, my muscles twitch, i get very unsteady on my feet and i can't keep my eyes open. However, yesterday i had to fight the tremendous urge to go to sleep, as i was waiting for my hubbys prescription to be delivered. Also as i wasn't feeling well, my hubby decided we should get a Chinese takeaway, so i wouldn't have to cook, a very rare treat. So even though I felt rotten, I was quite looking forward to my tea. We got our meal around 9pm and i really enjoyed it. But shortly after eating it, still exhausted and in a lot of pain, began to get an awful feeling around my ribs, especially in my back. It felt as though I was being crushed, it was as if I had cramp right across my back, between my shoulder blades. I thought it was probably indigestion so I took a Nexium capsule which did not help at all. It kept getting worse so I sorted my hubby out, (whom I care for), and i went to bed. It didn't matter how I laid in bed, I couldn't get rid of the crushing feeling. I did fall asleep but probably a result of being absolutely exhausted. When I woke this morning, my whole body hurt which isn't unusual, but my ribs in my back were very sore, it feels like I've been weight lifting or something. I've never had that feeling before and i hope I don't have it again, but I wondered if it was common amongst fybromyalgia sufferers. If anyone else has had a similar thing, could you maybe help me to discover what actually caused it. Was it due to my fybromyalgia or was it just bad indegestion? Thanx in advance

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15 Replies
Stevejj profile image
Stevejj

Mel possibly muscle strain from the shopping, sitting awkward whilst eating? We’re you sat on the sofa? If so digestion can be a nightmare as many people with fibromyalgia have stomach issues. Even though you could have hurt the area previous in the day it can take time to register as pain if that makes sense xx

phlebo123 profile image
phlebo123

Hi Madmel.

I hate shopping too! It completely exhausts me.

A few ideas about the rib pain you experienced last night.... What time do you normally eat your evening meal? Did you eat a lot later than normal? I couldn't eat at 9pm, (I need to eat my evening meal about 6pm) because any later then I would suffer with bad indigestion!!)

Also, I take it from your post, that you don't very often eat takeaway meals, I find I also suffer with bad indigestion with takeaways because of all the additives they put in it. I try to cook homemade meals from fresh ingredients. Maybe if you know when you have your big shopping day, you could prepare a few freezer meals in advance , so that you won't need to prepare and cook after your shopping day.

Another thought . The symptoms you describe sound like a condition called costochondritis, which is inflammation of the muscles between your ribs, which is also common with fibromyalgia. Maybe you overdid things at the shops and caused this to flare up?

Hope you're starting to feel better now xx

Hazel_Angelstar profile image
Hazel_AngelstarAdministratorFMA UK Staff

If this continues or happens again I would suggest that you contact your gp or out of hours. Chest pain especially should always be checked out.

Hi. Mel it could well be a muscle under your rib cage, I once had similar to where you are describing and it took a while to settle down and I put it down to lifting a shopping bag but as you know with what you have your muscles get weak like they do in my condition , I would see if it settles down if not like someone said see your GP.

Rose54 profile image
Rose54

You really should have crushing pain like that investigated

If it was me Ii would have called 999 as pain radiating towards the back could be a HA

Paramedics would rather be called so thay can check you out

You would not be wasting thier time

rosewine profile image
rosewine

I agree with what others have said that if the pain is of a crushing nature you really should have it investigated.

I have permanent costochondritis and it is inflammation of the cartiledge that joins your ribs to the breast bone. It is as though someone has hammered all round your ribs and it can make it very difficult to sit back in a chair or lie comfy in bed.

It sounds to me as though you were low to begin with and have totally overdone it. To be honest apart from "top up" shopping I now have bought a delivery plan and have my shopping delivered by the supermarket as I found that trying to push a trolley around the supermarket, getting things down off shelves, then onto the conveyor belt, into shopping bags and in and out of the car was like an intense gymn workout for my fibro body and it was wiping me out for days. I find things so much easier now. Even if you just had things like tinned and heavy, bulky stuff delivered it would help. We also found ti was cheaper as we aren't tempted by all the offers, what you don;t see you don;t buy. My husband is also ill.

Hope you feel a bit better soon but please have it checked out if it happens again.x

I suffer alot with rib pain ive even had to change my bras to bigger sizes due to the pressure on my ribs.

Alone717 profile image
Alone717

Sounds like costochondritis a big part of fibro I have had it for 40 years and am in pain every day and my rib cage is always inflamed; I can not even wear a bra; I am housebound with several more conditions so can only shop online as would not be up to going to a shop and the nearest shop from my house is over 10 miles away and I have no way of getting there.

carol789 profile image
carol789

Hi Madmel, I really hope your New Year gets better for you.

I too get this quite often, I have put it down to choncodritis from reading posts on here. I seem to get it when overdoing things. I don't eat takeaways so it wasn't that that affects me. I always have pain on/under ribs mainly on lowest ribs and around back. I will mention this to my doctor when next see him although everything seems to be put down to fibro when I do visit. I wish you well. X

carol789 profile image
carol789

I also find it hard to wear a bra. I have found niceeeee ones from ASDA that don't have hooks or wires and the padding and netting hold everything in place. I have to get extra large ones as hey do shrink on washing and it's difficult to raise arms to get overhead some days, but very comfortable. X

MrsMouseSJ profile image
MrsMouseSJ in reply to carol789

I agree. I use their bra tops and it is a massive relief to have found something supportive and comfortable!

Chittychatty profile image
Chittychatty

Hi Madmel74.

Just read your story. I'm still at an undiagnosed stage after 5months of being more I'll than I've ever been in my life. I started with chest pains palpitations and severe pain/sick sensation between shoulder blades. This progressed to rib pain mainly in back but also around sides. Felt like being kicked by a horse. My drs suspect either fibromyalgia or costochondritis, inflammation in rib cartilage. Yesterday finally agreed to refer me to a general pain clinic.

I cannot unfortunately say if your situation is similar to mine but we do seem to have some symptoms in common. I too convinced myself that it was wind or indigestion but that doesn't last five months or give extreme fatigue.

I would dearly love my life back and I wish you well for the future.

Chittychatty profile image
Chittychatty

Hi again, forgot to mention I have recently started using small heat patches on my ribs and found them extremely effective. I bought the cheapest I could find 2 in a pack from one if those £ shop s hence the price £1 per pack. Stick over bra (which Im finding hard to wear these days) or a close fitting top. After a couple of hours transfer direct to skin. Gives a lot of comfort and pain relief. Wish I had tried them sooner. Good luck.

MADMEL74 profile image
MADMEL74

Thank you all for your kind replys to my recent post. I found them all help full as i was quite worried. I was scared at the time and i thought it could have been heart related, as it felt like something my Nana had all day before she suddenly died of a heart attack, she also thought it was indegestion as did her GP when he called out to see her. Her death was so sudden and she had been over doing things too.

Anyway I will take your advice and go to see my doctor, I am extremely over due for an appointment, since we lost our motobility car two years ago, I have not managed to find the time to get to the GP, but I have been to my pain specialist.

I will post when I have any new developments. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to reply, its so good to have people to share my troubles with, as i can't bother my hubby with things cos he worries too much. Happy new year to everyone :)

Ciarli profile image
Ciarli

the other time try to talk to your dogtor before taking nexium!

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