Pain under ribs

[sarahj07]

I recently have gotten over a virus/ bad caugh. From this I have a extreme pain under my right ribcage towards the bottom going right into my back.the doctor has said it's a pulled muscle but the pain is getting worse even with tablets. I cant breathe properly or lie on that side / back with out extreme pain could it be anything else?

[daffodil]

I had exactly the same two years ago following a bad virus/cough during which it was thought I had cracked ribs.As the out of hours GP said no point in going to hospital as they would just x ray and send me home,he just prescribed tramadol and said it would take 10-12 weeks for the fracture to heal.I was is unbearable agony and eventually ended up on pethidene as was unable to sleep at all.Even pethidene only dulled it an hour.Fast forward a few days and I became fevered,short of breath and the pain was spreading all over each lung front and back.More emergency callouts,then diagnosed as viral pneumonia,pleurisy-still have no idea whatI had.After 2 weeks of this agony and being unable to lie down at all,I awoke t find Id slipped down the pillows and was flat on back and couldn't breathe at all.By some miracle I managed to roll out bed and get my daughter to phone 999,blue ligtt to hospital where they said a pleural effusion,then x rayed and said no,not this nor broken ribs but thought I had a blood clot!Ragiographer said x rays no good for ribs unless a very obvious break at the front,so I am still convinced I did fracture ribs(I have osteoporosis and its quite possible to fracture with coughing).After 3 days in hospital,on heparin then a pulmonary scan for blood clot,they said I may have had a small clot which had dissolved but o sign of broken ribs ,so muscular pain.

I also have endometriosis and at this point had been put on HRT patches to counteract the bone thinning effects of treatments,and was told to stop right away.I always have wondered if it was endo on the lung and ribs,diagphram causing the pain?No real way of knowing.

Sorry what a long story -just to say you need to persevere.Breathing difficulty with or without pain is an emergency and as you are getting worse,please call out of hours or go to A and E.Do let me know how you get on but please dot delay in getting checked out.Muscle pain can indeed be agony but it shouldn't get worse.

[Crazy_Horse]

Hi Sarah,

I agree with daffodil.

If pain is worsening, please obtain another assessment and qualified medical assistance, without delay.

Thanks for sharing your story, daffodil.

With Concern,

Crazy_Horse

[Hidden in reply to Crazy_Horse]

Hi I think I agree with Daffodil aswell,I myself suffer with ephesema and so I know how scarey not being able to breath can be. But there was one thing I wanted to pick up what daffodil said and that was Pleurisy,some years ago I had that for the first time and the pain is unbelieveable also as he put it lung infection. So if I were you I'd get another oppinion like daffodil said,don't just leave it,because if it is Pleurisy pain killers won't cure it. Take care

[Hidden]

Firstly I agree with everyone by saying see your gp again. Your explanation sounds very much like pleurisy which I have recently gone through. It is agony and it needs to be treated.

Hoope it is sorted soon

Ali x

[johnsmith]

The virus/bad cough this year has put a lot of people's backs out. Also the bad bout of coughing has caused some muscles in the back to go into cramp. Worth seeing a McTimony chiropractor to ease some or most of the discomfort.

Got hit very badly by this years virus. So talking from experience.

Hope this helps

[angelrobert]

I think first of all you should look at you gp instead of trying anything else.