Pain on left side under rib cage and sides of abdomen

[CycleGirlColumbus]

I’m writing for my mom who has PMR, she is 81 and was diagnosed a year ago. She started at 40mg and down to 10mg. A few weeks ago she started getting burning sudden pain on her sides that goes away quickly, but now if she lays flat the pain starts back. Also she had the flu and broke some vertebrae from coughing so hard and has been on pain medication. So we are trying to figure out if the side pain is from coming down on the prednisone or maybe the pain meds? Anyone else get pains on side of abdomen and under left rib cage?

[Hidden]

Yes definitely had rib and side pain. It was terrible for a few weeks then just went. It wasnt a permanant shocking pain. There was an ache then a sharp stabbing breathtaking pain. Similar to pain i have had when i broke ribs. Someone suggested costochondritis. It went into my sternum too.

Are you sure she hasn't popped a rib?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd be inclined to think it is her flu/coughing/fractures as much as anything else. That is a high starting dose for pMR and pred doesn't do muscles a lot of good so the pain could well be a reflection of "over-exercising" her intercostal muscles. I take it she has seen the doctor about it?

[Soraya_PMR]

I had left rib pains, it was there from very early on. I initially thought it was part of the PMR, but now I think it was an ‘add-on’ from unhappy muscles, and some gentle stretches seemed to be very beneficial.

As your mum hasn’t had it before, I doubt it is part of PMR, more likely connected to the coughing and fractures. It may be that she has some spasmed muscles, maybe she needs the analgesia still?

A GP check and some physio/chiro might help. Once those muscles tighten to protect an injury it starts a domino effect, so many muscle layers in our backs, lots of interplay between them.

[Ronnie101]

I've had a similar pain for quite some time - over a month, almost like a girdle around my lower ribs, sides and back. It hurts particularly when I breathe in sharply or sneeze. The GP thought I'd either pulled chest wall muscles through over exercising, or it was the result of an infection.

I'm sceptical, as it doesn't seem to want to go away, and I'm wondering whether it's just another aspect of the PMR.

[Patience47]

I have severe rib pain on left side that lasts for hours.

Edward

[piglette in reply to Patience47]

Hi Edward, I had the same only on my right side. I was told it was Costochondritis. It was even painful breathing. It went away in the end.

[Patience47 in reply to piglette]

Glad to hear your pain went away. Hopefully, mine will too.

[Patience47]

Sometimes ice or heat helps.

[Marie1479]

Yup. Same exact thing happened to me! Had bad cold and cough. Orthopedist took X-ray and nothing broken. It took me weeks for the pain to go away. Had Chiropractor infuse a topical analgesic using ultrasound once a week for a couple of weeks. I still can feel it but now can finally do a sit up!!! Very painful so be patient with Mom 💗