This past week I noticed an odd uncomfortable feeling below the left cage, sensation of restriction and low level pain. It comes and goes and I can't yet define it as being caused by eating or posture. I took off clothes and examined myself in the mirror to discover that the left lower rib cage is protruding and looks almost swollen compared to the right rib cage which is in its usual position.
Can anyone give me some insight into what may be causing this? At 77 I have adult onset scoliosis of the spine, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, osteoporosis. I've been slowly tapering form 15mg preds to 9.5 since January and jsut stared to DS taper to 9mg this week with first dose at 9 taken last Monday. Am due to have second 9mg tomorrow. Early on in my PMR journy, April 2020 my right clavical became swollen and much larger than the left clavical, I'm wondering if this rib issue is related?
Thank you for any feedback and information.
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Bennijax
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Time to ring for a GP appointment and ask to be seen in a face to face appointment as soon as possible.If it gets worse or you feel any breathlessness , chest pain or other symptoms over the weekend , don't delay until Monday , ring 111 , or get a lift and go over to A and E . It's better to be safe than sorry and with your medical history there could be various reasons for these symptoms that need proper examination.
Take care and post again to let us know the outcome , Bee
i have had a noticeably enlarged right clavicle that occurred about the same time as pmr. (7 months ago.). A reading on an MRI stated it was marrow edema. It has never gone away.
Hi Bennijax, no way I'm trying to diagnose here and defo think you should see someone, but I am quite hot on scoliosis, having had it most of my life (adolescent idiopathic developed when 12, surgically corrected, now deteriorated). A rib hump is part of the furniture and has to develop at some point. Just wondering if this is anything to do with that. Mine doesn't and never has caused any sensation.
The rib cage can also push out on one side so that it becomes prominent - this is known as a rib hump. The severity of the abnormalities can vary between people and can change with time
Mayadill, you sound like me. Idiopathic, I found is really genetic in my family: my sister, my mom, my brother, and my girl cousin, all have scoliosis. It doesn’t show on them; I was a pretzel had surgery at age 14 with an old fashion technique that fusion broke down because they left the discs in. At 60 I had my back re done with hardware and a 50% correction. No pain since but still residual deformity that, now, restricts my breathing at 81 requiring Oxygen 24/7. Add myopathy from steroids and you have a perfect storm.
Well hi there, good to meet. Mine isn't genetic. In terms of the development of the op, I'm crucially younger than you, being 67, Mine was fixation with a Harrington Rod followed by 6 m in a Milwaukee brace. it worked brilliantly for many years. I've read that it does deteriorate over time and also a fall I had leaving one leg slightly shorter than the other encourages the curve. i've never had any pain but the strange shape of my body and things not being in quite the right place so lungs not being able to fully expand was a factor in my being very ill from an atypical pneumonia. I am so so sorry to hear you need oxygen. I don''t suppose it's any consolation but I do understand what's going on under your shoulder-blades. Take care x.
Any possibility of a non-displaced rib fracture? I had terrible pains below my left 9th rib. Ruled out PMR - no reaction to pred. Asked for X-rays which showed 9th and 10th rib problems. Was sent for a CT scan and then an MRI with contrast. LOOKING FOR A REASON- NONE FOUND. LONG TIME HEALING BUT IT IS ON THE WAY.
Thank you par600.....I'm observing the situation. I'm not in any pain as such, but it is as if there is a rubber band around the solar plexus and below the left rib cage, and every so often it tightens and is very uncomfortable!
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Pain in torso front and rear of rib cage 
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Rib Pain ...
I've had an idea 
