Hi, does anybody else have this dreadful pain at the bottom of their left rib cage? It seems to be coming in waves and has been going on for about 8 hours today. Had it a week or so ago, but it went off after an hour. This time it just isnt going anywhere and not easing at all. Does anyone have any ideas on what it can be?
Hello. I get that but put it down to the Naproxen I've recently been prescribed for my arthritis. Thought it could be irritating my stomach so making sure I take it immediately after meals
Hi Shazzy,
There is a condition called Costochondritis, which causes pain in the ribs. I've had it on the right and the left (not at the same time). It's not specific to RA. Sometimes the pain is so bad you feel as though you are having a heart attack. Not sure if this is what you have, but it might be worth having it checked out.
That's really interesting and would fit in with all my other symptoms. Will mention this to my GP now next time I see her. And to think I was blaming my medication.
Good luck, and if my suggestion was correct, I'm glad I helped a little. When I had it, I'd just finished chemo for breast cancer and thought it had come back!! The breast care nurse got me to lay down on the opposite side to the pain, then pressed hard on the affected side. WOW!! I yelled and almost jumped off the bed. LOL. 
It just goes to show how useful these forums are. Not only supportive but full of great advice. Thanks again and I hope you're recovering well
You need to check it out. Those were the symptoms I had when I had a pulmonary embolism.
Thanks I will look that up, just been to doc he didnt really know but mentioned possible diverticulitis. My temp was high but has been for ages, sweat pours off my head constantly. He has given me antibiotics for now and go back in a week. Its worse now than it was before. I went to see him, thanks again x
Oh blimey I hope its not that! Scary thing to have i'm sure! Hope you werent in too much pain x
I dont take that but have to take lansoprazole anyway due to stomach inflammation, maybe its just something to do with that, doc doesnt know though! X
My son had pain in the same area since Sunday. Seemed to worsen upon trying to take deeper, more satisfying breaths. No fever. Blood pressure, pulse normal.Took him to the cardiologist this morning. His EKG was normal. The cardiologist said to take Aleve, that it's likely costchondritis or pleurisy. He did have coxsackie virus when he was a toddler so pleurisy isn't out of the question. Pleurisy can be accompanied by fever or not. May or may not be accompanied by a cough too. I have had costochondritis before too, and it can be very scary. I hope you can get a chest xray and an EKG, see a good cardiologist to get to the bottom of this.
It's not about the PAIN. It's about the life/death experience. Do you realize how critical a pulmonary embolism is? And no, the pain wasn't HORRIBLE.....which made it all that much more unbelievable to find out I could have died
Thank you for your reply. I have now bbeen to a and e and doc thought it was muscular so has prescribed diazepam to relax muscles. My blood pressure was high and pulse very high and bloods showed infection so I dont understand that though. An well I will take the antibiotics and diazepam and see how it goes x
Yes I do realise how critical it is. I don't know how I managed to offend you so much, blimey I can't win with some people on here!
Phew! Thank goodness it wasn't the pulmonary embolism. CA-Lynn, When I suggested Costochondritis I knew it wasn't the only thing that could cause rib pain, but I only had experience with Costo, so thought I'd suggest it. I don't like suggesting things I have had no experience of as I wouldn't be able to answer any questions. I hope you are in a safer position health wise now. daniela, my dad had Pleurisy when young. I hope your son is ok now.
Been for my rheumatologist appt today. She thinks it is something to do with my spleen as has ordered a scan, so should know more soon x
I've had an on-off rib pain for many years (yes, on the left side, too). Never very hard to manage, though.
I mostly get it when lying down and it can go away for months at a time.
The rheumy and some other doctor years ago, told me it was a form of intercostal bruising, but I never really bought that since bruises, however 'intercostal', usually heal themselves. Also, it did not come on as a result of some kind of an accident (so what bruised me, then?) and it seems to move around slightly.
Still don't really know what it is, but in my case, it's easy to live with.
Thanks for your reply. Mine comes in kinda waves, but always the same place, right under the inner side of my left rib. Doc has mentioned possibly spleen and is arranginga scan. I have read thatRA can cause enlarged spleen. Hopefully will find out soon, its a lot better now, the other day it was dreadful though and I could do nothing else but focus on that pain, now its in the background x
I was concerned about the spleen at the time it first came, too. Good that you're having that checked out.
Do let us know!
Thank you, I will x