About a month ago during a period of horrible anxiety I noticed a pain that began in my middle left rib. A month and a half later it is still there. Now it hurts when I breat and move, it radiates from the middle to the breast bone and around the left rib down to the bottom.
I’m 19 and am in good health and I’ve gone to 2 doctors about this, the first one said it was anxiety and the second had no idea but said my body’s muscles were very tight.
Tonight I was laying down and I moved a certain way and accidentally made my rib pop which caused a shooting pain throughout. I’m very scared becasue no one seems to know what this is. I don’t know what to do and appretate any advice anyone can give me. Thanks.
I am NOT a doctor, but it seems that you strained some muscles under your ribs and also one of the ribs was also in an off place because of this. When you moved it "popped" back. This is very painful at first but should get better. If it doesn't they need to do x-rays to make sure it's not cracked. Although there is really nothing they can do but wrap it, the muscles will hurt from around it anyway. This sounds like time, prayer and patients is in order. Don't do anything stressful to it..ex...running, lifting weights or any exercise for that matter. Otherwise I would see a chiropractor.
Actually, x-rays are of limited value to detect cracked or even broken ribs as they often do not show up. Also, they won’t ‘wrap’ cracked or broken ribs. This restricts breathing and can lead to chest infections. Rib injuries are very painful but will heal with time. It’s also possible that it’s not a rib injury at all but that this lady has injured one of the intercostal muscles. Equally painful but again, will heal with time.
Thanks for both of the answers. I think this is mostly an intercostal muscle situation, the pain comes and goes at random, I still think it has a link with my anxiety. I went to the gym this morning and didn’t have any pain.
I should’ve said this earlier but sometimes my rib pops becasue I have slight scoliosis, it’s nothing new. When I was at the doctors both of them felt my ribs and said everything was fine so I have no idea what’s causing this random pain unless it’s from anxiety. I guess I’ll need to make another doctors appointment...