Fibromyalgia Support Group

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Bruised Ribs???

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello my wonderful FMily!

I have a pecuiliar question. My ribs are hurting not just one but all of them. It feels like they are severly bruised. And the closer you get to the spine the worst that feeling is. My fiance was massaging me last night and I wanted to hit him to make him stop. But I knew if he didnt do it, it would only get worse. The only thing is I when my ribs arent touched they still hurt really bad. Sometimes so bad that it makes it hard to breathe like someone is choking me. Plus the top of my neck where my shoulders and spine meet, it is completely swollen (noticably) and the muscles are rock hard. I dont know what causes this. I know I haven't done anything out of the ordinary or strenuous too. So I am not sure what to do about it. Do any of you have this? Should I be concerned or is it just FM? I would love any suggestions or advice or stories you may have. I have just never seen a post about this.

Tink
moonwater
moonwater
Sounds kinda like when my chostocondritus (I think I spelled that right) acts up. It's inflammation in like the connective tissue all around your ribs and sternum and stuff. I'm not sure if hat affects the spine area or not. It's been a while since I've had a bad flare of that and with my memory... ;)

Then again it could be another lovely symptom of your fibro cocktail. We all have our variations.

Sounds like something worth getting checked out either way.

I hope you feel better soon.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think this should be checked out by your doctor, esp. if your having trouble breathing and it is hurting that bad.Do you have any resp. symtoms, coughing, fever, yucky secretions, shortness of breath, wheezing, elevated temp?
deleted_user
deleted_user
No I dont have any other symptoms it just hurts to breathe not only from my ribs but my lungs feel funny. But I haven't been coughing, no fever etc. That is why this is concerning me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
This sounds awful, I am so sorry hun. I think I would get it checked out even it is another fun symptom du jour of the FM/CFS. The swelling could be muscle knots, but you don't want it to be "real" swelling caused by something else.

The pains in the ribs do correspond to the connective tissue problems of FM.

I'm not sure, check it out and then you can stop worrying, that is always my solution, since I have been told over and over by docs, that I, at least, wait too long to see them since I assume things are my CFS. And sometimes they aren't!
mynameisD
mynameisD
One word, Costocondritis. It is an inflamation of the connective tissue in your rib cage and sternum. Go to your doctors. There is an easy treatment for this which will take a little while to work, but it does work. The condition is not life threatening at all, and would eventually go away on its own, but it could take from months to a year for this to happen. Get the meds and it will be gone in a matter of a few days to a few weeks. Definitely go to the doctor, without delay
mynameisD
mynameisD
I just re-read what you wrote about your lungs. You could also have plurasy. This is an inflamation of the sack around your lungs. This is also easily treated. You should surely go to the doctor as soon as possible.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes I think it would be a good idea to go to your drs with this one. sounds awful marilyn
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have had those exact symptoms!! I feel your pain, Tink! I thought I I pleurisy or pneumonia and I was diagnosed with costochondritis and fibromyalgia. That is how I found out I had it. To this day, my pain centralizes in my ribcage and I have knots in my shoulders. I have to agree. I think it is costochondritis.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have chronic myofascial pain syndrome that manifested as breathing problems among other things. What happened is that the myofascial trigger points caused breathing problems so I was diagnosed with asthma. When all the meds in the world didn't help, my doctor did a breathing test on me and when I passed with flying colors, he told me it was muscle spasms and to 'take a klonopin.'

Since I didn't want to take anything I didn't have to, I came home and started researching it and came across myofascial pain and trigger point massage.

I located the offending trigger points, massaged them and was able to breathe again.

If you want any info, message me and I'll give you some links and whatnot.

I might add that most of my pain is myofascial in nature and the trigger point massage has enabled me to stay off pain meds.
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