Rib pain
Rib pain is often caused by a rib injury, but it can also result from a variety of diseases, disorders and conditions. Some of these are not easy to diagnose quickly. In this article, we will look at some of the most common causes of ribcage pain, along with a few that probably are not as well known to those who are not medical professionals.
Let us look at rib injuries first.
Fractured (Broken) or Cracked Ribs – Pain from a cracked or broken rib is generally sharp and extremely severe. Many people say a fractured rib produces some of the worst pain there is. Rib fractures are often the result of vehicular collisions or the collision of bodies during athletic events. Breathing can become very difficult – even painful. The area around the injury will be sore and sensitive to pressure, and any movement of the torso is likely to produce discomfort.
Cartilage Injury – You probably know what cartilage is. It is the connective tissue between your ribs and your sternum or breastbone. Cartilage makes it easier for your chest to expand during breathing, and it gives your ribcage the ability to absorb the shock of a blow. When this cartilage is damaged, it will feel like a rib injury. Cartilage damage in your chest will cause pain when you are breathing, laughing or coughing.
Soft Tissue Damage – Your chest and back include dozens of soft tissue formations that circumvent your ribcage: your ligaments, tendons and muscles. Such soft tissues can be damaged by stretching or straining: for instance, you may try to push, pull or lift something that is beyond your capability. An injury can also result from repeating the same motion for a long time (called a “repetitive motion injury”) the resulting pain can easily be mistaken for ribcage pain or rib damage.
Conditions, disorders and diseases of the bones and joints may also cause ribcage pain. Some of the more common include the following.
Joint inflammation: – As we get older, joint inflammation becomes more and more likely. When joints near the ribs become inflamed, the pain can feel like it is happening in your ribcage. Two conditions are especially common.
Osteoarthritis: – Osteoarthritis occurs when joints wear out, causing irritation and inflammation. It sometimes affects the areas, which connect the backbone and breastbone to the ribs, resulting in ribcage pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: – This is a disorder in which your immune system attacks itself, causing pain in the joints. A rib pain result when it strikes affects the joints in the torso.
Some relatively common diseases and illnesses are also characterized by rib pain. Among them are the following.
Pleurisy – Pleurisy occurs when the lining between the ribs and the lungs becomes inflamed (the medical name for this lining is the “pleura”). Rib pain caused by pleurisy can be intense, and breathing can become difficult and uncomfortable.
Pneumonia – Chest discomfort and pain in the ribcage area is one of the characteristic symptoms of pneumonia. Breathing can be difficult, and laughing, sneezing or coughing can be downright painful.
Tuberculosis – Pain in the ribs is also a typical indicator of tuberculosis. Other symptoms include fatigue, fever and coughing.
A number of types of cancer cause pain in the chest and ribcage area – especially lung cancer and multiple myeloma. Rib pain is a symptom in approximately 80 percent of multiple myeloma cases.
Anyone who has a lung disease that is due to tobacco use or long term exposure to pollutants is likely to have pain in the ribs. This is especially true among those who suffer from asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The following causes for pain in the ribs fit into the “miscellaneous” category:
· Gallbladder problems, especially a gallbladder attack or gallstones
· Spinal or other nerve-related injuries and disorders. This category includes shingles, which often begins with ribcage pain before it erupts into an extremely uncomfortable rash.
· Long time steroid users sometimes develop chronic rib pain.
· People who are under a great deal of stress are more prone to rib pain because they often take deep, heavy breaths. This type of breathing may strain the network of muscles around the ribs.
· Finally, angina (the medical term for chest pain caused by heart disease) can feel like ribcage pain.
Clearly, many, many different kinds of conditions and injuries result in ribcage pain. Some can cause a lot of discomfort but pose no serious long-term threat to your health. Others are very dangerous. If you have had ribcage pain for several days, or if your pain is growing steadily worse, it is probably time to call your doctor.
Back Pain
As children, we often overheard our grandparents complain of backaches and back pain, and so we tend to associate back pain with old age. However, back pain is not necessarily a sign of aging and it can afflict just about anyone because of the various possible causes of back pain. You may need to use more than one treatment method for back pain and this will depend almost entirely on the cause of the pain and the nature of the injury. Back pain could refer to any kind of pain that afflicts any area of the back, including the lower, upper, or middle back. Though lower back pain is a lot more prevalent, some people tend to suffer from upper back pain or middle back pain on a regular basis.
The severity of back pain can vary greatly among different individuals, and while it may simply be a bit of a bother to some, it could be almost debilitating to others. In some cases, the pain could last for a few hours or up to a day, but it is also very common for people to suffer from pain that lasts for days; this is known as chronic back pain. Back pain can at times be indicative of a far more serious back problem and should never be treated lightly. Back pain is one of the most common ailments today and statistics suggest that 85 percent of all adults in the United States will suffer from low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Since you are reading this page, you probably fall into this category and are searching for a cure for back pain. Before you try to find a way to treat your back pain, it is important that you understand the symptoms and the causes of back pain.
The location and severity of back pain depends on several factors, such as the individual’s age, medical condition, level of physical fitness as well as the underlying cause. Fortunately, in most cases, upper, middle or lower back pain does not stem from any serious condition and can be managed with the help of medication, simple remedies, exercises, and so on. Only a serious condition such as a slipped or ruptured disc requires surgery. Diagnosis is therefore one of the most important prerequisites to successful treatment. If you suffer from severe back pain on a regular basis, you should consult a doctor for exercises, diet, and lifestyle changes that can help prevent recurrent back pain.
Symptoms for Back Pain
· Back pain is not a condition but it is a symptom of an underlying problem. You may experience back pain due to an injury or a muscle pull. You may also experience accompanying symptoms such as neck pain or headaches depending on the cause of your back pain. It is important for anyone who suffers from frequent back pain to be well informed about the symptoms of back pain. If you do suffer from frequent bouts of back pain or a very severe back pain, it would be advisable to seek a thorough medical diagnosis.
So what are the common symptoms of back pain?
The symptoms of upper back pain are quite varied and may include muscle spasms, discomfort while inhaling, weakness in the arms, restricted neck movements, and a pinching feeling between the shoulder blades. These upper back symptoms could be an indication of an injury to a disc, which is in the upper part of the spine.
Thoracic pain is the term used to describe upper back or middle back pain. Some of the most common accompanying middle back pain symptoms are soreness to the touch, difficulty in performing simple activities, stiffness, and restriction in body movements.
• One of the reasons that lower back pain is a lot more common than upper back pain is that there are several health problems that could cause this symptom. Conditions that have been known to trigger pain in the lower back include pregnancy, bladder infections, kidney problems, and even cancer. In addition to back pain, pregnancy generally causes: Nausea and vomiting
• Cravings or aversion towards certain foods
• Tingling sensation, soreness, and heaviness in the breasts
• Missed periods
• Vaginal discharge or spotting
• Cramps in the abdomen
· In the same way, apart from lower back pain, kidney symptoms usually include:
• Increase in the urge to urinate
• Changes in the appearance of the urine, as it becomes bubbly or foamy
• Presence of blood in the urine
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, face, feet and hands
• Excess fatigue
• Rash on the skin or itching
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the legs and flanks
· Along with lower back pain, bladder symptoms also include:
• Increased urge to urinate and frequent urination
• Incontinence Blood in the urine
• Dysuria or a burning sensation while urinating
• Foul smell in the urine
• Cloudiness or other changes in the color of the urine
Though rare, back pain can also be an indication of lung cancer. Some of the other lung cancer induced back pain symptoms include swelling in the face or neck, respiratory infections, hoarseness in the voice, and recurrent pneumonia.
Unfortunately, since back pain is a common ailment, most people do not realize how serious it can be and therefore they disregard the problem. However, in case the back pain lasts for an extended period or is accompanied by other signs, it is important to consult a medical health care provider for an accurate diagnosis.