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What Causes Sharp Pain In The Rib Cage?

Posted on Thu, 2 Mar 2017

Question: HI I AM 67 YEAR OLD MALE 195LBS PRETTY GOOD HEALTH NO HISTORY OF ANY HEART PROBLEMS.I AM GETTING VERY VERY SLIGHT PAINS AROUND MY HEART AREA.ON A SCALE OF 1-10 10 BEING THE WORST I WOULD SAY MINE ARE A ONE.DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO .PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING ON OCCASSION BUT STILL DOES HAPPEN,IF I TURN FAIRLY HARD TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER OR BEND OVER IN A SOMEWHAT ODD WAY I GET A VERY SHARP PAIN IN MY RIB CAGE.IT FEELS LIKE A GAS PAINT BUT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A YEAR OR SO.IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY WORSE

Answered by Dr. Rini (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can be costochondritic pain.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for choosing HCM for your query.

A very dull aching mild pain around the ribs and which changes on changing posture of the body can be costochondritic pain. Costochondritis is a condition where the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum get swollen and inflamed causing pain.

But as you are 65+years(67 to be precise), you should get some of the baseline tests of cardiology done like 2D echocardiography and stress test. Though the pain described by you is highly unlikely to be of cardiac origin yet a complete cardiac check up should be done once to exclude any cardiac involvement.

It can be caused by gas, acid peptic condition also. Hence we have to exclude every possibility one by one.

Once your cardiac tests are normal, other condition like costochondritis and acid gas disorders should be considered and treated.

Advice
2D echo
Tread mill test
Physical examination of chest to rule out costochondritis.
Any further queries are most welcome

Thanks
Do follow up with the reports!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Rini (6 hours later)

HI AND THANKYOU.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO DESCRIBE THE PAIN ONE OTHER WAY JUST INCASE I WASN'T CLEAR OR MISLEAD YOU.THE BESY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE TO COMPARE IT TO SPOTS BEFORE YOUR EYES OR WHAT THEY SOMETIMES CALL FLOATERS.I GET THESE LITTLE TINY PAINS THAT SEEM TO FLOAT AROUND MY HEART AREA.LIKE I STATED THEY ARE NOT VERY STRONG BUT THEY SEEM TO COME AND GO QUICKLY AND THEN MAY NOT COME BACK FOR QUITE A FEW HOURS OR SO.

Answered by Dr. Rini (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi
It sounds like muscular or more likely pain due to gases.
Iwould suggest you to take any overcounter Proton pump inhibitor like Pantoprazole for few days.
Please tell me hows your sleep and anxiety levels.Are you anxious personality?
Some time this type of pain can be caused by increased anxiety levels also.
Thanks!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Rini (6 hours later)

YES I DO HAVE ALOT OF AGGRAVATION AT WORK AND I CAN BE ANXIOUS AT TIMES.

Answered by Dr. Rini (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up advice!

Detailed Answer:
Hi again
In that case a psychiatric consult can be taken for issues related to anxiety.A mild anti anxiety medication like benzodiazepene can be added to the regimen for fee days to relief you from anxiety.
Thanks

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana