Pain, tenderness ribs - Bone Disorders Message Board

njben · 02-02-2004, 07:23 PM

Hello everyone,

I am posting to see if anyone has had a similar experience or may know what I am experiencing.

First of all ... I recently had an abdominal ultrasound for an unrelated issue, which was basically normal except for a mildly fatty liver.

The problem that I am experiencing is a point of tenderness right at the lower edge of my lowest rib, on the left side, towards the breastbone .. I guess if you drew a line straight down from my nipple, it would be about halfway between that and the center of my chest.

It is not overtly painful, but it is tender .. pain is generated by pressure on that one point. It seems to be right at my lowest rib. And it seems that there I can move what I think is muscle around fairly loosely. There seems to be one tiny palpable lump (hard to find, but right at the point of tenderness, although I found a corresponding lump on the other side of my chest, where it is not tender. The pain seems to be either on the rib of the abdominal muscle that comes right up to that rib.

It is not a severe pain ... but it has been ongoing for a few days now and has been on and off for a little while. When it does come on .. my lower ribs seem to be a little tender as well.

Please if anyone has any ideas, let me know! Thanks!

- Ben

LPOWMACBACK · 03-05-2004, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njben

Hello everyone,

I am posting to see if anyone has had a similar experience or may know what I am experiencing.

First of all ... I recently had an abdominal ultrasound for an unrelated issue, which was basically normal except for a mildly fatty liver.

The problem that I am experiencing is a point of tenderness right at the lower edge of my lowest rib, on the left side, towards the breastbone .. I guess if you drew a line straight down from my nipple, it would be about halfway between that and the center of my chest.

It is not overtly painful, but it is tender .. pain is generated by pressure on that one point. It seems to be right at my lowest rib. And it seems that there I can move what I think is muscle around fairly loosely. There seems to be one tiny palpable lump (hard to find, but right at the point of tenderness, although I found a corresponding lump on the other side of my chest, where it is not tender. The pain seems to be either on the rib of the abdominal muscle that comes right up to that rib.

It is not a severe pain ... but it has been ongoing for a few days now and has been on and off for a little while. When it does come on .. my lower ribs seem to be a little tender as well.

Please if anyone has any ideas, let me know! Thanks!

- Ben

Sounds like COSTOCHONDRITIS... check it out on the web! (Don't worry, it's nothing horrible... just painful).

runchuckrun · 07-24-2008, 07:33 AM

I would love to have more clarification as to what this could be. I HAVE THE EXACT SYMPTOMS as you do. Small knot on left side lower rib in the exact location you stated. I can also feel something similar on my right side but it's not near as pronounce and not near as tender.

I guess I should also mention that I noticed it after the night I played organized basketball for the first time in 15 years. In the past I've also had rare times when I yawn and extend my arms I have sharp pain when breathing near the same lower left rib but subsides after about a minuite. I'm still concerned though because I've never felt a small lump around that location. I've had the pain breathing at the top of my breath since I was in my early 20's but only happens about 3-4 times a year. It's pretty rare that it happens.

Anybody else have any thoughts?