Muscle Pains: Chest, Back, and Sides. What's wrong? - Endocrine Disorders Message Board

lilsoapspudz · 07-21-2007, 06:14 PM

Hello, I'm a 17 year old female with no previous medical conditions, no allergies, on no medications, rarely get sick, etc. I'm fit and healthy, but am currently suffering extreme pain and I don't know the cause.
Allow me to explain:
Yesterday morning, I woke up feeling sharp pains under my ribs that went away after a few moments. The pain went away for the rest after the day after that until about 11:55pm. I was walking (just walking on a flat surface) when all of a sudden my whole torso just exploded into pain. I felt like I couldn't move because it hurt so bad. The pain felt like it was between my bottom ribs and about a inch or two below my breasts. It wrapped around from front to back. I couldn't bend to one side without everything hurting, I couldn't lean forward and I couldn't lean back. I could only stand straight up and hold myself that way. This goes the same for sitting, however, even when sitting straight up, I can still feel some of the pain.
When I went to sleep, I could only lie flat on my stomach or back, but it still hurt little bits.
When I awoke this morning, the pain wasn't nearly as bad, but after being awake for an hour or two, it started hurting worse.
The pain in my stomach/abs is no longer as bad, so I can lean forward for a few moments to do something.
My sides are the worse, they constantly ache, no matter how I sit or stand. My back feels hot, but I'm not running a fever. I checked my body for marks and bruises, but found nothing. I took some aspirin, but its relieved none of the pain. Its become difficult for me to breath and my hands and arms have started shaking from the pain. I have a fairly high thresh-hold for pain, but moving even the slightest back or two the sides makes me want to burst into tears.

The best way I can describe the soreness is like after doing a heavy workout and then the next day your muscles ache, only times that pain by 50.
I've been looking everywhere to find out whats wrong and I can't find anything.
Its only the muscles that hurt, but last night it felt like my spine itself hurt too.

I haven't engaged in any activities that I could hurt myself. Leaving me to no clue what is wrong, any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

tattoogirl · 07-22-2007, 04:37 PM

I would go to the ER or call your doctor on Monday. It sound similar to my pain when I had pancreatitis and sludge built up in my gallbladder. Is it difficult to eat? Does it almost feel like someone punched your upper stomach (right under rib cage) a million times? Are you nauseous or vomiting? Oh and DON'T take any aspirin products for pain.

Bella

lilsoapspudz · 07-23-2007, 04:54 AM

No, I'm not feeling ill or feverish, etc.

The pain can best be described as knots and cramps, but tons of them piled up on each other. If I touch the areas that ache, it doesn't cause any pain of any sort. It just feels like the muscles themselves are hurting from some unknown cause.

Since I posted this on saturday, it has changed up a lot. The pain has centralized in 3 areas. Under my last ribs on each side it feels like there is 1 cramp and my mid-back feels knotted and cramped.

I'm no longer having difficulties breathing from the pain for it is no where near as extreme as it was before. Now its more of the tightness and cramps I described.

I tried to keep as much to my normal routine to see if anything changed/occured and I have been feeling better as I explained.

tattoogirl · 07-23-2007, 10:49 AM

Well maybe you just strained some muscles. Happens to me when coughing alot, throwing up when sick or exercising to much. Well glad to hear it is getting better.

Bella

john449 · 07-23-2007, 12:23 PM

I too am glad you are feeling better. Suspect you can rule out serious conditions like ulcers, pancreatitis, etc. since you weren't otherwise ill and are recovering quickly.

Considering your age there is a condition that is fairly common in teenagers called juvenile kyphosis or Scheuermann's disease (sounds worse than it is). It affects single or multiple vertebrea and can cause them collapse slightly or wedge. Symptoms are pretty much as you listed with a muscle tightness sort of pain girdling your chest with some localized back pain (usually described more as a deep ache). When severe, deep breaths are uncomfortable and everything feels tight.

The condition is not terribly serious and the symptoms of collapse tend to subside after a few days. The reason you might want to check with your doc would be to see if you indeed do have Scheuermann's or a similar condition and, if so, to learn as much about it and about things you can do to prevent further episodes like the one you just went thru.. I'm sure, too, that you can find quite a bit about the condition on the net so good hunting.