thorasic pain - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

lizzielogan · 04-02-2009, 04:01 AM

I had my gall bladder removed last year due to 3 small pollyps. I thought the pain would go but it hasn't. Its taken a year for my doctor to finally send me for a chest xray. I have pain in my upper spine and in the muscle to the right side of it. my xray isn't until this afternoon. Could this be thorasic symptoms? The pain goes all round my right rib cage, I also have constipation. Pain is 24hrs a day.

feelbad · 04-02-2009, 10:35 AM

from what you have described here,i REALLy do think he should up that plain x ray stuff to an actual contrasted MRI instead. it would show alot, espescially the spinal column all the way down the the cord level. there are just SO many different possible problems we can have going on within that spinal area that can create all kinds of ongoing symptoms, sensations and very real pain. this one test would either rule in or out that area as the possible cause. the banding sensation you described is very HIGHLY indicative of spinal involvment just so you know. all of your symptoms would actually fit, but that one banding feeling would indicate a dermatome involment from a particular spinal nerve being involved somehow. depednding upon what does or does not actually show itself upon that x ray,i would push your doc either way for that really badly needed MRI. it really would show a heck of alot more than any plain x ray would,seriously.

please keep me posted as to what you find out lizzie. i am willing to bet that you DO have some level of either very low c spine or upper thorasic involvment just based upon your symptoms alone. good luck hon, marcia

lizzielogan · 04-02-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelbad

from what you have described here,i REALLy do think he should up that plain x ray stuff to an actual contrasted MRI instead. it would show alot, espescially the spinal column all the way down the the cord level. there are just SO many different possible problems we can have going on within that spinal area that can create all kinds of ongoing symptoms, sensations and very real pain. this one test would either rule in or out that area as the possible cause. the banding sensation you described is very HIGHLY indicative of spinal involvment just so you know. all of your symptoms would actually fit, but that one banding feeling would indicate a dermatome involment from a particular spinal nerve being involved somehow. depednding upon what does or does not actually show itself upon that x ray,i would push your doc either way for that really badly needed MRI. it really would show a heck of alot more than any plain x ray would,seriously.

please keep me posted as to what you find out lizzie. i am willing to bet that you DO have some level of either very low c spine or upper thorasic involvment just based upon your symptoms alone. good luck hon, marcia

chatterboxsd · 04-02-2009, 04:29 PM

Yes, I agree with feelbad. I had an x-ray initially and it didn't show anything. I had a T6-7 herniation. I was treated for muscle spasms - which I did have for 6+ months. But, that was only a symptom. I would not wait that long. The pain going around the ribs is called radicular pain. It is classic of a nerve being compressed. If this doesn't go away with in a week or so with rest, ice and anti-inflammatories, I'd really push for an MRI. You don't want that nerve to get used to being so grumpy. Believe me...

It's worth trying the rest, ice, meds, and PT though. Do keep a pain journal. It's kind of a hassle, but it's really useful to doctors. Describe what makes pain worse and what relieves it in any way. Even if it never goes away completely, what makes it subside. What can you do that makes the pain horrible? Be specific. This is really helpful information.

Good luck. Thoracic issues are unusual, but there are a few of us floating out here...
- Margaret

lizzielogan · 04-03-2009, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chatterboxsd

Yes, I agree with feelbad. I had an x-ray initially and it didn't show anything. I had a T6-7 herniation. I was treated for muscle spasms - which I did have for 6+ months. But, that was only a symptom. I would not wait that long. The pain going around the ribs is called radicular pain. It is classic of a nerve being compressed. If this doesn't go away with in a week or so with rest, ice and anti-inflammatories, I'd really push for an MRI. You don't want that nerve to get used to being so grumpy. Believe me...

It's worth trying the rest, ice, meds, and PT though. Do keep a pain journal. It's kind of a hassle, but it's really useful to doctors. Describe what makes pain worse and what relieves it in any way. Even if it never goes away completely, what makes it subside. What can you do that makes the pain horrible? Be specific. This is really helpful information.

Good luck. Thoracic issues are unusual, but there are a few of us floating out here...
- Margaret