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What Causes A Popping And Grating Sensation Under The Left Ribs?
Question: I have popping ans grating feeling monthly under my left rib area towards the side when
I breath deeply or move a certain way.
Cheat xray clear, ultra sound clear. Can be agrivated by stress and become a stitch pain when stressed.
I have been told it is costochondritis. After a few days on anti inflamitory drugs it seems to calm down for a few weeks. I have had it for almost 2.5 years and seen many drs but only ever been given costochondritis.
Would it be Heart? Or would this have been picked up in xray / blood tests.
I breath deeply or move a certain way.
Cheat xray clear, ultra sound clear. Can be agrivated by stress and become a stitch pain when stressed.
I have been told it is costochondritis. After a few days on anti inflamitory drugs it seems to calm down for a few weeks. I have had it for almost 2.5 years and seen many drs but only ever been given costochondritis.
Would it be Heart? Or would this have been picked up in xray / blood tests.
Brief Answer:
Idiopathic, meaning the cause for certain is not known.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Your history is classical of costochondritis. Once of the most important causes of instigation or enhancement is stress and anxiety, others are flu, overwork.
Costochondritis can not be picked by any blood tests or X-ray.
MRI of the affected when the pain and swelling are at its height may show the edema, although not for certain.
This is always a clinical diagnosis supported by the proper history as you have and association with the instigating or enhancing factors.
Hence the treatment as you may know is as follows:
I would suggest the following treatment.
-Rest to the area by means of strapping with the Adhesive tapes during the deep Expiration phase. This will limit the movement, reduce the pain and give rest for healing to occur.
-Anti-inflammatory medicines in full dose as per the weight.
-Steroids if required for its strong anti-inflammatory role.
-Diuretics to reduced the edema.
-Control of stress and anxiety helps a lot.
-Local rubrafacient liniments if the area is not covered by strapping.
-Confirmation of the diagnosis by local Doctor on palpation and clinical evaluation and to get prescription based medicines after discussing the above points.
This sort of a treatment helps all my patients. and should help you too.
Idiopathic, meaning the cause for certain is not known.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Your history is classical of costochondritis. Once of the most important causes of instigation or enhancement is stress and anxiety, others are flu, overwork.
Costochondritis can not be picked by any blood tests or X-ray.
MRI of the affected when the pain and swelling are at its height may show the edema, although not for certain.
This is always a clinical diagnosis supported by the proper history as you have and association with the instigating or enhancing factors.
Hence the treatment as you may know is as follows:
I would suggest the following treatment.
-Rest to the area by means of strapping with the Adhesive tapes during the deep Expiration phase. This will limit the movement, reduce the pain and give rest for healing to occur.
-Anti-inflammatory medicines in full dose as per the weight.
-Steroids if required for its strong anti-inflammatory role.
-Diuretics to reduced the edema.
-Control of stress and anxiety helps a lot.
-Local rubrafacient liniments if the area is not covered by strapping.
-Confirmation of the diagnosis by local Doctor on palpation and clinical evaluation and to get prescription based medicines after discussing the above points.
This sort of a treatment helps all my patients. and should help you too.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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