What Causes Pain In Ribs And Underarms?

Posted on Thu, 22 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 22 May 2014 Answered on

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hey, I am having pains on ribs left side, right side and under arms also but not severe pains. some times it happens near waist. what could be the possible reason ?

Answered by Dr. Hardik Thakker (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please read detailed response

Detailed Answer:
Dear Mr XXXXXX,
Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.

I can understand your concerns about the pain in ribs. I will try my best to address your concern.

Can you please provide me more details of the pain with regards to:

Exact location of pain?

Intensity on scale of 1 to 10?

Nature of pain; is it throbbing/ pricking/ pins and needles/ pressure type?

Radiation to other areas?

Aggravating factors?

Relieving factors?

Associated breathless or leg swelling.

This information will help me to generate a list of differential diagnosis about the cause of this pain.

I would recommend you have a pain reliever for symptomatic relief. You can try the ones that is available over the counter. I would request you to have an ECG and vitamin d3 levels done.

Please get back to me with the above.

I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Hardik Thakker (37 minutes later)

Exact location of pain : It is kind of movable pains, ends of lower ribs both sides left and right, under arms ribs or sometimes backwards also. It remains for sometime.

Intensity on scale of 1 to 10 : 4

Nature of pain; is it throbbing/ pricking/ pins and needles/ pressure type : like pricking or some burnings

Associated breathless or leg swelling : Some dizziness, might be through stress thinking about this pain

Answered by Dr. Hardik Thakker (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Muscular pain

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXX,

Thank you for providing me relevant information on my clinical scenario questions.

You seem to have a pain of muscular origin from the history. Another differential would be tietz syndrome.

I would like you to have an x ray chest, ECG, Vitamin d3 levels and get back to me.

In the mean time a pain reliever will be helpful for symptomatic relief.

I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad