What Causes Persistent Pain Below The Right Breast Bone Wrapping Around The Back?

Posted on Wed, 13 Jan 2016

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

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 Answered on

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi My name is XXXX. I have been having pain right under the right breast bone wrapping around to the back for about 2 weeks. It does not feel like a pulled muscle but is very painful with some movements. I have already had my galbladder removed so I know it is not that.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Clinical evaluation and investigations as needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
To recapitulate: Female/68 - not seen the Doctor - applied heat and tylenol - 2 weeks h/o pain under the right breast bone wrapping around the back - is not like pulled muscle - painful with some movements - Cholecystectomy in past ...

My thoughts and advise:
''wrapping around the back'' means there is a nerve involvement.
Please see if there was/is any skin rash suggestive of Herpes zoster.
Can be costo-chondritis causing affection of the inter-costal nerve.
Compression on the cord or the nerve root by a mass or disc can cause such a pain hence the necessity of MRI of the spine.

Please get a clinical evaluation, examination and investigations as needed to get a proper diagnosis to get a proper treatment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar