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What Causes Recurring Back Pain And Pain In Rib Cage Area?

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Posted on Fri, 17 Jul 2015
Twitter Fri, 17 Jul 2015 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 6 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : I have been having back pain on and off for about 6 months. Lately the pain has become really bad. It hurts in my left side on my back and around my back. The pain is in my rib cage area. It has become so bad now that if I press on the area where my spine is above my ribs, it hurts. If I lay down flat on my back on a hard surface like the floor it eases some. My doctor said it wasn't a kidney issue because my blood work came back good but I haven't been able to get scheduled for a x-ray yet. My doctor has prescribed tramadol for me in the meantime and it helps some, sometimes, but not always. I have tried tylenol, advil, and aspirin and none really help. Does this sound like a back problem, a disc issue, muscle issue, or kidney issue? Is the x-ray the best test to pinpoint the exact problem? I did serve in the Army for a while and fell off an Apache helicopter, but never had any issues so far and that was back in 2006. Thank you for your time. I'm just looking for a little guidance in the right direction. The pain is getting to be unbearable.
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Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (55 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
As follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am DR.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

On the basis of this history we can't rule out a bone,disc or muscle etiology,as yet.If the pain is at renal angle,it may be a kidney issue as well.A doctor who has physically examined you can better narrow down the differential diagnosis.

X-ray may ultimately not turn out to be the best test(you may need MRI spine),but for the meantime,it is surely the first test to go for.I hope your ESR and other blood investigations have turned normal.

If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Ajay Panwar

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What Causes Recurring Back Pain And Pain In Rib Cage Area?

Brief Answer: As follows: Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXX, Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com. I am DR.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query. On the basis of this history we can't rule out a bone,disc or muscle etiology,as yet.If the pain is at renal angle,it may be a kidney issue as well.A doctor who has physically examined you can better narrow down the differential diagnosis. X-ray may ultimately not turn out to be the best test(you may need MRI spine),but for the meantime,it is surely the first test to go for.I hope your ESR and other blood investigations have turned normal. If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me. Regards Dr.Ajay Panwar, MD,DM(Neurology)