What Causes Strong And Rhythmic Contraction Under The Ribs?

Posted on Sun, 8 Dec 2013

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

Sun, 8 Dec 2013 Answered on

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Good Morning, My Mom who is 87 is having a contraction or spasm that is strong and rhythmic on her left side under her ribs and to the left of her belly button. It shakes her whole body, 'goes off' every 30 sec to a minute and last around 45 min. It has been starting when after she is awake but still in bed. It can be felt if I put my hand on her stomach, and seen, looks like she is getting kicked from the inside. No pain, just uncomfortable. We when to the emergency room 3 times and they found nothing, xrays, blood tests normal. checked for perithyroid function, its normal. Frequency has increased in the last week from every couple days to 3-4 times a day. she has been prescribed muscle relaxer, which seems to help some, but does not stop. She goes for an EEG today. Any ideas I could ask her doctor about are most welcome. thanks XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (10 hours later)

Brief Answer: Symptomatic treatment with modifications Detailed Answer: hello there! Thank you for asking. I read your query about your mother's spasms and cramps and i want you to know that these cramps are mutietiologic/ multifactorial. Some are managable and some are not. Age of 87 has its geriatric limitations. One of them is deranged MMCs( Migrating myoelectric complexes) the gut forces which makes a propelling forces in the gut and let the contents moving. They get deranged with age and the more they deranged the more are the spasms. Next is the drugs your mom is on. Remember the armour thyroid has its prokinetic effect on gut and so is the effect of meclizine. So two prokinetics in a row are making the spasms and cramps exacerbated. So all you need is some good skeletal muscle relaxants like tizanidine and some good antispasmodics like phloroglucinols and dose modifications for the meclizine and aromour thyroid etc to get the results. But good news is that as all the bad thing have been ruled out from the work up so your mum is safe. i would recommend some good antidepressant added to the medicines like Prozac etc to get things better. Good Luck and take some very good care of your mother. If you have any more queries for me. please feel free to ask, other wise kindly close the discussion and rate the answer as per your experience. May the odds be ever in your favour. regards Dr. S Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)

No, I don't think so.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: I am sorry fot the inconvenience then Detailed Answer: hello madam! Thank you for asking again. I tried the best i could to answer. I am sorry for the inconvenience if you didnt get satisfied, but with the details provided and the scenario presented this is the most likely possibility for these spasms as far as my knowledge of medicine is. You have the right to have 2nd or 3rd opinion. But one should have a geriatric limitations in one's mind. You can request the site team for another answer from another doctor until and unless you are satisfied.best wishes Good Luck S Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)

Thanks for trying.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: :) Detailed Answer: You are welcome.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E