Painful rib syndrome, anyone had this?

[PikachuSayBoo]

Dd has been diagnosed with this after daily episodes of acute pain for a year. Dr says they don't know what causes it and it's difficult to treat. He's prescribed regular ibuprofen. Google doesn't really bring much up.

Anyone had it? Found anything which helped?

[iMatter]

"Painful rib syndrome"?

I'm sorry op but that sounds like a monumental fob off by the doc.

No help I know.....

[PikachuSayBoo]

GP swore it's a thing and google finds an article about it.

[Crawlingupthewalls]

Is it like costochondritis? I don't know how old your DD is but I'd be a little concerned about her being given a diagnosis like that and put on regular ibuprofen unless she's been to see a rheumatologist or similar. Has the GP offered to refer her to a specialist?

[GRose04]

I have experienced 'floating rib syndrome' which sounds similar. I went to acupuncture for about 6 months and it seemed to sort out the pain. I also went to a private hospital where the doctor injected pain relief into the area.

I feel for your Dd because it really is painful. Hope she feels better soon!

[PikachuSayBoo]

GP said if the ibuprofen doesn't work to go back in a month and he will refer to a "chest dr".

[Cocolepew]

Has she been seen by any other dr ir just the gp? I agree with crawling , she should she a rheumy and have a gallbladder scan.

[Maudlinmaud]

Is it painful when he breathes in?

[Maudlinmaud]

Sorry pikachu I meant she

[PikachuSayBoo]

No idea if it's the same as floating rib syndrome.

She has pain on one side. She gets a couple of attacks a day. Can last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour. The pain is so bad she's crying and says she can't breath. Does that sound like what you had GRose. I could try acupuncture with her.

She's 15yo. I'm desperate to get this sorted.

Last GP reckoned it was because she's anaemic and Vit d defiecient.

This GP said anaemia/Vit ddoesn't cause pain like this which I would agree with.

[PikachuSayBoo]

She reckons it's worse when she breaths out. But the pain is there all the time during an attack. I raised gall bladder as a possibility but was told she said too young.

[PikachuSayBoo]

We've been to a&e who said it was stress.
First GP said it was anaemia
This GP says it's this rib syndrome.

[Maudlinmaud]

I had pleurisy at that age and found the pain around ribs awful. I went to bed with wet hair and caught it or so the story goes.
Hope you get some answers

[Crawlingupthewalls]

Have they done blood tests? Your poor DD. Does a heat pack or ice pack help at all?

[Cocolepew]

What side is it and where abouts on her ribs?

[topaz22]

is it tietze syndrome?

[PikachuSayBoo]

It's left side only. Bottom of the ribs, more towards the side and spreading round the side following the curve of her lower rib. Heat/ice doesn't help. Doesn't appear to be muscular as movement doesn't make it worse.

Yes she had bloods done and had low ferritin (7) and low Vit d.(52).

That was three months ago. Have been unable to get bloods repeated since as she refuses any more blood tests.

[PikachuSayBoo]

GP didn't mention that Tietze syndrome but I did find some info about it yesterday when googling and wondered. It says it involves swelling but I have no idea if she has internal swelling or not. No visibly noticable external swell

[PikachuSayBoo]

Also google suggests Tietze is more upper ribs. And she complains of lower rib pain. No idea though if sometimes it can affect lower ribs?

[topaz22]

i have had it for about 8 years, it's really painful and there is a lot of swelling. very common in teenagers. hope she gets sorted x

[PikachuSayBoo]

And what sort of dr do you think the GP means by chest doctor?

In my mind that could be orthopedics, or some sort of respiratory dr or a cardiac specialist?

GP yesterday was a locum and looked about eighty so not sure if painful rib syndrome is an old fashioned term?

[PikachuSayBoo]

Just looked at the Wiki page for Tietze and it does seem to fit. Did you find anything which helped Topaz? How do you pronounce it?

[SweetChickadee]

I had/have Tietze. It very much hurts on moving and breathing in. Comes and goes incredibly suddenly. Not visible at all. Nothing on xray.

Dr said it's inflammation between sternum and rib, and feels like being stabbed. Always the same spot and i got it more often when stressed. Worst attack ever was in the middle of my GCSEs.

I rarely get it now, but used to a lot from about age 10 to 20 or so

Poor DD

[SweetChickadee]

It's Teet-ze I understand. I was told I'd grow out of it, and I pretty much did. I never found anything to help

[GRose04]

The pain sounds exactly what I experienced. It took ages to be diagnosed with the problem. Eventually got seen by a pain specialist who was able to diagnose.
Acupuncture was a great pain relief and I would recommend giving it a go.

[PikachuSayBoo]

Thanks everyone, will give the acupuncture a go.....if I get her to see an acupuncturist!