Help me figure out what this agonising sharp pea-sized pain in my rib area might be

[CuckooClockWorkOrange]

That's it really. Every now and then, it comes on fairly suddenly, I get a really intensely sharp and extremely painful 'blast' of agony in a tiny pea sized area in my lungs or ribcage. Always on the left side. About two below breast. What on earth could it be? It's so painful, but yet I'm fine, healthy, not unwell. It only happens from time to time.

[maidamess]

I get that. I used to think it was my lung getting trapped in my ribs, until my smartarse dh told me it was anatomically impossible.

What I do believe it is though, is a type of cramp. I get it when I breathe in sharply sometimes, and it kills, but only for a moment, then its gone.

I still reckon its my lung getting stuck.

[CuckooClockWorkOrange]

Maybe it could be blood vessels bursting ..

Glad I'm not a total odd ball!

[Elibean]

I had something very like that, turned out to be called - um - costochondriasis. Or very close to that.

It was basically an inflamed joint between the rib bone and the cartilage that joins it to the breastbone...its not all that uncommon, and I went through endless breast exams thinking it was breast pain. In the end a breast surgeon poked up under my left boob and pushed against the cartilage and said 'there, does that hurt?' and I nearly jumped off the couch. Apparently it can be so agonizing that people think they're having heart attacks...or just ache occasionally.

I don't know if yours is that or not, but its one possibility

[CuckooClockWorkOrange]

Elibean, my pain doesn't linger, but what you've described, I think my Mum has that, and she's never understood what it was. She can't even wear a bra it's so painful.

What was the cure? Or was there one?

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

I get it too.

I had a chest xray and it was all clear.

[Elibean]

No cure, Cuckoo, but doctors recommended regular Nurofen when it flared up. Mine was never constant, more sharp stabs from time to time, but several in one day as opposed to one every few weeks. Nowadays, I get the occasional stab on the right, but I have no breast lumps/changes and as I have an easily-knackered back, I'm sure its muscular/skeletal pain of some sort and connected to ribs/nerves again.

[CuckooClockWorkOrange]

Thanks Elibean.

[melissa72]

I have this (I'm 27 wks) and have been refered to pyhsio next week finally! It's Rib Flare aparently. excrutiating pain on rhs, front of ribs and sometimes the back, I cant sleep well at the mo. I find lots of cushions on the sofa or lying on back the only relief. Doc says take paracetamol but not happy to do that for the next 3 mths !!
I've heard the pain goes after baby, not much help when youre in agony tho heh. good luck.

[Evenstar]

I suffered with costochondritis, but was told it was idiopathic which means there is no reason that they know of for it. It is quite common, I actually was concerned about my heart because of the level of pain. It took several months to clear up, and there really is no treatment other than anti-inflammatories which I was already on for something else. It just gradually got better and now I can lie on that side again, but it was very painful at the time.