Self-Diagnosis of Side Pain Confirmed!

Yes, all my playing around as a doctor on the internet did indeed yield the proper diagnosis for my side pain. The diagnosis is one: costochondritis. It is basically inflammation of the cartilage by the rib cage. In my case, rib number 12 to be exact which is near the bottom and off to the side. When aggravated (every day for the past 2 months and counting), it makes my whole side ache. The pain started last September and lasted til November and faded away but resurfaced in March and has now been here for the past 2 months. Every day I wake up pain free, move around and eventually the pain starts. It hates my car seat which I have very upright due to my back issues and that usually gets it going. My doctor said it is because my rib cage is stretched when I sit that way. I've had a ton of tests for this to find out it wasn't part of the revised plumbing but simply part of the skeletal system. Not sure why it is flared up. This can be caused by a virus but since I haven't been sick since long before WLS - that's not it. I haven't done any coughing at all so that didn't cause it. And no injuries that I can think of. So I'm at a loss for what started it in the first place and why it went away nor why it came back now. What does one do for costochondritis? There isn't much to be done. You cannot really rest your ribs... they move by the simple act of breathing. Anti-inflammatories would be an option but aren't an options for us post-ops so there goes that. I will add fish oil (CorOmega - emulsified) into my diet for it's natural anti-inflammatory properties and we'll see. Ice or heat can be an option but not alot of help. My doctor looked sad when she said there wasn't anything really to do (I can take tylenol). She says the condition tends to ebb and flow (come and go). She looked and said "Is there something I CAN do for you today... need some bloodwork" and we both laughed pretty hard. Bless her. Nice lady. I did get my 1 year bloodwork done today while I was there. Needless-to-say, while I was expecting this to be the diagnosis... I was hoping there were more treatment options. I will be exploring chiropractic care and acupuncture. Have a doc in each of this ilks and I'll try whatever because the pain sucks. I want to thank everyone for their support through the ups and downs with this. Everyone has been so great and sympathetic and concerned. It has been greatly, greatly appreciated. Love, Kathy

Kathy, I am so glad you finally found an answer, even though there is not enough resolution to the problem. Can't we just take out those darned ribs??? Just another example of how us patients have to stick up for ourselves and make sure our doctors are looking at things from every angle. Not that they don't do a good job -- we just need to help them along. Hang in there . . . Angie

Angie, My docs have been very proactive in eliminating lots of things. I think alot of it was attributed to the WLS so that steered things away from perhaps... the obvious. Heck, I didn't explore my own body enough (don't go there...lol!) to know that I could trigger the pain. Anyway, I definitely believe in being proactive and being our own advocate! Thanks so much! Kathy

I'm glad you got the final answer, Kathy, even though there's not really anything you can do. My surgeon told me a similar answer when I asked about my side pain, that it was not a hernia, but it was some kind of irritation of where my ab muscles connect to my ribs. The answer was to lay off the ab work. Well snort! That's what's been helping my back feel better. It's sure hard to be a graceful, spiritual being in a physical body. Eileen

Hey, Eileen! The weird thing is that my ab workouts don't seem to trigger the pain. And I do a decent amount. I wasn't doing ab work back when the pain started. Really only started that in January when we joined the gym. My muscles may get a bit sore from the workout but that passes easily and is a familiar sensation. LOL. I love that... "hard to be a graceful, spiritual being in a physical body". How true, how true. Kathy

Hi Kathy, While I am happy you know where the pain is coming from.... I am sooo sorry you kinda have to live with this! Wishing and hoping something brings the swelling down and the pain goes away! Hugs! Marla