Chronic intercostal pain

Where do you feel it, Anteriorly or laterally?

Does it hurt when you take a deep breath in??

Is it sharp or dull in nature?

How long have you felt it for?

How hard/far do you need to run before you feel it?

Does it move into your jaw or arm?

Do you fatigue very quickly??

Hi,
Where do you feel it, Anteriorly or laterally?
I feel the pain laterally between the ribs.

Does it hurt when you take a deep breath in??
yes, very sharp pain when i breath in.

Is it sharp or dull in nature?
always very sharp when i run. sometimes when i'm not running it just kindof itches.

How long have you felt it for?
about two years.

How hard/far do you need to run before you feel it?
8-10 minutes. it seems to come on quicker the faster i run, but it does always come on if i run, so running slowly doesn't stop it.

Does it move into your jaw or arm?
no it's very specific.

Do you fatigue very quickly??
no, don't feel fatigued at all, just excruciating pain.

any ideas?
cheers

Provided it isn't any pathology most likely cause is either a subluxated rib or chronic Serratus ANt myofascial problem. Shouldn't be a big deal to correct as long as you see someone who knows what they are doing. Probably Sports Chiro would be best.

roxy..good day from atlanta,georgia..ive recently 'joined up' and came across your question..ive been doing body work for the past 25 yrs and specific myo-fascial release techniques since '89..you might try intercostal friction with your finger tips..place your index thru little fingers between the ribs,working to and fro from the middle chest out to and around the 'edges' of the lateral ribs. moderate pressure for a few minutes at a time..this will have several beneficial affects...it warms the area [several degees with good penetration] which will begin to loosen the fascia/collagen component..it will also have a reflex affect into the area on the underside [the lung]..you could also begin to gently 'pry' the ribs apart-think1/8-1/4 inch-creating more space which combined with the reflex/heating aspect might give you enough relief so as to continue to do the work..also seeing someone who does fascial work be a good idea..lots of named modalities[rolfing,mrt,soma,heller...] best luck ira

Bone scan is the word for stress fractures!

I'd be very careful about online diagnosis over a msg board folks. Even using phases like "most likely"!

Rib subluxation/dislocation is a very bold diagnosis and should be one of exclusion!!!!

How's your back?
At what level is the rib and how is your back at that point?
What do you do for a living?
How much do you run?
Do your scapulae ever wing? How much physiotherapy have you had and what were your comments? Did you do their prescribed exercises as much as they wanted you to?

I worked in a vineyard over summer, removing lower growth - so continual bending and often minimal straightening for 4 weeks over an 8 week period. I have had rib pain since. Mainly on my right front lower. I have been trying to stretch it out, but both sides seem to be sore now from over movement. It is relived when I lay down or support my back. My back muscles along my spine are constantly tender. Any ideas? Dj

**relieved NOT relived.

Isn't this what is technically known as a "stitch"

Here is an article about it:

The stitch: What is it and how can you prevent it?
Researchers from New Zealand have provided an insight into what causes the stitch and how you can prevent it.

Stitch
Despite what you might have been told, scientists aren't really sure what causes the stitch. During exercise, blood is shunted away from the diaphragm (one of the muscles involved in breathing) to the limbs. According to conventional wisdom, the pain is caused by a reduction in blood supply to the diaphragm.

However, two researchers from the University of Otago had a different idea. Brian Plunkett and Will Hopkins tested a theory first put forward in the early 1940's. They proposed that the stitch is actually caused by the gut "tugging" on the ligaments connecting it to the diaphragm.

Plunkett and Hopkins gave their subjects a number of different fluids that digested at different speeds. According to the ligament theory, the pain of the stitch should remain high with fluids that digest slowly. Fluids digesting quickly should reduce the weight of the gut — easing the pain of the stitch.

The results tended to support the theory. Fluids digesting slowly led to an increase in stitch intensity that was more than double that of the fast digesting drinks.

Plunkett and Hopkins also tested several strategies designed to relieve the stitch. There were three that proved most effective.

• Wait 2-3 hours before exercising after a large (1 liter or more) drink or meal.

• When you get a stitch, bend forward and tighten your abdominal muscles, while breathing out through pursed lips. The lower position of the diaphragm and increased contraction of the abdominals are designed to reduce tension on the ligaments.

• Try wearing a light wide belt around your waist. This is designed to move your abdominal contents upward and inward — reducing tension on ligaments between gut and diaphragm.

Reference
Plunkett, B.T., & Hopkins, W.G. (1999). Investigation of the side pain "stitch" induced by running after fluid ingestion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31, 1169-1175

I don't know about gut ligament dragging on the diaphragm - there is no such thing.
I worry about the advice doled out by "Dr" Trev. In 27 years of medicine I have never seen a subluxed rib, even after major trauma. The costovertibral joint gets arthritic or a rib may break. As far as bone scanning goes-this will certainly show a fracture but this would hurt all the time not just after running.

intercostal pain