Rib Pain, worried.

anneshirley

Rib Pain, worried.

anneshirley

This is my first conversation here.  I'm HER2+, recently having some rib pain, below breast where I had lumpectomy.  And also at times below the other breast, like right now. Called my oncologist and he wants me to wait six weeks to see if it persists before doing bone scan.  I took some NSAID medication at his suggestion and it went away but then I started getting pinching pain in lower back.  Stopped NSAID and its back under breast again. I realize I worry too much but I'm always concerned about getting mets; my tumor markers from the beginning have been higher than normal or one point below normal (Onc also says don't worry) and HER2 serum has also been higher than most.  If anyone on the site has had rib pain and has any good words about what it can be other than mets, I'd love to hear from you.

maryhannah

Maybe rib fracture, from radiation.  Good luck in getting answer.

jdash

anne   i understand your worry and concern

i had some rib pain myself months ago and called my oncologist

i waited it out and it subsided   i believe it was from my mast surgery or whatever but it did go away

i also had neck pain....... went to my chiropractor and within a few months all was ok     now i am having jaw pain !  I am convinced that is something    i am sure you are fine  worrying is normal

wishiwere

I still have rib pain from under the breast where they dig out tissue at the bottom rib.  I thought (think) it was from where the drain was.  It has bothered me since the mast and is still a little bruised from Oct 25 surgery.  How long ago did you have surgery and was it near that area?  Is it near where the drain was? Oh, you probably didn't have one with a lumpectomy or did you have Nodes removed and have one?

Maybe it's muscle spasms?

anneshirley

Thanks.  In my case my surgery was 18 months ago and this just started two weeks ago.  My doctor suggested it might be inflammation of cartilege.  It's definitely something, and if I have to wait six weeks for a scan I'll be a dithering idiot by then. 

Caya

Hi anne (with an e)

There is a condition called costochondritis which is an inflammation of the ribs/back area - Another women on this site has it who is also on Herceptin, and I fell a few weeks ago which I think may have triggered it.  Her onc. said he has seen a number of women in his practice who are on Herceptin have this condition. You may need a stronger pain killer - I took Naproxen.  It took a couple of weeks for me, but eventually the pain went away.

I am not a doctor, but it seems your dr. suggests this as well.  Hope for the best.

anneshirley

Hi Caya,

Are you any where near Prince Edward Island?  I looked up the condition you describe earlier today, and mine does go around to the back, and right now it's on both sides.  But I finished herceptin a few months ago and it just started up two weeks ago.  But that may be it, as it did seem to get better when I first started on naproxen.  it seems to have come back since I stopped.  I only took the naproxen for a few days as it bothers my stomach, so perhaps a longer treatment.  The pain doesn't bother me at all, just the worry of thinking what it might be.  I could probably walk across hot coals so long as I knew it didn't cause cancer.  Such a coward! 

anneshirley

Thanks those of you who replied.  I looked up costo here and found lots of posts and then I found a group on the internet (wonderful thing) totally devoted to costo and I posted a question there, asking if costo is what I have.  The replies from others with problem say yes, and one post, with my name too, but without the "e", described my condition exactly.  So now I can stop worrying about mets (not totally) and worry about costo.  I probably should sign myself "anne who likes to worry."

Caya

Hi anne,

No, I am nowhere near PEI - Thornhill is a suburb of Toronto, Ontario Canada - which is about 90 minutes away from Buffalo/Niagara Falls.  You must be a true Anne of Green Gables fan, because only true Anne fans know she very determinedly spells it "with an e"...

I hope that costo is what you have (anything but "C") - I used my Naproxen quite regularly for about 10 days - 2 weeks, less when the pain began to subside.  But use the 2 week rule - If the symptons/pain do not alleviate after 2 weeks, call your onc.  He/She will determine what needs to be done.

sherryw

Anne

I was treated for costochondritis about 3 years ago, before BC.  The treatment was 2 weeks of an anti-inflammatory like Naproxen or a high dose of motrin.  It did make the pain better for a while but my condition ended up being a nerve condition.  You could talk to your MD about your concern and ask him or her to let you try the high dose anti-inflammatory to see if it take the inflamation out of the ribs. 

sherry

Lcharmie

HI ANNE,

I JUST STARTED HAVING PAIN IN MY RIGHT RIB CAGE, I HAVE HAD A MASTECTOMY ON THAT SIDE TOO AND ALSO RADIATION, THE DR SAID. LYMPH-EDEMA HAS SET IN AND COULD BE MORE OF A NUISANCE THAN ANY THING,THIS IS FROM THE SURGERY AND LYMPH-NODES BEING TAKEN OUT AND RADIATION SIDE EFFECTS, AND I MEAN IT HURTS AT TIMES AND THAN IT WILL GO AWAY, I FOUND THAT DARVACET HELPS MORE THAN MOTRIN, ANYWAYS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, I HAVE USED A HEATING PAD TOO AT TIMES.  SOMETIMES LATER THESE LIL AILMENTS HAVE COME ABOUT--JUST ALWAYS MAKE THE DR AWARE.

TAKE CARE

LINDA C

OneBadBoob

Anne--I too had costochondritis a few years back after my Lyme Disease dx.

NSAID's, warm compresses and tincture of time healed it.

Hope yours resolves soon, cause that is one painful, yucky condition to have.

CAREFUL WITH HEATING PADS OR ANY HEAT--DON'T WANT TO BURN ANY BREAST OR OTHER TISSUES THAT MAY HAVE COMPROMISED SENSATIONS TO THE HEAT!!

anneshirley

As a dedicated hypochondriac, you'd think I would have heard of costochondritis previously, but this is my first introduction.  I think you're all correct, and I'm worrying needlessly.  I tried the NSAIDs for too short a time, three days, so it came back.  I plan to take naproxen for the next two weeks.  It does help.  And thanks so muchto all of you. Have a great weekend.

marejo

Just wanting to let you know that I, too, experienced rib pain during my herceptin treatment and for some time afterwards.  A lot of women I have spoken with via messages over at the her2 site also complained of rib pain.  I notice from looking at all your signatures (although haven't read what each of you have written) that you are all her2 positive.  Makes sense.

My rib pain was the opposite side of my breast cancer and it was a lower rib - under my left breast.  Very common complaint amongst herceptin receiving patients. 

Of course, like with any "symptom" you need to mention it to your onc. and get it checked if need be but I'd stay positive as it sounds like nothing.

Hugs,

Mary Jo