Sore ribs.

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Karina121293
Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Here I go again, yet another ache and as always I need your advise. 

It has been about a week some of my ribs are sore to touch. It is on my mastectomy side, further down the scar, almost in the end of the rib cage. There is no swelling,  bruising, or rash.  It  doesn't hurt without touching, neither is a problem sleeping on that side. Just tender to touch. I wonder, if that ache has been there longer and I haven't noticed, as I was too busy dealing with my knee pain. And now when the latter is a bit better, I had to find this one. Never boring, is it??? 

I am not too scared, but it's annoying my mind. I don't want to run to the doctors office again, I was there last week.. 

Hope everyone is doing good. 

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited March 2012

    Give it the two-week rule. If it's still there in another week, have you dr check it out.

    I have several places, including the same spot, on my body that are "sore" to the touch, but I attribute them to pressing too hard or just general aging, with perhaps a dose of radiation chondritis that hasn't gone away.

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2012

    Thanks Nancy. I think the more I am probing it, the sorer it gets. Have you noticed, that the flesh is thinner on mastectomy side than the other one? Just the skin and the ribs.I wonder, if that makes our ribs more "vulnerable".

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited March 2012

    Sorry you're having this scare Karina, I've had the same problem.  My ribs are sore to touch but no other time, it comes and goes from time to time but seems to have got better with time.  I've laid it to damage from chemo/rads or chrondritis.  It does seem it's always something with us....lets hope it's never nothing though :)  Good luck my friend and let us know if anything changes.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited March 2012

    Hi Karina, 

    I assume you had radiation on that side?  Achy ribs are very common after radiation.  I think the radiation does something to the connective tissue between the ribs.  I agree with Nancy...give it 2 or 3 weeks and to ease your mind, go see the doctor.  Do not think of it as "bothering" them. That is what they are there for. 

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2012

    Thanks so much, Jenny and Bugs. Yes, I had rads on that side, but the tenderness is lower, on rib skeleton I think it is the 9th and 10th rib. Will rads affect that part too?  I have wrapped the area, so that won't poke it all the time. Not sure now, if it started from probing, or I started to prob, because it hurt. So two weeks rule  for me then. My onco is more than welcoming for any concern, it's just me having hospital phobia.. Every time I schedule the regular appointment, something not planned comes in between. 

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited March 2012

    Hi, could the sore ribs be costochondritis? If you go to the Mayoclinic, the symptoms sound similar.

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626/DSECTION=symptoms

    Hopeful thats all it is, after 2 weeks if you still have the pain, you should go to the doctor. I make it a habit of going to my primary first, then if nothing evident, I mention to my Onco.

    Good luck and let us know how you are.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited March 2012

    Hi Karina,

    Sorry you are having that stinkin worry again.  I know exactly how you feel.  It's so hard to know what our new "normal" is!  "Before" you probably would have not even given it a second thought, but now our minds seem to always do a number on us.

    I agree with bevin, if it lingers for 2 weeks or so I'd have it checked out, just for the peace of mind.

    Take care,

    Sharon 

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2012

    Thank you all !! I am keeping my hands away from the area and it seems a bit better.Will let you know, how I feel in couple of  more days. 

    Everyone, have a nice weekend!! 

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