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Hello all! I posted a message a few weeks ago regarding upper abdominal pain and was wondering if it was related to GERD/hiatial hernia. Since then, I took a visit to my internist who suspected a pulled muscle since the pain was on my left side of my abdomin and it spread over the top of my ribcage on the left side as well. I also exhibit no other symptoms such as problems eating, after eating, with my bowels, etc. He gave some samples for vioxx and told me to call in 2 wks if the pain is still there. Well, this morning while twisting around to put lotion on my back, I felt and saw something pop out right below my last two ribs on the left side. I made an appt. to go back to the dr., which is this Thursday a.m. I'm trying hard to not think the worse, and I know some diagnostic testing needs to be done, but my question is - can there be another reason for this besides a mass that shouldn't be there? Could an enlarged organ do the same thing? I've been having health problems for over a year now, and the doctors ruled out lymphoma, through a biopsy, since lymph nodes were swollen everywhere. I also had a pelvic ultrasound b/c I was having lower left quadrant pain, which came back negative. After testing for lupus, toxoplasmosis, and a ton of other things, they concluded that I have a virus. (EBV is the only thing I tested positive for). My low fever that I had for about 8 months is gone and the lymph nodes are pretty much back to normal. Now I'm worried that the lower abdominal discomfort and back pain I've had for over a year is related to whatever popped out this morning. I did damage my sciatic nerve some years ago, so the back pain may just be that too. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.
In Reply to: lump that popped out under my rib posted by Nicole on April 09, 2002 at 13:51:43:
Hi, Nicole.
Let us know what you learn. "Popping" usually is related to something structural and, in that area, the most common would be costochondritis related.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: lump that popped out under my rib posted by Walt Stoll on April 10, 2002 at 11:21:30:
Dr. Stoll - I read all the archives on costochondritis and mainly people complain of pain at the rib joints. My pain is at the tip of my 2nd and 3rd rib, not where it joins the sternum. Could this still be costo? I could see where it could be, considering all last year, I had horrible aching throughout my entire rib wall, especially along my back. The pain has subsided considerably, but I never thought some "nodule" could form from costo.
In Reply to: Re: lump that popped out under my rib posted by Nicole on April 10, 2002 at 16:24:03:
Hi, Nicole.
Ready for your basic anatomy lesson?
See any atlas of teh ribs and you will see that the rib ends connect to cartilege which then attaches to the sternum. If this were not so, lung expansion would be MUCH restricted.
This is why it is called costo (ribs) chondritis (inflammation of cartilege).
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: lump that popped out under my rib Archive.) posted by Walt Stoll on April 11, 2002 at 09:53:26:
Dr. Stoll - I checked out an atlas of the ribs and you were right (ha-ha!) I saw my dr. today, and he ordered a CT of my abdomin and pelvis to rule out anything serious, but he feels that the pain I have is related to a muscle strain and said that what popped out is probably a rib. If my scans come back normal, I am just going to continue with my SR and hope for the best. On the same note, why would I feel this popping all of a sudden when I felt the discomfort of costo all last year and didn't notice it? Could a chiropractic adjustment be in order? I had a nasty collision with someone while skiing last January, along with 2 rear end collisions (which were minor)several years ago. I never had any adjustment or therapy, but can tell you this - when I got off the rollercoasters at an amusement park last year, by back and neck never felt better. It was like the whipping around of the rides straightened me out. My CT scans are scheduled for next Wed. I'll let you know what's up for my benefit (knowing me, I'll have more questions). Thanks for the education!
In Reply to: Re: lump that popped out under my rib Archive.) posted by Nicole on April 11, 2002 at 13:09:21:
Thanks, Nicole.
Now, if you will just let us know the final charge for all these unnecessary tests......
I made the diagnosis over the internet for free.
That information would help others begin to understand how the system is out of control. It is no longer an honorable profession interested mostly in the patient's welfare but mainly about money for the profession.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: lump that popped out under my rib Archive.) posted by Walt Stoll on April 12, 2002 at 18:11:28:
Dr. Stoll - I couldn't agree with you more, however, in all fairness to my physician - he does not believe in ordering unnecessary tests. I believe he ordered these to appease me; I kept coming in with the same complaints. He still stands by his position that the pain I feel in my abdominal area is due to a pulled muscle. I could cancel my tests and he would have no problems with it at all. I guess I'm the fool if I end up going.
In Reply to: Re: lump that popped out under my rib Archive.) posted by Nicole on April 15, 2002 at 13:11:30:
Thanks, Nicole.
You are probably right about why your doc kept ordering these tests: your insistance and continued complaints.
However, if you had been coming to me, I would at least have done my best to explain to you why they were unnecessary. THEN, if you insisted I would refuse and you would go to someone else with less willingness to spend the time or to risk losing you as a patient.
I know this is harsh but NO test is without risk.
Walt
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