Rib Cramping
I cannot express how excited I was to read about the mysterious symptom......rib cramping! I have broken my ribs 4 times by coughing too hard for too long during exacerbations. The last rib Was broken over 2 yrs ago and yet when I bend, twist or even yawn hard my ribs hurt badly. Rolling horrible, brace yourself and cannot move pain. I have always attributed this pain to my ribs possibly healing incorrectly but all my docs, and I have many, have said that was not probable. Tonight I came upon an article talking about rib cramping on this site and immediately knew by the description that rib cramping was the cause of my pain. Anyone out there have a doc who recognizes this or has a plausible explanation?
Hi Julie and thanks for your post and for sharing your experiences with rib pain. Others in our community have also spoken quite candidly about their 'rib cramping'. I also do recall reading anecdotal reports about some who even had similar experiences with either broken or cracked ribs after violent coughing spasms. Here are the seven articles that appear on our website concerned with rib pain/cramping:
https://copd.net/living/relief-rib-cramping/
https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping/
https://copd.net/stories/cramp-in-rib-cage/
https://copd.net/q-and-a/rib-cramps/
https://copd.net/stories/help-rib-cramps/
https://copd.net/stories/rib-cramp/
https://copd.net/q-and-a/pain-in-chest-ribs/It's a considerable amount of material and it's only meant to provide you with some of the information from our staff and members that focuses on rib pain and cramping.
I'm hopeful others in our community will respond to your post as well.
All the best,
Leon (site moderator)This is something I wish I had heard about back 14 years ago. I had a lung removed because of cancer and since they had to go in twice because of complications; my ribs took alot of damage. The rib cramping then was horrible and now with Stage 3 COPD, I get it too. Not as bad by any means but it is nice to know that it isn't just me or in my 'head'.
Hi CherylW -
I wish you had heard about it too! Sometimes just knowing we're not crazy means a lot, doesn't it!
Regards,
Lyn (moderator)
