Extreme Pain in Rib Cage

By yfrenchie

2 min read

It started long before I found out I have COPD, I couldn't figure out what was causing this pain inside my rib cage because many or no activities would bring it on and when it was brought on the pain was severe. I would put my arm up in the air hoping to relieve some of the pain - it would take my breath away.

Sent to a gastrologist for the rib pain

I called it my alien because after a while it was like it was moving around in my rib cage. I would tell people about it and they would look at me like I was nuts. I told my doctor about it and he sent me to a gastrologist. I told that doctor about it and he took out my gallbladder. Yet still I get this pain. Now I get it if I bend over too long like when I'm tying my shoes or washing my feet in the shower.

Loss of consciousness lead to my diagnosis

I found out I had COPD about 4 years ago. It was on Thanksgiving night, we had gone to some friends of ours' house for dinner, however, I wasn't really feeling all that great and really didn't feel that hungry either so I told them I wanted to go home. At home all I remember is I was walking thru the trailer we lived in, going towards the living room. We had a friend staying with us at the time (Josh). I guess when I got to the living room I passed out. Josh caught me and started yelling for help - I don't remember all of that. I guess I was in and out of consciousness.

They called an ambulance. They came and took me to the hospital. After doing a lot of tests on me, the doctor came in and informed me I have COPD. At first I thought, "Okay so what? I have COPD." Not having any idea just what's entailed with COPD. Then one day my youngest daughter was up from Long Beach and I was laying down on my bed and decided to look up COPD. Boy that hit me hard. I had no idea. I started crying. I got very depressed and I'm even more depressed now than I was then. I hate how little energy I have, I really hate if I do have a little energy that everything I need or want to do winds me. I don't really care for my doctor not to mention I live 25 miles out of town but I know at the rate I'm going its only going to get worse.

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Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
Hi YFrenchie and thanks for sharing your experiences with rib cramping and COPD. We're glad you found our website. We are all about all things COPD and can provide support, scientific information or even just a friendly ear. Sometimes, the relationship you have with your doctor can make the difference in your care and treatment. Don't be afraid to branch out and look for a specialist (pulmonologist) who you find is more suitable for what you need. I thought you might find this article on 'communicating with your doctor' to be helpful: <a href='https://copd.net/living/tips-for-improving-communication-with-physician' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/tips-for-improving-communication-with-physician/</a> You may also find this article on the 'right doctor' to be equally beneficial: <a href='https://copd.net/caregiver/finding-the-right-doctor' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/caregiver/finding-the-right-doctor/</a> Please know that you are always welcome here! Warm regards, Leon (site moderator)
Meaghan Coneys Moderator
Hi Yfrenchie, Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. We are so glad you are a part of our community. In addition to what Leon suggested, I thought you would also find the following article informative - <a href='https://copd.net/living-with-copd/pulmonary-rehab' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living-with-copd/pulmonary-rehab/</a>. It provides an overview of pulmonary rehabilitation program, which can potentially lessen the impact of the symptoms related to COPD. Additionally, this article on coping - <a href='https://copd.net/living-with-copd/pulmonary-rehab/coping' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living-with-copd/pulmonary-rehab/coping/</a>, discusses ways to cope with the emotional impact of COPD. Please know that we are hear you and understand you here at <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>. Please reach out to us whenever you need. We love hearing from you. Again, thank you for sharing your story with us. Sending loads of good energy your way. Warmly, Meaghan (COPD.net Team)
1. beth Member
 I have been going to rehab for some time now and it does seem to help. I would definitely recomend it .
beth Member
Yes I got those cramps too and still go. It wasn't until read about other people that I said OK this is part of it. I also have a hard time with depression and am seeing a therapist. I hope she will be able to help me deal.
shirleyann Member
Yfrenchie, my experience is very similar in that when I tried telling my dr's about the rib pain and cramping, they would always act like they never heard of such a thing. I had already been diagnosed with COPD several years earlier. My regular GP sent me to a gastroenterologist who scheduled me for a gastroscope. While we waited the several months for that, I was sent for an abdominal scan which showed my gallbladder was "packed" with stones and most likely needed to come out. I was then sent to a surgeon to decide if my gallbladder needed to be removed. She examined me and determined that while my gallbladder had stones in it, they were not the source of my pain and she would not be removing my gallbladder unless it became painful. Then I had the gastroscope which turned out negative. Further investigation stopped. I have since begun seeing a new GP, but have accepted that the cramping is caused by my COPD and now I take a tsp of mustard or drink some pickle juice when I get the cramps and this seems to help very much. Thank you for your post here.
dotty Member
Yes I have had COPD (Emphysema) for a number of years now and I too experience the agonising pain around my ribs which I have only recently connected to the COPD because of what I've read. I also suffer from muscle spasms and cramps in other parts of my body....feet, legs, arms which seem to be worse when I'm tired which is very often and wonder if these also are connected. Perhaps someone would comment on this and say if they too experience these agonising spasms and cramps and absolute, utter fatigue.
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 Hi Dotty and thanks so much for taking the time to post your comment and experience. If you haven't already, you may want to check out our Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/copddotnet/ We have many community members there who discuss all sorts of topics related to COPD. In fact, there is a forum all about rib cramping which I'm sure you will find interesting. You can find it here: <a href='https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/community-feedback-rib-cramping/</a> Please feel free to access our website and Facebook as often as you like. We look forward to your continued participation. All the best, Leon (site moderator)
debchico Member
Do I know rib cramps! Pre-COPD, I was fishing with my dad on his boat. I'm "anchor girl," and had pulled the anchor at least 20 times off a mucky bottom that day. Two days later, sitting on my couch, I reach for something and get the most incredible pain in my ribcage it took my breath away! Agonizing pain "out of nowhere!" Went to the closest Doc-in-the-Box, and was informed that I had pulled the muscles holding my ribs together, and the reason it took so long to hit me was the swelling that happened had started to go down, allowing me to experience the full agony. Lasted a couple of weeks! So, years later, enter COPD. One day that I had TWO epic breathing (or rather, NOT breathing) episodes. The kind you are pretty sure you are going to die from. Chest heaving, collapsed on the floor, blowing the top off the panic meter. I survived, barely, but the next morning a familiar pain in my ribcage kept me from drawing a deep breath. I called my insurance nurse, just to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack, but no, it was those same muscles I pulled with the 30# anchor, I now pulled simply trying to get air into my lungs. As a side note, during that call, I noticed the thickest, blackest smoke out my window and I hung up on the nurse. That was the day my house burned down during the tragic Camp Fire in Northern California. But that's a whole other story...