Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Rib Cage Pain?


book-worm

Recommended Posts

book-worm Apprentice

I feel like sutch an idiot pestering this forum with questions all the time, but hear we go again.

Does anyone else get bone pain in there rib cage?

I started getting mild pain in my rib cage and just below my shoulder blades yesterday, it


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



overnormal Newbie

Hi, I'm a newbie, but YES I have strange rib cage pain when I ingest ANYTHING I knowingly or unknowingly cannot tolerate. That's one of my keys to figuring out my sensitivities.

I feel like sutch an idiot pestering this forum with questions all the time, but hear we go again.

Does anyone else get bone pain in there rib cage?

I started getting mild pain in my rib cage and just below my shoulder blades yesterday, it

annacai Newbie

Rib cage pain is what brought me to this site.I have been complaining of rib cage pain for years. Recently, I was diagnosed with severe vitamin D deficiency and then with osteomalacia as a result of vitamin D deficiency. The physicians have paid attendion to the bone pain in my back and the bone pain in my legs but have still not done anything about the bone pain in my ribs. I believe that the rib pain is also from the osteomalcia. Articles that I found on the web indicated that people with celiac/sprue are at high risk of experiecing osteomalcia, partially because of absorption issues (so someone with gluten intolerance can be vitamin D deficient even if they sun and supplement).

The pains that you describe sound like the pains that I experienced as a result of severe vitamin D deficiency and osteomalcia as result of vitamin D deficiency. I still believe that the rib is part part of this. :)

I feel like sutch an idiot pestering this forum with questions all the time, but hear we go again.

Does anyone else get bone pain in there rib cage?

I started getting mild pain in my rib cage and just below my shoulder blades yesterday, it

masterjen Explorer

I have had rib-cage pain also! I have areas of sharp pain when I press on the lower edge of the ribs on the left side, and higher up on both sides I have a sense of pressure/heaviness that can become worse for no rhyme or reason that can spread into my back and cause breathlessness - not short of breath, more like feeling winded. I am being sent for a bone scan (some kind of nuclear medicine test :o ) to check for problems with the ribs themselves. My GI specialist said that this type of discomfort, in her experience, is not typically associated with celiac. It is a relief to me to read that others with celiac have similar rib pain! Now my mind is somewhat eased, as maybe my rib situation is not anything serious after all (well, you know what I mean <_< )

annacai Newbie

Have you guys had your vitamin D levels checked? Could you be suffering from vitamin D deficiency, even osteomalacia as a result of vitamin D deficiency?[/b B)

I have had rib-cage pain also! I have areas of sharp pain when I press on the lower edge of the ribs on the left side, and higher up on both sides I have a sense of pressure/heaviness that can become worse for no rhyme or reason that can spread into my back and cause breathlessness - not short of breath, more like feeling winded. I am being sent for a bone scan (some kind of nuclear medicine test :o ) to check for problems with the ribs themselves. My GI specialist said that this type of discomfort, in her experience, is not typically associated with celiac. It is a relief to me to read that others with celiac have similar rib pain! Now my mind is somewhat eased, as maybe my rib situation is not anything serious after all (well, you know what I mean <_< )

Wenmin Enthusiast

This was a very real problem for me before being diagnosed. Doctors said it was costocondritis. It is the swelling of the cartilage in the ribcage. This is the first sign for me when I've been accidentally glutened. Usually lasts for 1-2 days.....

Wenmin

annacai Newbie

I searched this entire forum using the term "osteomalacia" and found some very interesting and helpful posts. I am also going to check out the "costocondritis." In my life diagnoses are seldom either/or things. Instead they turn out to be both/and as in you have lupus, autoimmune thyroiditis, and glueten intolerance, and .....

This was a very real problem for me before being diagnosed. Doctors said it was costocondritis. It is the swelling of the cartilage in the ribcage. This is the first sign for me when I've been accidentally glutened. Usually lasts for 1-2 days.....

Wenmin


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



book-worm Apprentice

Thanks for all this guys,

It

mommida Enthusiast

If the pain continues, or is cause shallow breathing, please see a doctor.

My friend kept blowing off the pain, and ended up being hospitalized. It was pleurisy that was compounded with pnemonia. I think she had the pleurisy first and developed the pnemonia from the shallow breathing.

  • 2 weeks later...
nyctexangal Rookie

I too have had rib pain/costochondritis for 3 1/2 years. It's turned my life up side down. Just finally figured out that it's caused by my undiagnosed Celiac. SO thankful to finally get diagnosed. I'm finding that magnesium is helping the pain. I believe this pain is due to deficiencies due to Celiac malabsorption- as well as anything that irritates the stomach. Just my newbie thoughts. =)

Hugs to all- you can check out my little costochondritis blog if you like:

Open Original Shared Link

Jamie15 Newbie

I have pain in my rib cage usually right after I eat gluten. It's how I know I've eaten it even though sometimes I can't even figure out where it came from. It's interesting to see that others have it too. I was also diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. I now have normal D levels, but I still get that pain in my ribs anytime I've been glutened.

  • 5 months later...
eatmeat4good Enthusiast

Hi, I am only one month gluten free. I have had terrible rib cage bone pain for several years and it radiates through the whole rib cage. My feet and leg bones also ache. This is the only pain that has not subsided with the gluten free diet but then again I am only one month "clean". I had suspected it is the malabsorption problem but not sure what to do about it except continue with vitamin supplements, D, magnesium, zinc, calcium and potassium. I'm just relating this to verify that it is happening to me too. I am very grateful to all who post as it has helped me tremendously in my first month out of the "fog" of gluten. Also it is reassuring to learn that others have the same atypical symptoms as I do. Very worried about my bones but can't afford a bone scan. I had read about using "bone broth" to supplement the vitamins and minerals nutritionally so that is what I am trying. Today I made chicken broth....and was very happy to be able to have the energy to do that. My first post....to all my new gluten-free soulmates. :)

GFinDC Veteran

Welcome to the site Eatmeat4good,

I think you are probably right about the mal-absorption problems. It does take some time for things to heal and absorption to improve. the chicken broth sounds like a good idea. I think I'll give that a try today. Maybe I'll even add some rice and quinoa when it's done.

julandjo Explorer

Just chiming in to add that I too have had tons of rib/chest pain. For years. Not a single doctor or specialist has been able to figure out why. I was dx'd Celiac in June, but couldn't convince my dr. to do the bloodwork for vitamin/mineral deficiencies until August. My vit. D was very low (25), but still I had to push the issue to get an rx for a high-potency D supplement (nice, huh?). The pain has begun to improve! I am noticing, however, that not only is the pain brought on by various food triggers, it's always there for several days during a big hormonal shift (around ovulation and menstruation). Like clockwork. Any ideas why this might be?

SaraKat Contributor

I have the terrible rib cage pain too- mainly on the left side. It started in Oct 2009 and I had so many tests done and finally in August 2010 I was dx'd with celiac after the rheumatoligst did a random blood test. I have been gluten-free (I have had some mistakes) since 9/1/10 and the pain seemed to be going away, but it has been back for the past 3 weeks really bad again. I am ready to go back to the Dr.

I was on the Stairmaster the other night and the pain was so bad when I was breathing out I had to get off. It is like right at the lower part of the left rib cage and then sometimes wraps around the back. It hurts at night when I lay on my stomach- it feels like something is being pushed in. It is a very hard feeling to describe.

For me, I don't have malabsorption yet- aside from anemia, all my other levels were normal- is there anything else I should have checked? I had calcium, potassium, B12, D. Maybe I am missing something.

I have also been experiencing some cramp like feelings under the left breast lately too. When it happens it is so painful it almost takes my breath away. Anyone get that? It usually lasts for 30 seconds then goes away.

  • 1 month later...
deezer Apprentice

I too have celiac disease and also have pain that seems to come from just below or near the bottom of my left side rib cage - and sometimes the right as well.

It seems to be aggravated by driving - that makes it the worst. Sitting upright for long periods of time also effects it. If I am up and moving around all day, I generally feel fine.

Any thoughts on this? Has anyone gotten any relief from this pain?

julandjo Explorer

I too have celiac disease and also have pain that seems to come from just below or near the bottom of my left side rib cage - and sometimes the right as well.

It seems to be aggravated by driving - that makes it the worst. Sitting upright for long periods of time also effects it. If I am up and moving around all day, I generally feel fine.

Any thoughts on this? Has anyone gotten any relief from this pain?

Well, since the last time I posted in this thread, I did two things: I stopped eating sunflower seed butter (it had trace amounts of soy), and I started taking a folic acid supplement. I have no idea whether it was one of these things that helped, or if it was just a matter of a little more healing time, but my chest/rib pain is now 90% gone. I still get a few twinges of it during hormone shifts or if I accidentally get a food I shouldn't (a little bit of celery last week did it to me). But it's so, so much better!

It had gotten a little better once I started prescription Vit D. A few months later I added in the folic acid - my bloodwork showed that my level was within the normal range but I decided to supplement that anyway. I don't know what actually did the trick, but there's at least a few ideas for you. Good luck!

  • 3 weeks later...
Bella001 Explorer

I get rib pain also! Mine is on my right side. It lasts anywhere from 2-30 minutes. Seems to relate to be glutened now. We went out to eat and I tried to be careful...don't think the waiter did :( Anyway, got home and went to bed. I was woke up by really bad shooting pains and it was hard to take a deep breath. Felt sore the next day.

I think it's related to gluten for sure.

okieinalaska Apprentice

I too have had rib pain, mostly on the right and slightly and then sometimes slightly under my ribcage. That's why I thought it was gallbladder problems! Then lately I get like a charley horse in the muscles on the right side just over my rib cage. It doesn't have anything to do with my heart and it goes away pretty quickly. It's like the muscles seize for a few seconds. This has happened twice in a month maybe. Weird.

Takala Enthusiast

Costochondritis - inflammation of the cartilage in the ribcage. One of the charming symptoms of sero negative arthritis along with the sjogren's and the tendonitis.

I don't get it as much now, but it's one of those oh just let me die now sort of things if it coincides with a chest cold and asthma or if you sustain an accidental impact to the ribs. :ph34r:

  • 8 months later...
mree213 Newbie

I have found a wonderful treatment for my rib pain, it is called Rolfing. it has helped tremendously with all my pain issues. Rib pain and pelvis pain was my main issues that helped me find out I had Celiac. Look for a Rolfer with years of experience for best results.

Aseyan Newbie

Wow... I never thought my occasional rib cage pain could be related to this! I swear, 99% of my unknown issues that I just put up with are celiac in disguise...

quincy Contributor

Costochondritis - inflammation of the cartilage in the ribcage. One of the charming symptoms of sero negative arthritis along with the sjogren's and the tendonitis.

I don't get it as much now, but it's one of those oh just let me die now sort of things if it coincides with a chest cold and asthma or if you sustain an accidental impact to the ribs. :ph34r:

this is interesting I was not aware of inflammation of the cartilage but I experienced this up to and after my dx in april 2010.

I thought I had gall bladder disease because the pain first appeared on the upper right and then radiated around the back of the right rib cage. Turns out I also had osteopenia so I wonder if that was also causing the aching. I also have right hip pain and inflammation of the hip joint but this too has subsided alot since going gluten free.

AVR1962 Collaborator

I feel like sutch an idiot pestering this forum with questions all the time, but hear we go again.

Does anyone else get bone pain in there rib cage?

I started getting mild pain in my rib cage and just below my shoulder blades yesterday, it

Twinklestars Contributor

I also get bad pain in my rib cage. A doctor once diagnosed me with a fracture because the pain was so bad (and he didn't do an xray). I had been doing some pretty physical stuff and my pain was severe and very real so I think he just assumed. When I accidentally glutened myself last week one of the first things that happened was sharp pain in my rib cage. Nice to know there might be a reason for it! :D

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Rejoicephd commented on Jefferson Adams's article in Gluten-Free Cooking
      1

      Your Complete Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Plan: Recipes, Tips & Holiday Favorites

    2. - marion wheaton replied to marion wheaton's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Are Lindt chocolate balls gluten free?

    3. - trents replied to marion wheaton's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Are Lindt chocolate balls gluten free?

    4. - BlessedinBoston replied to marion wheaton's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Are Lindt chocolate balls gluten free?


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,416
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Heather8280
    Newest Member
    Heather8280
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • marion wheaton
      Thanks for responding. I researched further and Lindt Lindor chocolate balls do contain barely malt powder which contains gluten. I was surprised at all of the conflicting information I found when I checked online.
    • trents
      @BlessedinBoston, it is possible that in Canada the product in question is formulated differently than in the USA or at least processed in in a facility that precludes cross contamination. I assume from your user name that you are in the USA. And it is also possible that the product meets the FDA requirement of not more than 20ppm of gluten but you are a super sensitive celiac for whom that standard is insufficient. 
    • BlessedinBoston
      No,Lindt is not gluten free no matter what they say on their website. I found out the hard way when I was newly diagnosed in 2000. At that time the Lindt truffles were just becoming popular and were only sold in small specialty shops at the mall. You couldn't buy them in any stores like today and I was obsessed with them 😁. Took me a while to get around to checking them and was heartbroken when I saw they were absolutely not gluten free 😔. Felt the same when I realized Twizzlers weren't either. Took me a while to get my diet on order after being diagnosed. I was diagnosed with small bowel non Hodgkins lymphoma at the same time. So it was a very stressful time to say the least. Hope this helps 😁.
    • knitty kitty
      @Jmartes71, I understand your frustration and anger.  I've been in a similar situation where no doctor took me seriously, accused me of making things up, and eventually sent me home to suffer alone.   My doctors did not recognize nutritional deficiencies.  Doctors are trained in medical learning institutions that are funded by pharmaceutical companies.  They are taught which medications cover up which symptoms.  Doctors are required to take twenty  hours of nutritional education in seven years of medical training.  (They can earn nine hours in Nutrition by taking a three day weekend seminar.)  They are taught nutritional deficiencies are passe' and don't happen in our well fed Western society any more.  In Celiac Disease, the autoimmune response and inflammation affects the absorption of ALL the essential vitamins and minerals.  Correcting nutritional deficiencies caused by malabsorption is essential!  I begged my doctor to check my Vitamin D level, which he did only after making sure my insurance would cover it.  When my Vitamin D came back extremely low, my doctor was very surprised, but refused to test for further nutritional deficiencies because he "couldn't make money prescribing vitamins.". I believe it was beyond his knowledge, so he blamed me for making stuff up, and stormed out of the exam room.  I had studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I switched because I was curious what vitamins from our food were doing in our bodies.  Vitamins are substances that our bodies cannot manufacture, so we must ingest them every day.  Without them, our bodies cannot manufacture life sustaining enzymes and we sicken and die.   At home alone, I could feel myself dying.  It's an unnerving feeling, to say the least, and, so, with nothing left to lose, I relied in my education in nutrition.  My symptoms of Thiamine deficiency were the worst, so I began taking high dose Thiamine.  I had health improvement within an hour.  It was magical.  I continued taking high dose thiamine with a B Complex, magnesium. and other essential nutrients.  The health improvements continued for months.  High doses of thiamine are required to correct a thiamine deficiency because thiamine affects every cell and mitochondria in our bodies.    A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function.  The cerebellum of the brain is most affected.  The cerebellum controls things we don't have to consciously have to think about, like digestion, balance, breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, hormone regulation, and many more.  Thiamine is absorbed from the digestive tract and sent to the most important organs like the brain and the heart.  This leaves the digestive tract depleted of Thiamine and symptoms of Gastrointestinal Beriberi, a thiamine deficiency localized in the digestive system, begin to appear.  Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Beriberi include anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, headaches, Gerd, acid reflux, gas, slow stomach emptying, gastroparesis, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation, incontinence, abdominal pain, IBS,  SIBO, POTS, high blood pressure, heart rate changes like tachycardia, difficulty swallowing, Barrett's Esophagus, peripheral neuropathy, and more. Doctors are only taught about thiamine deficiency in alcoholism and look for the classic triad of symptoms (changes in gait, mental function, and nystagmus) but fail to realize that gastrointestinal symptoms can precede these symptoms by months.  All three classic triad of symptoms only appear in fifteen percent of patients, with most patients being diagnosed with thiamine deficiency post mortem.  I had all three but swore I didn't drink, so I was dismissed as "crazy" and sent home to die basically.   Yes, I understand how frustrating no answers from doctors can be.  I took OTC Thiamine Hydrochloride, and later thiamine in the forms TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) and Benfotiamine to correct my thiamine deficiency.  I also took magnesium, needed by thiamine to make those life sustaining enzymes.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins, so the other B vitamins must be supplemented as well.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   A doctor can administer high dose thiamine by IV along with the other B vitamins.  Again, Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine should be given if only to rule Gastrointestinal Beriberi out as a cause of your symptoms.  If no improvement, no harm is done. Share the following link with your doctors.  Section Three is especially informative.  They need to be expand their knowledge about Thiamine and nutrition in Celiac Disease.  Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test for thiamine deficiency.  This test is more reliable than a blood test. Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12014454/ Best wishes!
    • Jmartes71
      I have been diagnosed with celiac in 1994, in remission not eating wheat and other foods not to consume  my household eats wheat.I have diagnosed sibo, hernia ibs, high blood pressure, menopause, chronic fatigue just to name a few oh yes and Barrett's esophagus which i forgot, I currently have bumps in back of my throat, one Dr stated we all have bumps in the back of our throat.Im in pain.Standford specialist really dismissed me and now im really in limbo and trying to get properly cared for.I found a new gi and new pcp but its still a mess and medical is making it look like im a disability chaser when Im actively not well I look and feel horrible and its adding anxiety and depression more so.Im angery my condition is affecting me and its being down played 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.