Like a giant rubber band squeezing my ribcage

[Unregistered]

I've suffered from panic attacks quite badly and wasn't necessarily shaken up about anything when they would happen. I couldn't breathe and sometimes couldnt even partially breath in and have to hold my my breath, stretching my arms up sometimes helped but still it interrupted my schooling. I felt the tight rubber band feeling around my chest also, I suspected it may have been my bra or bra straps and had to wear a light singlet under my garments for years in replacement.

I've since cut wheat and diary and the cramps improved alot, i took up yoga which helped because i felt like i was gaining my strength in my chest and also helped improve my sleeping, no waking up with chest pains.

I also experienced chest bruising like other have mentioned however I have a bleeding disorder so may not be related.

The most effective thing I have tried is a psychologist, I believe my brain was sending my body false signals into a fight or flight mode and once i became concious of this connection I have fully fixed my problem. I've learnt to train myself not to let the chest pains occur anymore simply by recognising that the painful sensations such as you speak of is a false message from my brain.

I truly believe this is a mind over matter situation, but what ever works for you I hope you overcome it as it's a terrible feeling. Good luck.

[Lilly of the Valley]

Like so many on this forum, I have fought a mysterious ribcage/back/chest pain for the last year. It feels like a giant, thick, tight rubber band is squeezing me around my ribcage. I frequently feel short of breath, but I was a college track runner and marathoner in top form before this started.

The main symptoms include a constant "tight" feeling, shortness of breath, tingly and stabbing sensations in my entire ribcage, breast pain, immobility, and muscle spasms. Oddly, my upper body almost always feels cold and tingly, even when the rest of my body is warm. Also, I have woken up in the morning with bruises on my chest, exactly where the pain is the worst. My theory is that the "tight" feeling was so bad in my sleep, that I was rubbing my chest, desperately trying to loosen it somehow, and bruised myself accidently. But who knows?

The first doctor told me I have asthma, and gave me an inhaler. It made no difference. I saw a second doctor, who X-rayed me and gave me blood tests, all of which came back fine. She concluded it was my Lat muscles being injured, and gave me physical therapy, muscle relaxers and NSAIDS. These help relieve pain in the short term a bit, but doesn't fix the source of the problem.

Otherwise, I am in good shape. I've made my desk ergonomic, started therapuetic yoga, and gotten cracked my my chiro... but the problem is still there.

Help! How can I get back to my normal life without the "rubber band"?

Hello,
Have you ever found out what all these symptoms are? I also have some of them and more. Do you have abnormal fatigue also? If so, have you ever been tested for MS or b12 deficency?

[Unregistered]

I had the same exact symptoms and it took a third gastro doctor to use an ultra sound
to diagnose a stone caught in my main bile duct. I have to tell you the same symptoms occured 3 years earlier, which was my gallbldder. They removed it but unaware that a stone slipped thru and layed there until it was diagnosed. You must insist on a procedure called an ERCP. They sent a tube down your throat all the way until they can see blockage, if there is they take care of it right then, if there isn't, then certain things are ruled out.
Just one last note. They did not catch my stone on an ct scan or the ultrasound the 1st time. You need a really good technician and doctor. Good luck, I know what your going thru.

Hello, i know this post is froma few years ago, but i too have this tightness around my stomach, rib cage that is basically having me at the end of my rope. I too had my gallbladder out this past summer. If you get this message...can you please write back so i may ask you about your experience? I think i need an ercp as well....and just want to have some hope that it'll help.

[Unregistered]

Some of the symptoms on here sound like an "MS Hug". I would Google it, but get it checked out regardless.

[Unregistered]

Hello,
Have you ever found out what all these symptoms are? I also have some of them and more. Do you have abnormal fatigue also? If so, have you ever been tested for MS or b12 deficency?

I have thes same symptoms you need to see a nurologists and or rhumetologists there are a number of condiditons this could be, inmlamation or diseases of the spine. For me prednisone help me greatly, hope this helps

[Unregistered]

Hello, i know this post is froma few years ago, but i too have this tightness around my stomach, rib cage that is basically having me at the end of my rope. I too had my gallbladder out this past summer. If you get this message...can you please write back so i may ask you about your experience? I think i need an ercp as well....and just want to have some hope that it'll help.

you need to see a rhumetolosits or a nurologists, peiople don't realize it but the spine is a lot of the cause of a lot of different disorders. Inflamation of the spine whichcauses pain and radial problemns thoruoughout yourbody. i am taking prednisone for this and anit inflamatories, theres nothing that theycan do for me, but the drugs help

[Unregistered]

you need to see a rhumetolosits or a nurologists, peiople don't realize it but the spine is a lot of the cause of a lot of different disorders. Inflamation of the spine whichcauses pain and radial problemns thoruoughout yourbody. i am taking prednisone for this and anit inflamatories, theres nothing that theycan do for me, but the drugs help

I have this, too. I've had panic attacks and that's not it, folks. I also had my gallbladder taken out this year...hmmm. I've had this squeezing pain around my middle and severe pain under and around my ribs right below my breasts for over a year and really thought it would go away once I had my gallbladder removed. Not so, the pain has worsened recently. A couple of weeks ago I went to the ER with all of the symptoms of a heart attack - after EKG, chest x-ray and CT with contrast to rule out pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lungs), I was diagnosed as having pleurisy. Pleurisy is inflammation between the chest wall and lung and can be a symptom of an underlying autoimmune illness, like RA or lupus. I also have had fibromyalgia for 16 years and have costochondritis. Been having worse joint pain and stiffness lately, too, so I'm headed back to the doc for more blood work. I walk with a cane and have also considered that I might have MS. It's really confusing and I can't afford all the specialists it seems I'm going to need to figure this out! I just wanted to add a pleurisy diagnosis to the mix for anyone experiencing joint pain, fatigue and stiffness, too. Confused? Me, too.

[jools182]

hi

i am getting exactly the same thing for the past 8 months

its gotten worse the past 2 weeks

my ribcage feels like its squeezing me, it aches

my skin around the ribcage back and front tingles and also in my arms

i can take deep breaths but have to think about it

it driving me nuts and i am also getting dizzy with it, unsteady on my feet, maybe due to panic about my ribcage feeling so tight

its definitely movement related somehow. if i sit i seem to get less symptoms, soon as i move around, even if its just my arms it gets worse

anyone had any answers to this yet?

[jools182]

hi

I am been having the exact same thing for about 8 months now

Whole ribcage feeling tight and aching, front and back

Also skin tingling all over ribcage and sometimes both arms

feeling like the muscles in my chest are going into spasm in various areas, sometimes feels like someone is pushing a hand on me or poking me

feeling breathless although when I calm down I can actually take deep breaths

also getting head pressure headachesand dizziness and feeling unsteady on my feet, I am not sure if this is anxiety from other symptoms

has anyone got any answers? its driving me nuts and ruining my life

[jools182]

I am getting the exact same thing as firefly

constantly sore rib cage, tight aching, muscle spasms, feeling like I can't breathe (although I do manage riding my bike etc and don't feel breathless so maybe anxiety from the tight ribs?)

getting strtange feelings all over chest and back, skin tingling, spasms, aches, feeling like I am being poked or someone is pressing their hand against me

also getting facial numbess/aching sometimes around nose and sides of face

also had a massive pressure type headache on saturday morning

help