Not sure if this is something that is associated with doing a sit up slightly to aggressively, or related to a recent cholgitis attack, but my rib, not under, actual rib, about four ribs from the top hurts…almost like a got hit. No bruise or lump, just slight pain, a bit more pronounced when I push on it. Could it be associated with my liver swelling, or something PSC related? If anyone has had something along those lines, please let me know how your experiance was. Thanks.
I have this exact same pain. I brought it up to my heptologist and she said it’s unrelated and I shouldn’t be concerned. To me it seems like it would be related and O wonder if this similar to the RUQ pain people talk about on this forum? It almost feels like a pulled muscle, very slightly tender to the touch and In the exact same spot you mentioned. I was told not to worry about it, but of course I am worried it’s related.
Thanks for the reply…those slight discomforts we used to just shrug off definitely bring a little more attention now.
Best of luck and health.
1 Like
I too have PSC, and I get these rib pains from time to time. I actually can get them on either side of my rib cage, so I don’t think it’s my liver swelling or anything. joint pain is common with PSC, so I attribute it to that.
For what it’s worth, I also get the pains in my neck, back, and sternum at times.
When my symptoms with PSC first started I had some blood work at the hospital, and the doctor said I had a magnesium deficiency, and he thought maybe that could be causing the joint pain. I have since taken a magnesium supplement daily, and it seems to have helped reduce the frequency of these pains.
Steve,
Thanks for your post. Magnesium is a very beneficial supplement for PSC patients. It also helps with night-time cramps. I took 800 mg prior to transplant before bed each evening.
Mark
Thanks for the replies…I just ran out of magnesium…so that may be part of it…I was taking 500mg daily. I do notice the pain a little more when I workout, but it seems to have subsided a bit.
I am also in Michigan Steve…Grand Rapids…where are you at?
Jake
Jake,
If you are shopping for a good magnesium, I’d highly recommend Magnesium Citrate. I use a site where you get 200 capsules in a bottle and then you get 2 bottles free for a total of 3 bottles. The Citrate form of magnesium absorbs better than the Oxide formulation. You might find this link helpful.
http://www.doctorvitaminstore.com/4260_MagCitrate.html
Mark
Hi dear I had the same pain and that’s why I went to see a doctor and got me to where I am now still in the process of diagnosis but severe colitis stopped me from getting ERCP and colonoscopy but MRCP is suspiscious and liver biopsy shows fibrosis . It might be gal bladder as well. But doctors don’t know what exactly is causing the pain that keeps coming on and off.
Thanks Sami…what do you mean by suspicious…of PSC, or gallbladder dysfunction?
Well normally they can see PSC from MRCP but in my case they couldn’t figure it out they said I need to have ERCP but I ended up having colitis and got hospitalized all week last week.hoping to get it done next week . This rib pain you are experiencing I have it all the time. Sometime gallbladder doesn’t have stones but it’s not functioning well and causes rib pain . I have to get HIDA scan to monitor gallblader function but I’m avoiding it since I have had 4 CT scans with and without contrast for the past 2 years. The pain is a dull pain around my 4th/5th rib on the right side . I have seen so many doctors and all stated this pain can not be from an enlarged liver .
So I have the exact same thing but also sometimes get these weird phantom shoulder pains. It feels the exact same as it did when I got my liver biopsy, just not as severe. And also sometimes left, right or both! Tends to just go away eventually and it never actually restricts me in my movement.
The weird rib pains are getting better after I stopped pressing on it every time I felt them. And for now they are mostly on the left. Actually it feels like it’s not the rib but the diaphragm? It’s definitely worse when I press it and it’s kinda between the ribs where I think the spleen is… I can get it to always hurt when I do a plank or pushups
I also have Crohn’s (and not UC) idk if that has something to do with it.
I have a doctor’s visit on the 16th where I will press for a ultrasound and my first MRCP on the 19th. I will update here. It’s very comforting to know others have had it. Not that I wish that on ANYONE, but it helps me freak out a bit less
Larry, I hope you get good news.
Jeff
1 Like
So since I promised an update:
After my initial post the weird refered type pain went away for some days. So did the side stitches. Then my right arm / shoulder started to hurt. Pretty much the same feeling like you get after the COVID shots or similar. That went up to the shoulder and was also gone after like 3 days.
Went to my gastro / hep and after mentioning my shoulder pain she immediately went to talk about my upcoming Crohn’s treatment. Asked her, and she thinks it might be Crohn’s related but unlikely to be psc. (For context: I was off entyvio for a while because she wanted to rule out that for my liver tests and since my colon has been fine since I have not taken biologicas for some time)
Then I went and got the MRCP. Imaging looks very good. No Tumor or swollen lymph nodes. Only mild ongoing inflammation in some small bile ducts, maybe parts of the big one but uncertain. Spleen has been slightly bigger at 14.5cm but it has been slightly enlarged on and off since October. I really hate this because I wanna go skate without fearing that I rip my spleen apart…
Blood tests also came back with everything normal (!) Except I think igg4 very slightly elevated. My AP was 104…
So for the shoulder/ rib i believe it’s either
-
Crohn’s / autoimmune stuff
-
My mind playing tricks on me because ever since my diagnosis I have been hyper aware of literally everything and generally anxious
-
Some unrelated stuff like posture, weird sleep positions, the rapidly changing weather or whatever. (Last week was -7C° and now it’s 12C° lol)
I think with these news I can rest a bit and take it easy. Maybe I’ll not freak out as much.
Anyway it feels good to dump all this somewhere. Even if just for me to refer back to. Thanks for having this forum
See ya
Larry, being post-tx, I was told that my spleen would always be slightly enlarged. Knowing this does not prevent me from doing anything I want.
With PSC, I would advise people to live their lives as best they can, to not let PSC dictate their lives as long as possible, as there may be a time it does.
Jeff
Jeff
1 Like