<p>I have had rib pain for 2 years now after a bout of bad coughing. Has anyone found a way around this? It was horrible for about a week; now it’s bearable, but it feels permanent. Any ideas?</p>
<p>I feel for you. I’ve had this 3 or 4 times. Excruciating pain when coughing, sneezing, laughing, breathing - oh gosh, I cringe now remembering it. You are coughing so hard that the muscle separates from the rib. Feels like a knife slicing through your side, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>It took awhile for us to figure it out - that my coughing spells were triggered by allergies of some kind. The little post nasal drip down the back of the throat is the reason for the cough to begin with. I never used to even notice it, it was very minor. Now I am very aware and take claritin or Sudafed to stop the runny nose (although i didn’t have the runny nose, just that little irritating ahemming in my throat). I haven’t had an attack in over 3 years now.</p>
<p>My D had the coughing and nasal drip constantly for over a year and all forms of medications did not stop it. What finally cured the problem was her going off all wheat and dairy products. Been 2 years and no coughing or nasal drip. She also takes immune boosting supplements.</p>
<p>You might consider a good chiropractor. I developed some enduring rib pain after a week of some fairly vigorous horseback outings (mind you, I tend to a pretty sedentary life the rest of the year, alas…). When it really wouldn’t let up after a month, I tried out a chiropractor my yoga teacher recommended. Turned out I had displaced a “rib head” and getting it aligned again made a world of difference. Being out of position puts the surrounding muscles into a chronic spasm. I can imagine you could do a similar kind of displacement with coughing and then it just doesn’t get coughed back into place. So a little gentle encouragement from someone who knows alignment might be helpful…? good luck in any case…</p>
<p>Has your daughter been tested for Celiac Disease, LilyMoon? </p>
<p>I suggest you see a doctor, Bethievt, if you haven’t already.</p>
<p>I agree with corranged and should have mentioned that at the outset. Sorry, I was still mentally cringing at the thought of the pain.</p>
<p>I was prescribed some powerful things for pain and for the coughing. They helped to take the edge off for a bit, but I’m not a big fan of painkillers so only took them at night if I really had to. It was tough waiting for the muscle to heal back up - several weeks, it seems. Drying up the post nasal drip is what really prevents a recurrence. I don’t know if that’s how your cough got started, but mine was kind of like a clearing of the throat that over time would escalate into a real tickle and then a full on coughing jag complete with tears and gasping for breath. Coughing so hard that it ws almost like retching, it was so deep down. The 2nd time it happened the xray showed a cracked rib - never thought that was possible just from coughing.</p>
<p>mmaah, this pain isn’t like a chronic pain. It’s a slicing sensation that comes with a deep breath, cough, or sneeze - any more than halfway expansion of the diaphragm. You don’t feel any discomfort during shallow breathing or, for me, regular moving around. But get caught unawares with a sneeze, the pain will drive you to your knees and just about make you pass out.</p>
<p>See a Dr. If he agrees is costochondritis, no cracked ribs, etc, ask about a course of ibuprofen/naproxyn to settle the inflammatory response. Do this in the absence of any reflux/GI issues only. Chiropractor can be great as well, but make sure is checked out by MD/DO for other issues first.</p>
<p>I feel for your pain but I must admit I thought maybe your post had something to do with Costco. I’m very sure there is a disease that these people who are infatuated with Costco have.</p>
<p>ebeeee- ME TOO! I thought it would be the pain of lifting 5 gallon pickle buckets at Costco!</p>
<p>Or maybe addiction to buying in huge quantities at Costco! :D</p>
<p>Bouts of whooping cough have been known to cause cracked ribs, so the coughing thing is definitely dangerous if done to excess.</p>
<p>I forgot I had this illness a few years ago…so that is my good word. It will get better. You will heal although I remember being in tears from feeling like it would never end. I think I went on a liquid steroid for four days too or got a steroid shot. Antibiotics didn’t touch it and I was misdiagnosed for a while.</p>
<p>hang in there.</p>