I am new to this forum, and it looks like very good information, from a lot of friendly folks. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis. I get muscle spasms in my stomach and rib cage muscles. The last time I had these was last Friday night, and they lasted for two hours. The pain does not come and go, but is continious. Does anyone else get this pain in stomach and rib cage? I have had them before this, but they never lasted for two hours.
If anyone has these, what do you take for them? I noticed that I get a lot of gas when this happens, and it does help if I can get rid of the gas. I also have acid reflux, but don't know if this has anything to do with it. Ant information will be appreciated.
Grannyboots
Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 5/20/2010 7:57:00 AM (GMT-6)
Hi Grannyboots, It's strange, but this last flare-up of my GERD has given me muscles spasms.......or stomach cramps. I'm thinking all that extra acid can't be easy on the GI tract. Mine come in spurts though, so I just wait them out. It's also really easy for gas to trigger spasms. Have you tried using Gas X? That seems to help me when I have huge gas bubbles.
Hi CathyA, I live in Canada so are not familiar with the Gas X. The spasms come on so quickly, and I usually take some antacids as soon as I can. I will have to look into some liquid form of liquid antacid, that may work sooner than the tablets. I have to wait them out too. Thanks for your reply. Grannyboots
Hi Grannyboots, The Gas-X has simethicone in it. It's something that messes up the surface tension on gas bubbles, and makes them into smaller bubbles....which cause less trouble I guess. I'm slowly getting over a virus I got. It seems to be wreaking havoc on my stomach, and causing some spasms. Maybe your's will go away soon. I hope so! :)
I have yet to see anyone with symptoms as I have. Just very slow steady stomach spasms. Starts out just uncomfortable then just gets worse slowly until within an hour I can hardly breath and the pain is a '10'. In the past I have taken Vicatin but ran out and this last time, about 2 weeks ago, I took 4 ibuprofin and it did the trick. I don't have gas, no GERD, no other symptoms. The episodes are very sporatic. This last one is the first time in 5 years. When it first started I had them every 2 months or so for a year. The next year only 2 times. Now it is 5 years and here it is again. Anyone out there who has an answer?
Grannyboots, I had terrible pain in my ribs for at least a month during the summer. The doctor said nothing about it. And it sometimes seems like my stomach is beating. A GI doctor said it was just my AORTA because I"m thin. But now I think he's wrong and it was the spasms you were talking about! Because I do have GERD..
I am new to the forum,, I have a question for whomever relates to this issue. I hurt my ribs left side 4 weeks ago, exray showed the bruising of 8 and 9,, now I have muscle spasms across my abdominal wall left to right,
I thought it was better but now it returned to the same as when I first did it... also its right on and under the rib cage breastbone area, its nagging and stressful...burning feeling as well........HELP,, i DO HAVE VICODIN BUT i HATE TAKING IT....IF I MASSAGE THE AREA IT GOES AWAY...BUT RETURNS ,......SOMETIMES THE PAIN MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH,,ANYONE OUT THERE EXPERIENCE THIS ??? thanks lynd
I had a situation much like yours a few years back. It came out of no where and lasted about a year and thankfully, hasn't returned since. The first time it happened I went to the emergency room because I thought it was appendicitis. No one could ever diagnose it. However, around that time I had a hysterectomy. My surgeon said that when she did the surgery there was alot of scar tissue on my intestines, probably caused by an infection at some point in my life. When I explained the stomach cramping and severe pain she said that was probably from the scar tissue.
What you describe sounds incredibly similar to what I've been experiencing.
Approximately 5 years ago I began waking up at 2:00am with stomach pain. When it begins the pain is only stong enough to wake me up but within minutes it escalates to a 8-10. The first couple of episodes we'd try to manage at home however after the 3rd or 4th attack they became so strong I'd have to go to the emergency. Once there every test came back fine (urine, blood, etc....) and they would give me some sort of pain killer (usually morphine) and after a couple hours the pain would subside and I'd be sent home. For the next two days (after an attack) my stomach would feel sick and achy but that would be it. At first, my attacks came every 4-5 months (always waking me up between 1:30am and 3:30am - never in the day) but within a year or two they were coming every month or so. I did a series of tests with my doctor and at the hospital (scopes, altrasounds, colonoscapy, etc....) and no one could figure out what was causing it. Eventually the attacks just stopped happening. Until last night......... I got my first attack in 2 years. It was exactly like everyone before. At 1:50 I woke up with horrible stomach pain (at the top middle part of my stomach - very deep pain, the pain is so bad you can't breath or lie down) withing 15 minutes it got so bad my husband had to take me to the emergency (I could hardly make it to the car). The pain is always there but it goes in waves of how strong it is (between 8-10, never going below an 8). The hospital took all their regular tests - everyone came back fine. They gave me a muscle relaxer and pain killer and by 4:10 the pain had subsided and we were ready to go home. Now, the next morning, I just feel like I have a bad stomach ache (though very managable....). And sadly I guess I just wait for the next time I wake up in the middle of the night.
Does this sound like your attachs????????? And if so have you found anything that helps or do you have and clue what it is or what causes it.
Just as an end note. In between attachs I have no stomach pain, no heartburn, no digestive problems, no nothing.........I've charted my food intake, sleep, and stress and I also can't find any connections. Overall I'm quite healthy.
I am so amazed to read your post, I could have written it myself. My attacks started about 3 years ago, with approx. 3 episodes a year and are absolutely disabling. Now I find that they are becoming more frequent, and it terrifies me. I have also had the usual workup and an MRI, colonoscopy and endoscoopy, all normal.
Usually starts late at night with an uncomfortable (but recognizable) dull pain, within the hour it is almost unbearable and comes in waves. Located in upper mid stomach and also radiates to the back. My last episode lasted 4 hours without letting up. I no longer go to the emergency room (not recently anyway) because of the expense. The week after an attack I feel as if I've been punched in the stomach, but certainly tolerable.
I find that if I take Vicodin and Equagesic (both prescribed) before the pain gets too strong, it will definitely help. Equagesic is a muscle relaxer for spasms.
I was diagnosed with biliary (liver) spasms brought on from gallbladder surgery. Told to eliminate fats, especially on an empty stomach. I'm not sure that this is the correct diagnoses as stress and not keeping food in my stomach, seem to contribute.
I plan to make a doctor's appt. to request something more susbtantial, something to be used only when the pain is just too unbearable.
Good luck with your hunt for an answer. If you have any breakthroughs, I would certainly be interested.
I'm sorry to hear about you problems but it was great to have someone reply.
It's amazing how similar our symptoms sound and crazy that no doctor has a clue what is causing it.
Question for you.........do you drink diet soda.
The only thing unusual about my diet (which is generally healthy and balanced) is that I love diet Pepsi and I drink a tone of it. Any chance this is the same for you.
I'm grasping at straws to find anything that could help me figure this out and stop it.
I'm not much of a soda drinker, but have found that very cold drinks/food will bring this on, including ice cream.
After posting I realize that I should have mentioned that I had an extensive workup at a Univ. and they diagnosed me with "Sphincter of Odie" dysfunction. You might do a Google search and see if you recognize any of the symptoms.
Whatever this painful condition is, I really do believe that the secret of catching the pain is to take meds at the first sign of a problem. Hating to take meds, and afraid of addiction to narcotics, I have waited until the pain is at a 6 to take anything, now at the first recognizable discomfort, I don't hesitate.
I am also grasping at straws. I'm afraid that I've become very paranoid about the pain coming back . . any signs/symptoms of a pending attack gives me such anxiety and I'm sure that I'm making matters worse.
Hi, I just joined this site too and saw your post. I have a similar problem. I get these really sparp pains in both sides surrounding my rib cage, and they actually hurt like labor pains or contractions. The pain usually lasts for about 30 minutes, and I also take gas pills, or Gax X and it seems to help a little. If anyone else stumbles upon this post, if you have any idea what this might be, please respond. Oh, and Grannyboots, I hope you are feeling better.
I am also new to this forum and a long time sufferer of GERD. I don't know if this will help, but I have also had spasms that radiate down the front of my chest and sometimes out my back. They are extremely painful and can very much feel like you are having a heat attack! I have been told by a gastroenterologist that it sounds like esophogeal spasms. I had these about once every month or two for several years until my gall bladder was removed. They then discontinued for several years but I did have one bout with one this past year. In my case they seemed to be triggered by a very empty stomach or a lot of gas. My doctor says they are difficult to predict or control. Painkillers and muscle relaxers seem to help. Best of luck to you all.
I'm very new to this board. I went to it to get info on diabetes and checked out this spot too. I have had these pains occasionally over the last 4 or yrs. I had a very severe attack after having colon cancer and my gi dr. gave me a "cocktail" (he called it) which did nothing He finally gave me demeral at 4:00 am. He took an ekg and tested my pancreas - all ok. It relieved my mind that it was not serious, but I continued to experience these episodes. I take some vicodin if it gets too bad. Sometimes it works miraculously, within minutes. Other times it doesn't seem to work. I think it relaxes the muscles which can give me relief. I was so glad to read about others with this problem, not that I wish this pain on anyone else. But I realize that I will just have to endure it, and not freak out. I once went to the ER when it was combined with a numbness in my left hand, which turned out to be nothing more than a pinched nerve. Thank you for all your info. Tommi
Hi - This is my first post to the board. I was googling for help with rib cage pain and heartburn, desperate for some answers and I saw this thread. I have some problems with GERD, but it's been mild lately. However, for the last few weeks I've had some rather nasty stomach virus or whatever which comes snd goes. Tonight I felt much better and was eating with a friend. Within 20 minutes after I ate, I developed the most intense pains in my rib cage, beginning from under my breastbone and continuing all the way around the upper ribs to the back. My stomach also hurt and I felt nauseous, with gas as well. It scared me so that I panicked, which didn't help I'm sure. I drove myself to the ER, but thought better of it when I got there, and drove home again.
It seems now to come intermittently and I'm assuming it's from muscle spasms, as I feel pressure as well. I tried Maalox, but that was useless. I've had rib pain before in certain specific areas , but nothing like this. Any suggestions would be welcome.
I also have these same symptoms--muscle spasms in stomach and ribcage. I had an upper endoscopy yesterday and one of the findings was erosive gastritis and esophagitis. Gastritis can cause this same symptom, and chronic acid reflux can cause gastritis, although there are other causes as well. If you're already being treated for acid reflux, as I am, I'm not sure what you do about it, but I would recommend that you find a doctor who is willing to do an upper EGD just to document the gastritis--has to be confirmed via biopsy or it's not considered legitimate.
It does hurt, in any case, doesn't it? Sometimes a heating pad will help, and low dose bentyl stops the spasms for me altogether--bentyl is used for IBS, but is also appropriate for bladder spasms and stomach spasms.
Thanks for the information and the sympathy. As soon as my doctor's office opens this morning, I'm making an apppointment. Didn't sleep much last night and I feel pretty ratty right now.
Sorry to hear you have erosive gastritis and esophagitis - it sounds miserable. I imagine, though, you're at least relieved to have a diagnosis. I'll post when I know more, but meanwhile take good care and thanks again.
skcot
P.S. Is it okay on this forum to post directly to a member?
Wow! I've been having these stomach spasms on and off for 2 years now. My new doctor said the stomach/rib cage pain or spasms, chronic cough, hoarseness, sore throat, vomiting, gas, belching, bloating, etc. are all classic symptoms of acid reflux. Interestingly she also said the hiatal hernia is commonly associated with acid reflux and that gastritis can be a result of acid reflux or vice versa. She said she's also seen a lot of cases where the gastritis is caused by post nasal drip (I guess it goes into the stomach) or sinus infection, which then results in a lot of stomach acid being produced and viola! Acid Reflux.
Too bad she didn't have any answer on how to get rid of it--just how to cope. In my case the stomach spasms occurred before gas pains and the reflux. She said to take Gas X immediately at the first sign of pain, to drink a full glass of water and to double up on my PPI for 2 weeks when the symptoms start. It does seem to help.
Well thank goodness I've found some folks with similar symptoms as mine! These stomach spasms are driving me absolutely nuts, but I've been contributing it to lack of exercise and lack of potassium since I take water pill/blood pressure medication. These spasms, to me, bring back memories of true labor pains and they appear all over my stomach area, first here, then there. I definitely will try some of the otc's mentioned since my gp doc and my heart doc both have not a clue. I also have cramps in other places, my feet, toes, fingers and sometimes lower legs. Hope something will help. The stomach muscle cramps come on when I sit up after lying down, if I turn from side to side, or lean over from a sitting to pick up something from the floor.
