Joe A Shaw PA-C - 7/24/2013

Question
Good morning,I am a 28 year old woman I have tender ribs for many years,before that I have had hypocalcemia(was diagnosed with osteomalacia) for which I was treated.I dont remember for how long I have had this tenderness,i had a BMD test 1 1/2 ago and it was normal.
But I still have this very sharp pain when I touch  anything on the ribcage.I also have various other kind of pains like migraine,mastalgia,shoulder+neck pain that occurs due to spasms that are caused by emotional or physical stress,however the rib cage tenderness is quite constant.and generally does not respond well to pain,unlike other pains I have.I would be grateful for your valuable advice.
Thank You.

Answer
Aina,
Sounds very unusual..I would try RX lidoderm patches over area, or compound topical RX cream with Ketamine,Nsaid,gabapentin,lidocaine. Then if this doesn't help could try TENs unit. If all this doesn't work then seek interventional pain clinic and they could do some type of nerve block under ultrasound or fluroscopy.