Rib pain

Hello, 

19 months after radiotherapy and I have so much pain in my ribs. They feel bruised and very tender to touch. Today even my clothes touching them is really uncomfortable. I keep getting an odd feeling internally like a warm sensation. Is this normal? I have mentioned rib pain before to my nurse/consultant but just told yes that’s sometimes the case. I just don’t understand why some days it’s so uncomfortable? 

Hi Charls

If my experience is anything to go by, the unwelcome answer is yes, it’s ‘normal’. My radiotherapy finished in May 2019. My ribs are still very tender, sometimes downright painful, from my sternum right round to under my arm. I also get “phantom nipple”, an excruciating itch between my ribs. Fortunately not to often because, if there’s one area you can’t scratch, it’s right between the ribs!!

My GP prescribes Pregabalin (Gabapentin didn’t suit me and amitriptyline is listed as one of my ‘allergies’, but both are more effective). In fact, Pregabalin for me is pretty useless as pain management but it is amazing for anxiety and panic, which I have suffered from all my life - so I’m sticking with it!! I’d suggest that you see your GP and consider some kind of pain management beyond the obvious paracetamol. The three drugs I’ve mentioned are commonly prescribed for neuropathic pain and you may well find one of them works well for you.

Hope you find something that works xx