Re: Liver pain - costochondritis

[Guest guest]

From time to time, people ask about pain in the area of their liver. There

are several possible answers; in going through some old files I came upon a

message suggestion costochondritis.

Costochondritis

Costochondritis is one of many disorders associated with autoimmune diseases.

Normally this disorder will go away on its own. When associated with an

autoimmune diseases such as PBC, it may linger for years or a lifetime.

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to

the breastbone (costo = rib, chond = cartilage, itis = inflammation).

Costochondritis causes mild to severe pain in the lower rib area or upper

breastbone. Some patients fear they are having a heart attack. The most severe

pain is usually in the lower rib area between the breast and upper abdomen.

The pain may be more noticeable in sitting or reclining positions, and stress

is known to aggravate this condition.

Costochondritis may also be caused by trauma, such as bumping the rib cage;

as a result of a viral infection; or as part of an inflammatory disease

process. Usually the cause is unknown.

Once the diagnosis of costochondritis is made, it usually responds well to a

course of a pain-killing, anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin,

ibuprofen, or any of a number of prescription medications. If this condition

doesn't respond to simple treatment measures, the patient should undergo more

tests. When costochondritis is associated with liver disease, it is more

difficult to treat. "

Another good link: http://www.healthubs.com/costochondritis/

Harper

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

I've had this since 2001 and it can be extremely painful. You can

also have difficulty taking a good breath. It got so bad I had ribs

that were pushed out of place and required physical therapy to get

them back in place. I've got an electrical stimulation machine to

use at home for when it really flares up. That helps a lot.

A moist heating pad is an excellent investment if you've got chronic

costochondritis. I got mine at the local drug store, and it wasn't

expensive. I think it was around $20.00.

After diagnosing costo, my rheumatologist figured out I had liver

disease because it was still not cleared up after 6 months. That's

when she did an alkaline phosphotase test, then an isoenzyme test.

The isoenzyme determines if the alk phos is from a bone disease or

from a liver disease.

Take care,

Sandy C.

>

> From time to time, people ask about pain in the area of their

liver. There

> are several possible answers; in going through some old files I

came upon a

> message suggestion costochondritis.

>

> Costochondritis

>

> Costochondritis is one of many disorders associated with autoimmune

diseases.

> Normally this disorder will go away on its own. When associated

with an

> autoimmune diseases such as PBC, it may linger for years or a

lifetime.

>

> Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that attaches

the ribs to

> the breastbone (costo = rib, chond = cartilage, itis =

inflammation).

>

> Costochondritis causes mild to severe pain in the lower rib area or

upper

> breastbone. Some patients fear they are having a heart attack.

The most severe

> pain is usually in the lower rib area between the breast and upper

abdomen.

> The pain may be more noticeable in sitting or reclining

positions, and stress

> is known to aggravate this condition.

>

> Costochondritis may also be caused by trauma, such as bumping the

rib cage;

> as a result of a viral infection; or as part of an inflammatory

disease

> process. Usually the cause is unknown.

>

> Once the diagnosis of costochondritis is made, it usually responds

well to a

> course of a pain-killing, anti-inflammatory medications such as

aspirin,

> ibuprofen, or any of a number of prescription medications. If this

condition

> doesn't respond to simple treatment measures, the patient should

undergo more

> tests. When costochondritis is associated with liver disease,

it is more

> difficult to treat. "

> Another good link: http://www.healthubs.com/costochondritis/

>

> Harper

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>