Answer Summary

Members responded to someone experiencing sudden, sharp rib pain that moved from the chest to the sides and back, with many identifying it as... Read more

Members responded to someone experiencing sudden, sharp rib pain that moved from the chest to the sides and back, with many identifying it as costochondritis, a common condition among people with fibromyalgia that feels like being squeezed by a bear or having a tight rubber band around the ribcage. Several members shared that their own costochondritis pain can be constant or come and go unpredictably, with some finding relief through anti-inflammatory medication from their doctor. A recurring theme was validation that fibromyalgia causes strange and shifting pain patterns, along with gentle encouragement to follow up with medical providers and the hope that this particular episode wouldn't return.