Back Pain and Diaphragmatic Discomfort: Understanding
Hello Doctor,
I've been dealing with back issues for years, but recently, I've been experiencing excruciating pain in my ribs and towards the front, between my chest and abdomen. A new doctor mentioned it could be due to a build-up of stool seen on an x-ray, but I haven't had any bathroom issues; I simply hadn't gone before the x-ray. Should I seek a second opinion?
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Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
Chronic Back Pain and Osteodegenerative Diseases:
Regarding your concerns about experiencing back pain for years, often associated with osteodegenerative diseases such as spondylosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can affect the lower spinal cord, leading to bowel dysmotility or difficulty passing stool, often due to disc herniation.
Diagnostic Considerations:
If the X-ray results are inconclusive, I would recommend a computed tomography (CT) scan for a more detailed assessment. Additionally, it may be prudent to confirm your rheumatoid factor titre and undergo antinuclear antigen assay to rule out any autoimmune disorders.
Potential Differential Diagnosis:
It's also important to consider peptic ulcer disease as a potential differential diagnosis for the pain you're experiencing around the diaphragm.
Thanks
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