Okay, this is really weirding me out. What do you think? Am I going crazy?

WheatenLover

WheatenLover

Well-known Member
Location
Georgia
Just night, for the third time, something punched me lightly in the ribs, from the side. It feels like someone real is poking me with 2 fingers. It comes out of the blue, when I am sitting at my desk using my computer, and it startles me, so I jump.

Now, I discussed this with some adults in the house, and everyone things it is a muscle spasm. Now, my ribs are covered by skin, no real fat to speak of, and certainly no muscles. So this explanation doesn't pass muster with me. Plus the last month is when it started.

AFAIK, I have no mental illnesses unless this is one. Also, I'm not someone who has ever believed in ghosts or weird apparitions. Really, my imagination doesn't swing that way, mostly because I am a big chicken. When my kids were 6 and every kid was allowed to watch the first Pokemon movie, my husband and I watched it. We thought it was far too violent for our kids!

However, this does not let out being psychotic, right?
 

A bit strange, eh. This is what I'm able to find out and sounds reasonable ...

What you’re describing sounds startling, but it’s not a sign of psychosis, especially since you’re questioning it and checking with others. That insight alone is reassuring.

The “poke” feeling could come from a very small muscle spasm, a nerve firing, or even a brief electrical signal in your body. Nerves don’t always report accurately, and your brain can interpret it as something touching you, even when nothing did. This is surprisingly common and usually harmless.

Sitting at a desk for long periods, posture, or even minor electrolyte or hydration changes can trigger sensations like this. Anxiety can also amplify them, making them feel more external than they really are.

If it keeps happening or starts to interfere with your daily life, it’s reasonable to check in with a doctor or neurologist. But for now, it’s likely just one of those odd, brief body sensations that all of us notice sometimes. You’re not going crazy.
 
It isn't a symptom of psychosis.

You do have muscles under the skin around your ribs, they just aren't very thick. So could be a muscle spasm, but I think it's a nerve twitch. Your bones are covered by a protective sheath and the sheath has nerves running through it. No matter how thin your muscle tissue is, they have connective tissues with nerves running alongside them. Most of your internal organs do, too.
 

It depends on a person's age. An example , older people start having collapsed vertebra in their neck. It is known to cause all upper body false pains. The vertebra rub against the spinal sack leading to the brain and down into the lower extremities. I have a very severe case of the same and I have all sorts of false pain. I made a point to not worry about those pains. I know when it is gas and when not so being gas would be another possibility.

What ever it might be I hope you find out for peace of mind, knowing what ails us is the best medicine.
 
You have many muscles attached to your ribs, especially the External Obliques, the Internal Obliques and the Transversus Abdominis muscles. All muscles can "twitch".

AND, you have fibrous material that surrounds the ribs that the muscles attach to. Sometimes that material shifts and pulls loose.

Not to say that it CAN'T be a ghost poking you, but it's probably a muscle misfiring.
 
Jeez, I thought the ribs were just a cage encasing the heart and lungs, basically. Had no idea that muscles and other stuff was there.

As much as I love forensic anatomy, I really don't know much about the human body. It was just a few weeks ago when I realized I know nothing about urethras -- where are they? how do they work? Well, I found out and that is when my ignorance really hit me.

Thank you all for responding to my query. I was starting to think I'd have to sleep in the living room in case whatever it was came back in the night. I will ask my doctor about it -- the one I will see in a month. Figures I just saw one today, but I had forgotten about the poking problem.
 
Naturally said:
Sitting at a desk for long periods, posture, or even minor electrolyte or hydration changes can trigger sensations like this. Anxiety can also amplify them, making them feel more external than they really are.
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This is what I think is going on with me: starting about a month ago, every so often I get an intense, sharp pain behind my left breast feels like there's a knife inside there trying to stab its way out. So I told my nurse (she's my primary care provider) and she had me have an echocardiagram and a mammogram (since I had breast cancer on the right side about 15 years ago).

Both tests showed no problems. But the pains are still there, still intermittent but getting worse, the last couple hurt so bad it took my breath away for a few moments.

So at the next appointment I'm going to ask if I should have a chest scan since it could maybe be a hernia or pulled muscle or maybe even pleurisy? And I'm really wondering if at least part of it's anxiety; I've been at least anxious my entire life (born into a very dysfunctional family) and now current affairs and also Huzz acts as if he's getting dementia. (I really needed this on top of everything else; thanks, universe.)
 
I thought of pleurisy, too, as has been mentioned. Might be worth checking into Costochondritis as well. Muscle spasms, sitting at a desk, even having lifted something wrong to cause a strain. For what it's worth, I highly doubt that you're "going crazy" as you said, because there are a number of issues that can cause the sensation you mentioned.
 
My second "for what it's worth" is something that would cause the "poking."

"A consistent, nightly "poking" or stabbing sensation in the ribs may indicate
slipping rib syndrome, where loosened cartilage causes ribs to shift and irritate nerves. Other possibilities include intercostal neuralgia (nerve inflammation), costochondritis, or musculoskeletal strain. The symptom often presents when lying down, breathing deeply, or twisting."
 
Murrmurr said:
Good call, Naturally.

@WheatenLover Yes, make sure to stay hydrated and it's a great idea to drink commercial electrolyte drinks.
Also, dairy milk and soy milk, watermelon, coconut water, orange and berry juices are all good for replenishing electrolytes.
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Thanks. I drink a lot of that stuff. Staying hydrated is at the top of my list. I've gotten seriously dehydrated a couple of times (not lately) simply from forgetting to drink. No more of that in my life!
 
Murrmurr said:
Good call, Naturally.

@WheatenLover Yes, make sure to stay hydrated and it's a great idea to drink commercial electrolyte drinks.
Also, dairy milk and soy milk, watermelon, coconut water, orange and berry juices are all good for replenishing electrolytes.
Click to expand...
Just curious, but by 'commercial electrolyte drinks' are you referring to Gatorade?
 
As others have suggested likely a muscle spasm, I get them often in different areas. I've always attributed my spasms to nerve misfires because I see no other reason then there's no obvious reason, lol.
 
HoneyNut said:
Have you shrunk in height? I wonder how our shrinking as we age affects all the muscles and organs etc.
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I'm answering because it's an interesting question.

Losing height is usually caused by degraded intervertebral disks, and the average height-loss is slightly over an inch, not enough to threaten internal organs. What will put internal organs at risk is if disk degradation causes spinal curvatures and/or misalignment so severe that the size of the rib-cage cavity is significantly decreased, your lungs can't fully expand, your heart and liver are under stress, and your diaphragm can't function properly.

That level of disk degeneration is extremely rare, though, and the cause is rampant disk disease. The common causes of severe spinal curvatures and misalignment that threatens internal organs are birth defect and serious injury.

Look up The Folded Man.
 
WheatenLover said:
Just night, for the third time, something punched me lightly in the ribs, from the side. It feels like someone real is poking me with 2 fingers. It comes out of the blue, when I am sitting at my desk using my computer, and it startles me, so I jump.

Now, I discussed this with some adults in the house, and everyone things it is a muscle spasm. Now, my ribs are covered by skin, no real fat to speak of, and certainly no muscles. So this explanation doesn't pass muster with me. Plus the last month is when it started.

AFAIK, I have no mental illnesses unless this is one. Also, I'm not someone who has ever believed in ghosts or weird apparitions. Really, my imagination doesn't swing that way, mostly because I am a big chicken. When my kids were 6 and every kid was allowed to watch the first Pokemon movie, my husband and I watched it. We thought it was far too violent for our kids!

However, this does not let out being psychotic, right?
Click to expand...
I get those sometimes. I've chalked it up to reverse growing pains.
 
smiley said:
who needs a doctor when we've got all our senior forum specialists?? - it's exhilarating but dangerous too - this is just fun not a serious diagnostic clinic!
Click to expand...
Some members may have knowledge from training/working in specific fields..
 

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