TMBRA - Rider Board

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

side stitch

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    TMBRA - Rider Board Forum Index -> Ask the Bike Doc
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Melanie
Guest





PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:59 am GMT +0000    Post subject: side stitch Reply with quote

Hi there...I know side stitches are most common in running but my friend has had one for a couple of months now. It hurts constantly (although very mild soreness) and is only exacerbated by hard running. I can find a million articles on how to prevent them and what to do during one but nothing on when the pain continues despite long periods of rest from running. He's had the whole workup for cardiac, liver, infectious disease, hernia, and is seeing a GI specialist. Every test came back negative. Could you provide some info on chronic side stitches or a resource? I know it involves stretching of the ligaments that hold the liver to the diaphragm. Could it just be a problem there?
Thank you for any help you can offer.
Melanie
Back to top
The Bike Doc
250+


Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 3:16 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Melanie:

This is a tough one. On review of my Sports Medicine texts, explanations much like what you have described, are offered: "...it may be due to muscle spasm of the diaphragm or trapping of gas in the hepatic or splenic (right or left side) of the colon. " (Clinical Sports Medicine by Peter Brukner and Karim Khan). There is only one published reference that I could find on a PubMed search: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10449020&dopt=Abstract

This article describes possible inappropriate fluid intake as a cause. Taking a sport drink (Exceed in this study) helped eliminate the "stitch".

It is good that your boy friend has undergone an appropriate medical evaluation to look for other etiologies (causes). He may want to consider an evaluation by an Osteopathic Physician (a D.O.) who does Sports Medicine and manipulations. One of my texts sites that a possible cause can be malalignment of the spine and/or ribs and manipulation may be in order if there are not other clear medical causes of the "stitch".

If there is no malalignment, then stretching exercises done daily and routinely before work outs may help alieviate the stitch if it is due to intercostal (ribs) muscle spasms. A physical therapist as well as an Osteopathic Physician who does manipulative therapy can be a good resources to learn propper stretching techniques. Bob Anderson's book "Stretching" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0936070226/qid=1070485963/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-6241798-2769768 is another invaluable resource.

Thanks,



Thanks,
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    TMBRA - Rider Board Forum Index -> Ask the Bike Doc All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group