Injury on the left ribs

I have an area on my left rib cage that feels like a hardened vein or a very thin hardened muscle that goes almost vertically down from my upper ribs to the end of my rib cage. When you pull a muscle in this area can it feel hard and thin? It is painful to the touch and when I raise my arm. I thought the muscles pull around the rib cage not so much vertically. Any thoughts anyone?