Abdominal Pain Forum - Sturnum ribs pain

How long you have been experiencing this pain under left rib?
Answer: 7 months (2 months after it started, it went away for a month and came back), it is also associated (I believe) with a very sore aching back on the same side but ever so slightly higher. I have a history of back pain, old mororcycle injuries etc, but in my lower lumbar region. Not really up that high normally. (a very very sore back). Not always when the front is bad but usually. My GP says the sore back is agrivating the front and thats why I have pain at the front. I know it's the front that has a problem and more than likely causing the back pain. The front pain is too obvious to be a secondary effect from a sore back. Plus I have a slightly puffy area from the bottom left rib extending down 3 inches. I have a puffy (small fatty patch) on both sides, I think thats normal, but the left side is only just noticably more pronounced to the eye. If I put my hand where it hurts, and I do allot, I walk around with my hand on this puffy area. My GP said it's just a fatty lump, nothing abnormal. Hernia maybe I think? (not convinced).

Is the pain constant or intermittent?
Answer: It's pretty much constant in the sense that it's always there and is always uncomfortable, when I move around it shoots sharp pains laterally and sometimes across my other ribs and chest. It started with an aching slight burning pain more in the center making me think it was my stomach, this is why I had the Enoscopy at the start. That showed a little reflux, nothing significant. Some days it is allot worse and then it will remain sore for a few days and maybe calm down for a few. Generally, it is very persistant and has not improved at all in 7 months.

Is the pain coming from the abdominal wall or from inside?
Answer: Thats a very difficult question. I think the abdominal wall if not close to the abdominal wall inside. I don't think it's very deep inside but possibly deeper than the abdominal wall.

Is the pain provoked when take a deep breath?
Answer: Not at all.

Is the pain provoked by certain body movements?
Answer: Yes, leaning over, twisting, getting up from lying down, sitting for long periods etc. I don't really get a sharp pain there if I go to pick something up like you would expect from something like a hernia. It's more likely to ache away all day rather than be brought on by straining the area. Having said that I might get some frontal pain on lifting a heavy item but I try to avoid that.

Is the pain provoked by eating?
Answer: No, not that I can recall.

Do you feel pain when pressing on the ribs or bellow them?
Answer: No not on the ribs. Yes under the ribs in the soft tissue. I have to press fairly hard to "make it hurt". This maybe because I am flexing the abdominal wall? I believe the problem effects my ribs but is coming from the area "below" my ribs (not behind or underneath my ribs).

Can you give me some more data from your medical history?
Answer: 20 years ago I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis but it never really developed into anything. It was found when I had a chest x-ray when I got my 1st pilot medical. I ran out of energy at the age of about 22, (now 42). Eventually it turned out to be more like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have always been low on energy, prone to getting flu/colds, but have maintained an active life as a pilot for the last 20 years. Obviously always passing my 6 monthly pilot medicals ok. I have had periods of stomach problems but usually the burning tummy feeling that would last a few months and go away again. I have had no surgery in this area. Just broken ankles, arms and knees, not my organs or digestive system. I drink a little alchohol, used to smoke but still have the odd cigar. My breathing is clear and seems fine. One bad habbit I have is the way I eat, not really what I eat. I eat healthy food and some not so healthy food but often over the past few years, I skip breakfast and often lunch too. My wife is always saying how bad that is. I always finish the day with a big dinner but might do the same again the following day and so on. My poor stomch and colon! I wonder if that's why I am in this position now? I also slouch when I am flying, that really agrivates my back and doesn't help the front. Driving, watching TV and sitting at the computer are things that make it hurt. Often that will also involve my back hurting too. Sitting is not good. Lying down not great either. Standing is average but still sore.

I have had the following tests over the last few months:

MRI – Thoracic area back (nothing to indicate why my thoracic area hurts)

Bone Scan – Back (nothing found)

Ultrasound Scan - for front pain (nothing found)

CT Scan – for frontal pain – report showing extensive Diverticulitis but nothing else of note (read on, Diverticular disease minimal in colonoscopy later)

Gastroscopy/Endoscopy - for front pain (slight reflux, nothing else)

Colonoscopy - for front pain – (Specialist Comment -> "unable to see any significant Diverticular Disease of note"). Done 2 weeks after the CT scan.

Chest X-Rays - (nothing found)

Urine tests - (nothing found)

Fecal Tests - (nothing found)

Blood Tests - (nothing found)

In general it feels like a small balloon of air trapped under the skin or abdominal wall below my left ribs. It aches so much at times I can't go to work, I don't want to do anything really. Sometimes I feel hot, stressed (over the problem), tired and sore and basically quite unwell over it. I am seeing my specialist again tonight, I haven't seen him since he took more blood and did the colonoscopy. It will be interesting.

My thoughts on the problem are that it is not from straining or lifting anything, it just appeared one day 7 months ago while driving home from work so is more than likely a disease or condition rather than an injury. Having said that I do a bit of Deer Hunting and do lift and carry (sometimes drag) heavy animals and did a bit of this prior to the problem starting. I don't recall any problems at the time though. I am very interested in "Splenic Flexure Syndrome" that I have read in these forums although I am not totally convinced. People say that they get relief from passing motions or gas, I don't have that luxury. My bowels work pretty good, once a day but doesn't seem to have much effect on my problem if any. I don't appear to have an extraordinary amount of gas although when I pass wind it is rather allot at once. I have had some painfull hemeroids over the last year too. That started a period of pain and constipation but I sorted that out with Metamucil and making myself go to the toilet to pass motions when my body was ready, not when I was ready which could be hours later and if left too long not at all until the following day. I seem to go every morning now, not constipated or loose, just normal. When I lie down I often hear and feel gurgling in my colon on the left (think it's my colon). I often lie down with a hot water bottle on my rib area, it feels good. The pain is similar to a stitch from running. A few times over the years (maybe 1 or 2 times a year I have woken up with HUGE pain in my sturnum area, like a spasm or cramp. It goes away after about 20 mins. I don't think I have Costochondritis as my actual ribs don't hurt when I flex them. If I press fairly hard on either side of my sturnum on my ribs, I can sometimes hear it make a slight cracking noise. I also don't like pushing up under my sturnum bone in an upward direction, it feels awefull and sore. (maybe thats normal). I have been taking Calcium Magnesium 2x a day for a few days as I read it can help with Splenic Flexure Syndrome, so far it hasn't helped. In fact I am off work again today, like that isn't stressfull! As far as stress is concerned, I have some but not too extreme. I worry about things daily that most people worry about, parents getting older, money, work (fun and rewarding but can be stressful), home is good, married with 2 cats and no kids. I have lost about 10 lbs in weight over the 7 months, from 195 to 185 lbs. I am 5ft 10in in height. A slightly big belly on me too. The rest isn't fat.

Medication:

Codeine Phosphate 30 mg, I take every day now, 2 at a time and if my back is involved and I am really hurting I take 3 (thats prob not a good idea). I feel I take too many of these but when I finish flying I need something to help with the pain. I don't take any pain relief when I am working, that makes it hard.

Zopiclone: Sleeping pills, I try to only take 1/2 a pill, these are very adictive but work very well. I also do shift work, I don't know how I would ever sleep properly without them now.

I believe that's about all I can say about my problem, sorry it was soo long but no point in leaving out any clues. Happy to answer any more questions you may have. Thanks for your time, Brigzy.