Pain Under Left Side of Rib Cage

About 4 months ago I was telling hubby that it felt like a "running cramp" on my left side under rib cage. He assumed it was the way i would sit on the couch or just muscular. But it hasn't gone away and it's most of the time always there. I worry myself sick about it to a point where i get anxiety. I keep telling him "what if its cancer".

I decided to google pain on left side and came accross this forum. I am SO shocked to find out that SO many people suffer from this. Hubby told me tonight to go see dr but i'm affraid he'll think it's in my head. I feel like when you eat or drink and you end up taking a jog or run afterwards and you get that cramp.

I no longer have my galldbladder and i had a baby May 2007. So a year ago. I am sooo worried about this pain i get and another thing is i kept telling husband it felt like a "gas thing". Like i had to have a BM and what not...i was really surprised when i read this forum.

I would LOVE to talk to anyone about this one on one...
I don' t know weather to see my dr or try the suggested things like "healthy eating and excercise". I do eat healthy although i enjoy chips and chocolat once in a while. I also take walks a few times a week wtih my baby. I don't drink coffee and i don't smoke and i also don't drink alcohol very often. I'm a bind and worrying myself sick!

hopefully someone out there will want to correspond with me! Thanks everyone!

In November of 2006, I started having the pains a lot of you have mentioned. I am 29 years old, and at the time I started having the pains, I had just had a baby 3 months before. One day, I pain started on my left side and radiated to the middle. It was intense and worse than having a baby. It lasted for several hours, and I thought I was dying. Eventually it subsided. About two days later, it happened again but only lasted about 20 minutes. However, the next time it did it, it was worse and the pain was constant. My husband took me to the ER, and they did tests and could not find anything. They thought maybe it was my liver, but it was not. They gave me something like Malox that had a numbing medicine in it, and it went away almost instantly. I was having other problems also like heart palpations and gurgling stomach. My husband and I started talking about what I had eaten before the attacks happened and we realized everytime I had eaten eggs prior to it. The first time I ate tuna fish with eggs, the second time (which wasn't that severe) potato salad, and the most severe case I had eaten an omelet. Since then I have not touched an egg, and I have not had an attack. I still have gurgling on my left side which usually is more severe close to my period. However, it is not painful, just annoying. If I do not eat anything that is cooked with egg in it, my pain disappears. I do not understand what eggs have to do with because I have always been able to eat them until now, but I know it HAS to be my main problem. So, if someone has the same symptoms, I hope this helps. Cut eggs out of your diet for a while and see if it helps.

My pain is getting worse and not just that but my whole stomach is now cramping with this left rib pain. And i get bubbly/gasy and a lot of bm's.

I am being sent for a Barium Enema. And my hospital here is backed up and it's not until May 29. Now i'm having all this anxiety waiting and thinking its somthing like colon cancer.

I would really love to talk to someone who is going through this....i'm freaking out here and feel like i can't live my life until i get some answers

Well i thought i was the only one with this problem still it does not look good if you guys have had this for years mine is exactly the same as you pain under my rib cage left side at first i thought it was a sprain or i had pulled a muscle or something like that then. When it didn't go away i thought it might be cancer my worst nightmare now reading all these replys i at least fell a little better knowing that you have had tests done and they came back clear so tell me does it get worse when you bend over ? i find it does. i am going to start my own investigation now and will keep you posted to how i get on incidentally i found that eating rubbish makes it worse will have to think about changing my diet now bugger i love chocolate well if you don't laff you cry so what you going to do lol

My husband has been tellin me hes got this pain like under his left rib, he says the same things ive read on this page. But he doesn want to go to the doctor.
He says he thinks its his heart and is affraid hes gonna die and hes only 25 sooooooo yeah im lookin around tryn to make sure that is not the case.

I recently found this sight after frantically trying to figure out what is going on with me! I had my gallbladder laproscopically removed over 10 weeks ago. About 3 1/2 weeks after the surgery a new pain developed mostly under my left rib area. I do also experience the same sort of pain on the right side, but it is mostly on my left. It feels like stabbing, "electrical", throbbing, and "biting" pains. They are not constant, they just show up unexpectedy throughout the day. It doesn't really feel like a deep pain, mostly on the surface (if that makes sense). It seems to bother me more when I am inactive for periods of time. The surgeon believes it is totally unrelated to the surgery, but I find it odd that it appeared after I had the surgery. I have had blood work that shows everything is normal with my Liver and Pancreas. I had an ultrasound that did not show anything to explain the pain. I had a CT Scan last week and everything appears normal. I am taking 600mg of Advil every 6 hours and using a heating pad on occasion. These things seem to reduce the pain, but it is still there. My General Practitioner told me to wait another 2 weeks and see if the pain is going away. He is convinced this is something that will work itself out. I would love to believe that, but I would like to see if anyone has any information to share with me! I am trying to stay positive, but it is hard because I just want to get back to normal!

i've had the same pain in my left side and currently as im typing this im experiencing it . Its a sharp and sometimes achey pain and completely drains me of energy i try taking midol to relieve the pain but it doesnt seem to work. I've gone to the doctor before for this and they said i was "backed up" but I don't believe its just that it keeps coming back and my x rays showed up normal and so did the other tests. It comes and goes and it affects me being able to stand and makes me light headed and neaseated. Someone please help .

Well....you all have been so helpful. I have just been discharged from hospital yesterday following an acute episode of pain on my left side under my ribs but at a very specific point. It also seemed to be in my loin region of my left hand side of my back. The pain was about a 10 on movement and a 7 when at rest (out of 10). It also seemed to elongate through me at times. I have a lot of bloating and even water can make me feel full.
I also been getting what I call 'man burps'!!!

I had blood tests, urine tests (tested positive for nitrates and trace blood) ultrasound tests of abdo and renal, x rays of chest and abdo...all negative. Had oromorph for pain, it didn't take the pain away, I just didn't mind it. (Basically la la land!!). They treated me for a urine/kidney infection and put me on antibiotics BUT the pain is still there. Not quite as bad, but definately still there. AND I feel so so tired...

My diet is healthy as I have recently lost 3 stone at Slimming World, but due to bloating feel I can only eat little and often.

I did mention splenic flexure syndrome to the consultant I saw and his team and they didn't seem to think much about it, but reading some of the signs and symptoms of the forum people, it could actually be me talking regarding symptoms.

I am a nurse and feel this condition is very socially debilitating. I am off work for a week but will try everything I can to make myself better. Plan of action is:
Relaxation techniques
Mint tea
Probiotic yogurts
Heat therapy
Anti acids (for man burps!!)
Pain relief as required
Gentle walking when able
Any thing else I can think of

I will keep you posted and let you know if any of the above helps....

Good to know one is not alone......try and keep smiling I know I will

Okay... I have been going absolutly crazy. It has been over a month now and I have had this pain that starts in my mid back and wraps around on my left side under my rib cage. I too have had testing... been to the doctors, chiropracters, acupunturist, massage, hospitals.... NOTHING HELPS... I am taking Vicodin....and predinone.and have also taken muscle relaxers.. still no releif. The pain is constant... it never goes away... yes... I guess it feels like a muscle... but it is also a sharp radiating pain.... I am at a loss.... I would do anything to find out what this is... any help?? On a scale of 1-10... 10 being the highest... the pain is truly a constant 6 or 7.

I have been having mint tea BEFORE I eat anything and only having small meals...I am having fairly bland food and introducing things slowly. Keeping fibre and fruit to a reasonable level...being on a diet I would regularly snack on fruit. So its reasonable to think maybe I was almost 'fermenting' in my bowels!!!

I have to say the pain is bearable now. I still am having some symptoms, like the 'man burp's' but at least I don't feel all consumed by it at the moment.

I must say though I feel very tired at the moment and that is not at all usual for me. I am usually constantly on the go.

Will let you know how it goes....

I have problems all the time on left ribs. I was in the hospital once and the doctor of my roommate was in, he is also an associate of my gastroenterologist. I asked him what could be causing the pain I was having in my left rib area. It is between the rib and the sternum. You can see how swollen it is when I get an attack. He said it is called "costochondritis". It an inflammation where the sternum and rib cage meet. It is a form of arthritis. THe only thing that helps is pain medication. If none available, the next best thing is Aleve. Hope this helps
diannep

I found out that the pain I have had is do to a herniated disk in my thoracic zone. Between t8-T9. The only way they found it was thur an MRI.... the reason all these doctors were so hesitant was because this type of herniated disk is extrememly un common. So..... if you are having this pain... please demand an MRI... I had finally went to a nuerologist (something I had to do to have my insurance approve the MRI)... I will tell you google Thoracic herniated disk... and you will find the same sypmptoms we all have been experiencing.... I am so happy to know what it is!!! GOOD LUCK

I finally made an appointment for next Tuesday. Have this same pain as all of you. Not acute - more like a knot under the left rib. Had an ultra sounds a year ago and it came up negative. Lived with it. I think someone mentioned stress. Yes, I believe it does flare more with stress. Sometimes when I'm walking down the hall at work, I have to hold my side. It's not a pain. More like a hernia or pulled muscle. Sometimes I swear it should be bulging, but when I feel, there's nothing there. Eating, drinking, working out - doesn't seem to affect it one way or the other.

I've also had stringy bowel movements the past four weeks, so I got worried about bowel obstruction . . . but that could very well be stress too. Three close people died, and my boyfriend and I broke up recently - but this has been going on over a year now! I keep worrying about a growth or something weird. Most of the time I just try to ignore it . . . but lately it's been more constant, so it's finally time to try this again. Thank god I found this website - I already started printing off many of the postings to take with me. I know, these days, YOU have to diagnosis yourself long before you see the doctor!!

I should mention I'm 48 years old, fairly health - although I do smoke. Have had coughing from sinus infections, which at first I thought was causing this - but also notice it with gas or anything else. Sure feels good to read all these!!

Relaxing? I tried a hot tub a few weeks ago - it seems like it was still there, even while I was in the tub. Maybe I need to sit in there longer?

I had a barium enema, and the doctor said "negative to results BUT that it did show
Diverticula. I did a little bit of reading about it, but not much.

A diverticulum is a small pouch with a narrow neck that protrudes from (sticks out from) the wall of the gut. Diverticula means more than one diverticulum. They can develop on any part of the gut (intestines), but usually occur in the colon (sometimes called the large bowel or large intestine). They most commonly develop in the section of the colon leading towards the rectum, where the stools (sometimes called faeces or motions) are becoming more solid. This is on the left hand side of the abdomen. Several diverticula may develop over time. Some people eventually develop many diverticula.

So that would maybe explain some of the pain i've had on the left side. Hopefully this helps some of you out there!

I have a strange situation....I have a really bad pain everyday under my right ribcage and also when I experience the pain I have a bulge under my right ribcage....Sometimes I can even push the bulge back in place and feel fine...but that's not normal. I had an x ray done and they thought it was a hernia but during surgery they could not find a hernia in that specific area.....I feel like im going crazy...and the pain is really bad...anybody else have this problem? Have any clue to what it is?

I am a 42 year old male.

I have a medical problem and have been Googling for answers.

Just wondered if you can shed any light on what you discovered and how you are all doing now in 2008?

If I explain my problem to you it would be just as easy to copy your text and paste that, basically most of you describe my problem exactly.

I have daily pain at the bottom of my left rib cage, underneath my left lowest rib and below that rib. I have a slightly raised puffy area there too which initially made me think it is a hernia.

I have had the following tests with nothing found:

MRI – Thoracic area back

Bone Scan – Back

CT Scan – for front pain – report showing extensive Diverticulitis (hernias in the colon)

Ultrasound Scan - for front pain

Gastroscopy/Endoscopy - for front pain

Colonoscopy - for front pain – (done after the Diverticulitis found on CT Scan) this report not showing any Diverticulitis

Chest X-Rays

Urine tests

Fecal Tests

Blood Tests

I have allot of pain in my thoracic area of my back, I have a history of having a bad back but it was always in my lower lumbar region. Since I have had this pain at my left rib my back pain (thoracic/middle back) has become really bad. My doctor keeps saying my back is bad and is agrivating a nerve (maybe) that makes my front (rib area) sore.

I don’t believe she is even close to finding the problem. I believe I have a problem in my rib area that is agrivating my back, the other way around.

I get shooting pains accross my stomach too and sometimes shooting aching pains accross my chest and other ribs towards my left shoulder. I am obviously worried about all of this as I have spent the last 7 months trying to find out what the problem is.

If anything, it has slowly got worse over the past 7 months. I don’t get any nausea and the bowels are pretty normal, I am just in constant pain under my left lower rib. Every now and then I have a day with almost no pain, but that is rare. Just after Christmas I had a month of no pain but it returned. When I get the pain, my back also aches, I feel like I have no energy, I feel quite ill and if I sit in one place for a long time (at TV, at computer) it seems to get worse. Some mornings I wake up with a terrible pain going from my left lowest rib to the top of my stomach, almost the sturnum area. Sometimes I even feel a bit feverish. I noticed some people say their pain subsides after they pass wind or do #2's. My doesn't get any relief from these 2 things?

Any medication or suggestions for Splenic Flexure Syndrome??

Any help would be appreciated.

Splenic Flexure Syndrome?
Hernia?
Spleen Problem?


Hope you are doing ok now.

Cheers all.

I am a 29 year old male that has been experiencing similar symptoms as the rest of you.

My pain started in the summer of 2007, and hasn't stopped yet. The pain is generally in the same spot. Below my left breast, but not below my ribcage. Maybe 5 ribs up from the bottom. The pain comes on when I am sitting at work, or resting at home. The only way I can make the pain go away is to do something active. As soon as my heart rate goes up, the pain stops. When I rest, it comes back.

The first time I went to the doctor about it (late 2007), I was told to take Zantac two times a day. It has helped me with heartburn, but the side pain is still there.

The second time I went (last week) I was told that I have Costochondritis and was given a medication that is commonly used to treat arthritis. So far, it hasn't worked either.

I have no idea what this pain is, but it is very annoying and sometimes a bit scary.

Yeah, the pain is "up" under my ribs on the left side only from the sturnum to the lowest point of my ribs, also the soft area just below my ribs... like someone said it's like a balloon under your rib cage, I agree. When it's hurting you don't want to do anything, hang out, work, play... because you feel like crap.