Pain Under Left Side of Rib Cage

I'm suddenly having terrible pain on my left side going under my ribcage as well. I was on may way to the chiropractor anyway so I described my symptoms. He had my lie down, arms straight up in the air and he moved my arms straight, towards my head. He instantly knew what the problem was: something called the Soas muscle in my abdomen. I had massage therapists in the past work on my soas muscle and it's extremely painful. The problem was that the soas was all tensed and constricted, pulling on the muscles near my ribcage. He worked out most of the pain trying to "release" the soas. It hurt as badly as the original pain, but when he was done, most of the discomfort was gone. I still have a little residual pain but he said it would have gotten much worse if I had waited a day or two. Just a thought for those of you suffering for years.

It happened on sunday where I felt very sick. The pain was so bad that I started to scream. Over the days, I randomly broke out in hives. My whole body felt like I was being paralyzed. I would wake up in the mornings and just feel sick to my stomach. I've been waking up around 3:00 everymorning and feeling extremely tired. I have no clue what is wrong with me. I NEED HELP!!!! I need answers A.S.A.P.

PlayerCubby, Sounds like you may have diverticulitis. Mine is on the lower left side, too. It's a weakening in the intestinal tract that has a lodged object trying to penetrate the lining. You must go to a doc to get on antibiotics, because it'll put all that bad stuff from your intestines to your bloodstream if the diverticulum breaks through.
You have to watch what you eat from now on. Anything with seeds or hard pieces are a no-no: strawberries, coarsly ground pepper, pepper flakes (caused my first onset), sesame seed buns, popcorn, etc. You'll gradually introduce foods back into your diet that do not seem to affect you until you find those few that do. When the doc gives you the antibiotics, you'll live on jello and clear liquids until you feel better, usually 3-4 days. Good luck.

I am 18 years old and I have had this very sharp pain on my left rib cage for the past three years. (about third rib from the bottom...and more on the left side than the center of the body) It is always in the same spot...never moves.

It is unpredictable...I can have it while sleeping, resting, working out, in the middle of class, when I am stressed, and when I am laughing.

It is very sharp and I have a very hard time breathing. I also cannot move when it happens. Whatever position I am in, I freeze, otherwise the pain intensifies. I take an albuterol inhaler for exercise induced asthma and I usually take it after these spasms to even out my breathing. My heart rate increases and it feels like it is about to pound out of my chest.

I have gone to a cardiologist twice and all tests are negative...he suggests taking an anti-acid....but i KNOW it is not acid reflux.

I also bruise very easily...I have bruises on my legs that are over a year old. Bruises everywhere else go away except knee down. When compared to the pains, this is a new thing. I am not sure if they are connected. I have had many blood test come back negative for blood disorders although every time I went to the pediatrician she would tell me I was anemic (later blood tests confirmed I was not).

Any answers or advice?

I have read most of the complaints about pain under the left rib cage that radiates around to the back, and can't believe what I'm reading. each one describes my condition exactly. I am so tired of this. i have gone through a huge amount of stress the past three years and this pain has gradually built up. when i am occupied with something of interest the pain seems to go away, leading me to believe it IS stress. Right now I am taking Prevacid, the Dr. said it might be an Ulcer and I'm also taking Xanax 0.25 mg. every 8 hours for stress, but that feels like a placibo doesn't seem to do much. I have thought it might be Kidney disease because I am also a type 2 diabetic, but I don't have any other symptoms other than the pain radiating from the front to the back and round and round it goes, sometimes one place sometimes another place,. but always on the left side, I also experience a lot of gurgling too and burping. any more suggestions please.

I am 32 years old and I am having the same symptoms as most of you. My left side sometimes burns, sharp pain from my lower left side around to the center of my left shoulder blade. I have been to the doctor, but not for this particular thing, but to have my heart checked because I was suffering from dizziness, slurred speach, and also a CT scan for why my head hurt. Everything was fine, but this hurts, not all the time just when it decides to, and I grab my side and try to squeeze the pain away. I have been put on Zanax .25, but I do not like taking pills, like right now just a little lower than my rib cage, my side is on fire like I am using Icy Hot or something and I am not.

Any words of advise? It scares me often, but I am a chicken when it comes to doctors!

Hi -
Low levels of thyroid medication (levothyroxine) relieved the gnawing pain I had on my left hand side under my ribs. I take the lowest dose possible every other day and the pain has been eliminated.

Initially, I went to my doctor who told me that my blood tests were within a normal range for thyroid function. She told me that I had IBS and said I could take pain medication. However, I had other symptoms of low thyroid including exhaustion, constipation, weight gain and fuzzy thinking. (See http://thyroid.about.com/ for the complete list of symptoms.) As a result, I went to an endocrinologist who specialized in thyroid function. He prescribed the thyroid medication based on my symptoms and not the blood test results.

Unless you have an overactive thyroid, levothyroxine is safe and given to women who are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant. It serves to speed up your metabolism a little bit. It worked wonders for me. Please try this.

For several years I have had this pain under the left lowest rib. the onset is thus - on eating large or spicy meals, leaning over and down to the left simultaneously ( as in tying shoes or reaching in that direction), bending over while trying to lift from a kneeling position and sitting in a prompted-up position (such as leaning back while reading in bed or not sitting erect). My doctor said it was unlikely to be trouble with the spleen and has suggested it could be a large colon problem or colonic hernia. Other symptoms are present but it really feels like my internal organs are trying to burst out of my rib cage or some internal tissue is attached to my ribs and objects to certain movements). My doctor does not believe it is either Tietse Syndrome or Costochondritis. The only relief is to lie on my right side, and with the heel of the palm of my left hand, push down and away the 'spasmed' tissue toward the area just under my stomach (ie. down and centre toward my navel/mid abdomen). He is sending me for investigation for bowel cancer. Despite family history I do not believe this is the problem. Any answers??

I posted on this board three years ago (I believe I am on page four), and I cannot believe all the additional posts since I left! I just wanted to pop in to update everyone and provide what support I can.

Thankfully I am still virtually pain-free. My life has changed tremendously since 2005. I followed through with most of my plan (as outlined previously) for about a year, and, just a side note, I quit smoking. Gosh, looking back I am shocked at how miserable I was. Those days were my darkest. The pain was unbearable and the hopelessness I felt was debilitating. Oh! And the fear… what an awful feeling!

I realize not everyone here has exactly the same symptoms nor the same medical histories, current known illnesses, lifestyles, etc. But it seems clear that we all have at least two things in common: pain and uncertainty. Fear of the unknown is often worse than reality. I think everyone here has probably gone through the same cycle of pain, uncertainty, worry, fear… more pain, more uncertainty, more worry, more fear until it is all-consuming. I am telling you now: JUST STOP! You are creating more pain and preventing your own healing with this negative cycle.

See your doc, run the tests, take the meds, change your diet, take the supplements. But above all, break that nasty cycle right now. Let your doc worry about the illness. YOU concentrate on your health and well-being. I know it sounds trivial, but believe me. I know your pain and the anxiety it perpetuates. Regardless of your diagnosis (or in many cases, the lack of diagnosis), stress is your biggest enemy. If you can get a handle on that, your body can start the healing process.

I have fallen back into old habits again. I am NOT the poster child of exercise and I don’t eat enough ‘good’ food but I have maintained my mental approach (and I am still a non-smoker). I simply don’t worry the way I used to. If I can’t change something, I don’t worry about it. Every now and then (maybe twice a year) I start getting a vague gnawing under the left rib cage and I immediately do a quick mental self-check. Every single time I find the same thing… stress. Once eliminated (or at least put into perspective), the pain subsides. I know some of you have completely different diagnoses than mine (many of you don’t even have a diagnosis), but my message is the same for all. De-stress your lives!

Best wishes to all! I sincerely hope you find peace and well-being!