Pain Under Left Side of Rib Cage

Hi all !
Male aged 40.


I found this post while googling. I came back from the hospital last night after suffering very bad chest pains with tingling/dead arms/legs and was suspected of having a heart attack :(
anyhow after sitting around waiting for the blood test results and ecg results all came back with the heart being 100% (thank god!). Although they did not know what it was/is.

I mentioned that I have had this very painful stabbing problem under my left rib that I have had for about 3 years, that goes from a dull problem to a very nasty in-your-face pain now and again. I also have a pain in the lower left corner of my lower abdomen also a crushing pain across the chest. Just to add to the 'fun' I also have very bad acid indejestion.
I seem to live on the toilet nowadays going maybe 5-6 times a day.

I am now waiting for an colonoscopy I have in the past had chest x-rays and ultrasound and other blood tests all of which showed up nothing.

The only tablets I am on are called omeprazole (gastro-resistant capsules).

As a background I had a severe car crash 20 years ago and do have a crushed in chest. I also had a nervous breakdown 2 years ago and do suffer from panic attacks and stress.

After weeks of googling various terms, I finally found someplace where other people are going through much the same thing as I am!!

For me it started a few months ago when I was attempting to do situps for the first time in way too long. Suddenly , just under my ribcage on the left side was this intense pain, and it actually felt like there was something bulging out. After maybe 5 minutes it went away. But i've had it happen many other times - sitting up in bed, turning the wrong way, bending down.

I mentioned it to my doc today but she dismissed it as diverticular disease, since some of that just showed up on an mri of my hip. But that was my right hip and lower right torso. This is on my left side only, in the center of my left side, just below/under the bottom of my ribcage.

I'd really like to have a better idea of what's going on. I love my doc, but we're in a fairly rural area where odd things don't get seen often or recognized when they do happen, so it helps to be informed.

Hello everyone! There is no words to describe how this pain has been bothering me for the past 4 months.
It all started in august when I developed a deep and continuous pain under my ribs on the left side.
Same pain described many times by many of you previously in this post. It also affects the center of the chest, side of the torso and same area in the back. I have been through a lot of stress before it happen but very relaxed since as I been taking it easy, had a long holiday (1 month) and switched caffeine for herbal drinks. Nothing helped the pain... The stress, the exhaustion, all went away apart from the pain.

My heart race has been slightly high as well so my doctor (who I have seen 5 times) has written me for a cardiologist appointment.
I had several ecgs, x-ray and blood tests and all came out fine.

Here is the list of medicines that I have taken for the past 4 months: half-inderal, sedoxil, metanor, paracetamol, gaviscon, omeprazol, atenolol, co-codamol. This last one is what I was prescribed today after my trip to the urgency department in the hospital for the second time.

I live in pain, from the moment I get up to the time I go to bed and doctors just seen puzzled so I am in total desperation. Thinking seriously in to going private care.
Gonna see my doctor again and go from there.

Feels like I am rotten inside and nothing can be done...

I really can't believe how many people are suffering form this. I'm not sure if I should be relieved or fearful of the uncertainty. My pain started 3 years ago. It was the same kind most of you have as well... Right up under the left rib cage. It was a constant, gnawing pain that wasn't relieved with rest or anything else that I tried. I realized that any time I slept on one side or the other it got worse, almost as though my ribs were crushing my diaphragm. Eventually it affected my breathing (hurt to breathe) then I became short of breath. All this in about two weeks’ time. I started to think I had a rib out of place. Finally I started feeling a great deal of pressure in my entire chest that would radiate to my shoulders. I thought I was having a heart attack and went straight to my doctor. He poked, prodded and ran some tests. To my shock (and relief) my blood test came back positive for h.Pylori. The pain was attributed to ulcers, the pressure to indigestion (which, by the way, I had noticed increased indigestion as well as gassiness but I had no idea it could be that painful). Antibiotic treatment cleared up the infection (supposedly) and the ulcers healed. For two years I was pain free.

About a year ago it flared up again. Figuring it was ulcers again, I paid closer attention to my food/drink consumption. I started exercising (though not for this problem... Just because i'm 30-something with 3 kids and need to lose about 15 pounds). After about 3 weeks of this new regimen, I noticed the pain was completely gone. Any time I skipped a few days of exercise it would come back. Very interesting. As the year progressed I got busy with other things, quit exercising, and started worrying (first born starting college, hurricanes threatening my family in the south, and entirely too many other worries to mention) and the problem has come back with a vengeance. Only this time I have the pain in my back as well, same general area as the front. It feels like a golf ball stuck in my back, and no amount of moving or stretching relieves the pain. I still have the pain under the left rib cage, sometimes forcing me to my knees. I frequently find myself sticking my fingers up under it in hopes of relieving the pain. Ha! I’m sure that looks attractive to onlookers in the grocery store. My thoughts and fears are all-consuming (which is unusual for me as I am an extremely reasonable, rational person). I don't sleep well, wake up sweating, have nightmares, and even wake up with shortness of breath. I went on a mini-vacation over the weekend and was almost pain-free (aside from subtle pain in my back). This leads me to believe that stress plays a big role in whole thing.

I’ve done a lot of research on h.Pylori and found that it is the #1 cause of ulcers. People that have it were more than likely infected with it as a child and can go symptom-free for a very long time. In fact, some people never have any symptoms at all. I’ve also found that it is extremely hard to get rid of, and some people will never get rid of it. I’m sure a great deal of the symptoms have to do with diet and lifestyle as well. I smoke, don’t drink alcohol but have high caffeine intake, eat healthier than most americans but not healthy enough. My biggest problem (aside from smoking) is stress and worry. I don’t know if h.Pylori is the culprit this time though my research certainly indicates that it probably is or is at least adding to other undiagnosed problems. The thing that really has me worried is the new pain in my back. I just have a hard time believing an ulcer or indigestion (or even stress) can affect my back to such a degree. However, I intend to exhaust my options before going to the doctor.

So, here's my plan. I've started exercising again (just yesterday), i'm watching what I eat, and I am going to de-stress as much as possible (change the things I can rather than worry about those I can't). I read that eating a tablespoon of honey an hour before each meal reduces the pain of ulcers and can even heal them. I’m going to add extra garlic to my diet (a great all-around natural antibiotic) as well as vitamin c. I am also going to try the magnesium and calcium. This theory (about the muscles) sounds very interesting to me. It’s possible that my symptoms are a combination of things. I do have muscle spasms in my back and legs on occasion and just recently started having charlie-horses in my hamstring (ouch!).

It looks like a lot of people suffer from strikingly similar symptoms. I’d like to hear back from those who somehow managed to get a handle on this problem. It’s evident that some of you have seen a slew of doctors to no avail. What have you done, if anything, that helps? Do you have any other symptoms that you might have overlooked before?

Left side pain and swelling
posted: 11-19-05 1:18pm

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has anybody had swelling with the pain? In may on a cruise to alaska, I had a body wrap and the technician noticed a lump on the top of my rib cage on the upper left hand side. She asked if I had any previous problems here. I didn't even notice it until she mentioned it!

Over the last couple of days it has swollen up and I am getting pain at this site now.

Can't get in to see my dr for 2 weeks and am wondering what this might be now.

Any suggestions?

Left side pain and swelling
posted: 11-19-05 1:18pm

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has anybody had swelling with the pain? In may on a cruise to alaska, I had a body wrap and the technician noticed a lump on the top of my rib cage on the upper left hand side. She asked if I had any previous problems here. I didn't even notice it until she mentioned it!

Over the last couple of days it has swollen up and I am getting pain at this site now.

Can't get in to see my dr for 2 weeks and am wondering what this might be now.

Any suggestions?

It makes me wonder when there is so little on the left side, that it is so difficult to find out what is wrong. I have had an ache under my left ribs and down to the hip for weeks. Also same thing a year or so ago...
It gets really bad overnight..And I wake up the next morning in pain..As soon as I roll over, I can feel an aching pain. Like an overworked muscle..Except I haven't been exercising. The bones of the lower ribs and hip are sore to pressure if I put my thumb against them...And if I turn right or left the left side is tight.''
i assume it is skeletal or muscle based...I had a scan of organs a few months ago and nothing showed. I am 58... So maybe it is arthritis.
I know it is depressing..As I feel tired every morning from the pain in my sleep making deep rest impossible. Taking aspirin doesnt help and I bruise too easily to take too many pills.
I dont have bowel or stomach troubles... But feel so stiff in the trunk/torso on that side, I feel about 80 instead of 50-something. I tried heat..And it felt inflamed and worse afterwards. I tried to stretch it out..And that felt worse too.
I jsut cant figure it out..Has anyone had a plausible answer and has anyone been told it is muscle or bone issues. Thanks

Just an update... I've been exercising daily (light/medium aerobics or walking for about 30-45 minutes), taking only 1 gram of vitamin c per day and adding a bunch of raw garlic to my diet. After three days of this I felt significantly better. Today (about a week later) I am pain-free. No pain in my ribs or back, no gnawing ulcer pain, no more nightmares or shortness of breath. I still have episodes (only a few) of very slight indigestion and/or bloating but they are relieved quickly with tums or papaya enzymes. I feel great! I do plan to see my doctor for a check-up but until then I intend to keep doing what works. I am convinced that exercise is the biggest contributor in this. I don't know why this is so, but I am so thankful to feel good again. There is truly nothing worse than having ill health... Especially when you haven't a clue what the problem is or how to resolve it.

I am not one to discredit alternative or conventional medicine. I strongly feel that both play a positive role in our health. For those of you who are still suffering from this 'pain under the left rib cage' problem, ulcers, indigestion and back pain, I suggest you see your doctor, especially if you've had no previous diagnosis... But in the mean time, start exercising. Just give it a week or two. You may be overwhelmed and delighted (even giddy) by the pain relief you gain after a few days.

My thanks to all who posted here. Your stories, thoughts, and ideas have helped me tremendously. I am so excited about feeling good (finally), and I hope you all find answers and relief soon.

I'd still like to hear back from the early posters. What have you done since your last post? What worked for you? What hasn't? Any definitive diagnoses?

My symptoms are very similar to most posts. I have a gnawing pain right below my rib cage on left side. It is very tender and can cause pain when touched, as wll as nausea. Any one else experienced this? There are days it seems ok....Then days when the tenderness and pain hit me and life stops. Several drs have looked at it. One thought it was an enlarged spleen, but had a ct and everything was unremarkable. My md even had me visit a cardiologist to rule out heart. That all came out fine. Next step is an mri/mra. I have yet to visit a gi doc, but that is next. I started a heavy regimen of probiotics about 3 weeks ago. Seems to have helped...At least I think so.....But I had an "attack" on friday morning that lasted about 12 hours...Pain so bad, I had to lie down, I applied heat for first time and it seemed to help. I am loading up on fiber and thinking of doing a colon cleanse. My best thoughts are this is triggered by stress (i thought I wasnt stressed, but I really have been over last two years). Like many of you , I have a hard time believing this much pain in the same spot can be stress, but after reading all these posts, I am becoming more convinced. I am going to beat this thing, i'll keep you posted on what works

Iamdacat: yes, I had extreme tenderness from my diaphragm down the perimeter of my left ribcage and especially right up under the left ribs. I didn't realize how tender it was until my doctor started poking around. When he did, I just about flew off the table.

Now that I am exercising I feel great. I know it's difficult to believe that stress is such a factor but I cannot deny how I feel after starting my new routine.

You sound as adamant about overcoming this as I was when I started (i still am). Keep up with the positive attitude. No one will take care of you as well as you take care of yourself. And please let us know what you find that works for you and how your dr appointments go. Good luck!

Stressedoutmom, I agree that you have to take charge of your health and I am determined not to let this linger. There is definately something physical going on in my body. I am trying to determine if the underlying cause is stress/panic. My belief is the stress /panic triggers these episodes and if your health is not optimum, it probably causes the physical pain (probably cause the pain even if you are in tip top shape). I was training for my 3rd marathon when this hit me in late september. I am in great shape, but I thought all that running gave me a free pass to eat whatever I wanted, so I have incorporated a lot more fruit/vegetables and fiber in my diet. I think the probiotics have helped. I did a lot of research and there was no downside to trying them. You have to find a good one. I am taking the primal defense from gardenoflifeusa.Com. I have an initial consultation with a hypnotherapist today. Never tried this, but I need to get control of my thoughts and try to learn a more positive internal dialogue (even tho most people that know me would say I was an optimist, I have a pretty negative dialogue going on most of the day). I also started a colon cleanse (ultimate cleanse I bought at gnc). It is working. We'll see what happens. I do have an appt with a gi next week

:shock: i'm in shock how many people have this pain I always thought i'm alone with. I have the pain on the left lower rip cage and the only thing different seems to be the kind of pain. I have it for about 3 years now - on and off - but mine feels almost like a bruce. When you ouch it it hurts or when I bend to the left side or lay on it. Other than that I do not feel a thing. Anyone has the same pain? I never went to the doc since I thought, hey, it comes and goes so how bad can it be? A friend of mine is a nurse and she said that besides major muscles and the spleen there is nothing what could cause a pain like that. She rouled out the spleen since that would be a different kind of pain...... Mhhh.. Help please.

Great forum by the way.

My personal belief is that stress isn't just a factor it is the major factor from which all others stem. This is not at current medical opinion, nobodies proven a link, so please feel free to take this with a pinch of salt, but it's always been known that stressed patients tend to produce these symptoms very commonly, and my own experience over several years involved in health care is virtually all patients with reflux,gerd, peptic ulcers etc, are or have been suffering from prolonged stress or sudden stress immediately prior to their problems. Many have regular panic attacks, insomnia and other stress related ailments.

The problem is many of the patients themselves either don't realise they are under stress, which is more common then you'd think, or they simply don't recognise the link between those symptoms and their gastric symptoms, so they neglect to mention them to their health care provider, and it perhaps comes out months down the line as a passing thought or aside, if at all. This obviously colors the view of health care providers as to the real significance of the link. I'm neverthe less convinced the link exists and is very strong for several reasons.

Stress, emotional stresses tend to effect muscles all over the body, tensing them, untensing them, unneccesarily. Often the system not just gets triggered unnecesarily but shortwires, and muscles either get locked in tension states, stiff and painful, or they twitch uncontrollably. Whilst this is most visible on the outer muscles, ie, legs eyelids, face muscles, this also effects the internal organs and the muscular responses. The stomach and gut basically passes food through it, through this process of tensing muscles and relaxing them to push food slowly but steadily through the system. Stress makes this go haywire and not only interrupts proper digestion,but often causes extreme pain and discomfort, such as i.B.S.

Of course all this in itself does not cause acidity and ulcers, but a stressed person tends not to be eating healthily, and will be getting too much fats, sugar and acidy foods, perhaps alcohol and nictoine too. When this is combined with a poor digestive system already, the stomach holds on to this excess acid and it burns away at the walls and lining of the oesophagus, stomach and doudenum. This where h pylori comes in. Most people can hold this bacteria in there stomach without ulcers. But the excess acid and lowered immuno system of a depressed, anxious and/or stressed person act in unison to create an enviroment where it gets out of control easily and causes inflamation and ulceration. The pain described here below rib cage sounds typical of duodenol ulcers, which are much more common then gastric ulcers in the stomach, and typically effect younger people (25-50) more than older, and are generally more common in males, unlike gastro ulcers. One way of telling the difference, usually fairly effectively is duodenol ulcer pain is usually bad on empty stomach, is slightly relieved by eating then returns 3 to 4 hours later. Stomach ulcers can also hurt on empty stomach but pain usually far more pronounced immediately after eating, and is typically sharp and stabby, whearas duodenal ulcers dull and achy, sometimes stingy (like the bruise feeling someone described).

Anyway a proton pump inhibitor such as omoprazole with a two weeks course of antibiotics is usually extremelly effective in curing ulcers. However if you can't tolerate medications there are natural alternatives. Manuka honey is reputed to be extremelly effective in healing gastro problems, including ulcers. Once ulcer or reflux is gone it's important to make lifestyle changes, and to be honest this means changing diet, and cutting stress. Best way to do that is to exercise regularly, and balance with relaxation maybe armoatherapy or meditation classes. Yoga and pilates give a good balance of both and you can start off quite lightly with either, if your quite weak and inactive. Lastly regular sunlight and acces to clean fresh air is extremelly important to healthy mind and mental calmness and clarity.

Of course, though privately i'm 99.9% certain all the above will work, i'm not trying to suggest anyone takes my advice or opinions 9which is all they are) over your health care providers. It's equally important also stress these things must be checked out thoroughly each and everytime, before any meds or lifestyle changes, because though stomach cancer is extremelly rare, and ulcers extremelly common, the two conditions can have very similar symptoms, can even co exist tgether being causative agents in rare cases, so one must always be thoroughly checked out and on safe side.

Anyway hope thats off some help to someone out there..

I found this on google and am having similar symptoms to many of you... Left flank pain which is internal, as well as tenderness on and below ribs. This has been going on for a month now-- it is intermittant, and motrin helps, as does a heating pad. Sometimes it goes all the way across my abdomen-- diaphragm? It also makes me tired.

I am a 10 year breast cancer survivor, so of course if I sneeze funny they give me every test known to man. (i have also had gastritis, for which I take prevacid as needed. This is definitely not the same pain.) I had an ultrasound for kidney stones, and a cat scan. They found nothing on my left side but found suspicious areas on my liver. I am having more tests this week, including a ct pet scan, bone scan, muga scan, and liver biopsy. I feel much better after reading everyone's post because I am convinced that my side pain is not cancer-related.... I think no one has posted anything about a ct pet, which is apparently a very good diagnostic test. I will let you know the results-- maybe it will be helpful for some of you. (as to the liver stuff, that's a whole 'nother can of worms...)

Googled and got this site:

i have had a shooting pain in my side, although lower than most of the posts mine is in between the rib cage and hip. This has been something I have had since I was 10 years old and it is very sporadic- I will sometimes only get it once or twice a year. I am 23 now and haven't had it in almost a year but it is the worst it has been in ages. It is spurred on by a bend or stretch that seems to pull the muscle, although I am inclined to believe it could be a gi issue. It is a shooting pain that stretches from my back (kidney area) around to my abdomen making me feel like I have to vomit. I find I am able to pacify the pain when I lie or sit in certain positions, but sometimes it is absolutely incurable and unbearable. I have seen a doctor/chiropractor several times regarding it since it first appeared 13 years ago- it is truly a nuisance. Has anyone really looked into the muscle/bone aspect of it. I am leaning more towards this than a gi issue because I can pinpoint exactly when it happens due to a stretch and a I feel a twinge. Although after reading the posts I cannot completely rule out kidney or gi problems. If anyone has had any luck after visiting a chiropractor I would love to hear, email at: nickmo _79@hotmail.Com

I have similar symptoms as the ones described here, but slightly different and I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing these.

About 10 months ago I had a bad flu with a severe cough (not sure if that's related or not). A couple weeks later I noticed a 'tingling' or 'numbness' in my lower left rib, close to the breastbone. It started mild, but never quite went away so I went to my 1st doctor, who told me to stop wearing a bra. Of course that didn't work.
A couple months after that I really started to worry as the sensation was more constant and more severe. It has never been exactly painful, but has persisted almost daily. It almost feels as though something is growing...

I went to a 2nd doctor when I noticed that the rib in question sticks out farther (quite a lot farther) and seems thicker than it should. She said that all bodies are asymetrical and sent me to get xrayed for scoliosis. The xray was normal. She also gave me anti-acid medication which I never tried since it's hard to believe this sensation - practically in the bone - could be gi related.

I went to a 3rd doctor a couple months ago since by this time I was so worried that I was on anti-anxiety/depression medication. She gave me a prescription for a muscle relaxant. No one seems to be taking this seriously and as I have no health insurance I am reluctant to keep going to doctors and getting further tests.

There is also a 'numb' area in my back muscles in roughly the same position and sometimes the skin around the rib itches. I thought maybe there was nerve damage somehow and have been to a chiropractor, which has not helped. I have even tried going to an energy healer and nothing seems to be working.

Of course I think the worst despite 3 docs, a chiro and a reiki healer telling me I don't have cancer. Could this all somehow be stress/anxiety?? It's so hard to believe, but after reading what everyone else wrote, I have to wonder. Anyone's comments would be unspeakably helpful.

Like many of you, the doctor said that I have gerd as well as a hiatal hernia. I am a 44 year old male, 5'8", 225lbs, I smoke and I could eat a whole lot better than I do. I drive 50 min to and from work and I have two small children (5 & 1) so time is limited and things can be quite stressful as most things are done on the fly.

The pain began on christmas eve (last saturday) of all days... The pain is mainly under my bottom rib on the left side and it radiates to my back. I tossed and turned at night thinking I was just blocked or had eaten something that just wasn't moving along through my system.

I waited and suffered for three days and then decided that since I wasn't having a normal bm in the morning, I would try a laxative. I took two exlax on tuesday night and the next morning I was able to go (quite a bit throughout the day). The pain subsided by 99% with just a hint of pain left. Since wednesday the pain has again returned. When I urinate, I get some relief but not complete. Last night was extremely painful and I could not sleep and could not find "any" comfortable position. I finally took one aleve. It took about 30 minutes to work and surprisingly only offered relief for a couple of hours. I took a second aleve about 4-5 hours later because I could not go back to sleep.

Once I get to sleep and relax, I guess things begin to move easier because when I first wake up, the pain is minimal. Once I get and begin moving around, the pain gets real bad. If I didn't have such a high threshold for pain, i'd say it could bring you to your knees.

The speed in which this all came about had me thinking it might be a kidney stone or gall stone but after talking with our neighbor who is a nurse. Without me telling her diveticulitis, that's what she immediately thought it my be based on the location, my description and serverity of the pain.

Any thoughts?

Annoyed!

So, here is my history.

I have been having this pain for about 1 year now give or take. At first it was just the whole left side, under the rib, radiating to the back, etc. Dr's went the kidney uti route. Had numerous kidney tests, ivp's, etc all coming back normal.

After that of course the pain came back. Almost daily. My dr ordered a pelvic ultrasound and an abdominal ultrasound. Both came back normal.

Pain, back again ;) so I went to him again, and he ordered a cat scan. Dr thought maybe diverticulitis. Cat scan came back normal except for a ovarian cyst that had ruptured. Said it was normal to get them in the child bearing years and that it would dissolve in my body and that was that.



Pain came back again, this time worse and with alternating diareaha and constipation, sometimes slight mucus in stool. Also, I felt knawwing in stomach and heartburn off and on. Dr ordered blood tests to test liver, pancreas, etc and he wanted to test for the h pylori bacteria. Well, turned out I did have the bacteria. So, he put me on the prevpac and I took that medication. When done felt a little better and he told me it would probably go away now.



Here I am again and this time it is not going away at all. Sometimes, hurts worse than others, but mostly constant. The pain is left side, under ribs, raditates to the front and back, sometimes to the shoulder if really bad. I am also very gurgly in my stomach and sides. Sometimes, it makes me contstipated, sometimes diareaha. Sometimes exercise helps, sometimes not.

So, I was so frustrated with my current dr, still trying to figure out what the heck was going on, that I got a new Dr. He put me on prevacid for now till mid feb and said if not better by then, he wants to do and upper gi and colonoscopy. It is just odd to me that I had a cat scan which is pretty thorough and now more tests. When I press on my side it hurts and feels better if I press on it and sort of massage it. Also feels somewhat better with a heating pad. It also makes me think of something stomach/bowels related due to certain foods or drink make it worse. Like for a while it was not bothering me and I noticed I had not had coffee in a while. So I drank some coffee and it came back. Since then I have not drank coffee, but it is not going away.


So I am at a loss, getting really frustrated and annoyed!


Any help is really appreciated!!!


Gl to you all!!!