Questions in the Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum have been answered by Dr. Kevin Pho who is board certified in Internal Medicine and by doctors from Henry Ford Health System.

Question Title: pain under right rib cage

Forum: The Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum
Topic: Crohn's


26 year old male, I have had two operations for Crohn's disease in the last 10 years and currently taking Pentasa for treatment. I recently have noticed a continuous cramping pain right under my lower right rib cage. Could this be a liver or gull bladder concern? The area is pretty sensative and does not feel like past Crohn's disease symptoms.

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Dear David,
Patients with Crohn's disease can have right upper quadrant pain for several different reasons. There may be recurrence of disease, depending on the nature of your previous surgeries. This could be active Crohn's disease or partial bowel obstruction. The liver can be involved by inflammation or fatty liver. Hepatic involvement is associated with an aching pain and abnormal liver tests. patients with Crohn's disease have an increased incidence of gall stones. related to disease of the ileum and bile salt losses. Finally, Crohn's disease patients may have kidney involvwemtn either by kidney stones or obstruction of the ureters in an inflammatory mass. In addition to these conditions, you could have causes for abdominal pain similar to those found in the general population e.g. irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance.

This information is presented for educational purposes only. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.

HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords; Crohn's disease, abdominal pain, gall stones
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