Undiagnosed Persistent Upper Left Abdominal PAin

[Carol D.]

I am a 39 year old female. For the past 2 1/2 months I have been experiencing upper left quadrant abdominal pain.  It tends to localize below my ribs but above the navel, about 3 inches left of center.  My side also gets tender and my mid back gets muscle spasmy. The pain has sometimes feels like a very tender pulled muscle, but also will feel like a sharper twinge (similar to what I've experienced sometimes when jogging).  When the condition was most accute in 4 wks weeks ago, even my skin to the slightest touch was ultrasensitive - almost like a rope-burn type of sensation.  I also had a wiggly, twitchy feeling in the muscles there in the upper lft. abd. and into my left side/flank.

I have NO nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. I have not lost any weight and energetically do not feel sluggish. My oral temperature ranged from 98.8 - 100 F.  I also have pain in my left groin that feels like a groin pull and also near the front of of my hip bone.  I've also noticed that occasionally my left arm feels heavy and weak, with the grip in my left hand feeling weak as well.

I have had xrays, IVP, ultrasound and CT scan.  Initially my urine dip showed blood and it was thought i might have a kidney stone, but in further testing the urine showed 0 - 3 red blood cells, which I am told are normal levels, and the IVP did not turn up anything.  Only the ultrasound turned up a very small (1.6cm) hemmorhaggic cyst on my left ovary. The gynocologist did not think my pain, being up so high,  was caused by the cyst, and instead felt the cause was visceral and definitely not gynocological or musculoskeletal.  The CT scan also showed normal, although I was told there was some fluid in my pelvic area, which was attributed to the cyst.  All of my blood work has returned completely normal, including amylase / lipase levels.

I was then sent to a Gastroenterologist who asked me some questions, concluded it was muscular and sent me home to take ibuprofen.  She did not do a rectal or scope me.  Stool sample results came back normal:  no e coli, no giardia, no parasites, no blood.

I have been prescribed darvocet, levsin, ibuprofen and naproxen, none of which have made any difference.

Also - have eliminated dairy, alcohol, caffeine from my diet and added extra fiber. I eat no red meat and haven't for approx. 20 years.  I have smoked on and off for approx 20 years, most recently less than 5 / day, but have been smoke-free since 1 / 1 / 2000.  I do have GERD, but treated myself with herbs and diet and have not had a reccurrence in about a year.

I am at a loss for which way to turn for help next.  My primary care physician seems to be at a loss as well. I also had some thoracic and cervical xrays to see if I might have a pinched nerve causing the pain - nothing apparent showed.

Can you help with any suggestions as to what might be the diagnosis, or references to someone in my area (Boston) who might be able to help? I am also concerned perhaps something was missed on the CT or KUB xrays.  Should I have a chest xray?  Ultrasound of my spleen / pancreas area?  Did the CT scan cover this?

I appreciate your time and consideration and any advice you can offer.

[kelli]

I am 27 and have been suffering from these EXACT symptoms for a week. I have a history of kidney stones, so that was my first guess (and the diagnosis of the first dr. that I saw upon finding blood in urine).IVP was negative. I saw a urologist yesterday who said there is no blood in urine now, could be cystitis or pulled muscle. I disagree (too high for ovarian problem, no problem with menstral cycle). I am scheduled to have a pelvic ultrasound tomorrow - should I even waste my time? Last year at this time I began suffering from severe chronic chest pains (radiating out my back) - it was misdiagnosed as GERD, then costrocondritis (sp?), and then written off as stress related. This pain lasted 10 months before it ceased. For that, I had a gall bladder ultrasound, endoscopy, and upper GI? Is this left side pain another mystery illness that I have been blessed with? It worsens when I am sitting - as long as I am on my feet moving, I feel OK. It almost feels like a baby kicking on that side and sometimes there is swelling/bloating under my left ribs.

[Dennis Lammers]

Going through similar pain.  Very similar.  Had all the tests not much to report.  I stumbled across thoracic outlet syndrome.  May explain pains that are actually muscle skeletal rather than organ trouble.  It has to do with over exertion or trauma that slows nerves or arteries moving through the Thorasic (Upper back, Shoulder neck area) that cause back shoulder spasms and the pain radiates to arms, legs, and hips.  Therapy is more massage and chiropractic unless it is severe enough for surgery.  Good luck to you!  ***@****

[chris]

Hi, I am a 22 year old male and have been having various digestive and other problems with my body for about the past 7 years. I think its probably just my body, but i seem to eat better than alot of people I know, and I get much sicker than them. I get wind pain, bloating, indigestion, acid reflux,
constipation every day. Its really hard to live like this and i'd really like to get better.
> Over the last week i've had this weird feeling - cramps and pains all under my left ribs in the stomach area. I can feel alot of movement going on around there. Also, for the past 2 months or so, I have had this sore discomfort around the lower to mid area of my left ribs. What kind of
tests can i have for the stomach? Having xray and ultrasound tommorrow

I have been diagnosed in the past with candida, IBS, and one
naturopath recently told me a have a 'hot' liver (dysfunctional i guess). It is quite hard even to go about my daily work and study having to live with all this all the time. I was wondering if you have any clues about what i have or what i could do about myself. Thanks alot, Chris

[[email protected]]

These symptoms sound so familiar. I started with this about 2 years ago out of the blue. I did some excercises one night (sit ups push ups and jumped on a trampoline) took a bath and went to bed and it started. My heart was going fast, tongue felt like it was swelling, a wave passed through me and it felt hard to breath. I went to emerge and they gave me some pills that doped me up. For about three months I would experiance the wave feeling, fast heart rate and break out in the shakes. I also felt like my flesh was burning through out my ribs neck and head. I also had diareha and frequent urination when these symptoms were happening. Now I always have a sore neck, burning on the left side of my ribs and it feels like my neck is swelling in the front. I still get the diareha especially after eating. I have had blood tests, heart ultrasound, ultrasound of thyroid pelvis and abdominal regions, exray on spine neck ribs and lungs, gastroscopy, barium enama, and urine tests for hormones. All they found was a little acid reflux and a bit of scoliosis in my neck. I am tired of living this way. I feel tired all the time and don't feel good. I am only 31 and feel like I am 90 sometimes. If anyone has any answers I would appreciate it. My family doctor tries to push valume and antidepressants on me all the time, I just need to find out what is going on with me not cover it up.

[[email protected]]

These symptoms sound so familiar. I started with this about 2 years ago out of the blue. I did some excercises one night (sit ups push ups and jumped on a trampoline) took a bath and went to bed and it started. My heart was going fast, tongue felt like it was swelling, a wave passed through me and it felt hard to breath. I went to emerge and they gave me some pills that doped me up. For about three months I would experiance the wave feeling, fast heart rate and break out in the shakes. I also felt like my flesh was burning through out my ribs neck and head. I also had diareha and frequent urination when these symptoms were happening. Now I always have a sore neck, burning on the left side of my ribs and it feels like my neck is swelling in the front. I still get the diareha especially after eating. I have had blood tests, heart ultrasound, ultrasound of thyroid pelvis and abdominal regions, exray on spine neck ribs and lungs, gastroscopy, barium enama, and urine tests for hormones. All they found was a little acid reflux and a bit of scoliosis in my neck. I am tired of living this way. I feel tired all the time and don't feel good. I am only 31 and feel like I am 90 sometimes. If anyone has any answers I would appreciate it. My family doctor tries to push valume and antidepressants on me all the time, I just need to find out what is going on with me not cover it up.

[Lenna]

i have pain in my upper left side below the ribs. the pain is uncomfortable and when you push in that area it is tender. no fever, a little nausiated, no vomiting though.