Chronic Right Side Pain With Confusing Causes

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2 years of chronic pain located at lower, right side of abdomen around bottom rib in 3 inch region between bottom rib and pelvis. Sometimes pain is higher up and more central. Appendics taken out 10 years ago. Feels like jabbing a blunt instrument in that area. Affected by compression/sitting. Had all tests - trust me. Everything to do with liver and gallbladder and intestines and stomach and kidneys was tested. Pain can be debilitating. Also tried chiropractor/PT.

I've mentioned to doctors that medications can make it worse but all have had no answer for this.

Why would a pain like this be made worse by taking certain medications, by sitting for too long, or by eating certain foods, or by physical exertion? There are confusing overlaps that have puzzled all doctors. That is my central question. I take pain medication but still have problems. Some of the meds I've taken for pain have even seemed to make it worse while others make it better.

I've had all of the suggestions like Crohns, kidneys, liver, g.b. - but all have been supposedly ruled out by tests. If it wasn't for the g.b. tests that were negative I'd say it's classic gallbladder symptoms. Recently I've been wondering if there is some occassional liver swelling that causes problems in that area. I've had a few enzyme tests and they have been normal. I wonder if gallbladder can "hide" from tests at times. Is this too low for gallbladder? If it was gallbladder would meds cause pain?

Any possibilities outside of gallbladder or liver? Why would a med cause pain? After 2 yrs could pain ever = emergency?

[Andreysterr]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with these Symptoms and wish everyone a heathy recovery.

I'm a male 24 years old.
Had my appendix removed 8years ago.
I remember the 1st time I started to get slight pain in my lower right stomach, right  below my belt line. It's was when I was in Europe heavily drinking 5days in the row with only 3-4hours of sleep. Had 0 water, only Alcohol for 5days straight.

2 years latter I'm getting the plain back by having a few sips of coffee, alcohol, and even a cut of tea

I haven't gone to the Doctor because the paint is only 1-2 of 10 scale. And I know what causes it.

Cause:
Coffeine
Alcohol
Greasy Food

Solutions:
Drink water with lemon
Avoid: caffeine, alcohol, greasy food, soda, and proccesed food.

Guy Don't depend on medication every medication has side effect which requires more medication. It's a never ending cycle. Medication should be used in rare occasions not passed out like M&M's try this try that. Best medicine is Water, Natural food, and A positive vide:)

Wish you all health!!

[iALR]

Long term use of pain meds make the pain worse. The pain meds turn physical pain, especially one of no known obvious physical origins , in to a mental game. I know after 8 years of pain meds to control head & facial nerve damage from cancer surgery. Your body is asking you to look for another way to deal with the pain because what you’ve been prescribed from doctors isn’t working. Now your brain has to listen. Ex...Eating more vegetables that fight inflammation, drinking water, herbal teas, walking after meals, and using probiotics & flora to best support your gut & digestion, will boost your natural immune system responses meant to fight the very real pain you feel on the right side. Pain meds were not made to do all of these things. They make the pain worse over time because they suppress the immune system by immediately impacting digestion. If digestion is impacted, then our immune system (of which 80% is in our guts) becomes more susceptible to infections, pains, and discomfort. I hope this helps as it has helped me figure out how to control my pain differently as over time.

[CatdaBrat]

So add me to the growing list of people suffering from this mystery condition. Kidney and liver tests come back good. Gall bladder has been out for years. I take no caffeine (but admit it is sometimes present naturally in small amounts in certain foods where we don't expect it to be). One doctor decided a good way to "test" me was to actually PUNCH me in the spot where I indicated I had pain! Getting a real diagnosis and effective treatment seems like an impossibility.

[Fuzzy4]

I have read everybody's comments.  I did have chronic nagging pain in my right side for over two weeks.  I ruled out pancreas problems because the symptoms for that are sudden weight loss (not producing insulin) and diabetes type symptoms.  I ruled out gall bladder because symptoms are fever, nausea, and high white blood cell count.  I found a link to Irritable Bowel Syndrome which I had years ago due to bad construction site water.  We made a lot of coffee then to filter and cover the taste.  Doctor's solution was pills of phenobarbital, which dramatically slowed down the contractions of my intestines and interfered with my wits.  Not good.  The correct answer now, as then, is that caffeine does not like you.  Cut it out completely (pop and coffee), and the pain will be gone with a couple of bowel movements.  You are getting internal constipation from over-stimulating and cramping.  My wife noted that I had been drinking most of a pot of coffee each day for the past couple of weeks due to being indoors because of cold weather.  That's something I wouldn't have noticed.

[CatdaBrat]

I am very glad that cutting out caffeine worked for you. I doubt it's going to help everybody, though, because I have been off caffeine for decades (due to heart arrhythmia called PSVT). But I have had the right-side-by-lower-rib pain off and on for about four years. It just seems like nobody has an answer, not even the doctors.

[Louspencer]

Hi I have all these symptoms. Just been diagnosed with sphincter off oddi dysfunction. I can't take opiates as it gives me the same pain as I get when I get an attack which is the pain you describe. Had gall bladder out but pain I get is still like gall bladder pain. Also women aged 30-50 most likely to get it. Sphincter off oddi is part of pancrea that goes into spasm causing the epigastric pain into the back sometimes the right shoulder. Usual treatment anti spasmodics and pain killers if you can find one you can tolerate I'm on one called Nefopam. Hope this helps. Usually occurs after having gall bladder out though.

[compsmart]

I have these symptoms. had this issue for 4 years now. It comes and goes. Sometimes its sudden sharp pain that takes my breath away like a severe cramp. Other times its a prolonged discomfort, Like pressure pushing on my right abdominal area. Im 29 now but when it first started i used to drink quite a lot - rum coke, jd coke etc. I figured my liver was on its way out so i stopped drinking for 6 months and the pain subdued. Then all of a sudden it came back..i had an ultrasiund which showed normal liver and gall bladder. I figured it might be ibs so started watching my diet more to see if anything was causing it.
Things ive found - caffiene definately brings it on. If i drink coffee at work i get the paid later that day. This also explains why i used to, and still do, get symptoms after drinking coke. Ps. Diet coke has even more caffiene than regular!
Also, too much sugar and fatty foods have a similar effect. Eg. If i have a kfc i can guarantee cramps afterwards.
Changing diet does help. I just wish i could put a name to the condition or find out what caused it. I have a blood test this week but after reading the comments above i doubt it will reveal anything...

[Tsnapp34]

It's definitely gallstones. I had mine taken out but when ever I drink something carbonated will cause the pain in my stomach and back just like when I had my gallstones just not as severe. Pain meds also cause this pain. I'm drinking ginger ale but has no caffeine. They were supposed to do a ERCP on me but didn't. When they took my gallbladder out the surgeon says she dropped Stones inside of me but the surgeon that was supposed to have surgery on me the next morning said my blood test look normal and it happened to be Valentine's Day that day and he wanted to leave so he didn't perform at and I've still had issues since. They have done ultrasounds and if checked over and over again and they say that I don't have any stones but I don't believe them especially since the surgeon says she dropped them in my liver. I had my gallbladder removed February 13th of 2015 and have had a lot of health problems since. I feel like I need to sue because they are not helping me and act like I'm lying.

[jewel9876]

I thought I was going crazy.  Has anyone gotten any answers yet from your Doctors?  My pain just started a month and a half ago, and I'm miserable.  I don't think I could deal with it for years.  My sympathies to those of you who have had to deal with this mystery.  My Doctors just keep throwing test after test at me like they are trying to just pacify me.  Just gets annoying.

[better1000]

I have pain in the lower right side that seems to be triggered by:
1) Drinking Coffee
2) Eating Spicy Foods
3) Eating Onions, Garlic, or other strong spices.

I stopped going to regular medical doctors because they just throw pills at you.
Things to Do:
1) Read up on the ileocecal valve.
2) Look into Primal Defense by Garden of Life it's the only thing that stops my pain.  I take one first thing in the morning. Read the reviews on it.
If I stop taking it the pain comes back.

[Iceman1980]

I have read everyone's comments and am relieved to hear it is not just me. My doctors in the Uk are also flumoxed about the problem after having every test come back ok. They are sending me to a mucular-skeletal specialist, but I am not sure that is the right route. I also suffer with IBS, anxiety and back problems, which sounds similiar to a number of others who have written. It would be interesting to know how many of us suffer with stress/anxiety leading up to the pain. I had been vomitting aggresively when I first experienced it after drinking too much alcohol. I have now quit drinking, eat pretty healthy, don't smoke, 31 and otherwise in good health If anyone does figure out a way to reduce the pain please let me know as it is so frustrating.

[ripka]

I have had the same pain for my entire life now. I am now 20 years old and must walk with a cane because the pressure of straightening my back sends hot firey rods down my right leg and up into my bladder/pelvis and kidney region mainly on that side. It started as a diagnosis of "migrains" but my entire life has seemed like one big test project. I have never been able to stand for long periods of time, got in trouble at school for needing to put my feet up, I started going to the chiropractor for my lower back at about 13 and physio for mainly my upper around 14/15 after chiropractor didn't help...I've had every blood test and **** test for almost everything possible...I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia due to my intense, widespread pain when the doc ran out of testing when I was 18. I have Insane acid reflux/ GERD as well and the two have never been addressed with anything further than tests, meds for muscle synchronization/control anti-nausea and the one I still take, PPI, or an acid inhibitor, and my own changes I have taken upon myself to make me feel as good as possible, but I had to leave my job in June and havn't been able to stand for more than 30 seconds since..it hurts to hold in pee.. I originally thought I had a kidney infection, but no, it is the same lower back pain I have always had every time I get my period but instead of getting slightly better after my cramps went away, last june I had to leave work half an hour after I arrived and havn't been able to do anything since. Sleeping is painful, lifting or flexing my right leg, walking, even sitting..and standing has always been the worst. It is Crippling.
The doctor will do NOTHING but tell me to go to physio, I am on PPI's, muscle relaxants. and just recently nerve medication, but I don't know what to do, my doc doesn't know what to do, and my life feels over at 20...I never knew how bad it could get, and I never had a pain-free life. I NEVER knew this intense of pain existed...it feels EXACTLY like a hot steel rod being shoved in there, and when that pain goes away, there is always either crippling pressure or cold stinging numbness....can ANYONE help? I have a much more detailed list of symptoms, I just have to end this somewhere. I have been stuck in my house for over 6 months now.

[CatdaBrat]

I'm no doctor of course, but your comment about a hot steel rod and then cold stinging numbness sounds like it's a nerve problem rather than muscular or skeletal.

[mom5374]

I'm sorry to hear your mom in is so much pain. I can identify WELL! I have had the same type pain in my right side, under my right rib cage radiating into my back between the base of my shoulder blade & the top of my right kidney, for several years. The 1st time it hit was in the middle of the night 7 I woke up almost screaming the pain was so bad. For many years it would come & go but the area was always sore even tot he touch.I thought after I had my gallbladder out it would stop, but unfortunately it didn't. It got better for a brief time, but then came back. Lately the pain is relentless & rarely lets up. `I finally went to the ER in the middle of the night recently & because of serious spine problems that I have to take pretty strong pain meds for, the ER doctor treated me as if I was only there to get more pain meds which was extremely maddening. I told her I did not want any pain meds I wanted to know what was wrong with me & what could be done for it. She gave in & ran a few basic tests; a good bit of bloodwork, urine specimen & sonogram of the area. The sonogram showed the liver & pancreas looked ok which surprised the doctor. Because I'm overweight she rather rudely told me she was sure I had fatty liver disease if nothing else since I'm so "grossly overweight & obviously don't take care of myself". She of course jumped to that conclusion without even looking at my medical information that shows that I do have medical problems that have unfortunately brought on the weight problems. The liver function bloodwork also came back normal, which also proved her theory wrong. I wanted to stick my tongue out at her, say haha & tell her not so nice things, but I refrained. lol The only things that showed up in my other tests were an elevated white blood cell count & a unrinary tract infection which i was given a course of the antibiotic Macrobid.  I did get refered to a gastroenterologist from my ER visit which is hopefully going to get to the bottom of the problem, but we'll see. The odd thing is after taking the antibiotic, my side was not as painful. It still hurt, but it did give me some relief for almost 2 weeks. I just had my appointment with the new specialist & at least he did seem concerned. He is going to schedule me for an endoscopy & a colonoscopy so he can actually "look" at what's going on throughout my entire gastro system & do any biopsies he thinks necessary while he's in there. He did tell me there is a good possibility I have Celiac Disease, probably have IBS & my also have gallstones in the duct even though my gallbladder has been removed. He said it is not very common, but it does happen & it causes many of the  symptoms that I'm having. He did not say what, if anything, could be done for it though. All of this to say try taking her to a doctor that specialises in gastroenterology. This is about the only "ologist" I haven't seen for this problem, so I'm cautiously optomistic at this point. Hopefully it won't take too long to get the tests done. I hope you can find a good specialist in your area that is willing to listen & try to help your mom. From taking care of my mother for a long time, I know how helpless & aggrevated you feel knowing she's hurting & something is wrong but not being able to get your mom taken of. I really hope you find a doctor very soon that can help her.                            Please let all of us know how it goes.

[daughter623]

My mother, now 87, has had this same side pain for so many years, I can not even remember.  She too, years ago,  had her gallbladder removed and the pain status did not change,  She has had every test and scan imaginable and not one doctor has a clue as to what is wrong. She also suffers constipation and diarrhea.  
She is on so many pills for this and that, and her pain is only getting worse.  What sort of doctor can help with this??

[Elleyphant]

You are the last person to comment so I am directing this to you.  I have had a right side pain for 6 months now.  Low right under the rib.   I, too, have been to the Dr. and had all the tests.  The Dr can't find anything.  The pain is worst when I eat certain foods but lately has been constant.  It started when I was constipated and strained to move my bowels so I thought I had rupurted something but the Dr says no.  I wish we could put a name on this so we could treat it.  I am taking these comments to my Dr to show him that there hasn't been a clear answer for any of you guys too.  If someone has an answer (because some of these comments have been written a while ago) please let me know. (never even thougth about monitoring my meds!)

I'm female
Had my gallbladder out years ago
Slightly overweight

[olivia930]

hello, have been reading all of the comments/descriptions about stictch in right side and i am so glad because i thought i was going mad. i too have had gallbladder surgery 5 yrs ago  and ever since then this pain keeps cropping up. it started after i had a tube inserted into the liver to drain it, i had gallbladder infection and was waiting to have it removed. i   have always had a 'sore' spot just where that tube went in. the doctor sent me for xrays etc but just said it was 'adhesions' caused by surgery.
the pain comes and goes but as time goes on its getting more regular. i'v had it constantly now for 2 weeks and am in agony. cannon lie, cannot move, breathing is painful. even though there seems to be no cure i am at least not alone and ironically its good to know!
I WISH EVERYONE WELL WHO SHARES THIS PROBLEM>>>

[lucypepper]

I had my gallbladder removed 7 years ago, and the pain on my right side is still there. The surgeon told me it was all in my head and left it at that. I have had several tests over the years, but nothing seems to be wrong. The last test was an endoscopic ultrasound, and the GI said everything looked fine. He locked onto the the fact that I have had IBS problems over many years, even though I'm not having very many problems with it now. I really think that there are adhesions from when I had my gallbladder surgery. I read recently that the pain from adhesions will get worse over the years, and that is definitely what is happening with me. But the adhesions will probably come back again if surgery is done to remove them. Maybe the pain in my right side is all in my head, but it sure does hurt in my side!

[LikeToday]

I suffer from some of the same symptoms.. i dont know if age may have anything to do with it but im 18.. ive went to the hospital multiple times for pain and am not sure what causes it.. the doctors originally thought it was a hernia.. but given my age and about 5 physicals it was ruled out.. i also went into a gastrologist and he didnt find anything.. .. im looking to go back in to try and get something to help the pain..its been happening for i would say 3 years..  its just beside my pelvic bone on the right side.. somewhat near my bottom rib.. about 3 inches down.. in a way it feels muscle related but who knows.. it, every time, becomes worse with the more motion i use i cant seem to find anything that causes it. it just kinda starts..  sometimes even debilitating.. anything helps guys.. just looking for some insight..  Thanks

[similiarsymptoms]

I have had a pain in my right side for over 15 years.  My mother and three sisters had their gallbladders removed.  One of my sisters had two abdominal ultrasounds, a hida scan and a cat scan and they showed nothing.  The next thing you know, she ended up in emergency surgery with acute pancreatitis and a gallstone lodged in her common bile duct.  Now, I am experiencing the same symptoms, have spent hours on tests and even an eight hour stint in the emergency room with no answers.  My gastro guy told me it was IBS too.  What peaks my curiosity is the adhesion issue some of you have written about.  I had a severe PID many years ago, ended up with a complete hysterectomy and adhesion removal.  I wonder if this could be it!  I am going to investigate.  The good thing about all the tests that I have had is that when I had the cat scan of my abdomen, they found a nodule in my right lung that I am getting checked out.  Maybe this was all for a reason.  One more question for you all....Anyone ever heard that artificial sweetener can cause issues?

[IAmMrMan]

My Dad has had pain in his abdomen with diarrhea and / or constipation for about 3 weeks.  He finally has been able to get in with a specialist (I swear, you could die waiting to get an appointment with a Dr !).  He is schedlued for a colonoscopy next week.

One thing that has helped him is reducing caffeine and a bland diet; such as oatmeal, rice, poultry (baked or grilled) plain yogurt and bananas.  

I wonder how old a person you are - of course, you already know you shouldn't smoke!  My Dad does too and at his age he isn't going to quit.

Good luck - I hope you are diagnosed soon, at least they'll know what to treat you for.

[hello1129]

I have had the pain in my right side for years but over the last 6 months it has been very bad. I have diarrhea, very painful at times, stomach pain. something else I saw from a few other people is  yeast which they did find in my stool sample but they didn't seem to think it was anything. so they just ignored it.   I am in pain every day. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy, liver ultrasound, and a liver specialist. Only because I switched doctors. My last doc for 3 years I was telling him about my symptoms and he didn't listen.

1) I drink alot of coffee
2) I smoke
3) I am overweight
4) I do drink pop but not more then one a day.

I was wondering if drinking coffee was making it worse or not.
I told my doctor that I am in pain every day and what can I do now and he just says I have to live with it until they figure out what it is. I am scheduled for tests for the next month and a half. How long do I have to wait until I get some answers and releif.

[russ1106]

I do not know if this is similiar or not. But my pain started about 15 years ago just from after having sex and an orgasm. I am a male, age 36 now. Now it sets off if I reach or stretch the wrong way. For example if I have to wipe after going to the bathroom the pain sets off on the right side. It feels like its gonna blow up and the pain is so excruciating. Once I had the pain in the mid center of my stomach when I bent over to pick up my cat. Oh my god, I would not wish that pain on my worst enemy. And only once did it flare up on my left side but kept spasming for a whole day. I too have had many tests where the first doctor said it was food poisioning (endescopy) and the second doctor said it was just hemmorhoids (colonoscopy), but neither test showed anything out of the norm besides those two things. The pain has gotten consistently worse now especially when I have to wipe after going to the bathroom. About 80% of the time that right pain will shoot up and it is just so unbearable.

I do not know if these are similiar to the symptoms you all go through or not. I do know I do the following which could contribute to it, lets find the common link;

1.) I drink alot of coffee
2.) I eat alot of bread
3.) I drink alot of soda.
4.) I smoke
5.) I am overweight

Well I just cant help to think that something above is what is in common with others who have the same pain.

Again, 1st time I ever had the pain was in extreme lower right just above the groin after sex. Then it has graduated over the years to the right side just under the rib. That one time in center stomach, and that one time on left side just under rib.

I do not know why Doctors have a hard time figuring this out.

[sebastian888]

I have been having the same type of pain on my right side for just over a year now.  They did all kinds of tests when it first started last summer and found nothing.  I had my gallbladdder out more than ten years ago.  I have noticed that foods and stress definitely make it worse.  I have read about sphincter of oddi and this seems to fit.  one doctor mentioned it as a possibility but the test for it sounds too scary.  another doc said it was just IBS or something and dismissed me.  I get worried something horrible is about to burst and I'll die.  of course that makes it worse as i stress myself out.

[Ruthie37]

i HAVE HAD PAIN ESPECIALLY WHEN DOING ABDOMINAL EXERCISES, NOW i CAN'T DO THEM WITHOUT FEELING THE PAIN IS ON ITS WAY.  Comes about once a month.

It last for about 2 days and sore for two days.  Have had this for about 7 years.  No gallstones, but suspect the appendics but only 50% sure.  

[BRINA3]

I AM NOT SURE IF YOUR STILL READING THIS BLOG OR NOT, BUT IF YOU ARE I AM TOO IN THE SAME SHOES BUT I TOO AM IN THE MEDICAL FIELD NOT A DR. BUT A REP SO I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE "I AM NOT SURE" FROM THE DOCS. I HAVE DONE THE HIDA AND HAD MY APPENDIX REMOVED AND STILL INCUR THE PAIN. ALTHOUGH KNOCK ON WOOD IT HAS SUBSIDED SOME. I WANTED TO SEE HOW MUCH SODA YOU HAVE BEEN DRINKING. I CUT THIS OUT OF MY DIET AND IT SEEMS AS IF I AM NOT EXPERIENCING THE PAIN AS OFTEN AT ALL. ALTHOUGH I KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON AND THAT IS WHY I AM SEEING A HEMATOLIGIST. HE IS RUNNING SOME TESTS AND I WILL HAVE MOST OF THE RESULTS BACK ON MONDAY. ALTHOUGH HE HAS TOLD ME THAT MY B-12 IS LOW AND MY WBC HIGH, SO THERE IS SOMETHING UP. AS YOU SAID IT IS WORSE WHEN I AM SITTING OR CRUNCHED OR EXERCISE. IS THERE A CHANGE IN ANY OF YOUR BOWELS? SODA? I REFUSE TO LET THIS GO, SO I AM WORKING AGGRESSIVELY TO FIND AN ANSWER FOR IF YOU HAVE CHECKED SOME OF THE OTHER BLOGS THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS.

[circle]

I know what you mean about drs. My pain doc is really great and really listens. But my GI doc is in the room for about 3 minutes - is a nice guy - but acts like my ideas on it are a distraction. Before I know it some other test is scheduled and he's out the door. I want to tell him that I spend 24-7 with my prob and he spends about 8 minutes per year so I might have some decent suggestions.

I'm glad you're having some relief. Answers can come in the strangest places so keep looking.