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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
pain consistent with GB but with exceptions and mitigating circumstances.
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
pain consistent with GB but with exceptions and mitigating circumstances.
by kw1000, Nov 30, 2003 12:00AM
I am a 39 year old male, 5'7", 185lbs. Non smoker (quit 1994).
Symptoms:
For past two months, dull, or "warm/burning" Upper right chest pain, about 2 inches below and to the right of right nipple (just above bottom rib of rib-cage). This pain "feels" like it is about four inches deep, beneath the rib cage.
Also seems to be accompanied (occasionally) by sharper pain in upper right chest area above/left of nipple below collar bone. This other pain seems sharper, less deep, less dull, and nearer to the surface, like it's above/outside the rib-cage.
Pain starts off low in the morning and gets worse as the day progresses until it is worst late at night. Rest seems to help abate pain.
Constant pain, but severity comes and goes, and some days there is little or no pain. But it always seems to come back.
Pain is worst when sitting idle for long periods of time, and I shift left and right in my chair trying to find comfortable position. Pain will eventually feel like a dull bloating all over my upper chest area spreading even to center chest as well.
Pain seems to be noticeable mostly when sitting idle.
Walking (or just standing) seems to ease pain.
Exercise/activity abates pain temporarily.
Sitting with my arms over my head, relieving compression pressure on my chest also seems to help abate pain.
Occasionally, a sudden extreme motion (like twisting to reach something in the back seat of the car, or crouching to tie a shoelace) will cause an immediate sharp pain in the gallbladder area. It is usually short lived, and actually seems to abate pain for a while after it passes.
Likewise, lying on my side in bed allows by chest to compress to the center, also causing slightly more pain. I usually lie with a pillow held in my arms to keep my chest/shoulders from compressing inwards to the center, thus causing this pain.
Symptoms that are NOT common to gallbladder (in my un-educated observation, anyway):
There is a "popping" sound/feeling in the gallbladder area when I breath in. Taking a deep breath will occasionally result in what feels like a pop. It feels very much like something is "snagging" on something else as my lungs expand, and taking a deep enough breath will "pop it loose" with a popping sound/feeling that is best demonstrated by forming a fist with both hands, pressing the knuckles tight together, then moving one set of knuckles over the other until they "pop" over each other. It can also be compared to a hip joint pop or knee pop when it is twisted out of shape. It's a deep knuckle-joint kind of pop, but in my upper right chest area when breathing in.
The pain is consistent with other gallbladder symptoms described by others except that pain seems pretty much the same before and after meals. Maybe even a little less immediately after meals, but returns in about an hour.
"Full Story" and alcohol mitigating circumstances at:
http://www.wallaceinfo.com/medhelp.asp
Symptoms:
For past two months, dull, or "warm/burning" Upper right chest pain, about 2 inches below and to the right of right nipple (just above bottom rib of rib-cage). This pain "feels" like it is about four inches deep, beneath the rib cage.
Also seems to be accompanied (occasionally) by sharper pain in upper right chest area above/left of nipple below collar bone. This other pain seems sharper, less deep, less dull, and nearer to the surface, like it's above/outside the rib-cage.
Pain starts off low in the morning and gets worse as the day progresses until it is worst late at night. Rest seems to help abate pain.
Constant pain, but severity comes and goes, and some days there is little or no pain. But it always seems to come back.
Pain is worst when sitting idle for long periods of time, and I shift left and right in my chair trying to find comfortable position. Pain will eventually feel like a dull bloating all over my upper chest area spreading even to center chest as well.
Pain seems to be noticeable mostly when sitting idle.
Walking (or just standing) seems to ease pain.
Exercise/activity abates pain temporarily.
Sitting with my arms over my head, relieving compression pressure on my chest also seems to help abate pain.
Occasionally, a sudden extreme motion (like twisting to reach something in the back seat of the car, or crouching to tie a shoelace) will cause an immediate sharp pain in the gallbladder area. It is usually short lived, and actually seems to abate pain for a while after it passes.
Likewise, lying on my side in bed allows by chest to compress to the center, also causing slightly more pain. I usually lie with a pillow held in my arms to keep my chest/shoulders from compressing inwards to the center, thus causing this pain.
Symptoms that are NOT common to gallbladder (in my un-educated observation, anyway):
There is a "popping" sound/feeling in the gallbladder area when I breath in. Taking a deep breath will occasionally result in what feels like a pop. It feels very much like something is "snagging" on something else as my lungs expand, and taking a deep enough breath will "pop it loose" with a popping sound/feeling that is best demonstrated by forming a fist with both hands, pressing the knuckles tight together, then moving one set of knuckles over the other until they "pop" over each other. It can also be compared to a hip joint pop or knee pop when it is twisted out of shape. It's a deep knuckle-joint kind of pop, but in my upper right chest area when breathing in.
The pain is consistent with other gallbladder symptoms described by others except that pain seems pretty much the same before and after meals. Maybe even a little less immediately after meals, but returns in about an hour.
"Full Story" and alcohol mitigating circumstances at:
http://www.wallaceinfo.com/medhelp.asp
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Dec 02, 2003 12:00AM
, Dec 02, 2003 12:00AM
Pain that is exacerbated by motion is suggestive of musculoskeletal pain. This can include a muscle strain or pull, or inflammation of the intercostal muscles.
A "pop" that occurs when taking a deep breath may be suggestive of pleuritic chest pain. Again, musculoskeletal pain, or pleurisy (inflammation of the lung lining) can be the cause of this. More serious causes would include things like a blood clot.
The best test to make sure that it isn't the gall bladder or liver would be an abdominal ultrasound. To consider the diagnosis of a lung disorder, you may want to consider a chest X-ray or chest CT scan.
To evaluate the musculoskeletal pain, you may want to consider a physical therapy consult or a referral to a physiatrist (rehabilitation specialist).
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
A "pop" that occurs when taking a deep breath may be suggestive of pleuritic chest pain. Again, musculoskeletal pain, or pleurisy (inflammation of the lung lining) can be the cause of this. More serious causes would include things like a blood clot.
The best test to make sure that it isn't the gall bladder or liver would be an abdominal ultrasound. To consider the diagnosis of a lung disorder, you may want to consider a chest X-ray or chest CT scan.
To evaluate the musculoskeletal pain, you may want to consider a physical therapy consult or a referral to a physiatrist (rehabilitation specialist).
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
Member Comments (3)
by surgeon, Nov 30, 2003 12:00AM
Whereas it's impossible to diagnose accurately over the internet, what you describe sounds very little like gallbladder and more like pain of musculo-skeletal origin. Pulled muscle, costochondritis, nerve irritatation, etc.
by dr kathleen, Jan 25, 2004 12:00AM
you may also want to have a chiropractor check for alignment problems, if your diagnostic test come back negative. Chiropractors are the only practitioners who are quilfiedto quickly alleviate a rib subluxation or thoracic spine misalignment that may be exacerbating the pain you are having.
by dr kathleen, Jan 25, 2004 12:00AM
you may also want to have a chiropractor check for alignment problems, if your diagnostic test come back negative. Chiropractors are the only practitioners who are quilfiedto quickly alleviate a rib subluxation or thoracic spine misalignment that may be exacerbating the pain you are having.
