Inexplicable RUQ Abdominal Pain

[caoutchouc]

Hey there,

This is sort of a last resort for me, as I am growing more and more despondent with no answers. I have been experiencing pain in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen since May 1st of 2011. It is right under my ribs on the right side, and at time radiates into my back.

It never goes away (even with pain killers, such as Morphine and T3s), only has peaks and valleys. I haven't noticed it getting worse after eating, but it will get worse with sudden physical movement (e.g. sneezing, running, bumps on the bus) and also will get worse out of nowhere. The pain initially started quite mildly, and increased over the next two days to the point I could barely walk. Since then, I am at a constant 3-4/10, often getting up to 10/10.

I have had numerous tests done - an ultrasound, CT, various blood tests - and almost everything has come up normal. I had slightly low levels of TSH, a somewhat elevated glucose test, and a B12 deficiency (recovering vegetarian :P ) but that is it. In my first trip to the ER I was seen by quite a few doctors (including a few surgeons), and none of them could come up with anything. After my second trip to the ER, a doctor suggested (well, mocked...) that I just had ulcers, and I was tested for H. Pylori and put on the appropriate medication (Nexium). The pain did not subside in the slightest and my test came back negative.

My doctor, though I love her, has obviously come to a point where she doesn't know what to do, and attempts to other referrals have not panned out (the GI basically told me he couldn't help me and kicked me out, the surgeon wouldn't see me after looking at my folder).

Any thoughts on all of this? I'm getting desperate and know that I cannot do this forever.

Thanks a ton in advance for any light you can shed my way! :)

[mkh9]

Yes if you had a CT scan of the gallbladder liver and kidney area you probably should be ok. I would think that they could detect a gall stone or other abnormality there. Have you had your liver enzymes taken and bilirubin? If normal perhaps it could be a back problem that is radiating to the front?
mkh9

[caoutchouc]

Thank you for your replies!

This is probably incredibly naive of me, but if it were gallbladder issues, wouldn't they show up in the ultrasound/CT scan? And wouldn't my pain be more responsive to changes in diet (especially changes in fat intake)?
I could be wrong, that's just my understanding of what I've read so far...which has been a lot, haha.

[mkh9]

I agree it sounds like a gallbladder problem or liver problem. If not then possible back injury that is radiating to the front.

[juspoppy]

Gee that sounds so much like Gallstones. That is exactly what they do - pain under the right ribs radiating up your back. Why don;t you cut out eating everything with fat in it, fat is what triggers it off. Take 2 Panadol when you have pain that is unbearable. But do not exceed the dose instructions on the panadol packet or you will blow up your liver. Tell me how u get on

[mdbelanger]

Go see a chiro and get your diaphragm check and treated. Could als come from your back, but you would theorically describe it coming from the back.
Take care