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Pain in Left side rib cage about half way up
For 4 to 5 weeks i've had dull aching on the left side rib cage area
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Pain in the left chest area can be due to stomach issues (GERD or hiatal hernia), spleen issues, due to an abscess below the left diaphragm, a hematoma (localized collection of blood), an abscess, or a muscle pull.
Pain under left ribs is often due to acidity with gastric reflux or hiatal hernia. Take a late night snack. Raise head end of bed. Take Omeprazole empty stomach in morning and an antacid gel at bedtime. Refrain from smoking, alcohol, fuzzy drinks and spicy food. Walking around also helps clear gas. I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system) if these tips help you. Other than that it could also be pleuritis (inflammation of covering of lung) or pericarditis (inflammation of covering of heart). Since you do not mention other symptoms like fever, cough etc it is unlikely to be these two. If the pain is aggravated by laughing yawning and deep breathing then it goes more in favor of costochondritis, which causes pain and tenderness at points where your ribs attach to your breastbone. The inflammation around the joint area gives sharp pain on taking a breath. This can also cause tenderness on pressing the area which pains. An orthopedic doctor can diagnose this for you. Generally there is no cause. However it can be due to infection, blow, injury, or fibromyalgia. It usually goes away on its own. Otherwise it can be treated with muscle relaxants, and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. It can also be muscle pull. Shingles can also start this way.
It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage without examining you. You may require an ultrasound or CT scan. Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral. Take care!
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Pain in the left chest area can be due to stomach issues (GERD or hiatal hernia), spleen issues, due to an abscess below the left diaphragm, a hematoma (localized collection of blood), an abscess, or a muscle pull.
Pain under left ribs is often due to acidity with gastric reflux or hiatal hernia. Take a late night snack. Raise head end of bed. Take Omeprazole empty stomach in morning and an antacid gel at bedtime. Refrain from smoking, alcohol, fuzzy drinks and spicy food. Walking around also helps clear gas. I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system) if these tips help you. Other than that it could also be pleuritis (inflammation of covering of lung) or pericarditis (inflammation of covering of heart). Since you do not mention other symptoms like fever, cough etc it is unlikely to be these two. If the pain is aggravated by laughing yawning and deep breathing then it goes more in favor of costochondritis, which causes pain and tenderness at points where your ribs attach to your breastbone. The inflammation around the joint area gives sharp pain on taking a breath. This can also cause tenderness on pressing the area which pains. An orthopedic doctor can diagnose this for you. Generally there is no cause. However it can be due to infection, blow, injury, or fibromyalgia. It usually goes away on its own. Otherwise it can be treated with muscle relaxants, and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. It can also be muscle pull. Shingles can also start this way.
It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage without examining you. You may require an ultrasound or CT scan. Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral. Take care!
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