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1524673 tn?1327841500

Pain under Right Rib

For the past 8 days I have had pain under my right rib.  Gets worse when I eat, walk around, or take a deep breath. Ruled out Gallbladder. Have had vomiting, nausia, sweats and unbelievable pain after eating anything.  Sitting up for long periods of time hurts, need to lean back to give more room to the area.  I am not overweight, my diet is not fatty, do not drink.  Have a very busy life, work, kids, grandkids, ect.  48 years old.  No heartburn or not much. Just pain under that rib which wraps around to my back.  Any information you can provide will be appreciated.
Best Answer
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If you have pain under your right rib then there could be a liver infection or a gall bladder problem. Get a liver function test, ultrasound or CT of abdomen, and pancreatic enzymes. It can also be due to acidity and duodenal ulcer. 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. It could also be muscle pull that can be treated by applying local analgesic creams. It could also be 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. Pain under right ribs with gas can be due to any inflammatory bowel disease like Celiac or Crohn’s, IBS or due to food intolerance. If all these are ruled out, then laproscopy should be done. Such an undiagnosed pain is usually due to adhesions and cutting the adhesions takes care of the pain. Pain under right rib case can also be due to pleurisy, asthma, or any other lung problems. Usually this is accompanied by lung related symptoms like breathlessness, cough etc. Since a confirmed diagnosis cannot be given on net please discuss with your doctor once. Hope this helps. Take care!

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1524673 tn?1327841500
Thank you both for the advise. Woke up with mild pain this morning, stayed away from food yesterday.  This helps.  I do have asthma, but under control.  I just recently put on five very needed pounds and don't want to lose them.  Pretty scared to eat now.  Especially when the pain only grips me when I take a deep breath. Other than that I am uncomfortable and feel full in my chest area right side but this is OK. I am in a very high powered position, taking time off is really not an option.  Thursday and Friday I took time, now there isn't any time left to explore this pain.  

When these attachs are acute, I am short of breath, have to resort to small lamaze type breathing to get through them.  Chest X ray was good ~ Thank goodness.  I don't drink, and have stayed away from all food.  Pain is still there.  Will ask for blood test to check enzymes, I do have a upper hernia. But in the last 4 years not many problems with it if I control my diet.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
GEE! that is CLASSIC for gallbladder...every single thing you describe! Maybe get another opinion or more tests? I will tell you this...I had the same type of symptoms on and off for years. I didn't fit the classic GB symptoms. I was 28, not fair skinned BUT my Mom had GB problems in her early 20s and went thru 3 pregnancies in 3 yrs with MAJOR GB during all three. They finally removed it and she was fine. MY GB had shriveled up like beef jerky and had what they described as 'silt' stuck in it. It was finally diagnosed by ERCP and US and they cooled it down with antibiotics and short hospital stay. I had Gastri Bypass the next year and they removed my GB as part of that and I had no further problems. Have you been checked for hiatal hernia? It shouldn't give you that pain into your back, but I have also seen appendicitis several times come in only complaining of shoulder pain. (I'm a ER nurse for 38 yrs).I hope you can get to the bottom of it soon. I bet it's not fun.
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