Hurting under the bottom of left rib?

[seven7]

I have a sharp cramping pain under the bottom of my left rib when I turn certain ways--when I bend over to tie shoe laces, or bend over in bath tub to wash feet, etc.  It is when I bend over to the left.  I have to sit up very straight quickly and it will go away.  This is a hard pain.

I had a colonoscopy last January for a check-up but it was not bothering me then.  Could this be a twisted bowel,  or a growth in there that is crowding the intestines?
My Internest just turns it off as a muscle cramp, But I am concerned about it.

I might add that I am a Stage 3 breast cancer survivor. Three and a half years ago,I had a mastectomy, and 15 nodes removed, 14 were bad.  I've had all the treatments and am feeling well. I am an active 72 years old.

[Ann2122]

I have had similar discomfort under my right bottom rib for the last few years and my doctor could not come up with any reason for it. I am perfectly fit otherwise and it started when I switched jobs and had to spend long hours at the computer. It feels just like my rib is sticking out on the right side.  The waistband on my clothes seems to rub on it and it feels inflamed and sore.  The area is also very tender and it even hurts to wear a bra for long periods. It's not associated in any way with eating and I have no other symptoms.
So, after putting up with this for some time, I went to see a chiropractor.  He took x-rays and showed me that I have mild scoliosis of the spine.  The soreness I have is caused by the misalignment of the ribs on the right side and the consequent pull and tug of the intercostal muscles which connect the ribcage. Lousy posture at the computer just aggravates it so I try hard to sit upright as much as possible.  The ribs wrap around from the back to the front and those muscles and nerves are easily irritated. Poor posture, over-stretching, carrying heavy objects and other activities can cause this rib discomfort in certain people
The treatment I had from the chiropractor, including regular adjustments and therapeutic massage, made a huge difference and he also showed me how to use a large exercise ball to stretch the area when I get a flare-up.
So, while I'm not suggesting that this is what is causing problems for everyone who has ribcage discomfort, it is something to consider.

[rkcriddle1]

ok this is not a pain it is pressure. and it is just like some organ in my lower left rib cage is swollen and is being pushed out tward my back. really just bugs me when i am sitting, and more so after i eat. ive had it a long time like a year or 2 and i have normal bathroom issues, no real stress, no gas, heartburn issues or anything abnormal. now i have looked at several sites!!!! and several people explain exactly what i just have, many many complaints...BUT NOT ONE ANSWER!!!
some one has to have had some relief.... where are you!!!
did you forget about us here looking?
i am begging someone to solve it. my doctor acted like he didnt
even understand what i was saying no matter how i explained it.
and i just cannot afford scans and ****,,, they didnt help anyone i talked to anyway.
i just know this whole letter is a waste of my time.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Possible GI causes in that area can include the pancreas as well as various causes of dyspepsia (i.e. GERD, inflammation of the upper digestive tract, or an ulcer).  

You can consider an upper GI series or upper endoscopy to evaluate for most of the upper GI causes.  

Blood tests for amylase and lipase can initially evaluate the pancreas.  

If the symptoms continue in the face of normal testing, an abdominal/chest CT scan can be considered.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[rockinhippy]

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[lisalovesall237]

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[28kawb]

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[wensday]

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[Rella48]

I had pain under my left rib cage in the back, right in the kidney area. It hit me when I was sitting, driving, after eating, anytime. The pain became intense and nearly constant. I had to lay on my left side to get any relief, but nothing really helped, not even pain pills. It became incapacitating.

For over 7 years I had complained to the doctor about that horrible aching pain that kept getting more frequent. "Pulled muscle or collapsed diaphram" was the diagnosis when a kidney infection was ruled out. During that time I had right front under the ribcage pain, too. Then I had my gallbladder removed because of stones. The aching pain under my ribcage in the left back got steadily worse.

I hope this may help some of you to get relief if what turned out to be the reason for my pain in the kidney area in the back could be what is causing yours as well.

I had a thyroidectomy. I read about thyroid hormone depending on adequate cortisol in order to get into the cells to promote metabolism on the patient info insert paper with the bottle of Armour thyroid pills. I couldn't understand why I couldn't tolerate such small doses of thyroid hormone when I needed a full replacement dose. I felt so bad, everything hurt. I had no quality of life. I was nearly bedridden.

I persuaded a doctor to do adrenal function and cortisol tests.  I failed the tests. No, I don't have Addison's disease or total adrenal gland failure, but almost. I was given a med called Cortef, which is natural cortisone, or cortisol like the adrenal glands produce. After I took the first pill, the pain in the kidney area stopped. It just stopped. I haven't had that pain since. The other amazing thing that happened is my doctor listens to me now when I tell him what I think could be wrong with me!

Testing for adrenal fatigue is something that's rarely done. I think most in the medical profession don't believe it exists because the adrenal glands are supposed to re-generate themselves overnight. But stress and disease weaken them. If one doesn't have enough ACTH hormone to stimulate the adrenal glands, they won't produce enough cortisol and/or other hormones. The endocrine system is so very complex and, from my experience, I fear there's a lot more for the medical professionals to learn about them.

My doctor said "you either have Addison's or Cushing's, there's no such thing as adrenal fatigue!" He's told me numerous times since then that he's "learning from me" and happy for me now that I have a life again!

But I think, if the truth were known, lack of cortisol may be prevalent in the general population. I think if someone has "chronic fatigue" or "fibromyalgia", testing for adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism may be a good idea, also. Because after years of suffering from those afflictions (and more), they've all disappeared after I was treated with Armour and Cortef.

Just something for you all to think about - from my experience.
Wishing all of you good health!

Rella48

[mouse1217]

Just to let you know I have had severe gallbladder pain an it was completely taken care of by having me gallbladder removed. I would feel the pain after I ate.  Greasy foods were worse, but it did get to the point any food hurt.  My pain was terrible between my shoulder blades in my back.  The endoscopy did not show the gallbladder stones but an ultrasound did.  Having the gallbladder removed is easy and worth the few hours in the hospital.  I really believe my pain is from my posture and scoliosis and you should definately know if yours is gallbladder if it comes on after you eat.  Hope this helps.

[hec4dawn]

Well I have been having pain on my left side also right under my rib and goes to my back. I have had some conflicting info. I was just diagnosed with have gallstones and was told by one dr to have the gallbladder removed. When I met with the surgeon he told me removing my gallbladder probably won't realive my pain. I don't know what to do. All I know is that I have 2 small kids and a husband in the military and when i get the pains I am almost bedridden. My pain causes me to vomit and then usually after about 2 hrs i am able to rest. Please if anyone knows what I can to I will try it. I have have an endiscopy and a catscan and they both came back clear.

[Laura Jane]

Hi,
I'm 25 years old and I have the same thing with pain under left rib.
I went to the Doctors who didn't understand what I meant by the feeling of something getting caught under my rib.
It hurts when I sit and especially when I'm in the car.
I feel like I have to keep stretching to my right side to ease the pain, but it never helps.
It also hurts when I eat something or am feeling very hungry.
The only thing the Doctor said was "If I prode you in your breastbone and it's very painful it could be a broken rib". I then left the surgery with an aching pain in my breastbone...so who knows!!.
It also makes me want to keep taking deep breaths in...which hurts.
I would love to know what this is, someone said to me it's twisted ribs, which I've never heard of.
Oh well I'm glad I'm not the only one with this pain.
Laura.xx

[GrannieSandy]

I have a place on my left side that fills like something is being pushed or a bulging feeling. It is right under my left ribs. Its not really painful, but there is a lot of pressure. There is some back pain. For the last month I have been having alot of heartburn,nausea,sweating,pain on right side in the middle of my stomach,then this started on the left side.

[martiniLVR]

Hi, I'm a 43 year old male. I drink gin martinis, 2 or 3 doubles 3 to 4 times per week. I experience mild rectile bleeding most days but not every day. I have slowly developed an uncomfortable pressure sensation near the bottom of my left rib cage, bordering on mild pain while sitting, driving. I have eratic bowel behavior, which I assume is caused by my consumption of gin. Any ideas?

[mouse1217]

I have this pain as well and it bothers me to think it is serious.  I have always described it as my ribs catching on something inside or rubbing the wrong way.  The instense pain goes away when I stand up straight, but then my ribs are sore for a day or so.  My pain only comes on and off, when I seem to curl my body just the wrong way.  I do have concerns with my intestines as well and I have had an endoscopy and there was no mention of a problem.  I have scoliois and a very short torso and I was wondering if you did as well and if you had any other stomach problems.

[seven7]

Thanks for writing.  It's good to know that someone else knows what I am talking about.

It feels as though the colon is twisted or cramped, and it really hurts.  Three doctors, plus Dr. Kevin say no,  so guess I am not a very good diogosticion(wrong spelling).   It does not happen real often, so I have decided to just forget about it!

[disneylandluvr]

That is so odd.  I have almost the same kind of pain but on the right side!  I think it happens when I'm nervous or stressed.  I'll bend over to the right and suddenly am seized with a horrible cramping undulating spasm under the bottom right rib which undulates, or throbs.  I often have to hold my breath to stop the pain, or massage the site/side to relax the muscle.  I've thought it was my diaphram spasaming as I have no indigestion of any kind.  It often happens when I bend over to tie my shoes, or bend over to pick something up twisting to the right... I've had this off and on for years and never thought anything more of it.  Do you think yours could just be a nervous spasm of your diaphram?