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Hernia under left ribs?

Hi,

I have upper left quadrant pain.

To be more specific, I've been having mild pain in one of my lower-most ribs on the left side for over a month now.
One rib feels especially sore to touch. Massaging that rib makes the pain go away. Sometimes the entire region feels sore to the touch. It is slightly painful to lie down on the left side.

Immediately below the left ribs, if you press the abdomen, you can feel something popping or crackling, and there is some movement inside (its not so if you press the corresponding right side of the abdomen). It's not painful if you press this area underneath the ribcage. But the rib itself is sore and slightly painful to press. Sometimes when I bend over I feel some movement in there, like some fiber is moving.

I had a doctor palpate my abdomen and she could not find anything. She thought it was a sore muscle or something. But I'm concerned about the movement beneath the left-side ribcage.

I was wondering if these are the signs of a hernia just underneath the ribcage, on the left side?
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Avatar universal
I have this as well. the pain seems to be about two inches deep ,down in there. when doing physical things and leaning forward, it feels like something is over inflated-causes a great deal of pressure. The pain is under left rib but doesn't originate there, if you could push your finger in about two inches, that is where it is. I worried about pancreas trouble and had yellowish bowel movements. The sad truth we all share is that to go seek treatment is to agree to be bled financially as doctors "guess" at what it is performing every manor of test that has a huge price tag. This would be equal to taking your car to a mechanic and having the entire engine replaced at five times the cost before they find out, oh it's a spark plug.
Helpful - 1
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I seem to be experiencing similar symptoms with growing inability to burp. I was diagnosed with DIVERTICULITIS a few years back. I always have issues with constipation. In the last year progressively has gotten worse. Now I can't burp. It feels like something is obstructing my airway causing inability to burp. I eat and I can't digest. Then if I drink fillingbup stomach I get reflux. I've tried every way of manipulating myself hoping to burp but nothing. I'm making an appointment to see my GI. Honestly I'm scared that I might need surgery..any insight will be much appreciated.
Avatar universal
As everyone has said, i'm relieved that i'm not going crazy!! I've had this popping sensation for the past couple weeks now. i can push on a certain area right under my ribs on the left side and its almost this popping or clicking feeling. i rarely have pain and if i do it is mild. whatever this is, it has been uncomfortable. i have been feeling very stressed lately and for a while just figured it was from that. i think this is now causing me even more stress and sometimes i think it has gotten me feeling anxious and therefore not hungry. overall appetite is fine though. i went to a dr today and he felt it..thought it might be a hernia but wasn't sure. i'm going to another doctor in a couple days but would like more insight. does anyone know what this is??
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Avatar universal
Hey guys, I have the exact same thing, we're such rejects eh? Haha, anyways, mine even protrudes out so i can see it, but only if im laying on my back. Ive had mine about 6 months and im waiting for an x-ray appointment to come through, if anyone wants me to let them know how I get on so it might give you an idea. My emails ***@****
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Avatar universal
I am having a similar problem. What did you find out?
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Avatar universal
Peace all, I am a 24 year old female in good health and have a recurring side cramp on my left side. My earliest memory was probably when I was about 12 years old. I never got it checked out because it disappeared for many years, apart from an occasional painless pop sensation when I contract my body i.e. during core exercises.

Recently the pain has returned and I immediately recognized it from my childhood: it starts with a sharp tense pain and then spreads downward and dulls, and sometimes disappears completely. The intensity changes if I move suddenly after being still. Now, if I eat a big meal there is a tightness/tension on my whole left abdomen, and I even notice it when I breathe deeply.

I also noticed a lump on the front of my body between the bottom 2 ribs, where the pain seemingly originates. It looks normal except when you compare it to my right side. The bump is not painful to the touch but definitely tender, as is the whole area.

Hoping to heal this with reiki and other methods, but still curious what system it is a part of... I will post back with any results!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Peace all, I am a 24 year old female in good health and have a recurring side cramp on my left side. My earliest memory was probably when I was about 12 years old. I never got it checked out because it disappeared for many years, apart from an occasional painless pop sensation when I contract my body i.e. during core exercises.

Recently the pain has returned and I immediately recognized it from my childhood: it starts with a sharp tense pain and then spreads downward and dulls, and sometimes disappears completely. The intensity changes if I move suddenly after being still. Now, if I eat a big meal there is a tightness/tension on my whole left abdomen, and I even notice it when I breathe deeply.

I also noticed a lump on the front of my body between the bottom 2 ribs, where the pain seemingly originates. It looks normal except when you compare it to my right side. The bump is not painful to the touch but definitely tender, as is the whole area.

Hoping to heal this with reiki and other methods, but still curious what system it is a part of... I will post back with any results!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What do you mean when you feel horse sensations when you try to lie down
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Avatar universal
Hello... Your pain is exactly like the pains I have.. I do not have insurance and was afraid of what is causing these symptons... Did you ever find out? Hope you are well!
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Avatar universal
Hi! Had this movable lump (insider) under my left ribcage since 2011. I am 24 y/o, female.

Two months ago, I had cough for 3 weeks and my doctor recommended to have CBC, x-ray and sputum test. Results were all normal. My cough also had gone after taking prescribed medicines. I always have my APE but only this time, they had let me have a copy of the xray result on a CD. Out of curiosity, I cheched the x-ray which then bothers me. Though the radiologist findings are essentially normal, I found something weird with the image. Under my left diaphragm, there are black shapes. I googled a lot and learned these might be gastric bubbles. I really dont know if these gastric bubbles are related to this movable lump as they were at the same position.
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Avatar universal
Well this is all pretty interesting. I have had the same popping, left/mid line just below the ribs like everyone else and its nice to see I am not the only one. I have had it for many years but recently it has become more frequent and causing pain in my mid to upper back which I am going to assume is related. I do a physical job and am often slightly bent over for extended periods of time which increases the discomfort.  I have felt a tearing several times through the years and the long periods of increased discomfort after that was handled with pain killers until it felt better.

Everything I have read here, leads me to believe it is slipping-rib-syndrome or costochondrial dislocation,  whatever you want to call it. A ligament tear makes perfect sense. That’s what it feels like, I felt the tear, its in the right area and ligaments take along time to heal. It doesn't feel organ deep, is slightly tender when you push on it and eases the pain when your re position or apply pressure.

With this most recent incident/ flare up, I started to push a little harder on my back and chest at the gym. The stretching temporarily relieves some pain or at least the workout takes my mind off it. At first I was thinking it was just muscular, that maybe I just over did it but over the following weeks there was no improvement. So there goes that theory.

I had never even mentioned this to my doctor. I had meds for a lower back problem and they sufficed for this.  I did recently have an endoscope to investigate a stomach lesion that I though might have been the cause of the pain but I think now they were just coincidental.  Like many have already mentioned, it is hard to diagnose and most doctors haven't even heard of it. Plus the cure is time and life style change but it is good to have found this forum and know that it's probably nothing serious. I will mention this to my doctor and maybe get a CT just to confirm it is nothing else but I am pretty confident this is what it is.

A bit of relieve.   When I work, I often use back supports. I have a lower back elastic support and a semi rigid weight lifting brace for heavier lifting. Recently, I have been using the weight lifting belt around my mid-line which has really helped me get through many days with out meds and now it really does make sense as to why. Its holding everything in place just as if the muscles and ligaments were doing their job properly. I don't recommend wearing it too much. First, it's a little restrictive and second your body needs time to strengthen and repair those damaged muscles and ligaments on its own. That said,  if you are having daily pain, pick one up, for 20 bucks,  its worth a try.  
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Avatar universal
I have been having this too, except the popping. i am 22 years old. i noticed it about three months ago  after doing some core exercises. i recently became overweight over a short period and notice this really uncomfortable feeling under my left rib cage. it feels more like a mass. when i lean sightly backward i can see a ball like thing protruding. it is most uncomfortable at nights,when i cough or sneeze, after eating and when i feel stressed. i can feel the mass when i palpate the area.i also realized that my bowel movements are not the same and i am constipated most of the time. when i first went to the doctor i was told it is caused by me not eating on time, i was given medicine for the stomach. i changed my eating habits and made sure i always eat on time, however its three months later and my condition have not changed. i also did an ultrasound but the results came back normal. i am really scared as to what this really is and whether i can get rid of it. help!!!!!!! ;(  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been having this too, except the popping. i am 22 years old. i noticed it about three months ago  after doing some core exercises. i recently became overweight over a short period and notice this really uncomfortable feeling under my left rib cage. it feels more like a mass. when i lean sightly backward i can see a ball like thing protruding. it is most uncomfortable at nights,when i cough or sneeze, after eating and when i feel stressed. i can feel the mass when i palpate the area.i also realized that my bowel movements are not the same and i am constipated most of the time. when i first went to the doctor i was told it is caused by me not eating on time, i was given medicine for the stomach. i changed my eating habits and made sure i always eat on time, however its three months later and my condition have not changed. i also did an ultrasound but the results came back normal. i am really scared as to what this really is and whether i can get rid of it. help!!!!!!! ;(  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have any of you had left   shoulder pain with the left rib pain?  I am experiencing both left rib and shoulder pain for a few weeks now. All the same rib symptoms as all of you.  

Does ultrasound therapy help with pain? Or maybe rib cage wrapping while it heals?  
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Avatar universal
I am 44 have gone through many medical issues such as: 15 blood clot removals, vein stripping, breast reduction, gallbladder removal, cervical spine disectomy and infusion,  overactive thyroid, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Hidradinitis Supprativa disease as well. I started having this pain and spasm issues since February of this year. Not sure what it is either and all I know is the muscle rolls around, i fall in the floor striving in the pain. It takes around 30 mins to release and then when laying down feel rolling and get hard knot in under the ribs. It occurs when on toilet, tying my shoes, reaching for something and on pain scale each time "10" I am used to pain but this is horrible unleashed pain....help

. Sarah
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Same thing here:
Started couple months ago following manually chopping wood in the backyard.  I had pain along both sides of the lower ribs within minutes of stopping, but I never felt any sudden "pull" that would indicate that I had done something at a moment that I would have remembered.  The pain has now reduced to a focal spot under the left side of the ribs.  When it first happened I had a change in my bowels.  I could not eat anything that had fat for about a week and lost about 8 pounds.  So initially the doctor thought gall stones, pancreatitis...all negative on abdominal ultrasound.

Had some heartburn and started Prilosec and it seemed to help, but the entire scenario came back when I was pushing kids down a slip n slide (bent forward and straining---just like chopping the wood).  

Had an endoscopy--normal except some minor stomach inflammation.
My thought is that it may be a sliding hiatal hernia.  But I was not sure if that could cause so much discomfort close to the surface at the lower rib cage.  And just to be clear, I am talking about an area at the bottom of the edge of the rib, on the left, about 5 inches left of the midline.

This morning I drank a glass of water on an empty stomach, loosened up my abdominal muscles and jumped off of a stool, landing very flat-footed.  I was attempting to reduce or retract the stomach back under the diaphram.  It may have helped a bit, but if it did it was not that impressive.

So now I am left wondering if it is a sliding hiatal hernia or a strain of the abdominal wall that has caused a small hernia in the wall.  The "sliding" hernia can make it appear completely normal on endoscope, if it is not symptomatic at the time of the scope---and that was my scenario.  It was feeling better for the three or so days prior to the scope.  

I am likely going to do the upper GI (x-rays with Barium) and if still not diagnosed, I will likely do an MRI or CT.  I had a CT done last year and really don't want that much radiation in one year, but it has become a quality of life issue.

By the way, I am not overweight and do not have a large stomach.

I look forward to finding out what it is and returning here to report back.  Thanks for any input you may have.


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Avatar universal
I have been feeling this up under my left rib and I told my husband it feels like I'm carrying a baby and it has its foot under my rib. I also feel it moving. Not big movements but more like soap bubbles popping in it.. It's so bothersome I made a Dr appt to see if I had a hernia. I work as a material handler in a factory. When pulling/pushing my cart or lifting objects I feel it bulge out more sometimes having to stop and put my hand on it till the pain subsides. I also feel it bulging right now sitting on my couch leaning on my left elbow on the armrest.
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Avatar universal
Hi - new to all this but just thought I'd contribute which might help. Iam a 50+ female having had two large babies 20+ years ago. Experienced lots of kicking just under ribs during both pregnancies, leaving what felt like internal bruising for years. In last 10 years I get a hernia-like feeling (that something inside has slipped out of place just under the ribs) like a spasm or cramping muscle and I have to put hand pressure on that part (to warm it firmly) before it all goes away again in a matter of about 30 seconds. It is particularly bad when putting socks on or doing sit ups, like others here have commented. I am absolutely convinced it is directly related to a weakening of the wall lining just under the ribs where the babies' feet would have been. I am a short lady and had 2 large, strong boy babies for my size. It is getting slightly worse as I age, but I just try to avoid any straining positions likely to trigger it.  As I have had this for 20+ years I thought it might help other women who also suspect it might be related to baby kicking during pregnancy. I believe I could strengthen the area by exercising, but it's a bit of a catch 22 when it spasms easily doing  exercises in that area!  Happy to take care not to strain it and live with it. Hopes this helps.
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Avatar universal
I am 31 female ..pretty fit, and I noticed since I gained a bit of weight(from 124-132lbs) 5ft6 ... It feels like a ball is sitting on my left side_IT STARTED on the right side for about 1 week only popped when I coughed-- it has been sitting on the left side ever since for 5-7 months now,, I can not work out no more OR MY BODY FEELS BEAT UP- hard to move, I am bruising more as well- and it take about 2 weeks before the bruising goes away..healing slow... After streatching the next day  or even when I give massages I feel Beat up to the point where it is hard to walk because I am cramped up////.. I have ALL the symptomes like everyone else...BUT once in a while,(Happened 3 times),,my belly botton(from the inside) ITCHES CRAZY like something is trying to RIPE out from inside me,,I went to the doctors to see if it was worms or something,,,and it is not that,,,eatting while I have that feeling is NOT COMFY so I can not eat...When I cough it pops... when I YELL AND SCREAM it pops,,I get dizzy, my heart starts hurting and tighting and the left side of my body(all under my arms to my upper ribs) gets REALLY tight and shortens my breath due to my cheast feeling heavy..... I believe I maybe OVER stressed,,,and THIS is what caused this,,(WHATEVER IT IS!), I do not know how many people get stressed like me,,,and PRETEND nothing is wrong for YEARS,,,But I deal with a lot EVERYDAY having to be the "rock" of my family which is REALLY draining...I am sitting down now and  RIGHT under my last rib cage to the Left.,..I am poking at the ball that is bouncing back...;/  I yelled and screamed today and NOW it is back,,,(is this a hernia..???)  I am also a weed -smoker(360days a year!),,so Iam wondering if smoking is making it worse, tho I feel it helps with my stress??? Help.. I am tired of going to the doctors who have graduated and KNOW NOTHING,,,, EVeryone is NOT "RED HERRING"(Which is a term used by the doctor to call you a faker!..lol) on here...WE ALL have the same thing,,..Laying down to sleep I have to sleep with pillows all around my stomach in order for me NOT to feel like everything is moving! sleeping on my back or laying on my stomach I do not feel it AS MUCH.... NO ONE Has a Valid exact answer to whats going on,,,  ;/ this is crazy!!!!  ;(  
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Avatar universal
Hello.  I was just reading through posts regarding the left side pain and came across yours.  I, too, am experiencing the same exact thing as so many others have described.  It is mainly when I am sitting down that it hits me.  It feels like there is something there under my left rib cage, like a bubble.  I have been to the doctor, had an ultrasound, and nothing was found.  Doctor things it's related to digestion.  However, over a year later, she is now suggesting that I have a CT Scan. I hesitate to get a CT Scan due to not wanting the radiation in my body.  I was just wondering if you ever discovered what was causing your pain and discomfort, as it sounds like exactly the same thing that I have.  Thanks so much for your help!
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Avatar universal
slipped Rib Syndrome

http://www.caringmedical.com/treatment/slipping-rib-syndrome/
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Avatar universal
Sometimes people can have a floating rib which is usually the lowest one. It seems if this rib was loose and could move even slightly that it would cause pain.
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Avatar universal
Can this happen on the right side as well? I have this pain and if I reach with my right hand, it pulls on my ribs on the right side and then the pain begins. Any suggestions?
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Avatar universal
I am 20 years old and I'm not sure if what I have is the same. On my left side I push with my finger just next to my ribs and I feel this pop and it radiates to my rib.. It feels like I have something underneath it. It hurts to lay on my left side.Would love to hear from you guys!
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Avatar universal
I'm older than most and this charley horse pain under or on top of my left rib cage; comes and goes..
I am overweight and should loose some pounds. Now I have an incentive!
The only thing that gives me any relief of sorts is HEAT!

A hot water  bottle or a heating pak that you put in the microwave, seems to do the best but it takes 30 mins or so for that pain to subside.....
Feared it might be cancer but from reading everything here. I'm sure it is a hernia!
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