PLEASE HELP!!!! Can't figure this out!

[tsmith80]

Hello,

28yr old male, non smoker, healthy.  I've been experiencing random abdominal pain in my upper right abdomen (right under the nipple and back towards the armpit) for a few months now.  I've been treated for acid reflux, which did not improve or worsen this pain and have been tested for gallbladder function which came back good.  Was given an upper GI endoscopy and told everything was good, just a slight hiatal hernia.  This pain is like a random stabbing pain and comes and goes at random.  The pain isn't caused by movement or taking deep breaths, so we've ruled out muscle/rib injury.  It also does not change with different foods, different activities, antacids, etc.  I don't smoke and i am not having breathing difficulty so I don't think it's my lungs either.  The GI doctors have basically dismissed me, so what else should I try, or what other possibilities could this be?

Thanks for any advice!

[mammo]

I would get your lungs checked just to be on the safe side. I had a friend whose only symptom was an ache in her right lower, back shoulder blade area.  Otherwise she felt great.  She had lung cancer.  I truly don't want to scare you, but just don't assume anything, losing her broke my heart.

[boron]

Urinary stones in the kidney or urether can cause strong spasms in the area you're describing.

When the pain appears next time, try to evaluate, is it a cramping pain, a scratching pain, dull pain, burning pain...

Pain from the gallbladder often radiates to the right shoulder or shoulder blade...

[boron]

Where exactly is the pain? If it is right below your lower rib, vertically down from the right nipple, it may be from the gallbladder, bile ducts, or sphincter of Oddi on the end of the main bile duct.

Gallstones in the gallbladder can be seen by CT (ultrasound misses small ones). Biliary sludge - a dense crystaline bile from whicg stones eventually develop may be also seen on CT, but not sure if always.

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction can be evaluated by measuring pressures (mano,etry) in the bile duct - investigation is done during upper endoscopy.

Search for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, or biliary dyskinesia.