Suggest Treatment For Pain Under Right Lower Rib And Back Pain

Posted on Sun, 31 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 Answered on

Tue, 7 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : about 2 weeks ago i was cleaning my bathroom and I was bending over to clean the bathroom floor and base of the toilet when I felt the most horrific burning squeezing pain under my right lower right rib and definitely pulled a muscle in my back. never felt anything like it in my life. almost called 911 but the pain stopped when I laid down for for a few minutes. of course I was sore for a couple of days but the pain has gone away and now I am getting a numbing and itchy sensation under lower right rib, same area. now keep in mind that I have scoliosis and fibromyalgia. my spine curves toward that same area I'm talking about. I can actually feel my right shoulder blade rub my rib cage when I move it. My question is do you think I maybe pinched a nerve there or did I do some damage to my liver or something?

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (-2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Muscle strain

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

Thanks for your query. Given the mechanical nature of the event, it appears consistent with a muscle strain, given the location likely an upper abdominal or intercostal. A liver injury with that mechanism is virtually unheard of. The numb sensation might be an associated irritation of an intercostal nerve (in between the ribs, intercostal muscles run, and they receive nerves and vessels that travel in the inferior groove of the rib).

I believe your approach has been adequate, but may I suggest perhaps a more consistent anti-inflamatory, such as naproxen 500 to 660 mg twice a day, at least for 5-7 days along with normal activity. If it persists after that, then a visit to Sports Medicine would be prudent to determine if additional imaging or therapies may be indicated (eg. local steroid injection, lidocaine patches,etc).

Hope this helps, wish you the best,

Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (3 days later)

Just wanted to thank you for the advice about taking naproxen instead. The numbing itchy sensation has gone away. Now I still feel little twinges of pain like what I felt when the injury occurred. They happen sporadically, and only lasts like 1/2 a second. They are not the level of pain it was when I got hurt. I guessing that's normal. How long do u think these twinges will last?

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (5 days later)

Brief Answer:
Muscle strain

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

Thanks for the followup. Yes, its normal and in the healing stage. It should last upto 2 weeks.

Hope this helps, wish you the best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (7 hours later)

Thanks Doc! You Rock!!

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Most welcome

Detailed Answer:
Best wishes XXXXXXX feel free to close and rate encounter at your convenience.

Warm regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar