Suggest Treatment For Sharp Pain Under The Rib Cage

Posted on Tue, 29 Nov 2016

Question: i have a sharp pain under my right side rib cage, bottom rib. It comes and goes and is very painful, drops me to my knees!

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Needs further evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting the query.

1. Pain under the ribcage on the anterior side (front) is often due to gall bladder stones or liver related diseases. The pain is sharp and severe in these conditions and often unbearable. Getting a ultrasound scan of abdomen should help you come to a diagnosis. Liver function tests done along with ultrasound scan can give more information about the underlying cause.

If these reports are deranged then CT abdomen with contrast will help rule out other conditions.

2. If the pain under ribcage is on posterior side (back), then renal calculi (kidney stones) is the commonest cause. Due to sharp pointed calculi,the pain here is also pretty excruciating. X ray erect abdomen and ultrasound will confirm this diagnosis.

You should not neglect the symptoms and i suggest you should see a gastroenterologist as soon as possible.

Let me know the reports once the investigations are done.

I hope the answer was useful.

Thank you.
Kind regards.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T