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What Causes Constant Pain Under Ribs?

Posted on Mon, 20 Jun 2016

Question: I feel a lot of fullness and pressure in my right side around my ribs and side. Occasionally I feel sharp jagged pains throughout my rib cage too. I won't have insurance for a few weeks and am wondering what this could be.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This can be due to right sided pleural effusion.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
By your history and description, possibility of right sided pleural effusion is more.
It is fluid collection in the lung and this gives symptoms of heaviness in chest and chest pain on right side.
So better to get done chest x ray to confirm this.
Please let me know
1. Do you have cough?
2. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)

I do not smoke and I do not have a cough.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Are you right handed person?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
If you are not having cough and not having smoking habit then no need to worry for lung disease.
Possibility of musculoskeletal pain is more.
So please let me know
1. Are you a right handed person?
2. Are you doing heavy exertion?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (38 minutes later)

yes, I am right handed but I don't believe I have been doing much heavy lifting. the most I do is carrying grocery which can be heavy but that's only once a week.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Does your symptoms increase with movements?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Please let me know
1. Does your symptoms increase with movements of right arm or right chest part?
2. Do you have stressful life?
3. Do you have anxiety?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 minute later)

Moving my right arm does not increase the symptoms. And I do have a stressful life -- I just finished college on Saturday. I also do have anxiety. Not having health insurance at the moment is giving me a lot of anxiety...more than usual.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
May I ask you some personal questions? Only if you allow.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, your symptoms are mostly due to anxiety.
But I want more information regarding this.
For this, I need to ask some personal questions.
So may I? Only if you permit.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 hours later)

yes, you may.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Are you taking any birth control pills?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks for allowing me for personal questions.
Please let me know
1. Are you single?
2. Are you taking any drugs like birth control pills or any other pills?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (21 minutes later)

I am in a long term relationship and am not currently on birth control. I had an ID in but it fell out on March 21. I occasionally take Tylenol, ibuprofen, and melatonin but those are the only pills I take.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you wear very tight bra?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
So you are not on any birth control pills. This was asked to rule out possibility of pulmonary embolism.
Please let me know
1. Do you wear very tight fitted bra?
Sorry if you feel bad by this question.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 minutes later)

no worries. I am happy to answer questions. I do not think my bras are too tight. I gained about 10 lbs this semester due to stress eating so they're probably a bit tighter now than usual.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What is your bra size?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks a lot for this reply.
I thought you might got angry with such question. But you really calm my nerves. Thanks for showing sporting nature.
I have come across many female patients who have larger breasts and come with same kind of complaints.
So, please let me know
1. What is your bra size?
2. What is your breast size?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)

I have a pretty small chest. I wear a 38B.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Just for knowledge, is 38B small?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
As per my perception, 38 B is large. Isn't it?
But you tell that it is small then I consider it as small.
Earlier I thought 38 is huge breast. Sorry for discussing this.
Please let me know
1. Do you feel pain when you press your right breast?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

there isn't any pain when I press on my breast.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
In my opinion, your this symptom is due to stress and anxiety only.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So from our conversation, I think your current symptoms are mostly due to stress and anxiety.
They are not due to any lung pathology.
Please let me know
1. Do you have burping originally belching?
2. Does your discomfort increase in lying down or in bed?
3. Do you have burning feeling inside your breast?
4. Do you have regular menses?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 minutes later)

I do burp and belch alot. lying down seems to help it feel better. I do not feeling burning in my breast. I do have regular mensss.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Are you taking anything for this belching and burping?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Since you are having belching and burping ,possibility of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is more.
Please let me know
1. Are you taking any drug for this?
2. Have you heard about this?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 minute later)

I am currently taking OTC omeprazole each morning.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are mostly due to uncontrolled GERD.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So, in my opinion, your all symptoms are mostly due to uncontrolled GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
It is due to laxity of gastroesophageal sphincter.
Because of this the acid of the stomach tends to come up in the esophagus and cause symptoms of chest pressure, belching, burping etc.
It seems you are not improving with omeprazole.
So please let me know
1. Since how many days you are taking this omeprazole?
2. In what dose you are taking it?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

that would make sense. I have been taking it for about 2 weeks,however I forgot to take it a few days in a row. they are 20 mg.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
In my opinion you should take combination of pantoprazole and levosulperide

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should start combination of pantoprazole and levosulperide.
Levosulperide is pro kinetic drug. It is best for belching and burping.
Please let me know
1. Will you get these drugs over the counter?
2. What is your weight? This is for proper dosing.
3. Do you follow lifestyle modifications?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

yes...I'm get these OTC and I'm currently about 190. I will follow lifestyle changes

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Start combination of pantoprazole and levosulperide twice daily.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Follow below mentioned things.
1. Avoid hot and spicy food.
2. Avoid stress and tension.
3. Avoid large meals, instead take frequent small meals.
4. Start combination of pantoprazole and levosulperide twice daily on empty stomach (before breakfast and before dinner).
5. Quit smoking and Alcohol if you have these habits.
6. Keep 2-3 pillows under head in bed to prevent reflux.
I forgot to ask you about smoking and drinking habits.
Do you have these habits?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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