What Causes Discomfort On Left Side Of Chest When I Lay Flat On Stomach?

Posted on Thu, 20 Aug 2015

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

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 Answered on

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I've had a unique feeling in my chest area for a little while. When I lay flat on my stomach, it's VERY uncomfortable on my left side and it feels like something is sitting on my ribs. Just recently, it has started hurting and when I stretch in different positions, this same area feels sore. To be more precise about the locaiton of it, it's right above my stomach on the left side, about where my ribs end.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following information is required. ..

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.

Before running into final conclusions, I need to have further details :
- are you also having heartburn? Changes in bowel movement?
- do you feel your heart beats?
- do you have this discomfort only when laying down? Do you feel it after eating?
- any difficulty with breathing?
- are you going through a stressful situation recently?
- any test so far ?

Your symptoms are suggestive for muscular skeletal issues; however Gerd and other stomach issues should be also considered.
Looking forward to have the requested information in.
Dr.Albana

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (1 hour later)

are you also having heartburn? Changes in bowel movement? No heartburn, but I do sometimes think I have an overactive bladder.
- do you feel your heart beats? At certain times. Not consistently.
- do you have this discomfort only when laying down? Discomfort, yes. I can feel the pain in that particular area when I move around like getting in and out of the car, etc.
Do you feel it after eating? I don't believe eating makes any difference.
- any difficulty with breathing? No.
- are you going through a stressful situation recently? Not really. Pretty easy going guy.
- any test so far? No.

When I'm laying on my left side or laying face down, I have to move quickly because it feels like something is just sitting and putting pressure on my ribs. It's extremely uncomfortable. I've had that issue a while, but with the pain thing kicking in here lately and that particular area feeling sore, that concerned me a bit.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Time to get further diagnostic tests done.....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for providing additional details.

From what you are describing, it seems that your symptoms are related to muscular skeletal issues.
However, if I was your caring doctor would advise to run following tests to rule out heart and lungs problems:
- chest X - ray
- ecg
- electrocardiogram
- respiratory function test

If everything is fine, then vertebral spine MRI is advised to check for related changes that might compromise the nerve roots and causing the symptoms you are experiencing.

Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana

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