What Causes Left-sided Abdominal Pain Under Rib Cage When Diagnosed With Kidney Stone?

Posted on Thu, 11 Feb 2016

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

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 Answered on

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : i have pain in my left side under my rib. Some times its in the side but mostly just under the left rib cage. At times it "burns" at times its just a dull ache. I notice that when I wake up I have no pain and once I eat or drink it comes back.
I have been tested for spleen and they found nothing on the ultrasound. They did find a Kidney stone but the urologist said its in the kidney and the pain and the stone are unrelated.
I am on a high protein diet that where I eat only veggies and meats at dinner and special food during the day.
Please help.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Stomach issues are most probable reason.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Your symptoms are very characteristic for stomach issues. It may be acid reflux disease (GERD, peptic ulcer, stomach inflammation or H.Pylori infection.
The pain usually appears after a meal. You may have also lack of appetite and nausea from time to time.

Spleen does not hurt at all (only in vary rare cases). Kidney stone if does not obstruct the ureter is also not the case.

High protein foods can stimulate stomach acid secretion.

I suggest you to consult gastrologist and consider gastroscopy.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

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