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What Causes Pain In The Ribs?
Posted on
Tue, 10 Oct 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 10 Oct 2017
Answered on
Tue, 31 Oct 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : Hey doctor,
For the last 2 months I have had pain under my left rib cage which feels mostly like a pressure and dull ache and it is especially evident when I am lying down on my back I have attached an image of where it is. I have done countless blood tests, urine tests, ultrasounds of my abodmen and a gastroscopy/colonoscopy which have all come up perfectly fine. What exactly could this be the doctor thinks it could be just anxiety, but I am unsure if this is the case is there any other tests that are worth doing or is it something I should just put up with?
For the last 2 months I have had pain under my left rib cage which feels mostly like a pressure and dull ache and it is especially evident when I am lying down on my back I have attached an image of where it is. I have done countless blood tests, urine tests, ultrasounds of my abodmen and a gastroscopy/colonoscopy which have all come up perfectly fine. What exactly could this be the doctor thinks it could be just anxiety, but I am unsure if this is the case is there any other tests that are worth doing or is it something I should just put up with?
Brief Answer:
consider a look at the ribs themselves if not already done
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The structures on the left side of the abdomen are the -- overlying skin and muscles, left kidney, spleen and some of the intestines
The blood tests would have likely checked for infection, liver and kidney function, checked your blood count- at the minimum.
The ultrasound would have looked at the structures in the abdomen-liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, possibly the kidneys if it was also of the pelvis
The urine would have given further information on the kidney function.
The scopes would have assessed the stomach, small and large intestines
These tests would have assessed the entire abdomen and should have been able to rule out a structural cause as well as infection or the presence of a mass in the abdomen
The only other to consider would be a chest x ray which would look at the ribs themselves since the pain is in the rib cage area.
If this is normal then it is possible that it may be anxiety as suggested
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
consider a look at the ribs themselves if not already done
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The structures on the left side of the abdomen are the -- overlying skin and muscles, left kidney, spleen and some of the intestines
The blood tests would have likely checked for infection, liver and kidney function, checked your blood count- at the minimum.
The ultrasound would have looked at the structures in the abdomen-liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, possibly the kidneys if it was also of the pelvis
The urine would have given further information on the kidney function.
The scopes would have assessed the stomach, small and large intestines
These tests would have assessed the entire abdomen and should have been able to rule out a structural cause as well as infection or the presence of a mass in the abdomen
The only other to consider would be a chest x ray which would look at the ribs themselves since the pain is in the rib cage area.
If this is normal then it is possible that it may be anxiety as suggested
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My doctor didn't want to do a chest x-ray or ct because of my age and the exposure to radiation would you think it is worth doing still? Could it also maybe be a muscle problem would it be worth visiting a physio maybe? I spend a lot of time in an office chair on a computer and sometimes lying down so could it be that maybe my abdomens being pushed together?
Brief Answer:
can consider physio
Detailed Answer:
HI
There are children that get xrays. One x ray would not significantly expose you to radiation to cause cancer
According to the statistics, a person would need 36 x rays in their lifetime to increase their risk of cancer by 0.05%
You can consider physiotherapy, that may be helpful if you find that movement worsens or affects it
can consider physio
Detailed Answer:
HI
There are children that get xrays. One x ray would not significantly expose you to radiation to cause cancer
According to the statistics, a person would need 36 x rays in their lifetime to increase their risk of cancer by 0.05%
You can consider physiotherapy, that may be helpful if you find that movement worsens or affects it
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I definitely find that lying down makes it a lot worse as well its not that bad at all when I am walking around and I have booked a physio appointment to get check out. But the first time the pain came on was when I was working I do video work at live events and I was up on a platform leaning back when all of sudden the pain under my left rib came on and there was a lot of reflux that came up my throat this was about 2 hours after I had eaten fish and chips as well. Another thing as well when I did my gastroscopy I was on nexium for a couple of weeks before it would that affect the results of the tests they said it wouldn't?
Brief Answer:
the onset with movement suggests a muscular cause
Detailed Answer:
HI
Reflux or gastritis/inflammation of the stomach, if it is very severe or prolonged would cause damage to the lining of the stomach , this should still be seen with the nexium.
If it is not severe or started a short time before the test, then the nexium may have healed the area by the time the test was done
The onset of the pain with leaning backwards points to a muscular problem. If you have not already done so, you may want to consider a muscle relaxant along with your pain medication to see if this has an impact.
In that case (if muscular), the physio should definitely help.
If anything else is unclear, can let me know
the onset with movement suggests a muscular cause
Detailed Answer:
HI
Reflux or gastritis/inflammation of the stomach, if it is very severe or prolonged would cause damage to the lining of the stomach , this should still be seen with the nexium.
If it is not severe or started a short time before the test, then the nexium may have healed the area by the time the test was done
The onset of the pain with leaning backwards points to a muscular problem. If you have not already done so, you may want to consider a muscle relaxant along with your pain medication to see if this has an impact.
In that case (if muscular), the physio should definitely help.
If anything else is unclear, can let me know
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Should I also maybe trial Nexium again to see if it works i've been off it for a couple of months now? If so would the 20mg or 40mg be better to start off with i'd rather the lower dose personally but whatever would work better and for how long as well?I just had my colonoscopy two days ago as well would it be worth waiting a bit before trialing nexium again for mu colon to recover from the bacteria cleanse?
Brief Answer:
can be started now if needed
Detailed Answer:
HI
If you are having any symptoms such as bloating, acid taste in the mouth, water brash/excess salivation, burning pain in the chest, regurgitation of food, persistent dry cough, nausea-- then you should try the nexium, it can be started now if needed
You can start at 20 mg
can be started now if needed
Detailed Answer:
HI
If you are having any symptoms such as bloating, acid taste in the mouth, water brash/excess salivation, burning pain in the chest, regurgitation of food, persistent dry cough, nausea-- then you should try the nexium, it can be started now if needed
You can start at 20 mg
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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