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What Causes Right-sided Sharp Pain Below Rib-cage?
Posted on
Fri, 10 Jul 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 10 Jul 2015
Answered on
Thu, 30 Jul 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Yesterday afternoon while sitting in a meeting at work I started feeling a sharp pain on my right side near the bottom of my rib cage, and at the same time I started feeling pain in another spot in my back upper right side behind the should blade. The pain has continued for 17 hours now and has not gone away, it hasn't improved at all and I did not do any physical activity to cause the pain that I'm aware of. Any ideas of what could be causing it or what kind of physician I should see to diagnose it?
Brief Answer:
Gallstones.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Your symptoms are very characteristic for gallstones. You may have also nausea, lack of appetite with this issue. The pain can be triggered by fatty foods or alcohol.
I suggest you to consult your regular doctor first and have abdominal ultrasound done. If this diagnosis will be confirmed, please consult general surgeon and consider gallbladder removal.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Gallstones.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Your symptoms are very characteristic for gallstones. You may have also nausea, lack of appetite with this issue. The pain can be triggered by fatty foods or alcohol.
I suggest you to consult your regular doctor first and have abdominal ultrasound done. If this diagnosis will be confirmed, please consult general surgeon and consider gallbladder removal.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I had my gall bladder removed about 5-6 years ago. When I was suffering from gall stones the pain was in the middle of my stomach area at the bottom of the rib cage but in the middle. This pain is coming from the right side at the very right edge of the right rib cage about 10" below my right armpit. FYI, I am 6'0" and 186 lbs
Brief Answer:
Than muscle or rib nerve issue can be the case.
Detailed Answer:
In such situation, your symptoms can be caused by a stone in bile ducts or by some issue not related to abdominal cavity like spine problem or rib nerve irritation.
If you do not have any nausea, pale stool, dark urine, itchy skin, lack of appetite and foods intake does not affect the pain, this is rather nerve or muscle pain.
Such nerve pain usually gets more intense when taking a breath and less intense when not moving the chest.
Try to take hot bath to see if this will help (it should in case of muscle or nerve issue). You should also try some anti inflammatory medicines like Diclophenac. If this wont help, consult orthopedist.
Than muscle or rib nerve issue can be the case.
Detailed Answer:
In such situation, your symptoms can be caused by a stone in bile ducts or by some issue not related to abdominal cavity like spine problem or rib nerve irritation.
If you do not have any nausea, pale stool, dark urine, itchy skin, lack of appetite and foods intake does not affect the pain, this is rather nerve or muscle pain.
Such nerve pain usually gets more intense when taking a breath and less intense when not moving the chest.
Try to take hot bath to see if this will help (it should in case of muscle or nerve issue). You should also try some anti inflammatory medicines like Diclophenac. If this wont help, consult orthopedist.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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