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What Causes Swelling And Soreness Under Right Rib Cage?
Question: Hello Doctor.
I have a swelling the size of a golf ball under my right rib cage, I have felt it there for almost a year now, I am not sure if it getting bigger but I keep touching it and sometimes it gets sore and the muscles on my right side get very sore and uncomfortable which I try and help by stretching. I thought it might be my kidney so I bought an at home urine protein test, took it this past Friday and my protein level showed normal. I don’t have blood in my urine and it is clear, and I’m not showing any other kidney disease symptoms except maybe for being tired and that’s because right now I have a little cold. I am worried I have Lupus disease and the reason I think it’s Lupus because two years ago I started to get rashes like people have with Lupus disease. They showed up on my face(butterfly rash), my whole face was very sensitive and it felt like it was burning and was very painful. I also got these rashes on my arms, they were a little raised, and red around the edges creating circle like shapes. I went to a clinic and the nurse told me that it was eczema, she gave me an over the counter cream that works and prevents them from coming back, but, I think it’s something more serious because of the swelling around my kidney. I read that Lupus attacks vital organs like the liver and kidney and I’m very scared. I’m very healthy, don’t eat meat or dairy and take ALL the necessary vitamins, also drink a lot of vegetable juice and a lot of vegetables, grains and legumes. What do you think this is Doctor? Do you think that I need to go get my blood tested and get an X-ray done? The problem is that I do not have insurance and on a very tight budget. Please help me.
Sincerely,
XXXX
I have a swelling the size of a golf ball under my right rib cage, I have felt it there for almost a year now, I am not sure if it getting bigger but I keep touching it and sometimes it gets sore and the muscles on my right side get very sore and uncomfortable which I try and help by stretching. I thought it might be my kidney so I bought an at home urine protein test, took it this past Friday and my protein level showed normal. I don’t have blood in my urine and it is clear, and I’m not showing any other kidney disease symptoms except maybe for being tired and that’s because right now I have a little cold. I am worried I have Lupus disease and the reason I think it’s Lupus because two years ago I started to get rashes like people have with Lupus disease. They showed up on my face(butterfly rash), my whole face was very sensitive and it felt like it was burning and was very painful. I also got these rashes on my arms, they were a little raised, and red around the edges creating circle like shapes. I went to a clinic and the nurse told me that it was eczema, she gave me an over the counter cream that works and prevents them from coming back, but, I think it’s something more serious because of the swelling around my kidney. I read that Lupus attacks vital organs like the liver and kidney and I’m very scared. I’m very healthy, don’t eat meat or dairy and take ALL the necessary vitamins, also drink a lot of vegetable juice and a lot of vegetables, grains and legumes. What do you think this is Doctor? Do you think that I need to go get my blood tested and get an X-ray done? The problem is that I do not have insurance and on a very tight budget. Please help me.
Sincerely,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Ct scan +blood tests required
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam.
I understand your concern.
This swelling in your case has to be evaluated thoroughly before attributing it to Lupus.
Lupus rarely produces such swellings,even though it has propensity to affect kidney.
The swelling is most likely to originate within the liver or pancreas.
These organs are known to present as swellings in the area below the right ribcage.
Benign swellings like pseudopancreatic cysts or heaptic adenomas can be a possibility or sometimes lipoma.
To know exact diagnosis you have to visit a general surgeon or gastroentrologist for clinical examination and In order to know the origin of the swelling and subsequent management, I advise you to have a CT scan of your total abdomen.
X ray will not be helpful to accurately detect the origin of the swelling.
Blood tests will be very handy in arriving at the right diagnosis and will helpful to rule out Lupus as well
These should include
1.Liver function tests like bilirubin, sgpt, sgot.
2.Autoimmune screen like antids-dna antibodies.
3.Complete blood counts.
4.ESR
5.c REACTIVE protein.
Post your further doubts if any.
Thank you.
Take care.
Ct scan +blood tests required
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam.
I understand your concern.
This swelling in your case has to be evaluated thoroughly before attributing it to Lupus.
Lupus rarely produces such swellings,even though it has propensity to affect kidney.
The swelling is most likely to originate within the liver or pancreas.
These organs are known to present as swellings in the area below the right ribcage.
Benign swellings like pseudopancreatic cysts or heaptic adenomas can be a possibility or sometimes lipoma.
To know exact diagnosis you have to visit a general surgeon or gastroentrologist for clinical examination and In order to know the origin of the swelling and subsequent management, I advise you to have a CT scan of your total abdomen.
X ray will not be helpful to accurately detect the origin of the swelling.
Blood tests will be very handy in arriving at the right diagnosis and will helpful to rule out Lupus as well
These should include
1.Liver function tests like bilirubin, sgpt, sgot.
2.Autoimmune screen like antids-dna antibodies.
3.Complete blood counts.
4.ESR
5.c REACTIVE protein.
Post your further doubts if any.
Thank you.
Take care.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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