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What Causes Twitching Pain On Left Side Of Rib Cage?
Posted on
Wed, 11 Feb 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 11 Feb 2015
Answered on
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi I am 49 yrs old. Female, 5'8", 138ibs. Moderate Active. For the past 2 years I have experianced a sharp, twitching pain on my left side(front) behind my 8th,9th or 10th rib. Maybe at my spleen or bottom part of my lung? The twitching pain comes on without warning and lasts a split second,and will radiate upwards into chest. then I`m fine. It occures mainly while standing or sitting. Never while laying down, walking or excercising. Just in the last 6 months or so I`ve noticed it will happen sometimes when I1m reaching for something or bending over. It does not happen everyday. Sometimes once or twice a week, sometimes just once or twice a month. When it does happen, it scares the crap out of me.
I told my family doctor about it in October 2014 at my physical. I kid you not he said it was all in my head. But since he seen I was upset about his lack of concern and the fact that I did have breast cancer in 2009 with a double mastectomy, he ordered a CT scan. But the scan he ordered was for my pelvic area and upper abdomen. With and without contrast. CT scan came back normal His next step was to see a gastroenterologist.
I do suffer from acid relux and have been for 10 or more years. But I can control it with meds like Protonix and or Zantac. So my question is. What do you think this pain is? Is my doctor looking at the right area?
I told my family doctor about it in October 2014 at my physical. I kid you not he said it was all in my head. But since he seen I was upset about his lack of concern and the fact that I did have breast cancer in 2009 with a double mastectomy, he ordered a CT scan. But the scan he ordered was for my pelvic area and upper abdomen. With and without contrast. CT scan came back normal His next step was to see a gastroenterologist.
I do suffer from acid relux and have been for 10 or more years. But I can control it with meds like Protonix and or Zantac. So my question is. What do you think this pain is? Is my doctor looking at the right area?
Brief Answer:
focus on some other causes also
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX,
Welcome to Health Care Magic.
Your clinician should be trusted because such momentary pains are mostly central in origin, more in anxious type of people.
Other sources can be damaged nerve endings due to surgery which trigger now and then.
Sometimes momentary muscle spasms can cause this.
Drugs like pregabalin can help a lot in above two scenarios.
Third possibility is esophageal spasm.
This can be tested by barium swallow test.
You should also get a Chest Xray to rule out any pleural pathology.
I hope the advise will be helpful for you.
focus on some other causes also
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXX,
Welcome to Health Care Magic.
Your clinician should be trusted because such momentary pains are mostly central in origin, more in anxious type of people.
Other sources can be damaged nerve endings due to surgery which trigger now and then.
Sometimes momentary muscle spasms can cause this.
Drugs like pregabalin can help a lot in above two scenarios.
Third possibility is esophageal spasm.
This can be tested by barium swallow test.
You should also get a Chest Xray to rule out any pleural pathology.
I hope the advise will be helpful for you.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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