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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sharp Pain Below Left Side Rib Cage?

I m experiencing a sharp pain on my left side right below my rib cage almost to my back. Not constant but every now and again it hits. What could this be?I hadn t eaten all day except for now. Wasn t hurting this morning, I started noticing this afternoon.
Wed, 23 Dec 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,

The sharp and constant pain on the left side below the rib cage could be due to acute gastritis or reflux esophagitis or could be musculo-skeltelal origin

It is not always necessary to cause this kind of pain only after meal,but sometimes even empty stomach might also cause the same burning feeling or pain below rib cage.

You may require proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole) with prokinetic drugs (levosulpride) which actually increases stomach emptying time along with effect on gasteo-esophageal sphincter.

Apart from medication you need to follow certain listed things,

1) Avoid oily,spicy and high fiber diet.
2) Avoid eating with full stomach rather you eat small frequent meals.
3) Avoid taking rest for 2 hours after meal.
4) You can walk slowly up to first 2 hrs of meal but don't walk fast.
5) You made regular eating pattern.
6) Have your dinner before 8 pm so that at the time of sleeping your stomach will be empty.
7) Do yoga regularly.

All this cumulative effect will be beneficial to you while treating for the GERD.

If pain persists even after medications and dietary precautions then you should see local physician who will evaluate it further and start the treatment.

Regards,
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What Causes Sharp Pain Below Left Side Rib Cage?

Hi, Welcome to health care magic, The sharp and constant pain on the left side below the rib cage could be due to acute gastritis or reflux esophagitis or could be musculo-skeltelal origin It is not always necessary to cause this kind of pain only after meal,but sometimes even empty stomach might also cause the same burning feeling or pain below rib cage. You may require proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole) with prokinetic drugs (levosulpride) which actually increases stomach emptying time along with effect on gasteo-esophageal sphincter. Apart from medication you need to follow certain listed things, 1) Avoid oily,spicy and high fiber diet. 2) Avoid eating with full stomach rather you eat small frequent meals. 3) Avoid taking rest for 2 hours after meal. 4) You can walk slowly up to first 2 hrs of meal but don t walk fast. 5) You made regular eating pattern. 6) Have your dinner before 8 pm so that at the time of sleeping your stomach will be empty. 7) Do yoga regularly. All this cumulative effect will be beneficial to you while treating for the GERD. If pain persists even after medications and dietary precautions then you should see local physician who will evaluate it further and start the treatment. Regards,