I recently started developing symptoms similar to everyone else. It started as a mild cramp in the lower ribcage, under the heart. At first I was really scared and went to the ER. The blood work, EKG, lipid test, chest x-ray all came out fine. Docs thought it could be gas. GasX did help but I am still feeling bloated and pain in the ribcage area. When I bend down I feel something being squished around, like a lump or organ moving. Going to ask for ab ct next.

Oh, thank God I found other people with the same symptoms! I'm 15 and I just started having this pain about an hour ago. It doesn't hurt when I just sit. But when I turn, laugh, or exhale deeply, it's a sharp stabbing pain, sometimes burning. I'm not sure what it is because I haven't done any heavy lifting. The area under my left ribcage is a little swollen as well. It doesn't hurt to poke. It just started randomly as well. Anybody know what this is?

I have had this problem since 2005 and don't know what exactly might be causing it. I am concerned.
The symptoms that I have are:
1. Slight inflammation under the left rib
2. Burning sensation
3. Dull pain
4. Problems in digestion and stomach cramps.
5. Gas accumulation/bloating
6. The pain occurs more when I lie down prostrate or when I make sudden movements like coughing or sneezing.

Pain increases as the day progresses especially after a lunch or a meal. It causes me to be anxious and tensed. I am wondering these are the same symptoms as everyone else. I see that many have the same problem but no proper diagnosis.

I am ruling out spleen as the scan came out normal. It is definitely stomach or colon related. Osteopaths were not able to help and so I am convinced it is not a sprain or something like that. I have consulted many doctors. The last one thinks it in an IBS.

I've had this pain under my rib cage for 3 months now. I've had blood tests and an ultrasound, everything looks fine. My Doctor is wondering if this is all in my head. All I can say is I wake up feeling sick to my stomach, then only occasional nausea throughout the day. I have a dull pain followed by a fullness feeling in the left rib area. If I cough I can feel a knot of sorts. I have been diagnosed with IBS after having my gallbladder removed 7 years ago. This causes me to have severe bouts of diahrrea followed by constipation.
I wonder what this pain could be....I'm scared because I have 2 small children at home and I'm worried about having cancer. The Doc wants to do a barium enema next...maybe I should have my stomach checked too.

Hey everyone, I looked this up because I have been having weird pains on my left side like right under my ribcage too. It gets worse when I am laying down and I don't know what it is. However, I feel that I have some other information that may help some other people in this forum. Last year right after New Years I had my appendix out. Apparently I had appendicitis for almost 2 years before they FINALLY found out what it was. I would have horrible stomach pains and random fevers, but the stomach pains were by far the worst. I had multiple cat scans and had to drink barium a number of times (worst tasting crap I have ever had in my life). After all these tests the doctors could not see that it was my appendix because my stomach covered it on CAT scans and stuff. One night I woke up with a fever and the stomach pain was the worst it had ever been. I went to the ER at 3 in the morning and was in having an appendectomy at 4pm that very same day. The stomach pain now is the first stomach pain I have really had since the surgery, but I'm hoping this information can help a few people in here.

I have also been having pains on my left side directly under my ribcage. I have had both an x-ray and ultra sound to rule out any issues with my spleen. I am still baffled as to what it is because it comes and goes. Sometimes the pain is somewhat dull but other times it is pretty bad. I have been treating it with pain killers but it only seems to be a temporary relief. I do know one thing; it does not seem to be getting any better.

Have looked for info on this for a long time. I find that fatigue and using my upper extremities makes it worse. Hurts worst when I lie down then it feels like my chest expands (have to unsnap my bra). I think it is chostochondritis. Taking an anti-inflammatory medication helps. I take Celebrex. I don't go to the doctor even if pain is severe as i did have a block in an artery in my heart when I was 49 years old. I have a stent and everytime I go for treatment they put me in and start looking for something else wrong with my heart. I do undergo the usual tests once a year to be safe but I know this is not my heart.

It started when I delivered my last child (he is 21 years old). Is not always present and I have had years of comfort but can't figure out why it comes back. I saw the stuff about spenic flexion but think it is more in my cartilage as when I press my ribs in that area it hurts.

Basically I suggest limiting using upper extremities for repetitive or heavy work (real problem to clean my tubs and showers) and taking advil or aleve and not getting too tired. This is what seems to help me.

If anyone else has something that has really helped; please let me know.

I find it intriguing that so many people have the same symptoms and no one really knows what it is. I have experienced this dull ache under my left ribcage with a feeling like "something is under there that should not be" for about 6 months now. I too have googled and researched and came across much of the same info all of you have. I have not seen a doctor though since I do not have health insurance and the pain is tolerable and not increasing. In general I feel fine otherwise although I have recently developed a sensitivity to wheat/gluten. I do not know if this is related. I think it would be interesting to know what the common denominator is between all of us with these symptoms. Are we all women? Do we live in similar areas? Are we mostly of one race or another? I think there must be an answer to our experiences......

Have had this off and on but never as bad as this past month. went to a doctor. he did the abd cat scan with drinking the great banana flavored stuff. I am sure you are all familiar with that by now. did some rib x-rays. i don't expect he will find anything new but will let you know if he has any ideas. I did decide that the new anti-inflammatory medication I am on could have started a gastritis type event but am going to check out the bacterial overgrowth thing mentioned as I do tend to get infections that don't go away on my skin, no fever though. Would like to try a course of antibiotics but they are hard to get from a doctor!!! This doctor did not say it was my gallbladder or send me to check out my heart at least. That's a positive sign. Doctors tend to do the easy stuff just hoping they can fix it by yanking out your gallbladder if you have one. will let you know.

I am so glad to see that I am not the only one with this problem. I can also feel mine more in the mornings. I've found that if I do stretching exercises, that it helps some. It first happened, after my job ended due to the store closing. That last week we worked really hard, packing and lifting heavy boxes. Also carrying heavy fixtures to load on truck. It was in April,and the pollen was really bad. I'm really allergic to dust and pollen and was over exposed that week. The air conditioner had also stopped working, and we were so hot. We would take our breaks outside and the wind was blowing terribly. I developed a terrible cough and drainage.I didn't feel sick at all. had no infection. A couple of days at home and I was better, I started cleaning out my carport one day and by the afternoon I couldn't cough or sneeze, it was so sore. I used a heating pad and took hot baths and ibuprofen and almost got rid of it. It's slightly sore in the mornings and sometimes I don't feel it at all. It also feels as if there is a pressure when I cough. I am not short of breath and generally feel great. It doesn't hurt when I take deep breaths. I was hesitant about going to the Doctor, because I was so scared. Now I know I'm not alone.

No answer yet. He said wait and see then a GI specialist. I am thinking it has something to do with my reflux problem now and do those things; no tight clothing, no big meal before bed, raise head of bed, stay away from things like chocolate, wine and gas producing foods.

Miss my raw vegs. Will let you know if anything new. Feel better again so am grateful.

Above seems like costochondritis which is an inflammation in the ribcage cartilage. Can be bothersome for a long time as we use our chest muscles a lot. good luck all.

I had a barium enema, and the doctor said "negative to results BUT that it did show
Diverticula. I did a little bit of reading about it, but not much.

A diverticulum is a small pouch with a narrow neck that protrudes from (sticks out from) the wall of the gut. Diverticula means more than one diverticulum. They can develop on any part of the gut (intestines), but usually occur in the colon (sometimes called the large bowel or large intestine). They most commonly develop in the section of the colon leading towards the rectum, where the stools (sometimes called faeces or motions) are becoming more solid. This is on the left hand side of the abdomen. Several diverticula may develop over time. Some people eventually develop many diverticula.

So that would maybe explain some of the pain i've had on the left side. Hopefully this helps some of you out there!

Help! I can't just go to the doctor. I have no insurance and am a poor college student!

The past few days (about 5) I have been experiencing an odd discomfort in my left side underneath/around my ribs. It is not really a "pain" but more of a tightness/pressure. I experience it the most during sitting and experience it less while laying down. I don't seem to have any other symptoms and haven't noticed any swelling. Anyone know what this could be? Please help!

I've had this for at least 12 years. What has helped me finally is to relax the psoas muscle. It's a muscle that runs from the upper thigh to the lower rib cage. It rarely gets stretched and/or relaxed, but we use it continuously. I've purchased a sacro-wedgy, but it didn't really help me. After starting a yoga-type program, my instructor showed me how to stretch the psoas muscle and it helped. (It's certainly useful for lower back pain and lots of other conditions.) Otherwise, for this particular pain, try stretching, with your hands stretched over your head, to the opposite side. So, if the pain is on the left side, stretch to the right. Ultimately, you would want to keep balance by stretching both sides. Initially, you may want to try this lying down on the floor; at least that's what I did. It's kinda like making your body form a "C". I hope this helps. God Bless You

Pain Rib Sturnum - NEW TOPIC OPENED

http://www.ehealthforum.com/health/sturnum -ribs-pain-t143460.html

Doctor is helping here. Check it out.

Brigzy.

I have had this pain for 12 years plus, have had all the tests, and all the weird reactions from doctors, with no benefit. Please give this a chance: relax the psoas muscle. We use this muscle all the time, but rarely give it a chance to relax and/or stretch. At first it is alittle difficult to get it to relax, but you'll notice a difference the first time you try. I tried the Sacro Wedgy, but it did not work for me. It doesn't take any equipment, just your own body. Lie down on back on floor with one leg stretched straight out and the other leg bent at the knee and pulled to the chest. If this is not tight, you're probably okay. If it's tight, try keeping this position for a few minutes and switch legs for a few minutes. I use a yoga log to get an even deeper stretch. Do some research - this could relieve your pain. God Bless You.

Hello, I am a 40 yr old women and I have been having left sided rib pain on and off for about 2 yrs now. About a month ago I have a really bad cold, cough and the pain got worse. Of course I thought I pulled a muscle and went to the dr who gave me pain meds and sent me for a rib and chest x-ray. They were normal. 2 more weeks passed and now this pain is unbearable at times. I sit at my desk at work and type all day and the more I sit the worse the pain gets, under my left breast, just below my ribs. It will "tingle" and "pop" and if i put my hand on it with pressure it seems to help some. I went to a differant dr and as soon as I told him that it hurt the worst when I sit and where the pain was, he told me I probobly have a pinched nerve in my back. I though he was crazy!!! But I did the MRI that he wanted done and it turns out I have 2 hernaited discs in my back at the t-7 and t-8 and both are sitting on nerves!!!! I have read alot of the letters everyone writes in here and have never seen back problem listed at all!!!! PLEASE PLEASE, tell your dr to give you a mri of your back!!!!!! I know it sounds crazy but its true. Look up thoraciac spine herniated discs on the computer, it give you the symptoms. I noticed alot of people have bowel issues also, that is one of the symptoms of a herniated disc. I really hope this helps someone!!!!

I totally agree, one thing I think is very very important though is that you have someone like a Chiropractor do the regular x-rays and look at the problem. I had MRI's, CT Scans etc too but they were looking for things like cancer etc... GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR as he will look at your ribs and joints etc.. and if there is a problem, he will find it. It took me 7 months of massive front (under left lower rib) pain to go to a chiro and bingo, he found it straight away. Back problems can cause huge problems at the front that confuse your thoughts about "where the problem is". I had 1 adjustment (so far) and the pain has gone from a 9 at night to a 3, it won't work for everyone but if you suspect it may be your back, go see a chiro and get the x-rays. My rib at the L-10 has a slight gap and you can see where it is practically floating causing huge problems at the front that mimics things like spleen pain, heart pain, stomach pain etc.

I have this on and off pain under my left rib cage as well. It started on April 23rd, woke up with a dull kind of spams every 15mn that lasted for a few hours there after I would have pain on and off and it sometimes felt as though there was something moving or twisting and even radiating lower to what seemed to be close to the skin surface near my intestine? Can't always tell. I never have pain when sleeping it seems to flair up when I use my body like carrying something, lifting a window or sweeping, sitting also seems to make it worse as well as bending ofrward while sitting. This is a mystery....I saw my doctor and she said it sounded like a sprain muscle but I still have pain after 2 month. I had some physical therapy and that did not help. I take xanax occasionally and that seems to help a lot .....Anyone with a similar ailment? I would really appreciate some feed back.

There's a very good chance it's a nerve in your back. That's the best advice I can give for that problem, I am 100% definately onto my problem, my pain is about 70% better from seeing a chiro every 2nd day at the moment. Who would ever think it was your back, had me stumped for 7 months.