its amazing,i have been scatching my head all week over this.i can't beleive how many people have the same problem.my young teenage daughter has had the extact same problem.pain under the left side rib also going across to the right side,this started 1 week ago now,she too has had an autrosound which resulted in nothing,have been told by another doctor it is relux.,but the mylanta she told her to take is not helping.have had blood tests but still waiting on results.any help would be apriciated.

Thanks for the feed back. I did go to my chiropractor a while back after about 3 weeks of pain and that did not help me with this problem.
So I guess it's not back related. It feels like some kind of spasm at times with some pain and then a release but it's not affecting my digestion or anything related to that. I still have no clue .

Hello, my pain started to happen there when I was pregnant with my first of 4 kids. I had this same pain later in my pregnancy with each of them. It is pain with a sort of numb feeling, and it only hurts bad if I move a certain way, or lay down.I had my last baby about 17 months ago, and have been having this pain again, but i'm not pregnant. It has happened about 5 or 6 times in the past 17 months, and if I hold my arms over my head you can actually see a lump.It usually goes away in a few days, but it is very scary, and always makes me uneasy.Reading all of your posts have helped me not be so scared. I hope to find out an answer to what it is through this forum. Thanks so much.

Hi Futterzak, I am no doctor but have posted all my findings on this site... and I am getting better. Tell me, where is the lump? Can you describe it to me. I also have a lump but it's nothing, it's just a puffy area below my left lower rib, I also have that on the other side but the left side is slightly more noticeable.

My problems are "all" from my back. My rib has a gap (T-10) where it joins my back. Chiropractors seem to be the only ones who can see that, quite odd. Just a regular x-ray at a chiro is a very good idea.

my lump is over the rib cage were the pain is. It goes away when the pain goes away.

I also get a lump once in a while in that area and also to the left a little lower. It seems to be connected. I was also told that the area looks swollen (from the physical therapist) I wish I had an answer to this ongoing problem. It seems to get worse when I move around and do things, even just cleaning up around the house. But the worse part is not knowing and wondering each day........ that's so stessfull.
There seems to be so many of us with a similar pain at least that's somewhat reassuring.

I found out it was just my rib cage moving out of place because of my scoliosis.

Well, like most everyone else, im glad someone else out there feels the pain. Even though i wouldnt wish it upon anyone.

Im 20 years old and in the military. After a routine blood test prior to checking into my new unit, the doctor had notcied some abnormal blood results on one of the tests performed. About 6 months later and roughly they 120 samples of blood, x-rays, ct scans, ultrasound, multiple urine tests, they decided that my spleen was swollen just shy of watermelon size. Being 8000 miles from home and hearing that wasnt to pleasent.

The problem was, i didnt have incredible pain, but i knew something wasnt right in my body. The doctor had said my platelate count was low because my spleen had suffered some sort of illness and was discarding the majority of the platelates( which is your bodies defense for making blood clots) Its shocking to find out the doctor had no idea what made my spleen malfunction like that but recommended a spleectomy in which was preformed in December of 2007.

Since then, i have had the constant rib pain. Very Very tender to touch it. Then again, they did put 16 staples down the center of my chest, in which i have pictures of. Even though my platelate count is back up, Im constantly getting sick or having abdominal pain, so bad that ive made my way to the Emergency room on several occasions. Each time the hook me to ECG and nothing shows on the test. They run the standard ct scan and blood tests. They normally keep me overnight and give me some pain killers( acetinominophen) and tell me to drink water and be careful. Not something that is easily performed in the military.

Every time, they say my heart rate and white blood count will sky rocket, but with some muscle relaxers, it diminishes. From what I hear alot from most of you, is that its caused by stress. I dont want to believe that. Inless there is direct evidence that says stress causes negative impulses from your brain and cerebral cortex to directly affect the costrial nerve in the chest region.
The last time in which i ended up getting seen, the doctor said it was COSTROCHONDRITIS. Something pertaining to nerve damage, allowing muscles to swell between the ribcage, pushing pressure on the ribs, possibly causing a slipping rib or damaging the cartilage. Something is primarily not noticeable on any of the tests. What causes it is as far as im informed unkonw, other than stress. Then again im not a doctor. But, if stress causes blood pressure to increase, then in turn will cause the heart to pump harder, which means the lungs will have to mask the oxygen level required, making them pump harder, and indirectly causing your soft region in between ribs to swell, making it hurt.

in other words( ANXIETY ATTACKS). Thats what i think its like, and am still in the process of evaluations to see if i have them through pyschologist. I wanna believe its like a snowball affect in the body, especially after surgery or illness, if one thing goes wrong, your body has to make up for it somewhere else. then it hurts as a result.

Now, ive been doing alot of research, but as Forrest Gump says" Im not a very smart man...." All i want to know is what i can do to eliminate it. Im on valium to soothe muscles, vicodin for pain, another huge named product to eleviate high blood pressure, and it seems to be helping but i dont wanna keep getting shots the rest of my life and taking pills like some sort of druggy. I have a professional career in the military and i dont want it to perminately curtail me.

Well, like most everyone else, im glad someone else out there feels the pain. Even though i wouldnt wish it upon anyone.

Im 20 years old and in the military. After a routine blood test prior to checking into my new unit, the doctor had notcied some abnormal blood results on one of the tests performed. About 6 months later and roughly they 120 samples of blood, x-rays, ct scans, ultrasound, multiple urine tests, they decided that my spleen was swollen just shy of watermelon size. Being 8000 miles from home and hearing that wasnt to pleasent.

The problem was, i didnt have incredible pain, but i knew something wasnt right in my body. The doctor had said my platelate count was low because my spleen had suffered some sort of illness and was discarding the majority of the platelates( which is your bodies defense for making blood clots) Its shocking to find out the doctor had no idea what made my spleen malfunction like that but recommended a spleectomy in which was preformed in December of 2007.

Since then, i have had the constant rib pain. Very Very tender to touch it. Then again, they did put 16 staples down the center of my chest, in which i have pictures of. Even though my platelate count is back up, Im constantly getting sick or having abdominal pain, so bad that ive made my way to the Emergency room on several occasions. Each time the hook me to ECG and nothing shows on the test. They run the standard ct scan and blood tests. They normally keep me overnight and give me some pain killers( acetinominophen) and tell me to drink water and be careful. Not something that is easily performed in the military.

Every time, they say my heart rate and white blood count will sky rocket, but with some muscle relaxers, it diminishes. From what I hear alot from most of you, is that its caused by stress. I dont want to believe that. Inless there is direct evidence that says stress causes negative impulses from your brain and cerebral cortex to directly affect the costrial nerve in the chest region.
The last time in which i ended up getting seen, the doctor said it was COSTROCHONDRITIS. Something pertaining to nerve damage, allowing muscles to swell between the ribcage, pushing pressure on the ribs, possibly causing a slipping rib or damaging the cartilage. Something is primarily not noticeable on any of the tests. What causes it is as far as im informed unkonw, other than stress. Then again im not a doctor. But, if stress causes blood pressure to increase, then in turn will cause the heart to pump harder, which means the lungs will have to mask the oxygen level required, making them pump harder, and indirectly causing your soft region in between ribs to swell, making it hurt.

in other words( ANXIETY ATTACKS). Thats what i think its like, and am still in the process of evaluations to see if i have them through pyschologist. I wanna believe its like a snowball affect in the body, especially after surgery or illness, if one thing goes wrong, your body has to make up for it somewhere else. then it hurts as a result.

Now, ive been doing alot of research, but as Forrest Gump says" Im not a very smart man...." All i want to know is what i can do to eliminate it. Im on valium to soothe muscles, vicodin for pain, another huge named product to eleviate high blood pressure, and it seems to be helping but i dont wanna keep getting shots the rest of my life and taking pills like some sort of druggy. I have a professional career in the military and i dont want it to perminately curtail me.

From reading around the net, it seems this pain is very commonly related to having an enlarged spleen. The experience on the left side can vary from a very slight pain, to obviously severe pains.

One should always consult a doctor with severe pains anyway, but even still - with a slight pain as well, if you are worried - consult your doctor.

I was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease coming up on four years ago. During my chemo and radiation I underwent a series of tests to keep everything in check, and they told me that I had a rather large spleen.

Now, I am a very large person. I am 193cm tall (6'4") weighing at 150 kg (330 lbs) so they said that it could very well be "normal" size spleen for my body.

Still, recently I have also been experiencing this sensation. For me it is a slight pain on my left side that comes and goes. Sometimes it gets worse if I take a deep breath.

The internet can be a very fine, and scary thing when looking for symptoms to pain, so please don't let my story send everyone thinking they have cancer or anything. This is just my experience, and the result of my own studies.

I have not consulted my doctor with this pain yet, but I think I will. I am not sure what this, and as always - when in doubt, consult.

After finding this forum, I thought I'd just share my story on this subject.

Thank you.

Hi all:

My pain seems to be specific, it appears when lying down in a still position with the upper body, centers directly in the spleen and disappears after getting up from the prone position, face up or down.
This has been going on for the last three or four years or more.
My age: 78.
Any ideas of what the cause may be?

webster72n.

im 31 weeks pregnant and for the last couple of months i have had an excrusiating pain under my left rib mainly feel it right under my left brest to. the pain is a burning sensation that also hurts when i bend over which takes away my breth and it hurts to take a deep breth. my doc told me that it was cause im so small that im nothin but baby so my ribs are being pushed out word but this is still goin on and getting worse ive told my doc and he just tells me again it's my ribs does any one have any insight on this or as to what this could be

i have this pain in my right rib cage n it started sum how in my heart and its like i cant breathe 4 a while then it goes without any side effects then when i move or bend it comes again wanna see a doctor soon

i have this pain in my right rib cage n it started sum how in my heart and its like i cant breathe 4 a while then it goes without any side effects then when i move or bend it comes again wanna see a doctor soon

I've read many of these posts, and am wondering if anyone has received answers about their lower left rib pain. thanks~

i went for a barium enema and the dr's found out i have diverticulosis.

google it and see if thats what your having...

makes total sense when i read about it and when i was diagnosed

thanks for the reply. I googled it, but I don't think that is what is going on w/me. I have pain under the lower left rib....endoscopy, laproscopy, ct scan (which showed small insiginificant lesion on spleen), and doses of prevacid and prilosec....now experiencing diarrhea as well

sorry....not laproscopy...colonoscopy!

I've had pain in that area off and on before. Once it was so bad I finally went to the doctor. I went through all kinds of tests and everything was normal. My doctor suggested an antidepressant because the pain could be from stress. I took Zoloft for several weeks and the pain left. I was on the medication for a year and a half and never had the pain again. It's funny how stress can cause physical pain!

Just received a diagnosis of lactose intolerance. Since I have never been a milk drinker, it was never discussed. After pastas, pizza....the pain was really severe. We thought the sauce was too acidic for my stomach....which has also been affected by stress My daughter was having the same stomach problems and they suggested the lactose intolerance test. She was positive, so I requested the test....again positive.