Recently my back went out. I could not walk, and standing, walking, sitting and even laying down was very difficult. Wearing a support helped, and taking an antiflammatory. When the vertabrae finally began to behave themselves, I was left with a pain on the left side under and below the ribs. Sometimes this pain radiates down under the pelvis, but usually it is centered left just below the ribs. It feels like a lump. Is it possible the antiflammatory or the tightness of the support brought on this pain? It does become painful from time to time. Thank you.

Jack

If it feels like a lump I suggest you see a doctor about it. Alot of my pain was because I have an ovarian cyst rupture. Last week. But sounds like thats not good talk to a doctor about it.

Please forgive my having used the wrong word to describe the area of the pain. No it is not a lump, it is like a knot or knotted feeling. There is no perceivable bulge or lump. Thank you for the prompt reply.

Jack

No problem it kinda sounds like a hernia they can feel like a lump or a knot . Still it would be best to see a doctor. It sounds like it could be serious

good luck :)

I am a 28 year old male. I have had diagnosed ibs for over 12 years, about 2 years ago I started having some mild lower left back discomfort as well as a slight pressure, cramping under my left ribcage. I went to the doctor and he said back pain was muscular and the pressure / cramping was probably stemmed from ibs...

He told me to change my diet, intake more fiber... I did and it helped for the most part... I wasnt really bothered by the pressure under my ribcage unless I was trying to sleep on my stomach... It really isnt pain.. Just feels uncomfortable like something is there...

My question is this.... For you people suffering wiht similar symptoms, how is your lifestyle / was when this started?

For myself I very inactive... I was playing poker online as my job .. Probably sitting 14-16 hours a day.. I cant really say my diet was that terrible, but I probably should have been eating more veggies...

Now I am alot more active... Workinga real job again.. Trying to run 3-4 times a week... My ibs is alot better but I still feel that pressure when im sitting hunched over or trying to sleep on my stomach..

Any advice / comments are appreciated

I too have a similiar problem. A nagging problem under the ribcage. Seems when I take rolaids or acid reducing medicine it relieves it a bit, but still it has been happening for a month or two, and now it is bothering me.

have you seen a doctor about acid reflux...They can prescribe prevacid or something similar which may help you. Good luck.

hi, I seem to be having the same problems exactly as you are , and i'm pretty sure it is stress related. I have not gone to the Dr. Yet but will soon.Have you had you're cs yet? And if so are there any new results?I have been diagnosed with diverticlous and have had problems with good bowl movements.Just thought I would check in with you to see if you have any new information from ur Dr.

I ran across this forum about a week ago...Looking for a late night explanation for this new, and unwanted problem. At first I was a bit relieved by the pages of posts on this particular subject...Now i'm just completely confused.

First: the problem.

About a month ago I was chillin on my bed when I felt a little stitch of pain on the left side of my stomach...Not actually below the ribs...More like on top of them about an inch and a half below my left nipple. It lasted about an hour. I hate pain and my threshold is low, and I can tolerate this particular sensation. It's nagging and annoying more than severely painful. Since than this feeling comes and goes...Sometimes after I eat. I have recently changed my diet(i was eating lots of snack foods and ice cream as well as waiting all day to eat and than loading up at night right before going to sleep.) I realize that this is a ridiculous way of treating your digestive system...And I have changed my ways. The annoying pain however...Went nowhere. It comes and goes...As of yet it has never been constant. Along with this, I feel bloated after eating, sometimes a bit nautious(nothing I can't handle), flutters in my stomach and around the area described earlier, a feeling of gas being trapped inside me..As well as moving pain(very slight pain) around my entire midsection and back. I have had no vomiting and my bowl movements are very regular. A year ago I was told at the er that I had an ulcer and an inflamed stomach (whatever that means). I had been a heavy drinker for years, but have not had a drink since that day. I take a zantac 150 twice a day, but it doesn't really help with anything other than heartburn(which I rarely got anyway)there...That's the symptoms.

Second: the anxiety/the fear

i am an extremely anxiety riddled human being! I realize that this may be lending a hand to an already irritable condition...But what can I do...I know of no switch to turn it off...Anyway, i'm scared to death go to the doctor...Scared of needles...Scared of results...Scared of everything. I wanna feel healthy. I've had stomach problems of some kind almost all my life(i'm 35)...Which is the only thing leading me to belive that this may not be a serious and tragic disease. I'm grateful for this forum and all the prior posts although I wish I could magically make us all feel better. I'd appreciate any comments, e-mails, or overall help!!!

Peace. Bruce.

It all started about 2 years ago, I woke up in the night with really bad pain in my left ribcage area, it really hurt just to touch the skin. It didnt ease so I went to the doctors who told me that I had gastroentiritis and gave me some medicine, I was signed off work for a few weeks. After a while the pain eased and I returned to a pretty normal life.Then about 9mths later, I had the same thing happen, except this time I found that I was being sick after most meals, it felt like there was something inside me that was crushing all my insides and pushing out my ribcage,even after a small meal I would feel like I had eaten a loads,i started to keep a food diary as I was sick at least 6 times a week.There wasnt a link between the food id eaten and the sickness, I was tested for food allergies but nothing was found.Most days I couldnt get out of bed. I was off work for 6weeks.The doctors kept saying it was trapped wind and kept giving me different medicine to control acid in my stomach.It was only after the long period of being ill and nothing being done that they decided to send me for some tests to see if it could be a stomach ulcer.Ive had a series of ultra sounds,mri scans and an endoscopy not to mention a lot of blood tests.But nothing has been found to be wrong.Next week im going for a barium meal in the hope that they will find something.
This morning I have got up to go to work but can hardly move, my left ribcage feels like its broken(i feel like ive been in a fight and have bruised and broken ribs)as I cant move im unable to go to work today, has anyone had the same problem?Or any answers as to what it could be

I feel like there is air trapped under my left rib cage. I have never had stomach problems or bowel issues. Ive felt it for about 2 weeks but noticed that my left rib cage is actually sticking out. I dont have any severe pain but im worried because my rib is sticking out / swollen and appears bruised but does not hurt when I push on it. It seems to bother me more after I shower maybe from the way I stretch im not sure. Any suggestions? I dont have insurance so I dont want to put myself in more debt if I dont have to.

I had a gastric bypass 3 years ago and about a year or so ago I started experiencing these horrible abdomen pains that come on for no apparent reason and can take anywhere from hours to days to go away. I have had 2 ct scans - nothing. Two days ago someone informed me (she is a nurse for a gastric bypass doctor) that my pain is coming from an internal hernia. My own gastric bypass doctor says that the odds of it being that are very small. He is willing to go in and do a laproscopic explorator. Probably will end up doing it. Right now I am going thru deep tissue massage therapy - can't determine if it's helping or not. Really upset with the pain that seems to be a mystery to everyone. Any thoughts out there??????? Any one ever had an internal hernia after gastric bypass??
I have been told that it does occur more than we know.

Hello from charlotte nc
i have for years had what I think may be a trapped air bubble in and around my left rib cage. It is a knot that actually moves when I sneeze, cough or move the wrong way. I can see it up under my skin. It is extremely painful! I had left lung surgery many years ago and ever since, it has been a problem. I do have other gastro symptoms, i.E., bloating and constipation. I'm thinking now that I better get to a gastrenterologist to see if they can figure out what's going on. Anyone else had close to the same symptoms? Thanks.
Karen

I have similiar symptoms to the following replys. In addition to the crampy feeling in my stomach on the left side under rib cage, it bothers me more when and after I eat - does this happen to anyone too? I have also noticed that when I workout it doesnt really bother me. Any feedback please! :lol:

Since you also mentioned back pain, has anyone talked to you about gall bladder?
My pain is under the right the rib cage and high. Even if I eat an ear of corn only for dinner, I get bloated and have intense pain under ribs. I don't know what is going on but yours sounds like gall bladder.

I think I may have found the answer! I too am having this problem with pain under my left rib cage and upper stomach, frequent heart burn, along with back pains. I have recently become aware of a hereditary disease which runs in my family called celiac disease. This disease rejects gluten... Products such as wheat, flour, etc. Seeing them as poisons in your body, your body in response has a hard time digesting these foods and can lead to stomach ulcers as well as other problems. Try cutting bread, pasta, etc from your diet for a month and see how you feel. I am starting this tomorrow, it worked for my aunt who had been experiencing the same pains.

This is a recently recognized disease, and something that is growing in popularity in the united states. Many doctors do not diagnose it, because they don't know much about it.

Any questions on it feel free to email me, and I can let you know if the new diet stops my pains as well.

I've had pleurisy before. Something I noticed while having kids (and not being on the pill after being on it for 8 years), was that I would have weird chest pains and pleurisy only while I was on the pill. Also wanted to mention that after having a daughter and friends with food allergies--a lot of the gas pain and bloating etc. Can be avoided by monitoring what you are eating. They are signs of food intolerance. 1/3 of all americans are not allergic to wheat, but wheat intolerant. A small percentage have celiac disease, like the woman who said she looked 5 months pregnant, but no doctor could find anything wrong with her. Dairy is also a big irritant. If you think about it, how natural is it for us to be drinking the milk meant for the baby of another species (and yes, I still eat cheese, but it does make me feel ill)...75% of african americans are lactose intolerant, and 90% of asians are also lactose intolerant. I haven't found any data for hispanic or caucasians yet, but if those are the numbers for 2 big parts of our population...My son, who is 1/4 asian, 3/4 caucasian gets chronic ear infections, pneumonia or runny noses right after drinking milk. It weakens the immune system and creates mucous--that's why they say to drink clear fluids when you're sick. I'm a firm believer having gone through all the health issues my family has that you are what you eat. Try to eat more organic fruits, vegetables, and meat. Avoid too much wheat and dairy and you should feel much better. Definitely stop eating dinners out of the box!

I am a 24 year old female. I smoke and like some of you- could certaintly eat healthier.

Last August I started to have the pains on my left side starting from the bottom of my rib cage to my hip bone and occasionally when its really bad I can feel pain near my belly button and at times on the right side- though most often its on the left. The pain is always a bit different at times- it feels like pin needle pain- and others it seems more of a radiating pain- or a lingering pain. This pain- like many of you have said also is in my back at times- For me it seems rubbing the area helps the most- and I have been trying to cut down on caffenine for a while- I haven't noticed many patterns though- but do feel that its worse after I eat.

I did go to the doctor in October and reported this pain as well as several other issues I was having (UTI).

I was concearned because I have had continuous issues with having no periods (since I was 16- my periods have became over time obsolete naturally) and a doctor diagnosed me with PCOS (polycystic ovarie syndrome) - so at first I thought it might be systs.

The doctor I went too did some bloodwork and I had elevated Cortesol levels and my heart beat was 92 bpm at that appointment.

I am suppose to make an appointment soon to see a doctor and want to bring this issue up but haven't had time nor the extra funds to go and see one - but its good to know that im not alone with these symptoms and I certaintly agree with a pervious poster on feeling like "the insides are rotten, and nothing that [I] can do." In additon I have always been a "worry wart" and have a lot of anxiety and worry almost on a daily basis- wow it looks like so much when I really type it out but thought that adding any additional details may help I will update once I go to the doctors

-Sarah

This forum is great!
I was always in decent shape and ate fairly healthy. I worked out religiously since 92. I became a stay at home dad in 2003 and things changed a bit. Stopped exercise and ate too much junk. I'm going on 37 this year. I've had this "knot" feeling since mid October 2006. It came at a stressful time for me. I had problems with the house and my son was having issues in daycare. I remember drinking a glass of water and sitting down at the computer one morning. It felt like a sharp pain at first but felt like a pulsating minor ache that went in waves. It wasn't anything too severe but very annoying. I also began to have minor heartburn. A Friday night two weeks later I felt an almost burning, tingling sensation going from the left side of my intestine to my right. That weekend the pain was not bad at all. I went to see my Doc and as soon as I got in the waiting room the pain was gone! I told him I felt like there was gas trapped in my intestine. Told him no unusual BM's. He did a test on me to check for an ulcer and it was negative. He put me on Ranitidine to help with the heartburn. Things were great till New Years Eve. My wife and I each had a wine cooler(not a drinker) and Chinese take out. My stomach pain was terrible. I felt nauseas and bloated. I couldn't find a comfortavle postion to sit or lie in. It eventually passed. Since Jan. 1st I've gotten back to doing cardio and lifting weights and have felt great. The pain still comes and goes and still have the minor heartburn but its much less severe. This past week its been a little worse. I decided to do a search on "pain under left rib cage" and I found this forum. After reading a few entries I started to feel better! Its amazing how many people described the same symptoms that I have had. For now the pain is gone. I feel less stressed that I have an idea what it could be. I think its got to be "splenic flexure syndrome"! I'm going to check with the Doc about this. Anyone been treated for this? Is this a mental thing or stress related? Thanks !