Pain Under Rib Cage (Page 1)

Hi,
i know several people have posted to this site. Someone said that pain on the left side, near the rib cage, upper stomach, is related to spenal (?)flexure syndrome and that is caused by stress.
But my symptoms are cyclical. They occur intensely every other day but I can always feel them.
How can stress be so regular? Or is the symptoms of ongoing stress related to the cyclical digestive system.
Doctors have told me nothing despite various tests including an endo colonoscopy.

:(

it's really interesting to read over the posts so far, as I can relate to a lot of your stories.

I have always had stomach upsets, and been sensitive to fatty foods, which like many of you was attributed to ibs (before any tests had been done to rule out anything seriuos).

However, over the last couple of years, and increasingly over the last six months, things have gotten a lot worse. I have had every test you can imagine, have taken many medications including nexium and flagyl. Apparently there is nothing wrong with me - I am perfectly healthy.

I am afraid to eat. I am losing 2-3 kilos per week, because I cannot bear the thought of the repercussions of ingesting food. I eat smaller meals than my 6 year old, and I am starting to worry. I don't mind losing weight, but not under these circumstances.

I am 28, and I smoke - I don't drink often

my symptoms are:

** upper mid-abdomen pain and pressure, especially after eating, and lying on my back.

** (pocket of gas?) underneath rib cage on left side

** gastric reflux - although I think this is a symtom of the symptom... Stomach has skrunk considerably and cannot tolerate much food.

I cannot bring myself to believe that it's stress related, or in my head. I have a course of steroids I haven't started yet - specialist thinks it 'may' be chrohns disease, but I doubt this will work either. I don't know what to do anymore really... I am becoming depressed, and possibly perpetuating the symptoms because of this.

Thanks for letting me share

For a year I suffered with chest pains. My mother had passed away suddenly and I found myself a collapsing one afternoon which resulted in being rushed to the e.R. My sister drove me and I had some sort of seizure and she pulled over and called 911. I was rushed via ambulance at this point. I had every heart test known to man ran on me, resulting in a three day stay in the cardiac unit. All of my tests came back normal. I was sent home with the advice of seeing a grief counselor. I was told I wasn't "dealing with the loss of my mother." I accepted this. The body can do strange things. My chest continued to hurt. Two weeks before hurricane rita hit, I collapsed on a friday afternoon. As soon as I could crawl to the phone, I began to call gastro doctors. I was able to get in the next friday. The doctor immediately wanted to have an upper g.I. The following monday, I went in for the upper g.I. Very ill, and in a lot of pain. The results were I had a hiatal hernia in the lower third of my esophagus. I was put on nexium and librax for a few months. My doctor said the hernia "wasn't bad". By december, I had a new problem. I began to have some serious pains on the left side, underneath my rib cage. Since january, I have had a cat scan, a small bowel series, and just a few weeks ago, a colonoscopy. Every test I have had has been "normal". All the blood work, the small bowel series, all of it. During all of this, i've just about lost my mind. We have spent a small fortune on these tests and I am still barely able to function now because of the severe pain. My cat scan results were "normal" except my colon was full of stool. I am not prescribed any pain meds because i've had a problem with constipation. February, I spent 80% of the time curled up in a fetal position in the bed. Alternating between a heating pad and an electric blanket. A week after my colonoscopy, my gastro Dr. Decides to refer me to a surgeon. So here I am, the day after my appt. With the surgeon. Scheduled for yet another cat scan before he can determine what is the matter. I have been on so many drugs for antispasmodics, reglan, you name it. I broke down in his office. At this point, i'm mentally and physically exhausted. He gave me few options. One being he could operate on the hernia, but that it didn't seem to be bad based on the results. I've been told I have ibs, then told I don't. And I hurt. All of the time. I guess I mostly wanted and needed to vent. To find some solace, yet sadness in the fact that there are so many people, just like me, suffering. My gall bladder is gone, I "might have scar tissue". Is this it? Suffering? Not allowed to take pain medications for this? I feel like my life is crippled with pain now. I can't plan anything, i've stopped going out unless I have to and i'm only 37. I just can't believe that this ... Is it.

My husband is going threw the same thing severe pain under the left rib cage. They said it was stress related. I didn't understand either, did almost every test and said he was fine. I need answers to for my husband I'm so scared something bad is gonna happen to him.

Please go to Walmart and buy Aloe Vera juice! I had the same trouble, completely miserable and thinking it was something more severe, as if they were missing something. The Aloe Vera that comes in the big jug in the Antiacids section worked after 2 or 3 days if drinking an 8 oz glass twice per day. I can't remember the brand, it's Nature's best or something like that. I tried GNC brand and it didn't help.

Give it a try, I was in pain nonstop for 3-4 years.
Good Luck

You guys are not alone, I have only had the left side pain under my ribcage for 3 months now but it is draining and frustrating.

Does yours radiate to your back also?

Some days are better than others, but it is always there. Sometimes it is an ache, sometimes it is shooting pains and sometimes it feels like I have a golf ball there. Food can aggrevate it, but it is there regardless. I recently had my gallbladder out, and that seems to have made it worse.

I had a ton of tests done before I had gb out (ultrasounds, catscans, bariumm xrays, endoscope) and they cant figure it out. I am getting worried it may be pancreas related, but the drs are making me feel like I am crazy....

I am a 24 year old, fit male who has had similar symptoms for the past 3 years:

- mild to intense pain in upper left abdomen, just behind rib cage
- mild to intense pain on corresponding position in my back
- when intense, pain feels as if it penetrates through my body
- pain comes only during or after sleeping at night
- pain comes generally with gas
- pain intensity may be higher when larger quantity of food is eaten
- stretching and physical activity alleviates the pain more quickly

i have not been to see a doctor about this. From my first experiences with the pain, I associated the pain with lots-o-gas. At the time, I had just moved to guinea, africa, so I associated the increased gas with the change of diet. However, since returning home about 9 months ago, I still have had lots-o-gas, and a couple of nights each week the pain returns. I'm now used to it however, so it doesn't really affect my lifestyle.

After looking through the web pages, I think this may be splenic flexure syndrome. But, I can't be sure, there is hardly any info available on the web.

If anyone has stumbled across an effective treatment, please let us know.

My husband is going thru the same thing he was told it's stress related. I suggest to take off a week from everything and just relax. I try to tell him that but he doesn't listen, and alot of vegies and fruits.

Read my post other today May 15, 2013. Might be very helpful.

I have had sharp, knifelike pain under the left ribcage for about 20 years, on and off. Mainly related to eating more than just a small amount of food, and gas. A health food store employee got me relief. He said it was splenic flexure syndrome, where the bowel spasms just under the left rib cage.
Digestive enzymes taken to prevent gas.... And peppermint oil capsules (pepogest) to sooth the bowel and prevent spasms.

I used to get these spasms 3 times a week.

I've been doing this enzyme/pepogest regimen for the last 3 years. I've had only one slightly bloated attack since.

rob44136,
Mahalo (thank you) for your post! I've been suffering from pain under my lower-left ribcage for over 5 years now, but finally have relief because of your remedy. I too must have Splenic Flexure Syndrome, because the peppermint oil capsules are working. I buy the NOW brand from Amazon and they work great!
Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much) for your post and insight...I feel a lot better!

I had been sick for exactly one year with pain under my rib on my right side. I couldn't even sleep on my right side or else it hurt even more and keep me awake. It almost felt like I had a football shoved under my rib and their was pressure there it felt that way. It also radiated to my back side. It always happened after eating so I started loosing weight because I was afraid to eat.
I was tested with everything under the sun. All tests came back negative. I found out it is celiac disease which is kind of an allergy to gluten which is found in flour and wheat items like bread, pasta, etc.
Now that I do not eat those foods, I am fine. I was also tested for celiac, but it came back negative because I wasn't tested until recently and I had already stopped eating the gluten containing foods. Needless to say, I will not torture myself to eat that again just be tested positive.
I do have to be careful, as any kind of bread or crumbs can contaminate the foods that I eat and will cause discomfort again. I'll know right away something happened because I will feel the discomfort. I immediately have to review what I ate so that I do not eat that again.
There is lots of information on gluten free diets now since 1 in 133 people have this disease that is for the most part misdiagnosed.
Good luck!

Patients in whom extensive investigations have failed to identify the cause of abdominal pain present a challenge to surgeons. I have been in pain for over 8 years having 100's of tests, i am going for a Diagnostic conscious pain mapping laparoscopy to see if the pain can be sorted .. i had a laparoscopy done last year and they found things they didn't except to find so that says alot for all the test's i'v had done!

Hi i'm new hear but found it intereting that there are many people in my situation. I too have had minor pain just under my rib cage. I also have pain in my abdomen and some bouts of heartburn. Doctor says this is probably all related and is sending me for a colonoscopy. He says it sounds like Crohn's, Colitis or Celiac disease.

Hi. I'm new, and was so glad to find this site. It has given me some relief reading your stories, and I'm not feeling so alone anymore. I had a baby girl in Feb 2007 via c-section. Since then I have had digestive problems. Every couple of months I would have severe upper abdominal pain which would last about a day. So bad I couldn't get out of bed. I would also have diarrhea. Then every few weeks I would get this dull pain under my rib cage on the left side. Finally went to a gi doctor who tested me for celiac and lactose intolerance. Tests came back positive. I now have to have an endoscopy this week to confirm the diagnosis. I've been reading alot about celiac symptoms and this particular symptom doesn't seem to exist. I'm curious whether or not it is this splenic flexure syndrome. I have read that pregnancy and surgery, which I have had both of, can trigger celiac. In any event, I'm glad to hear that there are others out there with similar symptoms. I was fearful that it was something much more serious.

HELLO I COULD HELP READING ALL YOUR STORIES ON HOW MUCH EVERYONE HAS SUFFERED ON THIS, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I TO SUFFER TO THE MOST EXTREME WITH THIS. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE PROBLEMS FOR ME ALL STARTED WHEN MY GALL BLADDER WAS REMOVED, AND THAT WAS IN THE YEAR 2005. THE PAIN IS IN MY UPPER LEFT SIDE RIGHT IN MY RIB AND THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE I CAN'T EAT I HAVE LOST ABOUT 95IBS AND STILL GOING, I'M AFRAID TO EAT AND THIS IS SCARY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE I HAVE TRIED EVERY TEST. MEDICINE, DOCTORS AND NOTHING. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE THIS WAY AND DEAL JUST DEAL WITH IT, DOCTORS NEED TO SEARCH BETTER BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME, I HOPE EVERYONE ELSE GETS SOME RELIEF OR ANSWERS TO THIER QUESTIONS SOON.

All posts on this board should go to GALLBLADDERATTACK.COM and read the education there regarding digestive problems. Also look into LIVER DETOX CLEANSING and COFFEE ENEMAS on curezone.org. I had bad symptoms like migraines, vomiting, bloating, weird appetite, back pain, constipation, just to name a few symptoms. Then I started the cleansing and enemas and most of the problems went away. Changing your diet is a major to-do as well. I also take supplements to help digest food like high quality ones from STANDARD PROCESS (AF Betafood, Zypan, Cholacol,etc). Also the brand SPRINGREEN has a lot of good cleansing products. These help greatly with all my digestion issues mainly caused by stones in my gallbladder, the cleanses and enemas flush them out naturally, no pain, no doctors, no meds. I highly recommend everyone on this post to to these websites and read/follow the recipes and cleansing instructions. I'm still doing the cleanses until I've flushed out all the gallstones so I'm happy to testify I've gotten strong results with no meds. Good luck, all.

go to GALLBLADDERATTACK.COM for a lot of education on gallbladder removal issues.

thank you all. i also suffer, as does my 80 yr. old mother. i'm 43. i was diagnosed with haidle hernia, acid reflux, had an endoscopy(thats where he found and afterwards showed me the picture of my hernia). the pain is pretty constant in my chest i just try to blow it off and attribute it to the gas and the food. i can tell you what helps. while i'm working and sweating it seems like my foods digesting and the pain subsides for a while then i start getting hungry and pig out which for a little while the pain goes away. so exercise seems to be one key. i noticed when in the hospital after going through the barium tests, heart tests etc. that the bland food at the hospital made me feel good, also not smoking probably helped. i take prilosec because insurance raised my nexium from $25 to $75 but nexium was good stuff. prilosec seems to work when i stay on it. i've also taken prevacid, propulsid. but you gotta take the pill every day. thats not easy especially when your feeling good. my bro. in law also has reflux and he was told that your stomach will try to reproduce itself in your chest if no treatment. not sure what that meant. good luck and god help us

Reading all these articles tells me I am not alone.. but also says there is a heck of a lot of people in pain and not much to relieve it. I have had my gallbladder out few years ago and unfortunately have a hiatus hernia and faulty refulx value. Product of not dealing with stress well and unfortunately always stressed. If I forgot to take my prilosec in morning by afternoon horrible pain and acid reflux. But usually by later in day or next feeling better. Yesterday throughout the day kept getting these spasm like pains which felt like a golf ball was stuck in my esofugus. Would intensify eventually go and come back again shortly after. Today feeling bit better but still feel it there.Tried to eat dinner last night and it really hurt. But reading these posts has made me realise the connection as I have had pain under left rib cage ...occasionally right/ plus back pain also for approx. 1 year and Dr. are not giving me any answers.. However I hadnt connected all of these together. Will make me take a serious look and perhaps chart what I am eating and stress levels etc to see if pattern of what is bringing this on. Yesterdays extreme bout was a first though..hopefully a last.

Ask your doctor to give you the celiac blood test. There are two of them. If one comes back false ask the doctor to give you the second one. If either comes back positive have a gastro intestinal doctor do an endoscope of the small bowel. If it has spirals, it is confirmed celiac which means you must go on a Gluten Free Food Plan. I have celiac and for two weeks have been eating wrong and my ribs are killing me, this confirms, I need to get abstinent again of all gluten to feel better. I usually will go in for a good colonic, a flushing of my colon, and start all over with good gluten free foods.

Its crazy because ive been to the ER plenty of times with pain under my right rib, also a little above, around the middle of my rib cage. Ive had a very gasy stomach non stop gas, it even gets embarasing. Ive lost alot of weight, loss of appetite, nausea. The worst part is the pain on my rib cage, It like a sharp and stabing pain. Sometimes i feel like i have something stuck there and i feel the need to tap it real hard to see if the pain would go away, Im really getting desperate in knowing whats wrong with me, because doctor cant seem to diagnose me.

sorry about your pain ... i have had the same excrutiating pain for almost 7 years ... they took my gallbladder out ... little bit of the burning went away ... but all the horrific pain remains ... pain meds don't help much ... stress seems to exacerbate all pain ... i've been to over 65 doctors, multiple operations, tons of meds, etc. ... i think i will try Mayo in AZ ... it's always bad ... when it's worse (how it can be worse, i don't know) ... i lie in a fetal position for days ... barometric pressure and change of weather, etc., seem to worsen it ... i am going to have a thorough physical from my new primary care physician ... and look up SFS and celiac disease ... i will continue my life through if i have to ... i pray The Lord removes this thorn ... i will pray for you, also

Go to GALLBLADDERATTACK.COM for good education on digestive and gallbladder removal issues.

Please read my post from today May 15, 2013. You could use this advice.

I've been having pain under my right rib cage. I have had my gallbladder out so I know is was't that. I have been short of breath because it hurts to breathe. I have had a loss of appetite and when I do eat I feel like i get full really quick and then I feel bloated. I went to the ER because I could handle the pain no longer. They did blood work and the tests came back positive for helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) which is a bacteria that lives in the lining of your stomach. it is caused by contaminated food or water. You have to got through a 2 week treatment of antibiotics and acid reducers. I am on the first day of treatment so I can't tell you how it's gonna work. Thought this my help some of you.

Hi everyone,
I have a mild version of what everyone is describing. I'm going suggest that you ask yourself a general question and follow it with a hypothesis.

When you first noticed the pain, what was going on in your life around that time? How do/did you spend most of your day (sitting, standing)?

I started working at a desk a little more than a year ago, and have recently developed some symptoms. I have also been through a lot of stress in the last six months but the stressful issues have since subsided, but my symptoms persist. So, what has changed for me is that I went from doing a job on my feet to one at a desk, which is the worst for your back.

My wife recently went to a chiropractor who has literature about your spine and overall daily wellness. It includes a diagram that shows what vertebrae affect the nerves that control the different areas of the body. If one gets pinched or just moved, it can create pain or dysfunction in your body.

So I am suggesting that perhaps these ailments are linked to a back problem. Even if it isn't, it's still a worthwhile pursuit. The literature I read suggested that neglecting your back (even if it doesn't hurt) can decrease overall wellness. It compares it with going to the dentist.

As for me, I will be going to the chiropractor soon. Hope this is helpful.