constant pain under the ribs (on the right side ..in the back)
Posted , 236 users are following.
I am experiencing this pain under my ribs, on the right side and more towards my back than in the front..for about three months now and I have to take Ibuprofen almost every day
This pain is just annoying as its not as bad to prevent me from moving or do stuff, but it is very upsetting to have to endure it every day.
I am 29 years old (woman).
I went to the doctor first in February when he tested my blood. The result came back normal (he said he tested for infections). After that I went again and he gave me an X-ray in my abdominal area..well that one came back normal too.
Now, last week (30th of May) he said he would send me through the post a form or something like that.. to go with it and have an ultrasound. I waited now a week and I cant wait to receive it already as I want to see if they will see something at the Echo scan.
I would have wanted the ultrasound taken first if you ask me..as I suspect it might be something like a kidney stone..or something like that..?
I only have this pain in my back, somewhere under my ribs (and on the right side), only when I stand.
I feel better when sitting down or lying. I am thankful for that at least..I suppose it could be worse ..so I get some break from this.
The doctor as I see him is clueless and he said that if we don't find anything after all these tests..he might just blame it on a muscle that was pulled or something..
I mean..this is ridiculous as basically it would be just a guess..even leaving it like that..
what if in time it affects me more with some other consequences?
I am very concerned already and tired with this pain.
Please I would like to know your opinions about this.
I must add that I have no other symptoms..no swellings or other problems. Just this pain every day and is constant and annoying and I just want to know what it is already to treat it and get over with my life.
32 likes, 305 replies
brentjohnson Geox
Posted
I would try the basics if you can. Cut out and alcohol and caffine for now, any drugs that are unneeded. In my case I had pain there for a few years, had my gallbladder removed (probably for no reason)
It ended up being an alcohol intolerance. Anytime I drink even a single beer I seem to get right side ache that comes on two days later. Probably IBS related. Also caffeine was causing me some issues. Be prepared for a terrible headache if you suddenly quit your daily coffee though.
The right side could be a lot of things really. You have your liver there, the colon makes a bend there where there could be stuck gas, you have your gallbladder there, etc.
I would also keep a log of things you are eating and if it gets worse with certain activities and report back. It could also simply be muscular. I'd try the alcohol and caffeine thing though, it's worth a shot!
brentjohnson
Posted
One more thing, I'd probably request a CT scan since it's been a few weeks now. Just to be safe.
debbnano brentjohnson
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thedawesgang Geox
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tinuade55319 Geox
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i must add have done series of test when i first felt this pain. Anyone with a suggestion on how i can treat it.
Waxman tinuade55319
Posted
First, I am not a physician.
?This will sound odd and not cure your problem but try a small glass of tonic water with quinine to temporarilly relieve the pain. I am not sure why, but the quinine often relieves these syptoms. Since many people on this board likely suffer from different ailments, it may not work for all.
vickie94072 Geox
Posted
I don't know how old this post was, but I pray you received the help you needed.nnoto scare you, but for your information and others reading this post; I had most of the symptoms you've listed with the exception of your falling. I had experienced severe pain in my right rib that moved round my side to my back. I visited my primary care provider who tested my gallbladder. That test was normal. He then guessed at pleurisy, even though I had absolutely no symptoms of a cold. I saw a chiropractor thinking it was referred pain, but that just made it worse. I too became so lethargic and very short of breath. Thank God I pulled a muscle in my abdomen and decided to self refer to a surgeon. A CT scan showed I had peritoneal cancer, which is very similar to ovarian cancer. I'm currently in remission, but what I want everyone to get from my experience is that we all know our bodies and what is "normal" and what isn't. Don't allow a doctor to dismiss your concerns. If they do, find someone who will listen!
Mark1957 Geox
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steff30447 Geox
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I have a few theories about this and possible home remedies for the pain. I think it may be a combination of issues...I'm 40 and I started having this pain come on. I thought it was just muscular at first because I work out and I have pulled muscles here and there. I also get the usual bloating and discomfort from eating certain foods. The pain significantly increases when I take a health supplement called pantothenic acid (the supplement clears up my skin breakouts). I think it may actually be caused by a combination of things, like a strained muscle somewhere, probably connected to my lower back that is pulling internally and putting pressure on the organs on that side of my abdomen...also stomach bloating itself may be doing it. When I sit bent over a computer for a certain length of time it worsens. To ease the pain, I have found putting a washrag soaked in castor oil over the area there for about an hour helps. I had tried this before for an ovarian cyst and it worked. Maybe there is inflammmation or something being caused from certain foods. I am going to go to someone who knows trigger point therapy for massage or an accupunturist and see if they can find out if it is just a muscle. The pain moves. My mother said it was likely a kidney stone and it would make sense because of the calcium in it and kidney stones are caused by calcium. I have been told kidney stones are quite a bit more painful than this dull, twingy sort of pain that comes and goes.
JT68 steff30447
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steff30447 JT68
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I remembered something I had tried before when I had a similar pain, so I took it again yesterday and then again this morning. It is a colon cleanser called Colon 8 it has ingredients: psyllium and the same stuff in a lot of probiotics (lacto-bacillus acidophilis). I think it may be IBS-related. Seems to be feeling better. I am also taking an antibiotic. I will let you know if things improve. When I press on the most tender area it feels sort of hard, but maybe just a rib, so if nothing changes I will get my kidneys and gall bladder checked. iIf it goes away, I will also update. I went to chiropractor last night. He said it is possible that something being out of alignment can send pain to the nerves in that area as relocated nerve pain. It's possible in my case as I have pain in my neck from an old whiplash injury, but I am more likely thinking it is digestive or a kidney/gall bladder thing.
steff30447
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Also with pulled muscles, I am sort of monitoring what actions physically may have caused a strain or pulled muscle in that area. Having a hard time opening jar lids is really aggravating it, when my dog pulls hard on his leash while I am walking him tends to make it hurt worse, I also accidentally slid on one leg down my carpeted stairs about a month ago, and though it didn't hurt much at the time, something may have been pulled there. It seems to be most consistently aggravated when I am just leaning over my computer keyboard for a longer period of time, like it is squishing an already-tender organ or something.
steff30447
Posted
So, it turns out in my case this was a nutritional deficiency that seemed to be caused after I switched my usual brand of coffee. If it is the same thing, you will feel better a day after having a nice hot bath in Epsom Salt. If that makes the pain lessen or stop, you will know it is a magnesium defiency. You can take try a daily vitamin supplement of 400-500 mg of magnesium for a few days. If the pain goes away...stop taking the supplement and see if the pain comes back. You will know that is the problem. The Blue-Green Algae Supplement which has some magnesium content is proving to be working as well and it is possibly a cancer-preventer. Hope this helps. I am grateful someone posted a reply for me here or I'd still be tearing my hair out and going through more tests.
PatrickInBama Geox
Posted
Hey all,
I'm a 51 year old male that actually remembers injurying himself right after Halloween lifting 50-60lb bags of leaves into the back of my truck. I thought I pulled a muscle so I finished the job by filling the bags halfway. So time goes by and I remember just before Thanksgiving that the only pain I had left was the rib pain on the right side in my back. My 13 yr old son wanted to play a game of who can push who and I was standing my ground but that evening the pain increased. So, I go to my doctor a week later and they prescribe a couple of muscle relaxers and see what happens in 2 weeks. I didn't wait for 2 weeks. They send me to an ortho who does X-Rays and sees something in a disc so I get an MRI done this past Monday. The results were inconclusive. No skeletal damage at all except maybe for a couple of spurs in the area. So the ortho orders up an eipidural block. I've heard about those and I know I want this to only be a 1 time deal.
I can't think if this is still a pulled muscle since I haven't done a thing in 18 days and the pain hasn't lessened a bit. I'm usually a fast healer. Seriously I am sitting in my chair and if I sit back too hard, my ribs hurt like they are broken.
siva66456 Geox
Posted
Hi I am also having same thing ..did you figure out what it is ..I don't have any other symptoms sceptical pain but back side