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constant pain under the ribs (on the right side ..in the back)

Posted , 236 users are following.

Geox
Geox

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

305 Replies

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  • edmund01828
    edmund01828 Geox

    Posted

    Hi Geox, I have had this very similar pain for several months also. Very annoying isnt it? I am a 74 year old (Man). Aint that something. Have you found out anything more about your ailment. My doctor also says it's muscle pain. I hope your pain has gone away, if not, hang in there.
  • melanie06983
    melanie06983 Geox

    Posted

    omg i thought i was the only one. same thing as all of you mine has be going on for 12 yrs no 5 doc's later and same thing here all the money out for the test from head to toe and still nothing just a muscle. It has been so bad sometimes i want to go to the ER but scared they will just send me home with no help and a big bill. I so wish someone could tell us what it is.  It has gotten so bad i cant stand longer then 5 min and i have to sit down im in so much pain. good luck to you all i will look for mor post
    • Ruth5611
      Ruth5611 melanie06983

      Posted

      Hi Melanie, 

      Have you seen any relief since you posted your note here a year ago?  I hope so!  12 years is a seriously long time!  I'm wondering if you would be comfortable listing some of your symptoms.  Is it just pain or do you have anything else?  I have just pain, no other symptoms. My pain started out feeling like a stitch in my right side and was annoying but didn't interfere with my daily routine for the first four months or so.  But then it started getting worse... and worse... and worse!  When the pain was minor I had tests done: Ultrasounds, CT  Scan, Bloodwork, Urine, all that and everything came back normal.  Tried to get into a Pain Management Clinic but they denied me because my pain is in my abdomen ;(

      My GP sent me to a gastroenterologist even though I had no symptoms in my bowels.  They did a scope and colonoscopy and found nothing.  My GP then shrugged on my follow up.  Since she wasn't helpful, I went to another GP and finally got in to some specialists like a Rheumotologsist, Internal Medicine doc, Nephrologist because my kidneys are producing a high level of protein, which they say is not high enough to be a concern, but higer than normal.  So more tests were done, another CT, and still everything is fine.  My pain is constant, and gets worse with movement, and is especially excruciating sitting upright.  (Imagine, not having the energy to stand, but sitting is worse!)  So I can't work now, and I spend my days in a laying position, not moving, as much as possible, which is not a life, but the only way to keep the pain at a bearable level.  I've been put on Pregabalin which is usually used to treat Fibromayalgia... as it's a theory only.  Still waiting for a neurologist appointiment which is hard to get if you're not dying, 

      ​ Is anything I'm describing similar to you?  I need to know that I'm not crazy... it's been 21 months of this now, and the pain is only getting worse.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  • christinesonia
    christinesonia Geox

    Posted

    Wow! I am shocked to hear so many with this pain! I am a 55 female.  Started early August upon return from an unexpected 4 week business trip to Germany. The drastic change in diet from mostly fruit, veggies and lean meat with daily excercise, mostly walking but a very active 55 year old, to sitting/working for 16 plus hours a day, eating mostly meats & starches - no fridge, few restaurants, I was diagnosed with an impacted colon. That was late September. I am still in considerate pain daily, my ribs feel bruised & hurt to touch, serious heartburn & sometimes difficulty swallowing.  I am eating right and exercising when I can & have the energy. I have never been sick, mostly physical injuries from active lifestyle. Whatever this is it is kicking my a-- and I don't like it! I have had 2 CT scans, HIDA, ultrasound, x-ray and an awful barium ex ray....thought I was going to die it hurt so bad and when it hit my ribs it was as though someone put a knife in me.  I have upper GI on Monday.  I drink lots of water and have stopped drinking alcohol since end of November. Can't decide if it helps.

    has anyone had a firm diagnosis? 

    • shelia818
      shelia818 christinesonia

      Posted

      OMG you sound just like me, you can read my post on here but forgot to mention the swallowing part, it like eveything gets stuck in my throat and BURNS too
  • andrea52239
    andrea52239 Geox

    Posted

    Hi I have the same problem pains in my right side and back my Gp said it is kidney stones but he pain was so bad in ended up in a&e they told me I was constipated......no way my bowels were working fine.back to GP who has told me to wait for scan as she ensures me this is kidney stones
  • brandon0685
    brandon0685 Geox

    Posted

    I have the same thing... i am 29 and in pretty god shape.  It first started ln the left side, just lateral to my spine and right under the last rib, one day playing golf. The pain runs from there to more anterior (to the front). That lasted for a few weeks. It has since switched to the other side. It hurts a ton when i try to rotate my trunk left or right.  I have had an MRI on my spine, turns out a buging disk is the culprit. i have started to workout a little more on flexibility and isolated back exercises as well as abdominal exercises. I have seen some improvement just within a few days.  It still hurts but the pain is getting better. Hopefully this will help some of you. 

    Also had blood tests, utra sounds etc..... but the MRI showed it plain as day.

    • susie20128
      susie20128 brandon0685

      Posted

      I also found out that I have bulging disc, t7 & t8, up high. Thought something was going on with my lungs and heart, turns out these are.the symptoms these bulging discs cause. Had the pain on the right, in my back, but more toward my right side than my spine, almost 2 years ago and it lasted months, 6 or more. Had tests done then, nothing showed. Just a few months ago found out about the discs, in the process, with MRI, was also told I have a kidney stone. So, between your post and all I have read on here, I am going to guess it's a combination! !
    • shelia818
      shelia818 susie20128

      Posted

      I have same thing ruptured disc, it effects my bowels. kidneys, swallowing, tingling in feet fingers, headaches, EVERYTHING
    • diane46698
      diane46698 susie20128

      Posted

      Hi Have the same problem as many of you above with middle back pain under the rib cage.  I also have bulging disc in the low back - and going for physiotherapy for that.  The doctor says the pain I have in the upper back has nothing to do with the bulging disc after he did some tests on me.  My family doctor sent me for abdomen X-rays, ultrasound of the chest and the breasts (even though I just had a mammogram done a few months ago and everything was normal)  he said sometimes there might be problems from far back behind the breast.  He also requested an ultrasound of my thyroids - as he said malfuntioning thyroids can also bring back pains and inflamatory muscles.   I am now in the process of doing all these tests and hopefully will get results in a few weeks.  My pains have been going on for 2 months, worse when I sit and put pressure on my back and gets me short of breath when standing too long.  It might just be some inflamatory muscles - so let see what they say!
  • cathy17098
    cathy17098 Geox

    Posted

    I have the same symptoms 😞 the pain in my mid back is awful after being at work all day but when i sit or lie down it is worse under my ribs.  The only other symptoms I have had was a faint which lead me to fit in September-Ive never had anything like that before but the ambulance man told my husband that my sugars were low and I have been struggling to keep them up so as not to have a hypo (i am not diabetic) . My LFT showed that on a couple of occassions my levels have been slightly raised so my Gp has booked me in for an ultrasound on the 29th of this month. Hopefully thst will give us some answers as I am in a lot of pain tonight!!!!!

     

  • chickieg
    chickieg Geox

    Posted

    This has been happening to me as well. I live in Florida and was going to bring it up to my doctor at my annual exam in January. At first I was convinced my husband was unintentionally hitting me in the side while we slept. He sometimes will stuff his hand under my side, the weirdo, as some sort of comfort thing. But it would sometimes flare up when he was away from home and I slept alone. Then he started complaining of the same symptoms and I got worried it was intestinal for us both to be suffering. I am thinking diet has a lot to do with it. Neither of us are constipated. But you can have regular bowel movements and still have a blockage. My son had a problem once a bit lower down. Of course, my husband is worried about Crones Disease because he have a nephew that just went through surgery for that. Anyway, I still am thinking diet because it got worse over the holiday when we were eating a lot of rich and/or starchy foods. My husband has the whole family eating a lot of fruit and veggies now. He's my house husband. Regardless, I will still ask my doctor about it. It disturbs me that so many people share the same symptoms and their doctors haven't found a cause even after scans and mri's. 
    • alicewonders
      alicewonders chickieg

      Posted

      You are on the right track, you couldn't both have the same symptoms and it not be the worse diet you were sharing.  You are what you eat.  My pain started a week ago after a week of going off my refined sugar and white starch-free diet!!!  Never had this before.  Horrible pain, not getting better.
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