Gnawing L sided upper back pain, random sharp L sided pains under ribs, achey tenderness in abdomen

Posted , 4 users are following.

Does this sound like IBS? I hate the ever changing symptoms of this wretched condition! The pain started a few weeks ago as some sharp pains under my ribs (directly under my left arm) with a "stitch" feeling in my side that doesn't leave (been there off and on before). The pains would happen quick and last half a second usually a few times a day. A few days ago the gnawing upper back pain started. Today, I noticed the abdominal tenderness and acheyness. Ive noticed my BMs have increased from 1 to 3 times a day now, but they are not loose or difficult to pass and the pain does not seem to be associated with them. The gnawing pain disappeared for a short time today for whatever reason. Anyone experience this?

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  • Posted

    Some people get pain under their ribs with IBS. Pain can occur just about anywhere especially back pain. However, everyone experiences it differently. Have you tried an antispasmodic to ease the pain and have you tried a food diary to see if you are reacting to a particular food? Do not worry!

  • Posted

    The pain you are describing sounds more like costochondritis. Not sure how your IBS was diagnosed but I had a diagnosis of IBS and it just didn't fit. It is often a catch all when doctors don't have an explanation for what is going on. It took me a long time to get a proper diagnosis but in the end I did. I have gastritis associated with an auto immune auto inflammatory condition and this caused costochondritis with the type of symptoms you mention. Have you had a gasyroscopy? Have you been tested for h pylori?

    • Posted

      Hi Margaret-

      I was wondering about that, too. My IBS was diagnosed years ago after everything else was ruled out. Had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Negative for H-Pylori. Inflammation noted on the gastroscopy, but nothing major. This pain popped up a few weeks ago completely unprovoked. Can costochondritis be on only one side?

    • Posted

      My costochondritis started on my left side ribcage and then progressed to my right side ribcage, down the front of my chest and all over both breasts and a little round my back.

  • Posted

    hi charcey, even with a misgianosis of ibs i still got terrible pain along the left handside like you describe. you could try getting in to your gp, due to the pain, failing try your phafmacist. have you eaten anything different or had stress to deal with? i hope you get this sorted, it used to take my breath away.

    • Posted

      hi charcey,, someone mentoned costochondritis - i have had it before, is it worse when yoy breathe in? have you had a cold recently or lifted anythjng you shouldn't have? you will be offered pain killers and rest for this, doctors will say for definite.

    • Posted

      I was told to use a non wired bra, take painkillers and wait it out. I decided to wait it out without changing my bra or taking painkillers and the pain went away on its own as the doctor said it would.

    • Posted

      i think costchondritis affects different people in different amounts. i had to have an inhaler in the end as my breathing was so poor. good luck to the post writer, i hope you get this sorted out!

    • Posted

      I got it due to a huge barrage of stress and I only went to the doctor after two months of agony because I was too frightened that I would get bad news because most of my pain was on my breasts. Going to the doctor is such a big deal for me. I think I have short lived minor reccurances but at least I know now whAt it is.

    • Posted

      Yes! Worse when I breathe in! It's not all the time though. The pains can be very random and disappear just as quickly after a few breath cycles. The acheyness lingers in my left chest and back though. No chest infection here, bit definitely heavy lifting.

    • Posted

      A lot of it has been in my chest and breasts! Hmmm...interesting.

    • Posted

      Same here. My bra is pretty loose and its not bad enough for me to take pain killers.

    • Posted

      My pain was bad enough for painkillers initially, but I decided not to take anything and just put up with it because I thought at first I had pulled muscles carrying a heavy briefcase so I tried carrying less in the briefcase to see if it made a difference but it didn't. That's when I started to panic and think the worst and after two months, intense anxiety drove me to the doctor for help.

      The strange thing was that the pain started off very mild and dull and over time build up to extreme pain.

    • Posted

      My doctor told me that the ribcage extends quite far across the chest hence the extent of the referred pain. it contains a lot of rib bones. This was the only thing she was able to diagnose for me. She was unable diagnose my IBS and was useless and unfeeling when I complained about the nurse who botched my blood test. Both this condition and my IBS were triggered by horrendous pain and fatigue from chiropractory and the badly done blood test.Both conditions are linked to stress.

    • Posted

      ouch, i remember the pain. see your doctor naked, if they're nice then you'll maybe want to see them more. buf the same doctor.

    • Posted

      oh oh, that'd wrong, no imagine them naked sorry,! 😸

    • Posted

      Ahhh...good to know. I'll keep watch. Hopefully, it doesn't get worse.

    • Posted

      Reading your symptoms just another thought....are you feverish at all?

    • Posted

      My mum and brother used to say that doctor's have seen it all before and they are human beings as we all are. The only difference is that they know how the body should work and we don't.

    • Posted

      i would rather see my doctor is amiss health wise. you need to ask for the same doctor and if they don't understand you may need to think if the surgery is right for you. i waited 31 years to swap doctors but i am glad i did. i now have doctors i can trust.

    • Posted

      I had the same doctor for a while and he was great and diagnosed my IBS when no one else could. Now he has left the Practice. However, he was very poor with my neuralgia. Although he confirmed it, he wanted to prescribe me low dose anti depressants which are not for me. The best remedy for me is hot Italian sun.

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