huge discomfort blow left rib

I am a 59 year old, healthy man. I have the same pain you are referring to.

I have had all the usual tests. My Dr and a few specialists have found nothing. I do have a scoliosis in the mid back which often cause significant referred pain in other areas of my back and side but I do not think the two are related.

I tend to believe it is gastrointestinal but I sure would like to find a way to manage it.

It definitely caused me to have stress so in the end the Doctor suggested a scan which I had but it didn't show anything. 

I noticed that when I went on holiday it was never as bad so I started to think stress from work was causing it. I eat an awful lot of fruit....with my breakfast, at work between meals and with my dinner. I decided to cut it from my diet as it was something I didn't eat while on holiday  and I was trying to find out if it was diet related.

'Touch wood' this is my third week without the discomfort and I feel like I new person.

I just wanted to mention it on here just in case it might make a difference to someone else.

I think I was always getting 'blockages' ... 'Bunged up' from eating certain foods. I'm going to watch my diet now in the hope that I can control what's happening inside.

Linda

Two years ago I had pain so badly in the same area I thought it was a heart attack and was rushed off via ambulance from work. It wasn't and they couldn't find anything wrong then. This seems to come and go but it is REALLY BAD right now. ahhh who to go see?

I also have this pain - feels like someone has a handful of my insides right under/inside under my left rib cage and they are squeezing, pulling, ripping,stabbing, cutting it, I'm either bent in two breathing like I'm in labour or curled in a ball balling my eyes out , for me if I jam a pillow under my rib cage and sit on my knees crunched in a ball  on my couch it helps for some reason it makes it bearable when it's unbearable, and smoking weed also makes it bearable.  I lived with it for 5years and went through a million tests and a million different prescriptions before my doctor FINALLY found out MY problem I was diagnosed with celiac disease( wheat allergy)  ((7 years ago now ))and that solved my mystery pain BUT I still get the pain quiet often because I'm seriously allergic to wheat one tiny crumb and I'm curled up in a ball with a pillow jammed under my rib cage (pressure helps my pain a bit) 

BUT everyone is different this was my problem but it might not be everyone's on here but it's worth a try it's a simple blood test (while your still eating the same as you do normally ) and another blood test after not eating wheat for a month 

Ask your doctors about it  

Pain under Left Rib Cage

The rib cage, also known as thoracic cavity, is an area that is most prone to accidents, and exposed to injury. It surrounds the chest muscles by supporting the shoulder girdle. The rib cage encases a large number of critical organs and pains in this region can be due to an underlying medical condition of these organs. A pain in the chest area is often a cause of alarm due to the possibility of heart pains. However, it is important to understand that not all pains in the rib cage indicate serious medical conditions. Having a proper understanding of what causes pain under left rib cage and surrounding areas can be useful when deciding whether the pain is a negligible matter or a medical emergency.

What Causes Pain Under Left Rib Cage?

There can be a number of reasons for experiencing pain in left side under ribs. These can be due to injuries, sever illnesses or some underlying condition. Following are some of the most common attributes of pain in the left rib cage area:

Heartburn or acid reflux - This is a common cause of pain in the left side of the ribs. This may be triggered as a result because of over-consumption of acidic foods or drinks that generally cause heartburn. The pain is sharp and sometimes mistaken as a chest pain. Some may experience a bloated feeling due to lack of stomach acid to break down the food.

Spleen irritation - Irritation or rapture of the spleen can also cause discomfort and pain under the left rib cage. Pain in the left shoulder tips is added signs of a spleen rapture or damage.

Gas in the colon - Also known as the splenic-flexure syndrome, excessive amounts of gas trapped in the colon can cause pain under the ribcage. Gas in the colon can trigger pain in the left upper abdomen or the lower left chest. A person suffering from such pain should sit in a chair to rid the colon of the trapped air. Consuming food that causes indigestion can contribute to such gases.

Costochondritis - This is a condition that results from an infection of cartilages that bond the ribs with the breastbone. This can be the result of a forceful impact of the shoulder and rib cage area or caused by a viral infection. Unbearable pain is experienced near the breastbone as the patient breaths heavily. Costochondritis is often times misunderstood with heart attack because the pain usually erupts from under the breastbone. The condition needs to be diagnosed with a physical examination.

Broken rib - If the injury is in the left rib cage, then this can cause an explosive pain in left side under ribs, especially while breathing deeply. It can be diagnosed by taking chest x - rays.

Pneumothorax - The lungs collapse due to a rupture in the lung membrane and the air leaks out to the cavity between the lungs and the rib cage causing pain under the rib areas. This is a condition that would need immediate medical attention.

Stomach ulcers - A sharp pain under left rib cage can denote an ulcer in the stomach. This can cause pain that move up to the shoulder blade area from the rib cage region. Depending on the severity of the condition, the pain may last only a few minutes or reoccur in intervals.

Irritable-bowel syndrome - This is a condition which cause pain in the abdomen, bloating, and cramps. It also disrupts normal bowl movements by causing diarrhea or constipation depending on the affected person. The sharp pains under the rib cage area can result in with the cramps in the intestines.

Other conditions that cause pain under left rib cage include diverticulitis, pancreatitis, Intestinal infection, inflammation of the heart sac (pericarditis) and dissection of the abdominal aorta (Aneurysm).

Treatment of Pain under Left Rib Cage[pain under left rib cage]Treating pain under left rib cage can be complicated because of the wide variety of possibilities that can be causing the symptoms. Some conditions such as mild muscle inflammations can be treated with a pain killer while broken ribs will need emergency medical attention. A ruptured spleen too will need surgical intervention. In case of being diagnosed of pneumothorax, the treatment will depend upon the severity of the condition and may need insertion of a chest tube. In case of heartburn or acid reflux, medications such as Lansoprazole, Esomeprazole, or Dexlansoprazole as well as changes in the diet can treat the condition. If the pain in the left side under ribs is caused by costochondritis, then medications such as Indocin, Relafen, and OTC pain relievers such as ibrufen can be used in the treatment of pain. If diagnosed with irritable-bowel syndrome, laxatives are recommended while a high-fiber diet would be a long term remedy.

Pain in the rib cage area usually results from an external injury or a forceful impact that may have caused internal damage to organs within. Broken ribs can cause excruciating pain in the underside of the ribs. A pain under left rib cage can be a manifestation of an illness or disease affecting the organs that are located in the left side of the rib cage. The urgency of seeking medical assistance depends on how the pain started and how sever or prolonged the pain is. Since a number of critical organs are present within the left side of the rib cage, neglecting pains that are persistent can be very harmful. If persistent pains or sudden and sharp pains are experienced and injuries are sustained to the rib cage, emergency medical assistance should be sought to avoid life threatening conditions.

Hope this helps some.  I AM NOT a doctor at all and just thought this may help you find further information or make it more comfortable with your doctor

The pain I experience feels as if something is rubbing against my lowest left rib, and if I relax my stomach out (buddha style) this offers a bit of relief. Also the pain can be felt at times from the back side of my rib cage above kidney.

Docs sent me down the road of colonoscopy (worthless and I should have realized), wanting me to do a barium swallow (refused this, but also know it would have revealed nothing), stool analysis (all normal except noted not able to digest long chain fatty acids and recommended wide spectrum digestive enzymes).

Associated with the long chain fatty acides is another symptom - light colored stool. Comparing dark chocolate to milk chocolate, my stool can be light milk chocolate colored, and goes dark chocolate with the digestive enzymes. Also, when the pain seems worse, the stool color seems lighest. This tends to involve the pancreas, at least in description. 

Stool analysis showed no bacteria associated with ulcers.

Another clue, if I drink raw cabbage juice for 4 or 5 days in a row, the pain goes away entirely or nearly for weeks/months. Thus, you'd have to suspect it's an ulcer. Perhaps near the ducts with the pancreas and when the ulcer flairs up the pancreatic enzymes are blocked.

One injury I had was a hernia that seemed to affect at least six points (two on either side of groin just above penis, with the one on right side resulting in a small bulge and the left side seems to have healed completely, two at the rib cage in front, and two on lower back). The small bulge remains in front, in right lower back there remains some pain that seems to have evolved into sciatica moving into the hip and thigh, and this lower left rib side pain. Don't know if this is related or not.

There are some days where I don't notice the pain at all during the day, but at night have to adjust position to find a comfortable one.

Other clues might be that during the 90s took ciprofloxin, a wide spectrum antibiotic, about 8-9 times which has led to broken tendons here and there, including abdominal tendons. Since pushing out abdomen, buddha style, offers some relief, suspect this is somehow involved.

One other clue, is that when I've not eaten and the pain is felt, that taking a probiotic also seems to offer some relief.

However, if I could just keep up with drinking raw cabbage juice every couple weeks, I suspect this might heal it completely.

My personality is generally type A, kind of a high-strung person, self-motivated meaning I drive myself.

Hope this helps or gives clues to anyone reading.