Pain/discomfort under right rib cage.
Posted , 412 users are following.
I have been experiencing this for the last few months, I have been searching the web looking for answers. I am a 45 year old female, in good health, I take no medications, thin, active, I eat healthy, so I am at a loss. I have this feeling like there is something under my right rib cage as if something is stuck underneath or enlarged. At first I thought I had strained a muscle b/c I had been working out in the yard the day before it started. It doesn't hurt, it just feels like there is something there that shouldn't be but when I touch the area there is no swelling or bulge. After about 3-4 weeks when it wasn't going away I went to see my doctor. They did blood work, urine labs and sent me for an ultrasound of gallbladder, all came back normal. I have no other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. just this feeling like something is there. It seemed to go away on it's own and then came back and has come and gone since sometimes lasting a few days, sometimes a few weeks. When it is back wearing a bra is uncomfortable. Sometimes there is a warmth or burning sensation in the area. The only other symptoms I have had that I think are related are these: A few months before this started I experienced a fluttering sensation, almost like when I was pregnant and the baby moved, in the same location, a couple of times. Since this has started, on 3 or 4 different occasions, I have experienced a charlie horse like spasm in the same area, below the right rib, when bending over from a sitting position. Does anyone have any answers as to what this might be? Does it sound like IBS? Peptic Ulcer? Hiatal Hernia?
30 likes, 688 replies
florin40616 kit4410
Edited
Hello,
I have the same symptoms when I drive, bend and sometimes even when I lay down. Doctor said it could be an intercostal muscle. It's been 2 months after this check and so called "intercostal muscle " and I still have this disconfort. If anyone find out what the diagnosis is please let me know.
Thanks.
karen06608 kit4410
Edited
mine started a few days ago...under my lower right rib...when i sit...feels like something is pushing on bottom rib.... doesn't hurt...just annoying...so far...went away for a few days now its back...have had blood work and urinalysis...all come back normal...was for a diff medical issue but all the same....just recently had x-rays done on my right rib cage front and side looking for kidney stones but saw nothing....if anyone gets a diagnosis please let me know...
alexander21411 kit4410
Posted
Having very similar issues.
Diagnosed a year ago with a small hiatal hernia. Was suffering with terrible reflux. Adjusted my diet, refused PPI's.
Now I'm getting this punishing feeling in my right side, on my bottom rib. It's as if it's digging into my right abdomen.
I have a bulging disc that I was going to physical therapy for. Switched therapists one week, and she began to massage my right side, right at my ribs, and hit something that had me seeing stars. She kept hitting it, and since going through some pain with my previous therapist, I figured I had to just grind my teeth through it (actually, the pain makes me laugh...I know, weird). It just...didn't feel right after her going over the spot several times, and I asked her what it was. She had a confused look on her face, and told me to see my Dr. about it.
Saw my Dr., and she said it was floating rib. Ordered an MRI of that area, everything came back clean, except 2 small lesions on my liver. Had two specialists look at it, and they said it wasn't anything to be concerned about.
Could this be a symptom of my bulging disc? It feel like an organ issue, and my ex-wife "just" had gallbladder surgery.
It crippled me today, where I had to lay down, and the pain went away. Gave up powerlifting, haven't even been to the gym in a week or two, and "something" sparked this.
Only thing different is I'm eating a lot of yogurt, and granola. Could this be diverticulitis?! Going to cut out the granola and see how I respond. Lol, I swear, I can't eat healthy without hitting a speed bump.
lisa2187 kit4410
Posted
hello, new to the group, but having same symptoms. waiting for ultrasound to be scheduled.
faye96165 kit4410
Posted
Hey Kit4410. I am going through a similar thing at the moment and it's driving me crazy! I know this thread is from 7 years ago and wondered if you have updates on the symptoms you have or had. thank
c54622 kit4410
Posted
I am so happy I ran across this! About 7 years ago, I started feeling like something was under my right ribcage. I described it to my doctor as baby toes in my ribs, because after 6 pregnancies, that's what it felt like. Now, I feel like I have a ball or something sitting under my right ribcage almost all the time. It is super uncomfortable and gives me all kinds of anxiety. My lower right ribcage is tender if I press on it, and sometimes it feels like there is swollen tissue around my ribs. I feel do have some back pain, at the same level as my rib discomfort, as well. All those years ago, they did all the test; bloodwork, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and ultrasound of kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. They found nothing other than a narrowing in my esophagus and that I have Gerd. I go through waves of it being constant for months, to not feeling it so much, and then it flares up again. I've been seeing neurologist now for the past 6 years, who did a nerve study and MRIs of my spine. I do have some spinal stenosis, slight scoliosis, and degeneration in my neck causing pinched nerves in my cervical spine and a bulging disk in my thoracic spine. I have done computer work for 35 years, so I'm sure my computer posture has played a big role in what I am dealing with now, because my whole right side is a mess. Anyway, my neurologist thinks the sensation/pain in my right ribcage is all related to my spine and that nerve compression can cause pain that radiates around the ribcage. I have noticed tingling and burning sensations this time around, which could mean nerves. So I do believe nerves can be the culprit, BUT I just can't see it being the cause of all of my right rib area discomfort and the extra discomfort I feel right after eating. Googling symptoms just makes the anxiety so much worse. I wish there were definitive answers. I just want it to go away.
sarah43213 kit4410
Posted
I have had these symptoms now for nearly 2 years. Initially I thought I had done myself damage by having a few wines each night. My bloods have been fine except for slightly elevated AST 50 in Apr 21, 41 4 werks later and last month 46. Doctors have no concerns and say the elevation isn't wild! I had sn ultrasound in May 21 all clear and another last month which again was all clear except 2 tiny cysts on my liver which she said are no cause for concern and quite normal. pancreas, spleen, kidneys, gallbladder all clear! Chest x ray all clear and poo tests for chrons and colitis all clear too.
symptom wise its discomfort under/below my right rib, standing and lying down relieves it but sitting down is uncomfortable. It can radiate to the top of my right hip especially after exercise. more recently my right shoulder blade has developed a burning sensation (connected or not who knows? I'm at a loss)! 42 year old female, pretty healthy. Its slightly comforting to know others have the same feeling an that I'm not making it up. Doctor prescribed me Lansoprazole so will see how i go with that
JoeyJo kit4410
Edited
I don't know whether I feel relieved or disheartened to find so many people in the same boat... 36 pages and no answers! I have the same pain under my ribs and have bloods done and two ultrasounds. I'm going for my results today but when I had my second ultrasound scan yesterday the nurse actually said everything looks fine so I'm not holding out much hope for any magic discovery.
It strikes me as very interesting that the people on this thread are male/female, drinkers/teetotallers, active/inactive... there seems to be no commonality to this pain. I'm only writing this because if I get any answers at all I'd love to come back and share them but I'm not holding out much hope at this point.
The only thing I was hoping for was that it might be gallbladder issues but I certainly wouldn't rush into surgery now having read here that it doesn't necessarily cure this particular pain.
sarah43213 JoeyJo
Edited
Hi Joeyjo
I too have had 2 ultrasounds with no findings. I'm now currently sat waiting on CT scan results which I should have by next Thursday at the latest, I'll keep you all updated. Do you have any shoulder pain in your right back shoulder blade? I have this along with all symptoms listed in this thread, the nurse said its usually the gallbladder that causes that its called referred pain. hoping for some positive news soon, the waiting and not knowing is killing me!
sarah43213
Edited
so CT scan came back clear! they think my spasms and shoulder are unconnected to the tennis ball feeling under my rib which they think is reflux! prescribed lansoprazole which may take a few weeks to work! I will keep updating this thread if any change. here's hoping they work...
JoeyJo
Posted
So I've now had ultrasound, bloods, wee sample, stool sample, endoscopy and been prodded by nearly every doctor going.
They have found Barrett's Oesophagus (so I'm glad I had the endoscopy) but cannot account for the pain under the ribs at all. They have ruled out hernia/gallbladder/liver/pancreas and anything else connected to that area. The last resort is a CT scan but then I'm on my own.
Having read through these threads thoroughly I am now thinking that it's a muscular pain - or something to do with my posture. I am slim but pretty inactive - due to my job. I spend hours hunched over a computer and there is little I can do to change that. My posture has always been rubbish as well. I was actually most active during lockdown when I was at home and created a really good fitness plan and looking back I don't remember having these pains at all during that time.
I wonder how many people on this thread are hunchers with bad posture like me?
raubdel65426 kit4410
Posted
anyone has an update to this. i have same symptoms but on my upper left abdonomen. speacialy if i sit when driving. its tight the entire time, if i bend over i get a cramp, like a charlie horse. while sitting down i twist and i cramp. crunches or situp will give me a cramp. dealing with it for 6 months. endoscopy, blood work. checked out. dont know what to ask for next
keith29030 kit4410
Posted
i have this its like theres something below my right ribs and every now and again i get a sharp pain that last about 3 seconds only happens now and again its more of a discomfort especially when sitting down or laying on that side
ive had colonoscopy - found few polyps
loads of blood tests - all came back fine
two ultrasounds - came back fine
would love to no what this is somedays its not as bad but the sensation is there everyday
sarah43213 kit4410
Edited
POSSIBLE ANSWER TO THIS... So last night I went for a deep tissue massage as its got to the point I will try anything. Now I know its early days but I'm really excited to see what the next few weeks hold! This is the message I received from the therapist, she is Ukrainian with limited English so she said she would write it down for me which is great because its given me time to absorb it.....
Morning Sarah 😊
You have a pinched intercostal nerve, which gives such unpleasant sensations. The reason is not in the organs, the reason is in the muscles. The nerve is pinched by a large group of muscles that attach the pelvis to the head and follow along the entire spine. They, in turn, are tense because you have an imbalance in the pelvis: it's turn the right ilium forward. And these muscles compensate for this dysfunction by causing excessive tension in the transition from the lower back to the thoracic region (pinching the nerve and causing pain) and in the transition of the spine from the thoracic to the neck, causing pain and excessive tension in the muscles of the shoulders. I believe that this is a consequence of either trauma or childbirth. And this cannot be helped in any way with medicines, but only with hands: need knead and relax the tissues that are involved in this.
Hopefully this may help you all too
kurt51413 sarah43213
Posted
sarah43213,
Any status update on your deep tissue massage?
sarah43213 kurt51413
Posted
Hi yes the massage worked a treat and i had no pains for a few weeks but last week it started up again. I got back onto my doctor and repeated what the therapist said, he referred me to a first contact physiotherapist who confirmed she was spot on and has now referred me for hospital physio. I'm all out of line as a result of my pelvic tilt. One of the signs you may have is uneven shoulders (my right ones dropped). hope this helps
kurt51413 sarah43213
Posted
sarah43213. Thanks. Please let know every few weeks how your progress is going and if it's working. We're counting on you since many of these people just disappear and we have no clue what happened to them.
sarah43213 kurt51413
Edited
Hi
Sorry this is the first time logging on since I wrote my last post. I have since had 2 more appointments with a hospital physio who has said I'm all out of line and have mild scoliosis. She said this diagnosis later in life could be down to a number of things....pregnancy, childbirth, posture from sitting at a desk for years etc etc. She has given me some stretching exercises to do and advised pilates could help too. The stretches given really pull on all the areas i get pains. I'm 3 weeks in with them but she said it would be 4-6 weeks before i would feel a difference.
When I stand in front of a mirror my right shoulder is lower than my left, when i bend down to touch my toes and come up i come up to the right. She tried to help me come up straight and it felt like she was tipping me over. She said there is a definite slight curve in my lower spine, my right shoulder blade sticks out slightly and she said my ribcage has an angle. I dont see my ribcage like this but it does feel it tbh. She said she doesn't want to x ray my spine if she can help it as it uses lots of radiation.
So its looking like a lifetime of stretches and I'll definitely be keeping up with a regular deep tissue massage as that helped heaps. Being out of line like this causes an imbalance in the muscles which in turn trap nerves.
It all makes sense. I really hope this helps you, I spent years on the internet looking for answers and this by far was the best forum for people having the same pains. Just pleased I now have an answer .