For the past couple of years I have experienced pain on and off in the lower right side of my rib cage that goes from the front to my mid back. Over this time period, I have had about 4 sonnagrams, 1 ct scan, 2 chest x-rays, blood work which says my enzymes are normal(the latest being on Monday night) and I know I don't have hepititis b/c I give blood at NIH every other month (they screen for that). The doctors have checked my liver, pancreas, kidneys and gall bladder and all are fine. My frustration is that I have and the doctors have no idea what the pain may be. Everyone is claiming it is pulled muscles on my side. I know this is not a mental problem. Does anyone have any idea what it could be or if there is anything that I should be tested for? Please let me know b/c I am going crazy trying to figure out what the heck the problem is.

By the way, the pain occurs mostly after I have had something to drink. I don't think that is the problem b/c Sunday I drank some wine at dinner and then a few beers, Monday had the pain and that is when I went to the hospital and they told me my liver enzymes were normal and all the other tests (sonnagram and x-ray) were normal.

Thanks,
APJ

I just came from my annual physical. I, too, have a dull ache, intermittant, on my upper right side just below my rib cage.

My doctor has having me get a ultrasound.

She thinks that it may be either a colon problem - or - a residual problem from getting recurrent dysentary in asia.

(at first I thought it was a pulled muscle too)

But...I think you are lucky that so far your all your tests came back negative.

Could it be your colon?

Thanks for the response. I don't know if it is the colon. I had a colonoscopy 16 months ago and besides one completely biegn (spelling) polyp and a little case of diverticulm (spelling) everything was just fine.

I hope it is nothing. The question still remains.

Well, the pain you are experiencing might be an very early sign (before tests actually show results) that your liver is sensitive to the alcohol. A temporary swelling maybe. I would avoid fatty foods and alcohol and keep a journal to track pain levels. Just to see if there is a remission on pain.

And if everyone is telling you that its a pulled muscle then their affirming your pain is real and isn't in your head.

The good thing is that you are getting the gamit of tests being done and keeping on top of the situation.

God, I hope mine is just a pulled muscle.

Also, some other thoughts.

Are you female? If so, have you had your ovaries checked? And your kidneys?

no, I am a male. Thank God I have great insurance. I am bugging the crap out of my doctors to make sure they find out what the pain is. I have an appointment with my Gastroenterologist next week. If he can't find anything and the pain persists, then I will see a oncologist. There is something wrong and I am determined to find the problem before it gets out of control.

I wish you well too. Let's all pray for the best.

APJ

Well, I am hoping it all turns out NEGATIVE!!!!!! Please keep me posted as to your situation.

Tina

I had pain off and on for many years just like you describe. When I found out I had Hepc I thought I had figured it out. I hadn't. I had many test on my galbladder. There were no stones and every thing looked good. They finally did the old fashioned galbladder test where you take the dye tabs and they give you a drug IV to make your galbladder contract while they take xrays of the amount of dye that shoots out. That is when they foun out that my galbladder wasnot functioning properly even though I had no stones to show up on the ultrasound. Have you had this test? After my galbladder came out I felt a lot of relief.
Restless

I just found out that my liver/kidney tests are all normal and my abdominal liver/kidney/gallbladder/ ultrasound is normal too. I have been tested negetive for Hep A/B and have had twinrix vaccinations as well. But I never tested for Hep C. But I have been told Hep C is blood to blood contact and I haven't ever had any kind of exposure. Nor have I had unprotected sex (only with my husband).
So, I think Hep C is a low potential.

However, my sister did have a gallbladder attack and had to have emergency surgery to remove it.

I do notice my pain gets worse with eating and stress.
Sometimes it goes away too.

Anyway, my next visit to my doctor is Thursday.

Thanks, Tina

Just wondering if anyone found out was causing there pain. I too have been suffering from the same problem for almost 2 years no and have had no luck in getting a correct diagnosis.

I too have the same pain you all have described which just started yesterday and left until I ate again.
I would like to know also if anyone found the answer.

------------------
Faithwalker

I believe I am suffering from the same thing as all of you. I have been having this pain for at least a year now. One difference with me is that it starts to hurt when I sit so I usually can only sit for a short time. I then have to lay down or stand. My doctor sent me for an x-ray of my spine (thinking like one of you that it was the result of recurrent muscle spasms) and when that x-ray came back normal, I was sent for an ultrasound of my gallbladder. That too was normal. I'm completely baffled and don't know what else to do. Please if anyone can help or has suggestions, post a response soon. Thanks and I hope you all feel much better soon.

I have the same rib pain. I had every test known to man done and the doctor finally diagnosed me with costochondritis of the rib and prescribed Celebrex. the drug works great!

However, I am pregnant now and have to cease taking it. Sometimes, it is so bad, my obgyn has me take Tylenol #3 for the pain.

Ask your doctor about costochondritis - it's not curable, but it is treatable.

I have what seems to be a similar problem described by people here but with a couple of differences. I have had a pain along the lowest rib on my right side for about 8 months now. I have had now real help from the doctor and i am now seeing an osteopath who thinks he can cure it. After each session it appears to improve once the initial pain from the massaging subsides but within a few days it is back as bad as before.
The differences i mentioned where that i get a very distinct feeling of something bulky pushing against my lower rib cage when i sit down, even though a scan has shown there is nothing. I also get a warm to hot feeling when it is bad. If i place my left hand over it and press lightly it relieves the discomfort. If i press hard just under the rib it is very tender. I would have thought that with such specific symptoms as this the cause would have been clear. I do normally row in a team which involves a excessive straining on one side, however i have given up all sport in the last 7 months and it has not improved at all. The lack of advice or response from the doctor is becoming very annoying and i am quite concerned that there has been no improvement or diagnosis.

Cheers

csp

I too have a constant pain in the middle and following the lower rib cage. Here are a few tests a GI may want to try: a HIDA scan with CCK(to check for gallbladder function) this shows a "bad" gallbladder even if you do not have gall stones, and an envasive test called ERCP, (I have had three, soon to be four), this shows a small muscle that squeez\es liver and pancreatic juice into the duodenum. It is a little organ that causes BIG pain. I have three stents in mine in order to stretch this ampulla of vater wide enough to be permanently open. No fun.
Well those are my thoughts. I have also had pancreatitis which causes a pain simillar to this.
Good luck and keep us posted. Have a great day. RG

I have similiar pain which is on the left side of my ribs, or most ofter pressure and pain between my ribs, between the breast bone. I have costochrondritis. Sometimes it affects my breathing, and because it's on the left side, it can feel like I'm having heart pain.
Ask your dr. about costochrondritis.

Sally

Hello All,
the only reason i came across this thread is the fact that my wife is asking about the same symptoms you all are expressing. what i can't figure out is why "cdebrot" hasn't asked for a second opinion about taking Tylenol#3 while preg.. i'm male and a father of 7, yet i've had my day in the dental chair and know what the long term affects of Codine can do (it's a morphine derivative/opiate/ addictive). to be taking Tylenol#3 with child-on-board is asking for long term trouble for the child. Please get another opinion Cdebrot. We care alot here for everyones health, even those who... will be...one day! take good care! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif etIII

I would check into something called "costochondritis."
I have this, and there are many web sites you can go on which list your symptoms being the same as those who have costochondritis.

I currently have been diagnosed with this, however the dr's also found I have a mass (benign) on my liver which could also give me pain. The liver is on the right side near your ribs. You may want to ask your dr., if the pain continues, to schedule you for an abdominal MRI, or atleast an ultrasound. They found a mass on my liver when I was given an ultrasound, and then I had an MRI to confirm things.

Good luck!
SC

I have the same pains, but mine do not reach around to my back. The pain is strictly under my lower right rib. I've been having this problem since early 2002, and I never though to get it checked out because it is not consistent. The pain is sharp but tolerable, and has become more repetitive over the last couple weeks. If anyone has any idea what it could be email me. cg372049@wcupa.edu
thanks


[This message has been edited by cg372049 (edited 04-01-2003).]

I am a member of this "No Name Pain Group" and I would like to find an answer along with the rest of you. I started having this rib pain in November 2000. It comes and goes....mild to very bad. I have not been able to find out what causes it or what can make it go away. I find it interesting that others have had the same exact pain: right rib, intense to dull pain, like something hot pressing in under the last rib, sitting makes it worse, not related to what I have eaten, etc.

I have had many tests including: colonoscopy, x-rays, bone scan, gall bladder ultra sound, abdominal CT scan, MRI, etc. It has been blamed on: pressure from fibroids (had them removed), pinched nerve in back,(had x-rays and MRI to disprove this), muscle strain, posture, stress, etc. I cannot finger any one thing that applies every time I have this pain. One interesting note: when on vacation in Las Vegas...three times now...I have not had this pain at all. My family has exhausted every reason we can think of.

I am beginning a new doctor tomorrow in hopes of finding out what this is and what can be done to stop it. Thanks for letting me join the group and I will be happy to answer any questions you have and more than happy to recieve any answers you may be able to give me. Su

I did visit my new doctor yesterday and after reviewing all my records and also this chat board which I copied off for him, he did a physical exam of my right rib area. He pulled up on the rib cage and manually felt underneath and could feel a loose cartiledge moving around, I could feel it too. He says it is costo-chandral seperation (slipped rib syndrone) which means part of the cartiledge attaching the rib has been broken off and is in my rib cage floating around. It can become inflamed. Surgery is not an option. He suggested I wear a rib belt to see if this helps. I can trace this to a fall I had in November 2000 which was a terrible fall. I saw a doctor after this fall and nothing was found to be wrong. Apparently this was not evident then or was overlooked. Has anyone else experienced a fall or a blow to the ribs before their pain started. Please let me know. Hope this helps someone else understand what is wrong. su

[This message has been edited by Miss baby borger (edited 04-24-2003).]

I too have this pain, off and on. I also have, or so I am told, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I have loose stools every morning and right after I eat sometimes. Does anyone else with this pain have this too? I am just wondering if it related somehow.

Hi, Everyone!

I did a Google search on "rib pain, lower right," and this site was the first one listed. A couple of the posts seem like they could relate to what I am experiencing.

I have had an intermittent, usually sharp, stabbing pain along the lower right portion of my rib cage for several months now. Sometimes it's a burning sensation. It came on rather suddenly, and was pretty much always there just long enough (4 or 5 days) for me to decide one evening that I really needed to see a doctor. Then the next morning it was markedly less intense and not always there, so I still have not seen a doctor. Over time it has subsided even more in intensity and frequency, but the shape of my rib cage seems to be a little different than I remember. It seems to have a bit of a bulge along the lower edge, toward the center, where the pain usually occurs. I have never been able to relate this back to an activity that might have caused an injury, and don't have any symptoms that are usually associated with an organ failure or disease.

However, I am in middle-age (female) and have never had a COMPLETE physical exam. I finally have one scheduled, and will post whatever I learn about my own problem, as it may shed some more light for someone else. Also, if anyone has any more suggestions on what I might ask my doctor to look for, I would sure appreciate it.

Good Luck to all, in the search for anwers!

I think it is important for you to make a list of the times and dates that you have had this pain and list common causes: did you have gas at the time of the pain, had you lifted something heavy the day before the pain, had you slept on that side before the pain started, did you have a large or spicy meal just before the pain started????? Take this list with you to the doctor.

I urge you to keep your appointment, it is time for you to have a complete physical exam. Good luck, will be thinking good thoughts for you and waiting for you to post your answer after you see the doctor. Su

HI everyone. I'm up tonight having a pain in the bottom middle of my ribs that goes over to the right side. I did a search for right rib pain and here you all are. I didnt realize how many people have what I have. Its not all the time. Maybe once every two months or so but when it strikes boy does it. I didnt get this problem till late pregnancy with my first child. I would bend over and clean the floor. I thought maybe I had pulled a muscle or something. After I had him it didnt happen again till mid pregnancy with my second and hasnt gone away since. The pain is unbeable some times and I cant sit, lay, sleep, eat. Nothing makes it go away. The area under my right rib is tender when you push on it. I've read through some most the post on this thread. Has anyone found anything that will make it go away? or something that I can at least ask my doctor to check? Lots of you have had complete physicals with tons of tests done and havent found anything. there has to be something wrong with us. I mean honestly how often do you meet tons of people with the same problem and nothing is wrong. It seems to happen mostly at night and by the morning is gone. I used to think it was heartburn cause it comes whenever I eat pizza or for the most part but not every time either. After dinner it hits within a couple hours and usually lasts me most of the night till I'm so tired I fall asleep and then wake up and its gone. I dont drink or have a history of liver problems. Has anyone had the doctor think it was something other than that? Any help will be appreciated. I'm going to see if I can get into a doctor anyway even if the pain is gone tomorrow. Its happening so often that I cant ignore it anymore. Thanks.

Although my pain has been diagnosed as a piece of cartiledge from the right lower rib... it is still hurting. Sometimes I find some relief if I take two Gas-X pills with my pain pill. I don't know why this works and neither do my doctors and I have consulted many. I believe that pain causes stress, stress builds up causing tense muscles, tense muscles cause pain and also when you are tense you tend to build up gas. A cycle is then set up. This is just a personal theory of mine.Try a heating pad and laying completely flat and stretch out as much as possible. Hope this helps, let me know, Su

After giving this latest writer some thought...I wonder if you could not have popped a rib loose while you were pregnant the first time? If your internal cavity had filled (with baby) and there was pressure on the ribs, maybe you did pop a rib and after you had the baby the pain went away till you were pregnant again, thus re-hurting that rib and this last time it was a pain that just stayed with you. Ask your doctor if this is possible. I have the the tendernes just under the lower right rib and when the last doctor I saw pulled up my rib cage and felt under it, he could feel a loose piece of cartiledge. I have been doing some yard work and mine is very bad right now. I have times when it is completely gone and now I believe it is related to strain, re-hurting that rib and then going into the cycle I mentioned above. You see, gas would put pressure on your rib also. As I have mentioned, the only time my rib has completely stopped hurting is when I am on vacation and during that time I lift absolutely nothing...except a fork...and I eat everything at buffets and do not have the pain. I just think it is as simple as straining that rib. The cure is not simple and the duration of the pain is not funny. Hope you find relief.Su

anyone suffering from pain under thier right rib and are or have been pregnant should look into HELLP syndrome.it's very interesting.

------------------

did you ever find out what was causing your pain? Just checkin in to see....

I too am a member of the pain or discomort under the lower right rib cage. I have had two physicians debating what it really is...Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Costocondritis. Now, a third is running me through new tests.
My symptoms are similar to others on this board... after eating is when I notice the discomfort increases. At bed time it is hard to get comfortable. I also get discomfort when driving, I find myself adjusting my sitting position while driving.
I had it before I was pregnant, not as bad as now. It seemed to disapear during my pregnancy. I understand that your body changes during pregnancy. I breast fed my son for one year. A few months after I stopped breast feeding it was back. But now it seemed worse than before. At one point the pain got so bad that my doc checked me for gallstones. My doc felt it was IBS, I went through the several tests...all coming back "normal". As well as feeling like a lab rat with "trying this or that" and see what happens. My primary care physican sent me to a digestive disease doctor. Right before he did, he put me on 10mg of Paxil. I did notice an improvement. He said that stress can manifest itself in many ways and it would hurt to give this a wirl.
The digestive disease doc started the tests again. And trial drugs. I had been on the Paxil for about 5 months when I noticed the discomfort was coming back. I discontinued the Paxil. About this time the D.D. doc ask me a few questions and he felt I had costocondritis. He put me on Vioxx for about a month & a half to two months. It seemed like a miracle! When I went off of it(late spring 2002), I was great all summer UNTIL winter. Cold weather had seemed to bring it back as well as an additional stress load. I have noticed that when I am under more stress AND the weather is cold & damp is when it really acts up. I am currently back on Paxil. I have also started a Tai Chi class to help with the stress control in hopes of getting off of Paxil. The warm weather of this summer did not take the discomfort away this year(2003). I am seeing the third doc who has had me do blood tests for my organs in that area, a CT scan, Back x-ray & rib x-ray. So far he has found out that I have slightly elevated bad cholesterol and at some point in my past I had fractured my 7th rib on the right side that I do not remember doing. I now am going to have a bone scan to see if there is "activity" in the area. He said to see if there is inflammation inside the bone or in the cartilege around it. Also a test to see if my gallbladder is functioning correctly. It is sad that I am hoping they find something wrong, just so I know what it is. I am back on the Vioxx. It does help to ease the discomfort. I will let you know the results of the next round of tests.

[This message has been edited by Jestek (edited 07-07-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Jestek (edited 07-10-2003).]

In reply to almost all messages here I can relate to your problem of pain, I've had the problem for 2 1/2 years and what I can also see is that it effects both men & women. I have been to many doctors with no results or sign of relief. I have had every test and it was mentioned to me a year and half ago that the gal bladder was the problem, so they removed it but the pain is still there. I mentioned to the doctor that I would make a slice below the rib cage and pullout what is hurting and he looked at me like I'm crazy, so he order more tests, and again with no gestures. Some times this pain can be brought on by sitting, movement such as jumping, leaning to the side or eating foods such as turkey, cake with icing, or many other fatty foods. Sometimes when I get this pain I also get At the same time constant gas and have to chew about 2 or 3 tums to relieve acid burning. Right now they think it is all in my head so they are sending me for sleeping disorders and theropy. If any individual on this board finds out what it is could you please email Mikek324@hotmail. I will do the same, that is inform all of you if for some reason a miracle takes and I find a doctor that can diagnose the problem.

For a lot of you it could be known as gall bladder pain have a HIDA scan with CCK, to check sonograms do nothing if there are no stones, only disease or non-function. Or for REAL fun.....check out the rsg/Den G posts

I still think this is muscular. I was prepared for surgery to have my gall bladder removed and at the last minute they did not do it as they saw NO evidence to do the surgery. So, Mike, who had gall bladder surgery I know you are disappointed to have had to go thru the surgery and still have the pain. So sorry.

I still think it is from muscle strain aggravated by stress which brings on gas and muscle tension which adds to pain which causes more stress and it is a circle. The paxel relieved the stress, that is why you felt better. Vioxx helps me also as it kills inflamation which can set up after injuries.

has anyone else had the doctors check for loose pieces of cartiledge????? This may be what I have and what my doctors have come down to....but the pain is still there and apparently there is no cure for it. Rest and heat, laying flat, trying not to lift heavy things does help. If so many of us have this pain...do we all have loose cartilege? I tried a rib belt and it did not help.

I hope we get to the bottom of this. I wish some of the earlier writers would respond and let us know how they are doing. Good luck to all and you have my sympathy! Su

I'm the newest member of this club. 6 weeks of pain below lower right rib cage, feeling of pressure and discomfort, as if something is pushing on rib cage or the lower rib is rubbing up against something. Pressure occasionally turns to dull pain. I can't get comfortable, can find no pattern to the pain.

Was absolutely shocked to get a liver scan, complete blood workup and abdominal ultrasound that all came back completely normal. I was sure the ultrasound would show some kind of mass.

Anyone getting any relief or conclusive diagnosis?

Thanks.

I am going to jump in here only because misery loves company. HA I have had this same identical problem for about 4 years. I have had all the tests (gall bladder and bariem (sp) enema) and the Dr. looks at me and shrugs. Every time I go in for anything else -- he asks about my "discomfort" in the area of my right ribcage. I say it is still there and he says --"well if it were anything serious you would be dead by now" then he laughs. I guess he is right -- but still.....

I can't pinpoint what brings it on but I know it definitely feels muscular, not so much a pain rather a discomfort -- like a pulled muscle that never gets better. It usually is associated with gas - or at least gas makes it noticeable. Once I pass gas or burp -- it eases off. It isn't constant -- some days I forget I ever had it. There is a slight bulge in my right side which the Dr. says looks muscular. I was even wondering if it could be a hernia of some kind over there??? Anyway, just wanted to add my two cents.
Brenda

brenda, thanks for weighing in. it is good to have company. mine feels muscular, too, except the feeling remains when i'm perfectly still, sitting, lying or standing.

i wonder about the "loose cartilage" theory that some have mentioned...

KAT

I am a newbie and also have this pain that i feel sometimes and it also extends to my flank, I also think i feel it in my back sometimes. Sometimes my stools are loose or flakey and not reaaly brown, but not always. Any ideas??????

HELLO EVERYONE,
WELL IT LOOKS LIKE I JOIN ALL OF YOU WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I HAVE HAD MY PAIN IN THE RIGHT SIDE JUST BELOW/UNDER THE RIBCAGE FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS NOW. THE PAIN IS SLIGHT TO MODERATE DAY IN DAY OUT. I DO GET A RELIEF FOR A DAY OR 2 BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO COME RIGHT BACK AGAIN. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE BURNING FEELING, PAIN IN BACK, EVEN PAIN ON LEFT SIDE FLANK, FEELING OF FULLNESS, GAS, VERY TENDERNESS ON RIGHT SIDE, MUCUS IN THE STOOL, I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT GETS WORSE WHEN IM HOLDING MY 17 MONTH OLD SON IN MY ARMS BUT ONLY ON THE THE RIGHT SIDE. I TOLD ALL OF THIS TO MY DOCTOR AND HE ORDERED AN ULTRASOUND FOR ME, THE RESULTS CAME BACK AS A SPOT ON THE LIVER BUT A CLOSER CHECK WAS NEEDED AND HAD ORDERED A CT SCAN W/IODINE IV. GOT THE RESULTS TODAY AND THEY SAY ITS "FATTY INFILTRATION OF MY LIVER" NOT REALY SURE HOW BAD THAT IS. BUT I NEED TO CALL THE DOCTOR BACK.

ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS?
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU..TAKE CARE.. AND GOD BLESS.

GMS

Hello to you new people. I am sorry anyone has to go through this pain.

I am the one that was finally diagnosed with "loose cartiledge" and I may have further evidence that this is the case. I had a recent accident..my electric stove top blew up and threw me fifteen feet across my kitchen....quite an accident but also quite a fall and as a result, my side has been worse than ever for three weeks. I know I injured this side when I fell and added insult to injury.

I do not understand how the muscular theory or loose cartiledge has anything to do with gas but I do know I have gas at the worst time of this pain. Maybe the stress of the pain brings on the gas. GasX has helped me somewhat or at least has helped in the worst of times to get through the pain.

My doctor also smiles at me and tells me if it was anything bad I would be dead now, I have had this for three years and if you read my former messages I have had many tests..all of the ones you all mention. I hope someone can find out what it is, I want to be CURED!!!!! Su

I, too, had pain beneath my lower right rib cage. It turned out to be gall-bladder related: when the gall-bladder was removed, the pain went away completely. But I think the possible difference in the pain I felt and the pain that some of you are mentioning, is that for gall-bladder pain, it was as if you cupped the bottom of the right rib cage with your fingers, dug them under and up, and THAT was where the pain was located. More or less on the under-inside of the rib cage. I found that drinking two cups of hot water really helped alleviate the pain, so if you are wondering if yours has anything to do with gall-bladder, you could try that and see if it works.

Actually, I think it's muscular for many people. Unfortunately, most doctors are not experts on the muscoskeletal system. They primarily focus on other diseases & disorders- the more common ones. For those with pain, more in the front-side of the ribcage, it sounds more geared to the digestive system. Especially those who mention pain after eating & drinking. My pain is mostly in the back, just under the 12th floating rib on the right & in between the 11th & 12th ribs. It came on about 2 1/2 years ago during the last trimester of pregnancy. I saw a chiropractor, who could do nothing until my child was born. In the course of time, I've seen many terrible chiropractors, had MRI's, x-rays, CT-scans, blood tests, ultrasound- all normal. About 1 1/2 years ago, though, when I lost all the the pregnancy weight, I noticed the 12th right rib protuded. I can't even find the left floating rib. This told me that something is wrong with my structure. It's worse when lying or sitting in a non-supportive chair- no lumbar support. I can often put my thumb between the 11th & 12th rib & it feels like cartiledge is popping. This relieves the pain slightly. I'm seeing a wonderful chiropractor who gives great adjustments now. He did some tests on the muscles & found that the muscles that attach to the lower ribs, base of the hip, & the inner stomach/sternum are severely weak & cannot support the ribcage on the right side. Therefore, the lumbar spine is improperly curved, ******d & away from the sternum, causing the rib to protrude likewise & an imbalance in my entire torso. The weakness is most likely due to a previous injury, with pregnancy adding even more stress. He mentioned that bones don't move on their own, but can be moved by ligaments & muscles. With no muscles supporting the bones, the bones move freely out of alignment, irritating the surrounding tissues. I do special strengthening excersises as well. So far, this is the only treatment that's ever worked.

Originally posted by Miss baby borger:
I still think this is muscular. I was prepared for surgery to have my gall bladder removed and at the last minute they did not do it as they saw NO evidence to do the surgery. So, Mike, who had gall bladder surgery I know you are disappointed to have had to go thru the surgery and still have the pain. So sorry.

I still think it is from muscle strain aggravated by stress which brings on gas and muscle tension which adds to pain which causes more stress and it is a circle. The paxel relieved the stress, that is why you felt better. Vioxx helps me also as it kills inflamation which can set up after injuries.

has anyone else had the doctors check for loose pieces of cartiledge????? This may be what I have and what my doctors have come down to....but the pain is still there and apparently there is no cure for it. Rest and heat, laying flat, trying not to lift heavy things does help. If so many of us have this pain...do we all have loose cartilege? I tried a rib belt and it did not help.

I hope we get to the bottom of this. I wish some of the earlier writers would respond and let us know how they are doing. Good luck to all and you have my sympathy! Su

I have had this problem also. Right rib pain. Only mine is in the back. It is also very swollen. It actually is dimpling my skin and is very noticable to the touch. You can slighly see it. It goes in intervals. Pain meds and motrin helps. It was suggested to me at the ER that it was Tietze syndrome. I am waiting to see my regular doctor.

Actually, I thought Teitze Syndrome involved the upper ribs & chest. Usually, pain is noticed more in the front, right over the chest. A condition called Costochodritis is common with Teitze Syndrome. Is your pain referred (where you're not always sure of the exact position of the pain; more internal, such as in a stomach ache or headache) or does it seem muscular (irritated by certain movements of the back, spine & hips & palpable pain in a specific location; between the ribs or in the muscles lying over the ribs)? This might determine your next direction to go in. Seeing numerous MD's & chiropractors, myself, I've found few doctors who know anything about the ribs, spine, & muscoskeletal system. If it seems muscular in nature, I'd search for a doctor that specializes in the ribs & spine, & related injuries or spinal disorders that might be contributing to your pain. If the soft tissues & muscles are related in your condition, then X-rays will appear normal every time. You will need to demand that your doctor perform tests to evaluate the entire structure of your back & test for muscular imbalances on both sides of your body, the shoulders down to the femurs/legs. If you find weaknesses & all other tests come negative for any major diseases or disorders, see an educated chiropractor who knows a great deal about the muscles of the whole body, not one who only knows the usual disorders of the spine & perfoms the same treatments/manipulations & electo-stimulant therapy for every patient they see, regardless of how unique each of the patients' condition/s may be. If you decide to stay with an MD, ask about tests that can determine disorders & injuries of the soft, surrounding tissues of the ribs, back, & spine.

hi, do any of you, {along with the other symptoms} have bouts of severe cramping in that exact area? and i mean SEVERE CRAMPING like if it didnt go away soon ,the next step would be cardiac arrest? as well as a swelling on the top side of the ribs ?like an extra roll on your belly,but with all of the other symptoms also . please reply thx.

I`ve got excatly the same symptoms except I have been having loose stools for about 3 - 4 months aswell - I`m not sure if they are connected - I`m awaiting blood test results. Any ideas anyone ?

I am 24, and have had this pain for about 6 months. I was wondering if anyone else feels a pinching sharp pain under the lower right ribs while bending over suddenly? When this happens it feels like something is "caught" and I have to stand up and push around on the area to make the sharp pain go away. Then it is very sore for a few days. I don't know if it could be a muscle tear or hernia or worse. Please let me know if this sounds familiar. It most often occurs while putting on my shoes.
Thank you,
Tanna

I am SO glad to find this message board. A good friend of mine pointed it out to me today after talking with her about my symptoms. Looks like we all share something in common. A pain in the right hand side under the rib cage. I have had mine now for over 6 months. Have had blood tests, sonogram, and x-ray done. All to no avail. I tried to tell myself it was something simple and maybe mental. I have tried watching what I eat and do. Nothing helps. Hurts worse when i sit down....and I do that alot with my computer tech job. But it does also hurt if I hold my 18 month old girl, or do situps. Yeah, I thought I am out of shape....need to strengthen back and stomach muscles. Well let me tell you....it hasn't helped so far and I have been going 4 days a week for the passed 2 months. I am just hoping to find something out as I have decided to go back to the doc armed with the info you all have shared. Thank you so much for helping me realize I am not going crazy.

Just found this thread. Like a many of you, I've been having this curious tender sensation just below my right ribs. Thought it was a muscle strain, but has persisted for a couple of months now. Very strange. It's not really painful but I'm aware of it most of the time. It's more noticable when my shirt touches the skin, although it doesn't really feel like it's right on the surface, nor does it feel like it's deep inside.

Just starting to go through the testing regime at the doc's. Chest x-ray was fine. Been searching on the net, maybe a ventral hernia? Does this ring any bells with anyone?

I have been up since 3A.M. My lower right side below the rib cage has been hurting all morning. It is so tender that I can touch it and feel exactly where the pain is. When I touch this tender spot it automatically goes to my back. I have been feeling this for a very long time. I have no clue what it is. But sometimes I really do think it has something to do with my gall bladder.

I also have had this horrible pain, I had my gallbladder taken out in Aug 2000 then I got pregnant with 2nd child in Sept 2001 and around my 3rd month I began having this terrible pain under the last 3 ribs on the right side, I have been to the ER several times and one CT scan did show inflamation of the terminal ileum which required a colonoscopy to diagnoise Chron's diease but all GI test came back normal, I have been to the neurologist with no abnormal diagnosis doctor said he could diagnoise me with IBS but he did not feel confident with that and suggested me seeing a GYN for a complete follow thru so I have tried motrin 800 mg, neurontin pain pills, vicoden, tylenol 3 and Asacol for ulcertive coloistis but no relief from any of the above So I had my normal pap exam last month and told the new doc everything she ordered me a abdominal and pelvic ultrasound I am awaiting the results, although I can say whil having these ultrasound I expressed to the tech that it was very painful when she ran the doppler over the last 3 ribs she stated that was very odd and that the pain is not from an internal organ becasue she was only touching the skin ,cartildge and ribs so now after reading these post I am wondering if it is as simple as inflammed rib cartlidge and celebrex could help me? I am willing to try anything, and I did have an injury to my right rib cage but it was back in 1997 so why would it start hurting so many years after, all I know is my pain is getting to be unbearable and I too want reliefe like the rest of you....
good luck to you all and please respond if you can help me.

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ASB

Do any of you people have any relief??????? I do hope fi someone gets an answer or gets relief they will write in and let the rest of us know. I have had an expecially bad two weeks of this pain with no more reason than I had before...just unrelenting. Another doctor visit resulted in getting sympathy and a smile and not much else from the doctor. I tried the rib belt and it did not help, seemed to push in on the pain more. The only consistant thing is that I do have gas when I have this pain. Any news from any one?????

Anybody have any news, anybody get any help or relief???Please let us know if you do have any relief or news. No one has written in for a long time. My pain stays bad. Anxious for news from anybody.
Have any of you made a connection between this pain and laxative use? There may be something there to look into. I have read that laxatives can dry out your colon and if this is at all related to irritable bowel syndrone....it may be that laxatives bring on the pain. Anybody out there agree? Su

[This message has been edited by Miss baby borger (edited 08-28-2003).]

I am afraid I have bad news for everyone. My pain (which you all describe perfectly) started when I was pregnant with my third child. I attributed the pain to her kicking me under the ribs. That was 24 years ago!! The pain has come and gone over the years, but about five years ago it came to stay. I have had xrays, ultra sounds, gall bladder tests, liver tests...all to no avail. One doctor blamed it on Costochonditis (spelling?), but all of them (and there have been several) are mystified. The lastest development is that when I bend over to the extent that I put a lot of pressure on my stomach, I get a severe pinching/cramping pain with a bulge. When I press on the bulge I can "massage" the pain away. I just had an episode of this today and now my ribs hurt and I have that feeling like something is stuck under them. I can no longer sleep on my right side because of the sensitivity (it feels like the sheets or my bed clothes are gathered up under me), and I must lean back when I sit when the pain is at it's worst or at least be sure to sit perfectly staight up. I really wish that someone had an answer. I do have fibromyalgia also, so the doctors tend to blame everything on that. Good luck to you all!! Let me know of any new thoughts. Thank you!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hello everyone, well I had my ultrasounds done on the 12th and went back to the DR today for results and it did say I have a 1.2 cm cyst on my liver but DR says this is common and would not be the cause of my pain she is referring me to a general seurgeon becasue she is baffled at what this could be, so like the rest of you I am at my witts end with this very uncomfortable pain, it has actually became more of a pressure sort of pain on my ribs, heard it could possibly be broken cartlidge betwen ribs but not sure , I also heard from someone who had similar pain and went thru prolotherapy and came out pain free but most insurances do not cover this therapy here is a website to check out,http://www.prolotherapy.com/prolodefine.htm

Don't be too concerned about the cyst on your liver, my sister found she had those too but is syptom free, it has nothing to do with the rib pain. It is interesting to me that you have the loose cartiledge theory that I have in my earlier notes to this board. I too feel a pressure pain. I appreciate the site you mentioned and intend to look it up, thanks for writing. su

I have a .5 cm cyst on mine which is the size of the top of a AA battery..nothing to worry about my GI man said it is very common in a alot of people. I had discomfort too there but I believe it is from a fatty liver and the discomfort has gone away after taking this liver tonic for a month now..i use to have costolchindritis from a chest tube years ago and that went away after 5 years..that is very painful like i use to feel like i was having a heart attack..Lisa

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I am now experiencing my ribs sticking out even more. It is about 2 inches wide and elevated about an inch and a half. It hurts really bad after i have eaten. But it still hurts when i am hungry. Does anyone of you have this deformity going on???

I do not have any sign of swelling or distention. I "feel" like it is sticking out as it feels like there is something hot pressing agains my lower right ribs, also there when I am hungry, also there when I have just eaten, like someone else said, I would like to open my side and take this "hurt" out of there. I do wish someone who has received help would write to us. Good luck.

Hi. I've been having a similar problem. It's awful. It started when I was 24. I'm 27 now. I've had multiple scans for it with zero results. I went 5 doctors for this. All have said it sounds like nothing since I look healthy. Put it feels like a knife going into me. Worse yet, it feel like something is sizzling. I've used that description before, and I have gotten some looks. But that's what it feels like! Like there is a piece of bacon in there and, well, it's sizzling. I went to the ER for it, and the doctor there suggested a full MRI. He said doctors fail to give them because of insurance. That is what I plan to do when my insurance kicks in next week. This same doctor was smart and telling me that the body is strange. A pain felt internally can not be pin-pointed. I may feel it in under my right rib, but it may be very faraway from that area, which is why an MRI is really needed. I had another doctor tell me I have Crohn's disease, which I just think is ridiculous. Anyway, I hope everyone here will go and get an MRI. That smart doctor also told me that ultrasounds are often ineffective! I've had 4bbbbbbbb of them, the bulk of which I paid out-of-pocket. Hope you guys figure it out. Maybe it is a muscular problem. I started lifting weights at 23, so maybe its related somehow. Weird to think it might be just a piece of inflamed cartilige. Maybe that's what I mean by sizzling bacon. Gross!

Glad to hear from a new member, do regret it that you have this pain. I have said all along it is a hot pain, I feel like there is something hot under my rib just burning and pushing.
I think that smart doctor should go back to school. If you had Crons (spelling) disease you would know it. I have had MRI testing and it has not shown anything. If you get any news let us all know. I do believe there is such a thing as referred pain as he mentioned but then why do so many of us have the same pain in the same place all of the time? I find that if a doctor does not know what is wrong with you, they want to dismiss you and tell you there is nothing wrong with you. They like cases they can solve. Let us hear from you as soon as you have your MRI. Good luck.

Originally posted by GMS:
HELLO EVERYONE,
WELL IT LOOKS LIKE I JOIN ALL OF YOU WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I HAVE HAD MY PAIN IN THE RIGHT SIDE JUST BELOW/UNDER THE RIBCAGE FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS NOW. THE PAIN IS SLIGHT TO MODERATE DAY IN DAY OUT. I DO GET A RELIEF FOR A DAY OR 2 BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO COME RIGHT BACK AGAIN. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE BURNING FEELING, PAIN IN BACK, EVEN PAIN ON LEFT SIDE FLANK, FEELING OF FULLNESS, GAS, VERY TENDERNESS ON RIGHT SIDE, MUCUS IN THE STOOL, I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT GETS WORSE WHEN IM HOLDING MY 17 MONTH OLD SON IN MY ARMS BUT ONLY ON THE THE RIGHT SIDE. I TOLD ALL OF THIS TO MY DOCTOR AND HE ORDERED AN ULTRASOUND FOR ME, THE RESULTS CAME BACK AS A SPOT ON THE LIVER BUT A CLOSER CHECK WAS NEEDED AND HAD ORDERED A CT SCAN W/IODINE IV. GOT THE RESULTS TODAY AND THEY SAY ITS "FATTY INFILTRATION OF MY LIVER" NOT REALY SURE HOW BAD THAT IS. BUT I NEED TO CALL THE DOCTOR BACK.

ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS?
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU..TAKE CARE.. AND GOD BLESS.

GMS

Hi everyone. I'm glad I found this site. I too have RUQ pain. I have spoken with many people (medical and non-medical) and have gotten very conflicting information so I'm hoping someone here can help. My initial thought was gall bladder because a friend had the identical symptoms and it turned out to be gall bladder sludge but her pain went away. My doc sent me for a sonogram which showed fatty infiltration of the liver but everything I've read and heard says that it is very very unusual to have pain from this. Another friend who is a former sonographer told me that a sonogram often does not show gall bladder problems without proper procedures such as dies etc. I had a bone scan which showed a broken 9th rib but after approx. 4 weeks the doc said it was healed and was no cause for the pain. I'm a little nervous worried about liver problems but the GI I went to just laughed when I asked about a liver biopsy and told me cirrosis was highly unlikely the cause. Any ideas....thanks

[This message has been edited by cantfind12 (edited 09-16-2003).]

I've recently stumbled on this board researching my pain on my right side. It started about a month ago out of the blue. It first felt like gas, but didn't go away. Eventually (after a few days) the constant pain toned down and it pretty much just hurts when pressed or when I lay on that side. It's pretty tender. Went to the doctor after the first week and he said it's likely a muscle strain or costochondritis. Gave me an anti-inflammatory prescription, which helped somewhat. But that's run out now and the pain is still there. It's got me nervous, but it's heartening to know others have the same symptom. Everything I'm reading about costochondritis online seems to indicate the pain ought to be in the center of the chest, so I'm a little confused. Can anyone shed light on that?

Let your body be your guide..i also had the ct iodine scan and it said fatty infiltration. I am only getting very mild discomfort and no pain on my right side. Some days if i workout too hard it hurts the next day more. I know it's the liver what eles could it be?..Lisa

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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!

for those with the recurrent upper right quadrant pain, please don't give up. I had and still do, this for several years. Finally, after a liver biopsy, a diagnosis. A liver disease called NASH. non-alcoholic steaohepatitis NOt hepatitis--but with symptoms of. not fatty liver--next stage, with cirhosis and fatty infiltration of the liver. Occurs in people that are NOT alcoholics, but is often misdiagnosed as an alcoholics disease. Severe pain and swelling in the right side and back, fatigue, nausea, diahrrea. Many symptoms. This can only be diagnosed with a biopsy. Most doctors are not familiar with NASH. They call it fatty liver and say it will go away. Find someone who knows about this and ask. There is no treatment at this time and no known cause. Late stage requires a transplant. Please check into this, it is a possibility.
Joyce

This is my first time posting. I also have the same symptoms as the rest of you for several years. My gall bladder was removed years ago. The kidneys checked out fine. Blood work was normal. My doctor could not find anything wrong and doesn't really seem very concerned. My sister talked me into going to a man from Korea who is nationally certified in orthopedic massage and manual therapy. He imediately focused on my liver. He said it was very hard and it should be soft. He said my body is full of toxins and that I must cleanse the liver. He knew exactly where the pain was located without me telling him. He gave me some suggestions for better nutrition and some exercises to do. I have been following his suggestions for a almost a week now, and I must say that the pain is definitely less. I am going to continue to follow his suggestions. I don't know if it is appropriate to list here the suggestions that he recommended. He also suggested that I buy and read the book "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins.
Faith Hop

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Faith Hop

Yes,please tell us what you are doing to get relief, everyone can do these things at their own risk! I have had no relief. I am glad to see you had your gall bladder taken out...this was to be my next step.If it is not going to help I hate to go thru that surgery.My side is now hurting day and night,before, during and after a meal, all the time. Any help will be appreciated, thanks! Su

MissBabyBorger,

I know for me my side bothers me when I eat bad carbs like pasta, potatoes, and breads..if i just stick to lean meats and veggies I'm good. This book the above post speaks about is a diet of raw veggies which is good for you too..i have been taking 3 steps to liver cleanse I am on my first step of the cleansing. I have 2 and 3 to go once this is finished..Lisa

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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!

Hi all, you have yet another member here! I was so happy to find you all in a search for "right rib ache" I noticed mine while doing sit ups in the spring of 2003. I noticed a dull ache. when I touched around there I noticed a lump/bump just at the base of my lower right rib. I RAN to the doctor's! I had an ultrasound which showed absolutely nothing! they think it is a lipoma but I have my doubts....they say if it were a tumor or cancer it would have showed something. All organs appeared fine.

Well my rib discomfort has increased and goes to my right side and sometimes to my upper right back. It doesn't last a long time...just a minute or two. I feel it when I lay it bed. When I am sitting. It really doesn't bother me to stand up at all...Strange.

i should mention that I am a 36 year old female and I just had my second baby in June 2003. My rib hurt here when I was pregnant with both of my kids but subsided when the were born...I don't know if it's related or not!

I am worried about both the lump and pain. I have seen 3 doctors and noone thinks the pain is related to the other! If an ultrasound didn't see it would you trust that it could be a lipoma? I am supposed to have it out in a couple of weeks. They will biopsy it.

Someone here said they had loose cartilidge...I wonder if that would be what is going on with me? Maybe that would explain why it couldn't be seen by the ultrasound.

Are there any more tests I should ask for? I am seeing my doctor tomorrow and I think I need to insist on further examination. what do I need to ask? He is really making me feel like I am a pain or a hypochondriac but then he doesn't have constant rib discomfort and a lump to go with it does he?

forgive my ramblings ! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Please any advice I would really appreciate!!! thank you all!!!!

When you see your doctor tomorrow, ask him to pull your right rib cage up with one hand and see if he can feel any loose cardlidge with the other hand. This is finally what my doctor did and he found loose cartiledge...floating around in there... no treatment for this.

i know you are afraid. so am i. it is a scarey thing to have pain and we have been taught that pain is a warning of something bad.

My pain is never in the back, it is right under that rib cage and it radiates to the lower right side just below my waist band line. I am 67. I have had this pain 3 years or longer. I did have two bad falls. My doctors laugh at me too. But pain is pain. I am not laughing. I know the more I worry the tenser I get and the more pain I feel.

Let us hear what the doc says. Try to locate any loose cartiledge. You can't do it yourself. I willbe thinking of you tomorrow. su

momof2littleones..ask your doc for a Cat scan with the dye. That is the most thorough..good luck, Lisa


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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!

Hi
My problem is in the area of the lower lower left ribs. I'm new to this thread and my problem is only a few weeks old. It presents as a sort of throb or rubbing or thumping in that area of the ribs when I walk. The sensation repeats exactly with each step. Not painful at first, it starts getting sensitive when I walk a few blocks or more.

After reading a post about loose cartiledge, I experimented by grabbing the edge of the ribcage in that area and gently pressing and lifting it while standing up. I felt the same effect as while walking, and it felt very much localized to the rib cage, as if ribs and cartiledge had started coming unglued.

I plan to see a doctor to try to find out what it is and what can be done.

The things that I have been doing to help cleanse the liver are:
1. Drink a cup of hot water with the juice of 1/2 lemon freshly squeezed and a taste of honey the first thing each morning.
2. Twenty minutes after drinking the above, drink a glass of freshly juiced carrot juice with barley powder. Nothing to eat in between these two drinks.
3. Absolutely NO soda ( esp. not diet soda), sugar, white flour, milk or milk products (butter is ok), or white rice.
4. Use soy milk, tofu, and 100% whole wheat bread.
5. Use organic foods as much as possible. (eggs, meat, soy milk, veggies, etc.)
6. Drink lots of water.
7. Eat fresh vegtables and fruits, esp. watermelon and cantaloupe and dark green veg.
8. Make a chicken vegtable soup. Cook the chicken for 5 hours with bones still in. Remove bones, add all kinds of vegtables (not canned). Use sea salt, pepper, garlic, ginger to your taste.
9. Eat only brown rice. May add it to the chicken soup.
10. NO margerine - only butter (clarified is best).

11. Soak feet and massage every night. Toxins go to the feet.
12. Shower and then bathe for 5 minutes in a tub of hot water with 1 cup epsom salt added. Several times a week.
13. Do exercises to stretch muscles. Sit and bend forward with hands clasped behind head, touch elbow to opposite knee. 10 times each . Also do side bends and twists. Inhale and EXHALE slowly esp. when exercising. Exhale on the stretch.

I don't feel nearly as bloated and the pain is definitely less.
Hope this may help you.
Faith Hop

Thanks!!! Will try it! That was a lot of typing. I appreciate it. su

hey,
i'm brand new to this site... i'm really really glad to find people that have the same symptom's as me.
well.... i'm only 17, and i've had pain under the lower right rib cage. it happens every so often, it's not that frequent. it usually happens when i'm taking a walk... mostly down hill slopes. right now, when it comes around, it's kindo of a searing pain, and it hurts to take a step on my right foot. the pain also comes sometimes when i'm laying down, and if i press down on it, it feels like there is water all around it, and like there are bubbles being moved around. occurances other than those are very very rare. but the pain is searing. i would ask my doctor about it, but i don't see her until october, and i'm really not feeling too healthy right now. also... i don't know if it makes a difference, but i have lost a large amount of wieght in a short amount of time. i went from 149 in last october, to 139 in around august of this year, and now i wieght about 125 (as of 9.21.03). i don't know if that has to do with the pain... but i need to say that i'm not very active, and i eat a lot.
i hope someone has an explanation for this, or a recomendation as to what i need to suggest to my dr.
also, please pray that it isn't extremely bad... i'm too young.

doniko,

My mom lost an extreme amount of weight and had to have her gall bladder taken out after that. That is not so bad but I am not sure that is what your problem is as I am not a doctor. You should go to get it checked out. Tell them it is an emergency and you are feeling crappy..Good luck and keep us posted..Lisa

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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!

Hi everyone, newcomer here. So glad I found this site. Like everyone else here I've been having discomfort in my lower rt rib area, beginning a few months ago. Sometimes just a dull ache, sometimes a sharp pinching feeling, usually when I move a certain way especially when I bend over.

Finally got concerned enough to make an appt for a physical for next month. But now I think I'll cancel it since this is such a common symptom & apparently not anything serious in the majority of cases.

My best wishes to all of you especially those suffering with severe pain. I sure hope you find some relief.

Don't cancel that appointment! Everyone is different and you may be over looking something important. Go.Then you will have made contact with your doctor that this is happening to you...and in your case you may be able to get some help. Keep that appointment and let us know what they tell you. God bless!!

I had the nuclear test done for gall bladder, liver and small intestine.....results today say everything is just great. No blockage, no gall stones, the dye went where it was supposed to go in the time it was supposed to go there. final impression: NORMAL.

I am relieved of course but this still is not a reason for all this pain. Now my doctor and I believe it HAS to be muscular, maybe the loose vertibra also.

Wish i had some answers to give you all but for now I gues I will count my blessings and stop complaining so much and just grin and bear whatever is "that pain in my side" Su

Su, thanks for letting us know how the test came out. I'm so glad everything checked out ok, that's got to be a relief! On the other hand it also must be a little frustrating to not have any solution to this pain in your side. At least you're not alone, you've got plenty of company here if that's any consolation http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Yes it is a relief to find out it is nothing serious. the pain goes on but at least i don't have the middle of the night panic when i think i may have go to the emergncy room and have surgry right away. I am more than ever convinced now it is muscular an probably in my case, at least, a result of that terrible fall I had three years ago. Good luck to you Mycats mom. hope you find some relief. su

ok. Not sure if anyone has ever posted any follow up on this but here is mine. I finally went back to the doc after alot of procrastinating. I saw a GI doctor this time. He asked me some questions and told me basically it was my job and keeping my wallet in my back pocket that was causing my problems. Let me explain. My job is a computer tech job. I sit at a desk...if you can call it that for 8 hours day in and day out 5 days a week. The desks are not actually desks. They are folding tables that everything sits on. So...not ergonomic at all. Then having my wallet in my back pocket has caused one cheek to be higher than the other. So i said...ok, I will try some different things at work. So now I do not keep anything in my backpocket. I bought a keyboard tray and have installed it under my desk to make my arms and everything more level with my chair and everything. I get up and try to stretch about once every hour for 5 minutes. Now not even this seemed to take care of it all. It was a good start. But I think one thing that has really helped dramatically is I used to sleep on my stomache at night. The doc never mentioned this. But I just recently was forced to sleep on my back after having a vasectomy. Low and behold....since I have been doing that....my pain has gone away almost completely. I no longer have to battle with that pain! I know this will not fix everyone as some have something different going on. But PLEASE try some or all of the same things I did and let me know if it helps.



[This message has been edited by austinpow16 (edited 10-05-2003).]

Hi all-

within the last few months I have been having terrible stomach problems and along with it a feeling that my last rib on the right side is digging into something in my abdomen. the waist on my pants cant touch it, i cant sit comfortably, no one can grab me around the waste. I am completely baffled by it. I have had a blood test which came back fine, and now I am getting a rib x-ray. I am nervous that this wont get fixed and I will be stuck like this forever. Does anyone else have problems with IBS, constipation, and this rib problem all at the same time. I am very worried about this, not to mention EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Any feedback would be GREAT.
Kellie

Hi all-

within the last few months I have been having terrible stomach problems and along with it a feeling that my last rib on the right side is digging into something in my abdomen. the waist on my pants cant touch it, i cant sit comfortably, no one can grab me around the waste. I am completely baffled by it. I have had a blood test which came back fine, and now I am getting a rib x-ray. I am nervous that this wont get fixed and I will be stuck like this forever. Does anyone else have problems with IBS, constipation, and this rib problem all at the same time. I am very worried about this, not to mention EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Any feedback would be GREAT.
Kellie

Yep! Read all of the letters before yours. We all have the same problem and all have it all at once. Sorry you are in this trouble. Let us know if you find out anything. As several of us have mentioned, lay flat, use heating pad, do not sleep on that side, do not lift heavy things, take it easy for awile and let us know if you find out anything, Several letters are very helpful and informative. You have my sympathy!! su

Hi everyone
I too have had the pain in my right rib area
for about 18 months. I had every test talked
about here.Then finally I went to a orthopedic
doctor and had a myleo-gram and found a herinated
disk in my thorasic spine that was compressing
nerves to my right rib area.He said theirs hundreds
of nerves around the rib area that will make you think
it is a internal problem. But this my case everyone
should have everything checked so that they can rule out all possible problems.

Hello everyone. I am 19 years old and for the past year or so I have had a strange pain below my rib cage. This pain is located on my left side (your right). So when you say lower right pain do you mean your right or right as if when someone is looking at you? Anyway, the pain is kind of like a pinch, a jolt, I get it a lot when I am bending over or happen to rub up against something. I have also noticed a slight protusion on that side of my ribs, I don't know if this could be related or not. Tanna's situation sounds very similar to mine in that it is almost a feeling that something is stuck or that something is there. Although I don't really experience soreness afterwards. Being a hypochondriac I've been thinking the worst (i.e. Cancer) and haven't asked the doctor about this. When I feel around in this area nothing feels abnormal and nothing hurts, I just notice the protusion at the bottom. I had a blood test earlier this year and everything was fine. Any feedback on this would be appreciated. I have not had a chance to read all the previous posts, so if you have already answered my question then I apologize. Thank you for your time. Sorry if this is a bit confusing, it's hard to explain.

Oh yeah, I also experience tenderness/pain on the side of that rib cage as well.

Welcome, CLC1. Sorry for the pain you're having but you have lots of company here if that's any comfort.

Most of us seem to have this pain on our right side...it sounds like yours is on your left. I saw at least 1 post of someone who had left-sided pain, that person had costochondritis. I think that's some kind of rib problem. There are many possibilities so you should definitely go to the dr & get it checked out. Take Miss Baby Borger's advice & keep track of when the pain strikes & what you were doing just prior.

And Miss Baby Borger I decided to take your advice & not cancel my dr's appt. I'm going Monday. But I expect it's just a muscle strain, that's what it feels like. How are you doing, is your pain getting any better or worse?

I looked up Costochondritis, and I found that although the pain sounds a lot like what I get, it is located in the chest, not the abdomen. Anyway, thank you for the feedback.

Thanks for asking mycatsmom! I have about the same amount of pain at the same level. I had the dye nuclear test and gallbladder, liver and sm. intestine turned out fine. Have seen two more doctors who were baffled.

Keeping my own advise and keeping track of when it comes and what helps here all I know for sure:
********es on with: stress, lifting, laying on that side,and out of the blue.
Pain is relieved with: Gas-X along with pain pill..over the counter or perscription, laying flat on my back, sometimes heat helps.

I conclude it is muscular....tension brings on pain and pain brings on tension, etc, etc, etc. I do not know why Gas-X helps because I have it before, during and after eating, with or without gas.

Write when you return from the doctor on Monday, mycatsmom.

Good luck to all. Hope someone finds an answer. Su

[This message has been edited by Miss baby borger (edited 10-11-2003).]

Hi Everyone:

I think that I have a good news. I had most of the symptoms described in this thread by several people. This discomfort/pain started about two years ago. Doctors did several different test such as ultra sound, bone scan etc etc. However, nothing was found. In recent past my pain started getting worse. I started having pain even when sleeping. I went back to my family doctor; however, he was on vacation. Antother doctor looked at my medical history and saw that I had acid reflux probelm berore and felt 90 % better when I was on a medicine that blocks stomach acid. Note that there are several different types of those medicines available in market (e.g. Nexium, Lanzoprazol, Omniprazol etc etc). I was on Nexium. He asked me to go back on Nexium again for three months. I am feeling much better after taking nexium for about 10 days now. (say 90 --95 % better). The reason that I didn't think my pain was as a result of acid reflux is that I used to have different type of problems before (such as burning sensation in my throat)and I thought that is all what acid reflux was about. But now that I am feelin so much better I know that the pain under my lower right rib area was also a result of acid reflux.

Now it may not be the case for everyone on this board. For example, someone may actually have costochondritis as a cause of the pain. But if you have already done all the tests and found nothing or if you know that you have acid reflux problem then you may want to bring it up to your doctors attention and ask for somethin like Nexium.

I hope that it will help someone. I know how it feels like to be in constant pain and just like to help if I can.

Please keep everone posted if you go through this route and it helps you.

Regards
B

Hi Everyone:

I think that I have a good news. I had most of the symptoms described in this thread by several people. This discomfort/pain started about two years ago. Doctors did several different test such as ultra sound, bone scan etc etc. However, nothing was found. In recent past my pain started getting worse. I started having pain even when sleeping. I went back to my family doctor; however, he was on vacation. Antother doctor looked at my medical history and saw that I had acid reflux probelm berore and felt 90 % better when I was on a medicine that blocks stomach acid. Note that there are several different types of those medicines available in market (e.g. Nexium, Lanzoprazol, Omniprazol etc etc). I was on Nexium. He asked me to go back on Nexium again for three months. I am feeling much better after taking nexium for about 10 days now. (say 90 --95 % better). The reason that I didn't think my pain was as a result of acid reflux is that I used to have different type of problems before (such as burning sensation in my throat)and I thought that is all what acid reflux was about. But now that I am feelin so much better I know that the pain under my lower right rib area was also a result of acid reflux.

Now it may not be the case for everyone on this board. For example, someone may actually have costochondritis as a cause of the pain. But if you have already done all the tests and found nothing or if you know that you have acid reflux problem then you may want to bring it up to your doctors attention and ask for somethin like Nexium.

I hope that it will help someone. I know how it feels like to be in constant pain and just like to help if I can.

Please keep everone posted if you go through this route and it helps you.

Regards
B

Greetings:

Please see my update. It has my story with an added quote from a website that explains a lot.

I've googled my way to a perfectly UNOFFICIAL conclusion:

A)Our problems are most likely stress OR trama-related.
B)Stress contributes to both acid reflux and costochonritis. Getting wired on nicotine and caffine also contributes to the irritation. Smoking is known to loosen the valve that keeps stomach acids out of the esophagus.
C)Our pains are in the chest muscles/rib joints, and can be felt anywhere, not just the lower right. This explains why some of you reported the pain on the left.
D)We need not let the doctors cut us up an remove organs. Many of us have "normal results" from tests. Some of the of the people who had suspicious organs removed either had temporty relief or none at all!
E)We need not take a shopping list of pain killers. Stress management techniques combat the cause. In my case, drinking wine gets rid of the rib pain, but unfortunately causes terrible hearturn...
F) Acid Reflux meds reduce stress from AR discomfort. As a result, the pills ease the panic which exacerbates costochondritis.

Jack

so: no more cigarettes/coffee, red wine to dull the costochondritis, and Prevacid to kill the acid reflux from the wine...maybe relaxation is a better plan?

[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-18-2003).]



[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-19-2003).]

donbiko86,

I am 21 years old and have a lot of the symptoms that everyone on this message board. I have been through all the tests, and like almost everyone else, all tests came back normal. A little over a year ago I had gastric bypass surgery last June and I have lost over 150lbs. I had these pains starting in December and they did an ultra sound of my galbladder. The found some small stones, so they removed my galbladder. Because of the scar tissue from the gastric bypass, they were unsure they could do the surgery laprascopically. After cutting away large amounts of scar tissue, they did it successfully. The pain went away for a couple of months and then came back. All the doctors that I saw said that if my galbladder was still there that that would definately be the problem. They have now started me on pain thearapy, which has not been too helpful. Earlier today I went to the emergancy room because of the pain and it was said by the doctor that it was constipation. I know my body, and since the gastric bypass i have had many bowel problems, and none were even close to being as painful as this situation. I am only 21 years old and I can't even keep a job because of this problem. I don't want to live like this. Please someone help!

Don't let those doctors shuffle you out!


Originally posted by ouch_in_NJ:
VERY HELPFUL: goto http://askwaltstollmd.com/archives/costochon.html




Summary explanation of costochondritis, quoted from above URL:

Costochondritis is simply inflammation of the rib joints, and attachments of intercostal muscles to the ribs, due to persistant "bracing" of the intercostal muscles. So far, the only known cause of this persistant tension of the intercostal muscles is chronic stress-effect storage in the hypothalamus [part of the brain that regulates the release of hormones].

The well known fight or flight mechanism is the only
known way the hypothalamus has to respond to ANY form
of stressor...
..... The stressors, for which physically running or
fighting are NOT appropriate, result in that readiness
being stored in the hypothalamus. Nearly all stressors
in our present day culture cannot be resolved by running or fighting.

This makes breathing like trying to run with a muscle
cramp in your leg. You can stop running but you cannot
stop breathing. SO, when this tension is always there
of course, eventually, the muscles get painful and their attachments become inflamed.

..... The only permanent cure for this, yet known, is Skilled Relaxation.... It takes 6-12 months to discharge all the tension stored in the muscles via turning down the fight or flight signals from the hypothalamus. SO, if one wants quicker results, although temporary; Chiropractic, Rolfing or a series of deep, total-body, therapeutic massages will be needed....

Walt Stoll, MD----doctor in Kentucky. Has an impressive resumé, but lost his liscence for combining conventional with homeopathic practices.




[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-31-2003).]

Miss Baby Borger are you still out there? Sorry not to have written sooner...Anyway, I went to the dr. Monday, everything is fine. When I described my symptoms she said it's most likely muscular, also, she didn't feel any masses or lumps in my abdomen so that is a relief http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I'm so sorry that you're still having pain. It must be a relief to know it's nothing life-threatening but a drag to have to go on suffering day after day. I'm VERY lucky that I only have a SLIGHT discomfort now & then, nothing that interferes with my life. I sure hope you find some relief soon. Keep me posted on how you're doing.

My cat's mom:

Life is full of uncertainty, but I would agree that our problems are indeed in the joints/muscles of our ribs. The doctors are puzzled by it because it's a mysterious condition like arthritis. Doesn't appear on lab tests so they either think we're crazy or prescribe a ton of pain killers...

Seems like knowing what's wrong and knowing sombody cares about your trouble is the best medication.

Best Wishes,
Jack

Ok, I am glad I found this site too. Here is my story in short: I started noticing the pain/pressure under my right rib about 2 months ago on the way to dinner. I initially thought it was a cramp of some sort. But it didn't go away. Luckily for me, my brother is a gastroenterologist resident right now in the midst of his GI fellowship, so I have a lot of medical advice at my fingertips. So after discussing my problems (and there were more, distension, bloating, belching, etc. that had gone on for years), my brother felt that I had acid reflux, so he prescribed Prevacid for me. Immediately I felt much better, it pretty much knocked out all of my symptoms I'd been feeling for years. It didn't take away the pain/pressure under my rib though. He suggested I go to family doc so I could get referred to get some tests. So I went and my doc didn't seem too concerned, and like many of you, said it could be gallstones. So he sent me to get an ultrasound. Well I got the results of that last Friday and it was completely normal. He said he'd send me to a GI doc now. My brother had thought and still does think it could also be an ulcer. It's so hard to describe the feeling I'm having, it just feels like there is some mass in that area that shouldn't be there. The pain is not bad at all, just more uncomfortable than anything. I just feel pressure, and man I know this sounds stupid, but I realized it hurts more when I drive, and then I realized when I took my seat belt off, it didn't feel nearly as bad. I'm not sure what that means.

Anyway, I think the good news is that my brother is a doctor and a GI one at that, and he will not let me live with this if he can help it, so trust me, if and when I find out what the problem is, I will be sure to write in here and tell everyone. I hope it is nothing serious, and I hope the same for everyone else. We'll figure it out. God bless.

Wow. I didn't realize what a response I was going to get when I originally posted this message at the beginning of the year. By the way, I am APJ1, just I forgot my password and my old email does not work. Hence, the new name Terpfan.

I still have the same pain the in the same area that I talked about in my first post. The thing is I don't know if it is mental or what. The only thing on my blood test that was abnormally high was the GGT, but I was cleared for a nice life insurance policy. So, I guess things can't be all that bad, even though some days it feels like stabbing pains in my front and back. Still can't figure out the problem. I guess one of these days it will catch up with me and the doctors will say...OH THATS THE PROBLEM!

Anyways, glad to hear that I am not the only one with this situation in my lower right side. Hope everyone takes care.

TerpFan AKA: APJ1

Yes, I am still here. saw the first doctor i told about this three years ago and mentioned it again and he smiled and said, "oh, is that still bothering you?" and went right on to other issues. So there!

Thanks for asking mycatsmom.

I don't smoke, drink and don't think I have acidreflux.

I seem to think now lifting anything, even a watering can irritates this rib area. The feeling is right there as described above as something that should not be there that I would like to reach in and take out.

i guess we all need to relax and try to live with it. if it was going to kill us, some of us would be dead by now. (that is not meant to be funny).

Person who is going to write in when you find a cure...please do!!!!!! Thanks for your input and also that of your brother. Tell him to specialize in this and he could get rich. I would go to him.

good luck everyone! su

Isn't it strange that a vast majority of us have had this pain for less than 3 years ? Is it something that cures itself after let's say 3-4 years or is it something that just started to happen to people 2-3 years ago ????

see below



[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-26-2003).]

sjuhawks19:

Ulcers? Sounds like another stress related symtom. Ulcers, I understand, are treatable with antibotics. If you read all the stuff I cluttered the board with, the fact that you thought it was a cramp makes sense. Try to ask that GI pal of yours about cramping of the muscles around the rib cage. Being a specialist, he may not be willing to make any comments that don't deal with organs.


bjamiil:

I was thinking the same thing. All of these have been experiencing symptoms for up to 4 years.

Perhaps after the initial panic, after the doctors turn up nothing, after you alter a few habits and get better you quit caring about it.

Coming to a conclusion and and NOT getting freaked is certainly a cure. Stress is so underestimated/misunderstood that people won't even consider it as something that can cause physical illness.

After reading Dr. Stoll's explanation of the "Fight or Flight" mecchanism, I'm much less freaked out. Is the man a quack? Maybe. But his information worked for me.

Miss Baby:

Good. No drink, no smoke. Then these must be contributing factors for me. Do you ever feel like Alice in Wonderland? Running as fast as you can just to stay in one place? Shoot, I gotta pay that electric bill and write that exam before Friday!

Jack

I AM Alice! And I feel like I fell through the looking glass one day and got up with my side hurting. I see bottles that say "drink me" (antacids) and I do and I see cakes that say "eat me" and I do (tums) and I see pills that say "take me" (Gas-X and pain pills) and I do and then I am on a balance for a few hours where I can "make it" without running and screaming with the pain or ripping my side open to get it out. I walk around all day every day trying to act normal like I do not have this pain in my side.

I think this board is only about 3 or 4 years old and that is why all the complaints are of that age too. None of us had anywhere to complain till we found this boardd.

Misery loves company and I love all of you. Get well!

Here's one thing to consider. I think most of us think that everyone that has this problem doesn't either get cured or it never goes away. Think about how small of a percent of the population we are, there may be thousands of people out there who had the same symptoms, but they went away. So for anyone out there that thinks this will never go away, keep the faith. For every person on this discussion board that has had the pain for a few years, I bet there are hundreds that have had it and it's gone away. Just a positive thought on a Friday. Have a good weekend everyone.

ok, folks. One more of my unofficial conclusions:

It seems that most of us have the pain on the right. I have it on the right, and I also happen to be RIGHT HANDED, like most of the population.

Therefore: I'd guess that the tension in the rib muscles and joints are more likely to be irritated from lifting etc on the side which you use more.

I've even felt the pain smack in the center, ususally from certain foods. In this case acid reflux (chronic heartburn) is a more likely culprit (where's those rolaids, Alice!)

Jack

Take it or leave it!



[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-24-2003).]

Sjuhawks19:

Beware of specialists. I've been told that they often focus too much on a particular set of organs and may make an inappropriate diagnosis. A generalist who actually cares somewhat about his/her patients is a better bet, although they are hard to find.

It may be good to bring this up with your brother in a diplomatic way....

If you can't "relax" it away, if the doctors can find anything awful, perhaps a masseuse can uncramp it for you. What is there to lose? Fifty bucks not covered by insurance?

JF

[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-24-2003).]

Well i guess you can add me to the list of people feeling your pain. About 6 months ago i woke up with an unbelievable pain in my back/ribcage on my right side. Breathing was ridiculously painful. Went to an orthopedist who took an x-ray and saw nothing wrong. He said if it doesn't go away in a few days to see an internist. Thankfully it did go away, but not completely. I'm left with that dull ache/burning on my right side. Sometimes (like tonight) taking a deep breath gives me a sharp pain. I'm going for bloodwork and X-rays tomorrow, i'll let you all know the results.

Dear Nok:

If you read all the testimony on this board (equivalent of a short novel..) you'll find that the laboratory tests and X-ray will reveal nothing. The doctors rely on these tools to diagnose well-known illnesses. Thus far, Costochondritis is still rather obscure for that reason: it can't be observed on tests, so the doctors won't hazard to provide a concrete diagnosis (lawsuits).

Hope your test turns up normal. Good luck. Try sighing, stretching, massaging your ribs and heating the sore places with hot water in the shower. Sometimes I put the pillow under my back when I lie down so I can breath better and stretch the ribcage.

JF

One more person sharing the same distress... and it does amaze me how many people have the exact same conditions. My problem started in June after playing in a softball tournament... so I wonder if I didn't dive or something and dislodge some cartilige(sp). At first I went to my primary physician who gave me the typical (pulled muscle, maybe kidney or gall stones... but you're really too young yet for those... I'm 32). I told him that I was a heavy drinker for a long time (6-12 drinks a day for 8-10 years), I was thinking fatty liver, and coincidentally that day I played softball I had taken 2 5mg percocets for a case of tendinitis I was suffering from, along with drinking maybe 6 beers over the course of the day. I assumed I had pushed my liver too far but the doctor scoffed at the idea and told me that the liver doesn't produce pain... whatever! So here I am still having the same dull ache right at the bottom right rib... worse when sitting, sleeping facing down, or driving. It never hurts when I workout and I lift pretty heavy (squat 275 regularly), nor does it hurt when I am active, only when I am sedentary do I feel it. Very strange... but I am setting up all the tests you have all undergone... so I will update you all when the tests come back. Stay strong all you mystery sufferers.

One more person sharing the same distress... and it does amaze me how many people have the exact same conditions. My problem started in June after playing in a softball tournament... so I wonder if I didn't dive or something and dislodge some cartilige(sp). At first I went to my primary physician who gave me the typical (pulled muscle, maybe kidney or gall stones... but you're really too young yet for those... I'm 32). I told him that I was a heavy drinker for a long time (6-12 drinks a day for 8-10 years), I was thinking fatty liver, and coincidentally that day I played softball I had taken 2 5mg percocets for a case of tendinitis I was suffering from, along with drinking maybe 6 beers over the course of the day. I assumed I had pushed my liver too far but the doctor scoffed at the idea and told me that the liver doesn't produce pain... whatever! So here I am still having the same dull ache right at the bottom right rib... worse when sitting, sleeping facing down, or driving. It never hurts when I workout and I lift pretty heavy (squat 275 regularly), nor does it hurt when I am active, only when I am sedentary do I feel it. Very strange... but I am setting up all the tests you have all undergone... so I will update you all when the tests come back. Stay strong all you mystery sufferers.

Wow, some of you are describing me to a tee! For about two months I've been having that very same discomfort under my right ribcage. I also have noticed a small bulge on the right side (actually I noticed that before I felt any discomfort) which is what really freaked me out! I also feel it mainly when sitting down for long periods and almost never when I'm doing something active. Like a lot of you I'm tending to think it is stress related, as it doesn't seem to bother me on relaxing weekends or when my mind is on other things. But when it's there, it's definitely there! I went to the doctor last week and am waiting for the results on the blood/urine tests, so posting here under "no named pain" might be premature. But so far, the descriptions of what you all are feeling are the closest to what I'm going through that I've found. It's quite a relief to read all your posts and see that this may not be life-threatening (like I tend to worry about) as I wait the results of my tests! Thank you all for sharing and best of luck to you all!
PS.. This could be totally unrelated but JUST before I noticed this, I had a short-lived (two days) rash that the doctors couldn't explain either. I have NEVER had weird health problems before and since it came so close to this thing, I thought it might be related. Anybody in here notice anything like that?

Just out of curiuosity, does anyone else have any problems with their jaw? Mine cracks loudly about once an hour when i open my mouth wide. I have no idea if this is related to my other problems but i figured i'd ask.

I had this same sort of pain and I went to the Dr because of it. I thought it was probably my gall bladder. It turned out in the end to be adenomatosis of my liver.

Folks:

READ CAREFULLY:

I'm fairly convinced that we all suffer from a condition called Costochondritis. It is MYSTERIOUS since it comes and goes. It CAN NOT be diagnosed by X-ray, IVP, or any other concrete test. It's caused by constant cramping of the muscles and tendons and cartilage around our ribs. WHY?

Anyone has felt how STRESS causes your body to react.

EX: You're pulled over by a cop. You wait for the officer to come to you're window. Your guts are in knots, you whole body tightens.

What just happened? You're body is bracing itself for a confrontation. Totally natural. In our case, our rib cage muscles, often in the right, cramp and won't release.

Result? Constant "bracing" which causes the pain and even perhaps forcing a rib "out" to the point it is protruding.

Think about it. Try massage, heat, and relaxation. Eventually the cramp will loosen, just like a stiff neck. It works for me, I'm satisfied.

Good luck folks. And good luck with the doctors. Just try not to let them cut you up or get hooked on dope for no reason. Reply if my comments help you.

Jack
PS: I escaped death this evening by avoiding a head-on with a small dump truck pulling a trailer. Guess what hurts a bit 4 hours later...

[This message has been edited by ouch_in_NJ (edited 10-31-2003).]

Hey everyone

I'm new to this site and I'm really glad that I've found it. So here's the story- I'm 19 years old, and I'd say about this time last year I was doing crunches and I felt a sharp pain under my lowest right rib. At first I thought I had pulled a muscle or something so I stopped doing the crunches, and the pain went away after I relaxed for a bit. But then I would just randomly feel that same pain. I wouldn't say it happens often or is continuous, but I have noticed it happening repeatedly.

In fact, recently I was sitting on the kitchen floor helping my younger brother carve Halloween pumpkins and I got a pretty nasty pain that lasted longer than usual. Maybe it had to do with my posture?

I might notice it after slight activity or exertion and it doesn't matter if I'm sitting, standing, or lying down. It just happens, so I try to apply pressure and get comfortable, but I mostly just have to let it pass on its own.

I'm not a smoker, drinker, or non-healthy eater by habit, although junk food slips in on occassion- I'm a 19 year old college student, so I think we'd all agree that that's pretty much inevitable. I don't notice frequent heartburn or anything like that, and I've been told by my doctor at my last physical in August that I'm in good health, although, I really should stick to a set exercise program. I wouldn't say that I exercise as much as I should.

One other thing I noticed that I have in common with one of the other members (DonBiko86) is that I've lost about ten pounds around this time period. Just filling out and losing the last of the baby fat I guess. I'm about 128 now, give or take from day to day, but no big fluctuations since that loss.

So anyway, that's me. Same old inexplicable pain in my lower right ribs. My mother and boyfriend are getting worried because it just comes on and I basically just have to stay still and try to deal with it until it goes away.

I hope I haven't rambled on too much for any of you, and I look forward to hearing about anyone's developments. Good luck everyone, and I'm glad I found this board. Thanks for the time and support.

Just out of curiuosity, does anyone else have any problems with their jaw? Mine cracks loudly about once an hour when i open my mouth wide. I have no idea if this is related to my other problems but i figured i'd ask.

Nok,

I just posted my reply to all the rib pain complaints, and then I noticed yours about your jaw. Oddly enough, I too find that my jaw cracks an awful lot. I have kind of a double jointed jaw (I know, weird), and I would say it cracks about once an hour. Sometimes it can get a little painful. I doubt it's related to the rib pain, but I have an idea about something it might be. I'm a nursing student and last year I heard about a disorder called TMJ- Temporo Mandibular Joint Disorder. It may have a connection, so you might want to pull up some stuff online about it. Maybe your symptoms match up. I hope you can fix your problem.

Oh gosh I just read this whole thread.

I have suffered from this kind of pain since 1986 after the birth of my second baby.

I had many tests done back then all negative.

After three more babies and continued pain (directly under right rib, burning, and pulsating towards back) I still haven't found an anwer.

Three years ago it flared up really bad again. (13 years after the nagging pain first started) So I repeated the Utra-sound and other tests and added a colonoscopy) All normal again.

This has helped so much reading all this information.

I've pretty much decided it was a muscle thing as deducted by many on this board.

I have worried quite abit about it during these years, but all the tests come back normal.

I am 43, and with each baby (5 years ago being the last) it seemed to moved around. If I sit up really straight and watch my stress if goes away. When I slouch over it gets worse. I'm thinking my IBS might aggravate it too...don't really know.

I had no idea so many experienced this kind of rib pain.

I've never done a google search, but with all the information here, why do it.

Hi there, I have now been in pain for that last 2 days right under the right rib cage. It's that same feeling when you finish eating and your run you get a bad cramp, that's exactly what it feel's like and if I push on it or move side to side and even when i walk that's all I feel??? I have been drinking out of the norm lat;ey and I never used to so I am not sure if this is what could be , I do have gallstones but the pain I am getting people whoo have had gallstones tell me that's not your gall bladder? Did you ever have this pain, even if I take a big deep breath and exhale I still feel it.
Can you please give me some advise if you have any.

Thanks

Lulu, I would carefully read this whole thread.

Most of us with this pain have been checked for gallstones and gallbladder disease.

Most likely its a muscle spasm of some sort. At least for me I'm pretty sure it is. I've had it for so long off and on. When I get stressed or sit for long periods it seems to flare up.

Its a long thread, but will be worth your time.

Its a long thread, but will be worth your time.[/QUOTE]

Here I come to join the club. However my pain in on the left side and started in Aug 2003.

I still wonder if mine was induced by incorrect medications or just mysteriously happened as I have not had any physical accident.

Granted, I have been highly stressed taking medications unwilling.

It is now almost 2 weeks I was told I have costochondritis and I am thinking of trying Prolotherapy.

Have any of you tried Prolotherapy? Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, my first post here. Ditto to everything concerning the upper right pain. I have a few observations about mine and am wondering if anyone can relate. The pain is in the same location as most have stated.. right under the right side rib, but I have been experiencing additional 'anomalies' that seem connected. I guess ill bullet list them in order:

-Frequent urinating..often dark in color
-Flu-like symtoms..chills, etc.
-Feeling a heated sensation over entire body
-Dry, itchy skin and hair
-Feelings of nervousness and problems with concentration
-Sinus problems
-Fatigue
-Feeling achey
-Strange, bitter taste in mouth/sinuses
-Facial swelling/lips
-Jaw pains

These symptoms are not experienced all the time or all together but seem to come and go along with the right rib mystery. Also, while I have been experiencing these problems for several years now, the unsettling thing is my girlfriend is starting to experience the rib pains and other symptoms as well. We are sexually active in unprotected sex, which leads me to suspect something viral. We have both been tested for stds but are 'normal'..same as many of the other standard tests for this thing.
The fact