Forgive me if this is absolutely ridiculous as a question, as I am aware that it could just be a stitch (!) but has anyone else experienced sharp stabbing pains under their rib cages when exercising over the liver area? I'm fairly fit and run/exercise regularly, but have found recently I am suffering from pain fairly regularly now.
I've been referred to a hepatologist as my LFTs have come back elevated for the past four months but didn't experience these pains before I became aware of a possible 'issue'. Perhaps this is psychosomatic?
Written by
Louisa18
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Psychosomatic or not, you are experiencing pain and this is the body's way of telling you something is wrong. Mention it to your GP in the first instance and it may be enough of an alert for a further referral to the hepatologist. Mike
Hi Louisa, If you have swollen organs then, on bending etc. your ribs may dig in to areas that they didn't before. As an example,, I have a very swollen spleen (distends about 10cm below the ribs) and when I bend "wrongly" it gets pushed by the bottom of the ribs and, though not a sharp pain, a definite discomfort is apparent. As Mike says, pain is the body's way of saying there's something wrong so see the quack! Good luck Phil
My GP has been amazing these past few months and been very proactive, but my first appointment with a heptalogist is at the end of April, so I will mention it then. I just didn't want to embarrass myself by mentioning it and for them to say that it was only a stitch!
I have been having a stitch like pain for ages on right side under ribs that comes and goes but is recently extremely painful. I keep getting told it myust be gall bladder but there are no issues besides and enlarged bile duct suggesting I perhaps passed a gall stone but not explaining ongoing worsening pain that is quite debilitating. I'm overweight (size 16) but now struggle to exercise as the pain gets unbearable. Ultrasound showed fatty liver but doctor said this is generally not symptomatic. However, in desperation after months of tests and brush offs by doctor, I turned to google. Look up stitch pain right side on google and you'll find a load of people that have been through countless tests and suffered tremendous pain forcing time off work, trips to A&E, very strong painkillers etc. This does seem to be related to fatty liver disease and potentially inflammation. I'd stress I'm not a doctor but the forums seem to suggest that a change in diet, no alcohol and avoiding sugar particularly is helpful along with complementary therapies not endorsed here. I'm noting everything I eat and drink and exercising as much as I can bear and I've noticed that sugar seems to be a real trigger - honey and fruit are fine strangely. Be careful what you take in terms of supplements too as a family friend damaged her liver severely with diet and health supplements when she was younger and had to have a transplant.
I have to echo Candice's statement here. I have been looking online for symptoms you have mentioned Louisa18 and I am in the same boat, so heres my take on this...
I am a man in my mid 30's and have had upper right quadrant abdominal pain for a while now. The GP/Doctor prescribed me Omeprazole (proton inhibitor) based on my explanation of my symptoms to suppress the amount of acid the stomach creates. This is used to resolve acid reflux/GERD. I was also sent for an Ultrasound and thankfully, no gall stones but did find the start of Fatty liver. I am not a massive drinker but I used to binge a lot in my 20's. I do however have a sweet tooth and gorge on chocs and sweets including bakery products (cookies etc) without a care in the world. I still exercised and am only slightly above the required BMI.
My take on this, is that the the fatty liver was caused by a combination of my long term alcohol binging but primarily from my consumption of sugars in its varied forms. My aim is now to cut out sugar as much as I can and follow a healthy low carb diet, eating leafy greens, meat and some good fats (avocado, nuts etc). Remember that carbohydrates essentially turn into sugar in the body, so things like bread, buns, pastry all contribute to the sugar levels in your body - I am trying hard to cut these out. I have also cut out the alcohol (apart from a controlled tipple on occasion).
I am finding it a struggle to exercise at the moment as my liver area is painful and takes my breath away when I do any cardio, meaning I have to take long breaks in between to gather myself. I am hoping this will improve over time but shouldn't expect results overnight and will keep at it.
For me this is a lesson in how important the Liver is and how we should all be doing our best to look after it.
Can l ask did either of you get to the bottom of this? I have the same pain. Under right ribs over liver area. Ultra sound cleaf chest on 29th then to muscular skeletal clinic. But pain takes my breath away its so bad. Only when I'm upright. It burns and stabs?
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