I’m just wondering if anyone suffers with an acute type pain under the ribs ?
It’s chronic as in it is there is some form all of the time but becomes worse at times - like now - which I am putting down to a change in the weather and my symptoms getting worse .
This pain was one of my first symptoms and I was originally diagnosed with functional abdominal pain or CAP after undergoing lots of scans / tests .
It not like IBS or bloating it feels like someone is stabbing me in the side underneath my ribs and can be so bad that sometimes it feels like I’m having. A heart attack ! Other times I would describe it as a dull annoying ache .
I have heard that of others with fibromyalgia having thi and just wondered if anyone wanted to share any similar experiences 😕
Many thanks 😊
Written by
PBMB
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi, yes I have something similar - chronic and present at some level all the time for many years, especially along the very bottom edge of rib cage and around the sternum, sometimes very much worse with sharp and stabbing pains (like the one which just hit me as I wrote that) and I also put this down to changes in weather (low pressure and wind especially). I think it is chronic costochondritis which is inflammation of the cartilage. Mast cell degranulation can be triggered by weather (certainly is for me) as well as lots of other things, and tryptase (one of the chemicals released) is cartilage degrading. Some research done on mice at Stanford says that this may be linked to osteoarthritis too ( med.stanford.edu/news/all-n.... May be a good idea to check it with your doctor, never wise to make assumptions especially with severe pain, but may be a line to consider investigating. I'd only just noticed your reply about having no moisture in your eyes and I do wonder if you've been properly checked for Sjogren's. Most doctors don't know much about it and dismiss it as just a nuisance sicca disease but it is far more than that, with links to fibro, small fibre neuropathy, neurological issues generally as well as lung, kidney, thyroid etc and mast cell dysregulation commonly travels with the pack. Best wishes
Hi, you are welcome and no rush! Feeling a bit rough myself so hope we both feel better soon!! I read a lot and some of it sticks - doesn't mean I know what to do about any of it and finding doctors who have time to also read a lot isn't so easy, but I persevere. If it is mast cells, more magnesium and vit C may help. Quercetin has been a gamechanger for me, but I still get those 'peaks' with weather (and MRIs!). Take it gently.
As you mention, costochondritis has been linked to fibro, but, as ever, one should be guided by your GP/specialist as to ascertaining the cause of the pain.
Unfortunately your link doesn't work for me, & I'm always open into looking into medical info further.
Sorry about the link, this is the second I've had this week which seems to be being altered by the HU redirect and failing to work. Getting irritating and I can't see what it is changing.
You could try pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/310... or else just search 'Stanford osteo mast cell' and you should find a result of 'Mast cells crucuial to causing osteoarthritis', from May 2019. Cheers
Hi, I'm not sure if I'm going to describe the same thing but my pain feels like a burning gnawing stabbing pain thats just above my belly button to my right side under ribs.
I've had an endoscopy and colonoscopy which showed nothing like an ulcer which i thought it could be.
I have never been told the reason for this pain and actually I didn't know it could be a symptom of fibromyalgia x
I would ask your doctor to check for gallstones, they appear just under the rib cage on the right and HURT, and foods cause flate ups (white bread is my nemesis), its an easy rule out after a scan
Today I spoke on the phone to my gastroenterology consultant, it was prebookeed as had polyps removed. Anyway she mentioned my blood test results and my liver ones are raised. I mentioned this pain and she has now ordered a Ct scan to check my organs .
Its been going on for a good few years and yes I've mentioned it many times. I had my gallbladder removed 10 years ago and its the same type of gnawing pain but it comes and goes. So i can feel it for 7 days then it will go for a few weeks and come back. Im completely no alcohol so its not that. I've always believed it was a stomach ulcer but the endoscopy only showed gastritis. The colonoscopy showed a 4.5cm rectal polyp and lots of little ones. Ive had the big one removed as was precancer and due to remove the others after Christmas.
I've had an ultrasound scan which showed a fatty liver and enlarged spleen. I will definitely let you know what the Ct scan shows x
Glad too see you have had some helpful replies, i am guessing you might have seen your doctor recently with this ? Occasionally I’ve moved and experienced chronic pain in the ribs but it goes off after a minute or so and I start too breath normally again, not sure why it happens ,hope your doctor can give you some answers, take care x
Hi. Yes!! I do also. Ive not heard of anyone else getting this until now. It was one of my1st symptoms. I do have IBS also but it is different and unrelated. Mine is on my left right inside under my ribs at the bottom ( I also have costochondritis)
Mine has eased off a lot since taking duloxetine and now remains as only a dull ache now.
mine is on the left too! I spent 3 days in hospital under the care of a surgeon while they ran every test possible and couldn’t find a cause. That’s what made me go to the GP about possible fibro in the end
Hi I suffered with pains in this area extremely painful ! Came n like an attack yes I thought heart attack etc. I let Thai go on for 4 years thinking it was liked to fibro!
Went to gp sent for scan and had to have my gallbladder out lots of stones, the scanner said to me have u had lots of attacks because I see how bad your gallbladder looks !! So go ask to get this checked do t out everything gown to fibro like I did. Xx
Im sorry to hear your having same problems as myself actually been up all night with it this is the 2nd time its happened in 4 weeks. My GP Diagnosed me with diviculitus gave me antibiotics. Now even worse so im certain its something to do with fibromyalgia. Its excruciating so know what your feeling hopefully we will both get some answers. Keep strong its just finding a lot more things linking to fibromyalgia heading so many. IBS is really bad cannot go far every week is a flare for me. Feeling the cold more is a problem for me to with having hyperthyroidism. Wishing you as much painfree as possible.
I get this pain under ribs and in my sternum. I have acid reflux, a hiatal hernia and gastritis. I was told it was the acid reflux and to take omeprazole. I also get a lot of nausea caused by acid reflux.
I have had this for the last week, i woke up in the middle of the night with severe pain just under my ribs on the right side, at first i wondered if it was a heart attack, but as it was so low down i ruled that out, then maybe appendix, but it was too high for that, so i decided that it had to be gall stones. i was scanned for something else back in about 2006, and was told that i had gall stones, although i had never had any problems with them. the severe pain lasted all through the night and the following morning, when it turned into a dull ache, if i bend or stretch for something i can still feel discomfort where the pain was.
Hi my ribs on both sides are always reallysore and my breastbone/sternum/ zyphoid process are really sore and tender, sometimes can't even lie on them in bed !! Also I go to bed and wake up feeling nauseous ! I also have dry eyes and keep querying Sjogrens with rheumy but get no further !! Its a minefield with no answers and no real solutions I fear. Keep chin up x
Firstly I am so happy to have found this forum to share experiences .
So I have been experiencing this since 2020 and it is always low down on my right hand side. I have been checked for gall stones As this was the original thought plus colonoscopy etc … and all clear .
The pain moves around a bit but is always in the same area and ranges from a dull ache to stopping in tracks pain .
Tbh I was happy with the CAP diagnosis as if fit with symptoms and neuropathic pain .
I did take amitripyline for a while - this really helped with the pain- but I was struggling with the side effects with getting up for work and looking after 2 young children . It was just wiping me out !
I have found that exercise helps .
I was just wondering if anyone else suffered with similar - and it turns out the answer is yes . Although it’s so hard to know the root cause of it all isn’t it .
My symptoms started shortly after my dad passed away at the end of 2019 and my gp/ gastro who diagnosed CAP thought this would have been a trigger for my neuropathic pain .
oh my god yes I have had this for ages have had 2 doctors examine me and they say it’s nothing I have another appointment on the 12th and I am hoping they will further investigate
hi no 2 doctors have felt the area and say well they can’t feel anything bad I am like well you cannot see what is going on inside but I feel like the last lady doctor I spoke to is going to properly look into this as it’s awful and the bottom of my ribs on left side to touch feel like they are bruised when I feel them but the stabbing pain that comes from nowhere literally feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife something isn’t right so really hoping I will get something done when I go on the 12th I will let you know
Hi, omg 😱 I thought i was the only one with this pain. Ive had lots of tests and scans and everything is normal, however like yourself I constantly have this dull ache and most of the time its so bad i am unable to get out of bed. Eating edibles is the only thing that helps with this ache..
Yes i’ve had all sorts of investigations but everything has come back clear 😞 now I am starting to think it might have something to do with the fibro.. my daily existence is miserable with this stomach pain
I also get this pain on the right-hand side, it really knocks me for six. I had my gallbladder removed in 2019 so I know it's not that. I had an Endoscopy a few weeks ago which showed large amounts of bile in my stomach, & Gastritis. The Endoscopist suggested my GP treated me with some medication to improve the flow of bile, however, at the moment I am still waiting for an appointment. 🤷♀️ Biopsies were taken I am still chasing the results for those as well.
I also had many of the above symptoms and it really hurts. I had my gallbladder removed, than stents placed in my bile ducts, still the pain persisted under ribs. Finally they saw a Duodenal Ulcer and it was partially blocking the exit of the CBD into the duodenum( this is the section between the empting of the stomach and the beging of your small intestines). The pain radiated under my ribs around my back as well as my sternum.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Sore ribs and breast
Ribs and back pain
Ribs and pain 
Recently found out I might have fibromyalgia 
