Pain under lower left rib

[morgan2014]

Does anyone get an unexplained pain under their left ribs? I’ve undergone tests and x-rays, which are all normal. Hope you can help.

[Caroline888]

Hi morgan2014

I used to have pain under the left side of my rib cage between rib cage and hip bone. It was a stabbing pain. I finally came to the conclusion that it was a digestive issue. However, since being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and treated appropriately it no longer occurs but then I no longer suffer from the constipation I had at that time. Having an underactive thyroid also caused me to have bone pain generally and I suffered occasional pain in my ribcage which could be quite severe (costochondritis). This has improved greatly since taking levothyroxine. Could it be that you are undermedicated?

Hopefully you will find the answer soon.

Best wishes

Caroline

[morgan2014 in reply to Caroline888]

Thank you Caroline, I’m due to see my GP next month for my annual MOT, she will review my meds then. Hopefully resolve the situation.

[humanbean]

Have you had previous surgery in that area or anywhere near by? It could be scarring or adhesions. If you haven't then I'd agree with Caroline888 and it is likely to be caused by a digestive issue.

See the green thing in the picture in this link?

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...

That is the bowel / large intestine / colon - and it does a very sharp bend high up on the left hand side of the abdomen, where the Transverse Colon and the Descending Colon meet. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that is a bottle neck and a sore point for a lot of people with dodgy digestion.

Another possibility is diverticulitis or diverticulosis, perhaps? I've never really understood the difference between the two conditions, and I don't know anything about treating either of them, or how a diagnosis of these is arrived at.

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

It could also be a spleen or stomach issue :

i.ytimg.com/vi/RzrZSl6u9Y8/...

I know absolutely nothing about the spleen, and my knowledge of the stomach is very limited!

[morgan2014 in reply to humanbean]

No surgery, but I do take Omoperazole for acid reflux, and many years ago it was picked up during a virtual colonoscopy I had a small diverticula, that wasn’t causing any problems at that time. As I mentioned to Caroline, I’m due an MOT , will discuss all possibilities with her. Thank you for your reply.

[morgan2014 in reply to morgan2014]

Missed out GP back there.

[Caroline888 in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean

My mum had diverticulosis - this is when little pockets form at weak points in the intestinal tract (like the blowouts in a bicycle tyre). It is diagnosed by a colonoscopy. Diverticulitis is when these pockets become inflamed or infected, causing pain and fever. I understand that a suitable fibre-rich diet can avoid the inflammation in many cases.

Thank you for posting the diagram and for your description. I do think it illustrates perfectly that constipation could be a possible cause of pain below the ribcage.

Hope you are keeping well.

Best wishes

Caroline

[humanbean in reply to Caroline888]

Thanks for explaining the difference between diverticulitis and diverticulosis.

Glad you liked the picture.

[Redskinfan1977]

I have it also. I just went to a GI doc and he said it was my muscle. He has also scheduled an upper Endoscopy to be sure.

[humanbean in reply to Redskinfan1977]

Are you aware that an upper endoscopy goes no further than slightly beyond the stomach (into the duodenum, I think). If your problem is caused by your colon / bowel you would need a colonoscopy which looks at the gut from the bottom end, rather than from the top which is what an endoscopy does.

[Redskinfan1977 in reply to humanbean]

Yes I know

[morgan2014]

Thank you. I’m hoping it’s nothing serious, and an endoscopy whilst not pleasant may reveal any other cause.

[mourneadventurer]

Perhaps also consider a hiatus hernia?

[morgan2014 in reply to mourneadventurer]

Thank you, I’m wondering that too.

[mourneadventurer]

Dr Josh Axe has written a great article on this recently.

[morgan2014 in reply to mourneadventurer]

Thank you for the tip, going to look it up.

[mourneadventurer in reply to mourneadventurer]

You’re welcome 😄

[thyr01d]

Yes, I used to get a pain under my left lower ribs. It would come and then after a while go. Never mentioned it to doc but come to think of it I haven't had that pain for months and think this coincides with my thyroid meds being right.

[morgan2014 in reply to thyr01d]

I’m hoping it’s the balance of medication that needs reviewing. I shall mention the replies I’ve had from this site to my GP at my coming MOT. She’s pretty open for patients to manage their own condition with support. Thank you for your reply, feeling much happier.

[thyr01d in reply to morgan2014]

Very glad to read that you are feeling much happier since reading the replies people have sent, good luck!

[morgan2014 in reply to thyr01d]

Thank you, the support I’ve received on this site has been very comforting.