Left side upper rib area pain

Chest and lungs
1

Hi everybody, im a 22 year old male, within healthy weight for my height, and I am a smoker.

I get this pain behind a rib on my left side. The rib just below my nipple and the pain seems to be localized more to the center of my chest.

I'm not worried it's my heart as its very unlikely and i've had ECG/X-ray's around 6 months ago. All fine.

However, this pain has been fairly consistant for the past 4/5 months. It's a pressure feeling that can sometimes cause alot of discomfort and can radiate around my side and to my back. Sometimes a stabbing pain towards the center of my chest. I am concerned it could be a stomach problem or a spleen problem as my mothers side of the family have a history of enlarged spleen. I would have thought they would have found that in the x-ray 6 months ago?

Other things I think may be causing this pain is: pancreas problems, stomach issues, rib problems.

Any ideas anybody? Thanks

2

Hello jayDee

It could be a stomach problem, I have had gastitis due to having a hiatas hernia and it can cause pain in the central area through to back. Do you suffer heartburn at all? I would advise an endoscopy if it is persistant as that could determine a stomach issue plus you could rule out ulcers

3

Thanks for the reply, I dont suffer heartburn, i get acid reflux every now and then though. I will speak to my doctor about it, they are just so easy to shrug of problems i may be having though usually as they say im too young to have anything too wrong with me. But of course 22 years old is possible to have problems haha. I will speak to them anyway, thanks alot

4

Yes theres no harm in asking for an endoscopy, its a good way to see if you have a stomach problem etc instead of the doctors telling you what they think it is. Hope all goes well