Hi guys,
So I wanted to post this because after trying diagnose myself through the internet, I noticed that this problem is more common than one would think. So let me start with day one.
In mid May, I got a really bad cramp in the left side of my abdomen below the rib cage. The cramp was so bad that I was basically in bed rest for the rest of the night, unable to get up from my bed. I didn't think anything of it so I decided to sleep it off. The next morning that same area felt like it had a really bad bruise. Days went by and this bruise feeling did not go away. After a week in a half of no improvements I became worried. The pain was fluctuating between soreness, burning sensations, and sharp pains. I did want to point out that this pain would go away when I was active or standing up. Also, the pain was more intense in the evenings after getting home from work (I have a desk job btw). It was when I was sitting down that the pain would bother me. At first I thought it was kidney stones. I started taking supplements to help pass them but after a CT scan (done in beginning of July) everything came out clean. After, I decided to give it some more days since my doctor told me maybe I passed them already or they were too small to see with CT scan. Days went by and nothing was getting better. I went to a new doctor towards the end of July since I felt that my previous doctor was no help and not pursuing other options for this issue I had. The new doctor asked me to get another CT scan done but with Contrast this time and also blood work. Everything came out clean. At his point the doctor said to rule out kidney stones or anything serious. That's when I was sent to a Gastro specialist. Now we are around late August. The specialist was no help either, had no idea what I was talking about when I explained my symptoms. He gave me some medicine to help with stomach acid fluctuation thinking that might be the issue. After weeks of taking the medicine there were no changes. At this point I felt desperate because I felt that I was going nowhere and this pain was lowering my quality of life and making work miserable for me. Towards the end of September the pain for some reason shifted from my abdomen to my back. The next step from the specialist was an endoscopy but I decided to pursue other options since the pain changed and didn't want to pay for an expensive procedure. And I do want to mention that occasionally through those past months I would feel light pain on my back parallel to the area that I was having pain on my front. This time the pain was more on my back than my front. So I decided to go to a Chiropractor to check me out. To my surprise the Chiropractor knew what I was talking about when I explained my symptoms. He told me that the initial cramp came from a muscle that is connected to my abdomen and wraps around to my back which is the reason the pains were parallel to each other. I have gained weight the past 2 years and haven't been much active that could have contributed to this issue. Anyways, after some adjustments and physical therapy it has been improving! There's no more pain on my front and now it's mostly on my back. The intensity and frequency of the pains have gone down. Currently I am still in treatment but finally feel relieved to have answers and to see improvements.
Hopefully anybody going through the same situation finds this thread and can use this information to help themselves. Many doctors won't pursue other means to find a diagnosis so sometimes you just have to take it upon yourself to figure out what is wrong with you.
Good luck!! If you have any questions let me know!
I forgot to mention that I am a 24 year old male.
Sorry bout that!
Well thanks for all this information! This was the first description I have found online that matched my pain. I'm 38 and female. Still hoping it's nothing serious. Hope you feel better!
Hi,
Thanks for you valuable info. Can you let me know wat other symptoms u faced like pain during cough or sneeze. Also wat type of physiotherapy or exercise u did to get relieved from this pain. Please share those information.
Thanks so much. I have a cough and this makes sense to me. I recently broke my back and still have much pain. I know the chiro will give me the right direction.
Thank you
I literally made an account just to thank you. The symptoms you described sound awfully similar to mine. Like EVERY single symptom. This gives me so much hope. Doctors have no idea and some forums/sites will make you go crazy thinking it’s something much worse. Hopefully it’s just a muscle issue like yours and not worse. And for others, ....I’m a healthy 23y/o male who exercises regularly. Thanks again Arizonaguy 🙏🏽
Hi,
I am experiencing exactly the same symptoms, and I am really worried about it, I have had an ultrasound scan that revealed I have a cyst on my left kidney, but they weren't concerned about that, !!! They said it was common. I am a 57 year old woman, I don't drink , smoke, could do with losing some weight though !! I have gained about 2 stone in the last 3 years, but Im still a size 12. I also experience it the right side too, the doctor prescribed Omeprazole, (which is for acid reflux , which I have never suffered from in my life and still do not suffer from). I just don't know where to go from here, so When I saw your post I felt a bit of relief !! The doctors don't seem to be really interested, which I find alarming, I have never experienced any thing like this in my life. This morning I had really bad back pain, but it was higher up than my left kidney, although I have had it what seemed parallel to my left front, it seemed to be between my shoulder blades. I' m not really that active, I am going to get in touch with a Chiropractor to see if they diagnose these symptoms, I will let you know how I get on.
I can see you posted this 4 months ago, how are your symptoms now ?
I have been suffering similar symptoms for years, with ultra sound scans and numerous endoscopy proving fruitless! I've been convinced however that the root of the problem was digestive rather than muscular, did you suffer any pain or in particular a burning sensation under the left rib when eating?
Hi everyone. I have the same thing. I had been drinking more than normal but I am 50 slightly over weight but reasonably fit. I have a scan Friday. Quite worried and the GP is in the dark.
Hi Arizonaguy,
I went to see my GP before the chiro and she told me it must be a pulled muscle from coughing. As I am on pain medication for my back which did not work for the pain in my lower left side, she gave me a topical cream like Voltaren but has a higher level of whatever works in the ointment, it has steroids in it. you can only get it through a prescription. I had my hub rub it into the front and back of where the pain was and the fourth morning I woke up and the pain was gone to my relief. I had made a chiro appointment which, i canceled. Please try this before anything else. Seems simple for the amount of pain I was in but it restored me to get on with my life.
Wishing everyone safe healing.
Cots
For anyone suffering this way, please try this before you do anything else going forward.
Hi I just read your post and I think I'm having the same issues. About a week ago I started with pain under the rib cage on the left side under my breast. It was bad enough where I went to the ER and they did an CT scan with contrast. Blood work. Everything came back fine. Went home and the next morning it was worse. Went back to the ER. Then they did an x-ray thinking it could be something else. That came back fine and they sent me home. I made a follow-up appointment with my primary care physician but what they ended up doing was calling me and triaging my phone call over the phone. They said there was nothing my doctor could do since all the tests he would run we're already ran. It's been about a week now and I still have the pain and I am now having a burning sensation. They told me to stop the heating pad and to watch out for a rash. Which could be shingles apparently. I don't feel that's the case. I do sometimes feel the pain parallel to the back but still most of the pain is in the front. Wondering if it could be the muscle. I called the doctor's office again today and they have not prescribed me a muscle relaxant. Wondering if I should try CBD oil? Help?
Oh sorry and I also wanted to say it hurts really bad to cough bend over and sine of my other ADLs.
Hi there’s I been having the same symptoms as you I just want to know how you doing can you give us a update and how you feeling
Hey! Please tell me what kind of adjustments and what kind of physical therapy you did?
I hope you're better.
Im definitely not, I can't even exercise...
Reading everything else about this on the internet makes me very scared...
Was treated for diverticulitis but now the pain has moved from front to back to the left lower ribcage in the left of my back and twisting don't help thought about chiropractor
The pain I have at bottom of left rib is EXACTLY like the pain I had with shingles which were around that same area. I believe it's perm nerve pain from the Shingles. It feels like a very bad cramp or a Charlie horse .
Did any of you have shingles in that area?
Hi
yes my burning sensation does seem to trigger after eating . Not always though and it can also move to the other side my right side but always just under the rib cage . Still baffled by what it may be .
Hi
I have never had shingles or anything like that . My bloods have come back as normal and I do think it occurs after eating too . I have stopped drinking Fanta orange which sounds weird as I drink Fanta zero . Stopped drinking that now and just drink either still flavoured water or Squash diluted with water . I still get the burning sensation after eating foods but am now using a diary to note what I think triggers the burning . The doctors really do not seem interested in the uk and look at you as if you have two heads when describing this burning ! My doctor has said it could be muscle spasms ! I think not . Anyone got any other ideas on what it could be ?
This sounds very similar to my situation! I’m only an 18yr old female and I’ve had this problem for 2 or so weeks. I went to ER because I straight away thought heart, had chest X-ray, blood work and ECG and all was clear and fine! My pain was underneath my left breast and it would change from Sharp and then burning and dull and it would radiate around my side and upper back. I went to physio and she said that it was a muscle in my back towards my underarm that was causing it. She fiddled with it and now the sharp pain is gone, it’s still there but no where near as bad! Hopefully this helps 
Mine also hurt more when doing certain movements or even coughing and deep breathing.