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Hi. I'm Having Sharp Pains In My Ribs Under My
Question: Hi. I'm having sharp pains in my ribs under my breasts. It feels like a stabbing pain that makes it hard to breath or move. The pain is so intense my body gets hot, even my head. I feel a lot of pressure in my upper abdomen also. When I bend over it feels like I'm squishing a balloon in the middle of my chest, like an adjusting buldge?. My bowel movements are not normal, but I'm not constipated. I did have green stool for a week last week while eating nothing green. Also I've had cramps for 3 months now. Seen a dr and had a pap and blood work 2 months ago but everything came back normal? I don't know if I should go to the ER or a walk in clinic? The pain in my ribs has been going on for 2 years now and getting worse, happens for no reason. I'm mentaly disabled with agoraphobia. I have no one , no support.
Brief Answer:
Can be hiatus hernia or may need endoscopy or CT chest and abdomen
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Ask a doctor forum. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all it's sad to know what you had been going through lately.
Based on the history you have shared, the kind of symptoms you have mentioned needs to be worked up thoroughly, with a baseline chest X-ray and an EKG.
As the origin of pain under the ribs on both sides is either from diaphragm, or from stomach or intestines but bases of lungs pathologies and rarely cardiac or intrathoracic pathologies should be ruled out with baseline investigations like X-ray chest and EKG and a detailed local examination including both cardiac and chest examinations.
If both are unremarkable, CT chest and endoscopy may be needed to see any stomach related issues like peptic ulcer disease or inflammation like gastritis. Meanwhile OTC analgesics like acetaminophen alongwith muscle relaxants like tizanidine or orphenidine may be helpful. Antacids like omerperazole before meals may be needed alongside. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Regards
Can be hiatus hernia or may need endoscopy or CT chest and abdomen
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Ask a doctor forum. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all it's sad to know what you had been going through lately.
Based on the history you have shared, the kind of symptoms you have mentioned needs to be worked up thoroughly, with a baseline chest X-ray and an EKG.
As the origin of pain under the ribs on both sides is either from diaphragm, or from stomach or intestines but bases of lungs pathologies and rarely cardiac or intrathoracic pathologies should be ruled out with baseline investigations like X-ray chest and EKG and a detailed local examination including both cardiac and chest examinations.
If both are unremarkable, CT chest and endoscopy may be needed to see any stomach related issues like peptic ulcer disease or inflammation like gastritis. Meanwhile OTC analgesics like acetaminophen alongwith muscle relaxants like tizanidine or orphenidine may be helpful. Antacids like omerperazole before meals may be needed alongside. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thank you. Would you recommend an ER visit or just schedule a regular appointment with a family Dr.?
Brief Answer:
You can do a routine follow up visit
Detailed Answer:
Hi! If it's a chronic problem and doesn't give you acute or emergent need to seek a medical care or is not interfering with your daily routine you may take OTC treatment as discussed and seek a routine visit but if otherwise for injectable pain killers and antacids, ER visit may be needed. Regards
You can do a routine follow up visit
Detailed Answer:
Hi! If it's a chronic problem and doesn't give you acute or emergent need to seek a medical care or is not interfering with your daily routine you may take OTC treatment as discussed and seek a routine visit but if otherwise for injectable pain killers and antacids, ER visit may be needed. Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Hi. thank you for your advice. I had a episode this morning while sitting down on my bed. so I decided to go to the ER. The dr made me decide if it was rib pain or abdominal pain. I told him both, but there was more pain with my ribs in the physical exam. he did a ekg and chest x ray and said it looked normal. they gave me a shot for a muscle relaxer and a shot for inflammation and gave me naproxen scrip and told me to come back if I have the symptoms I explained I was having? and follow up with a primary. my ribs are still sore and my abdomen is still buldgy. I'm still uncomfortable. also the dr made me feel like it was non emergent and the experience was not good. I felt like I was looked at like I was there for drugs? and with my mental disability it's hard to communicate. why would they not do a ct on my chest and abdomen? should I go back? I have a very limited income and the visit alone was 110 so far.
Brief Answer:
After emergency treatment such investigations are suggested on follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for the detailed feedback of the visit. In emergency they are supposed to give you emergency treatment and evaluate if you have any dangerous signs of acute illnesses which may complicate your health instantly that's why investigations like chest X-ray and EKG were done on priority and any acute emergency is ruled out.
Now if you feel better with routine pain killers or muscle relaxants gradually, you wouldn't need any further work up but if symptoms persist routine follow up with specialist for further evaluation like on CT scan and endoscopy if needed, may be needed. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Regards
After emergency treatment such investigations are suggested on follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for the detailed feedback of the visit. In emergency they are supposed to give you emergency treatment and evaluate if you have any dangerous signs of acute illnesses which may complicate your health instantly that's why investigations like chest X-ray and EKG were done on priority and any acute emergency is ruled out.
Now if you feel better with routine pain killers or muscle relaxants gradually, you wouldn't need any further work up but if symptoms persist routine follow up with specialist for further evaluation like on CT scan and endoscopy if needed, may be needed. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Regards
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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