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I Have Been Having Sharp, Stabbing Pain In My Back
Question: I have been having sharp, stabbing pain in my back and right under my left ribs. Most of the time it is just a dull ache, but then all of a sudden it feels like a knife.
Brief Answer:
Pancreatitis or stomach ulcer possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
There are several conditions that can cause this pain in left side just under ribcage. I want some more details about it in order to judge it. I want to know if it is more intense before eating, fasting or after a meal.
Are there any certain foods that can make it worse. Have you recently done an abdominal ultrasound?
I think the pain that you are having may be related to stomach, duodenal ulcer or pancreatitis.
You have to do an abdominal ultrasound, pancreatic enzymes test, helicobacter pylori test and biochemical blood balance.
You can send the tests to me for interpretation.
Hope I answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Pancreatitis or stomach ulcer possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
There are several conditions that can cause this pain in left side just under ribcage. I want some more details about it in order to judge it. I want to know if it is more intense before eating, fasting or after a meal.
Are there any certain foods that can make it worse. Have you recently done an abdominal ultrasound?
I think the pain that you are having may be related to stomach, duodenal ulcer or pancreatitis.
You have to do an abdominal ultrasound, pancreatic enzymes test, helicobacter pylori test and biochemical blood balance.
You can send the tests to me for interpretation.
Hope I answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Sometimes the pain happens after I eat, sometimes in the middle of the night. There isn't any specific times that it happens.
I will ask my Doctor if I can get these tests done.
Thank you
I will ask my Doctor if I can get these tests done.
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Please follow up with the tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
Proceeding with some tests is necessary in order to find the origin of the pain.
Please follow up with the tests.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Best regards.
Please follow up with the tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
Proceeding with some tests is necessary in order to find the origin of the pain.
Please follow up with the tests.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I did have the following done a couple of years ago.
Study Result
Narrative
CT ABDOMEN AND PELVIS WITH CONTRAST:
History: Left upper quadrant pain
Comparison: None.
Technique: Contiguous helical images acquired from the top of the
liver to the pubic symphysis following the administration of oral and
intravenous contrast. 80 ml of Omnipaque 300 were given IV.
Reconstructions were performed in the coronal and sagittal planes.
Automated Sure Exposure was utilized to reduce the radiation dose to
the patient.
Findings:
The imaged lung bases are clear bilaterally.
In the abdomen and pelvis, the liver demonstrates no focal
abnormalities. No intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary duct dilatation
is noted. There are postoperative changes of prior cholecystectomy.
The spleen is normal in appearance. The pancreas appears within normal
limits without evidence of pancreatic ductal dilatation. The adrenal
glands are normal bilaterally. The kidneys are normal in appearance
without evidence of hydronephrosis or hydroureter.
The appendix is visualized and is unremarkable. The bowel demonstrates
no evidence of obstruction.
Urinary bladder is unremarkable. There is no lymphadenopathy in the
abdomen or pelvis. There are scattered areas of calcification
involving the abdominal aorta.
The osseous structures are unremarkable.
There is a peritoneal shunt catheter entering the right abdominal wall
and terminating in the lower pelvis. No evidence of fluid collection
is detected. There is a small amount of free fluid in the pelvis,
which is nonspecific. No inflammation of the peritoneal lining is
noted.
IMPRESSION:
No acute of the malleus seen in the abdomen or pelvis.
There is a peritoneal catheter which terminates in the pelvis without
evidence of associated fluid collection.
Small amount of free fluid in the pelvis, which is nonspecific. There
is no evidence of peritoneal inflammation or drainable fluid
collection
Study Result
Narrative
CT ABDOMEN AND PELVIS WITH CONTRAST:
History: Left upper quadrant pain
Comparison: None.
Technique: Contiguous helical images acquired from the top of the
liver to the pubic symphysis following the administration of oral and
intravenous contrast. 80 ml of Omnipaque 300 were given IV.
Reconstructions were performed in the coronal and sagittal planes.
Automated Sure Exposure was utilized to reduce the radiation dose to
the patient.
Findings:
The imaged lung bases are clear bilaterally.
In the abdomen and pelvis, the liver demonstrates no focal
abnormalities. No intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary duct dilatation
is noted. There are postoperative changes of prior cholecystectomy.
The spleen is normal in appearance. The pancreas appears within normal
limits without evidence of pancreatic ductal dilatation. The adrenal
glands are normal bilaterally. The kidneys are normal in appearance
without evidence of hydronephrosis or hydroureter.
The appendix is visualized and is unremarkable. The bowel demonstrates
no evidence of obstruction.
Urinary bladder is unremarkable. There is no lymphadenopathy in the
abdomen or pelvis. There are scattered areas of calcification
involving the abdominal aorta.
The osseous structures are unremarkable.
There is a peritoneal shunt catheter entering the right abdominal wall
and terminating in the lower pelvis. No evidence of fluid collection
is detected. There is a small amount of free fluid in the pelvis,
which is nonspecific. No inflammation of the peritoneal lining is
noted.
IMPRESSION:
No acute of the malleus seen in the abdomen or pelvis.
There is a peritoneal catheter which terminates in the pelvis without
evidence of associated fluid collection.
Small amount of free fluid in the pelvis, which is nonspecific. There
is no evidence of peritoneal inflammation or drainable fluid
collection
Brief Answer:
The CT scan has normal results.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, I carefully read your follow up and it is the report of CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast and everything is normal or within normal range.
There are no pathologies at all but taking count that the CT scan is done years before there may have happened changes recently.
You may need to repeat the abdominal ultrasound, total blood count and biochemical blood balance.
You can upload the results for me to see them and give an opinion.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Best regards.
The CT scan has normal results.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, I carefully read your follow up and it is the report of CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast and everything is normal or within normal range.
There are no pathologies at all but taking count that the CT scan is done years before there may have happened changes recently.
You may need to repeat the abdominal ultrasound, total blood count and biochemical blood balance.
You can upload the results for me to see them and give an opinion.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Best regards.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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