Suggest Remedy For Pain In The Rib Area That Radiates To The Back

Posted on Wed, 29 Apr 2015

Question: I have been experiencing pain in my upper rib area under my heart for about two months now. It sometimes radiates to my back. It always seems to occur when I walk (i.e. go to the grocery store, walk a distance to my car in a parking lot, etc..It will then continue to hurt even after I sit down. It is not painful to the touch. It started to hurt when I started experiencing some back pain on my lower right side below my waist line. This pain has largely resolved but the left sided pain has not.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
drug induced gastritis likely

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and I understand your concern. Pain in upper abdominal quadrant is always considered as chest pain. Pain exacerbating on exertion is always looked up for ecg and cardiac perfusion studies like echo.

Once that come clear other possibilities are benign and easily manageable. With history of back pain to must have took pain killers NSAIDS for that and this pain could then likely be drug induced gastritis. Stomach inflammation can present this way with pain epigastrium and referring to back. It could involve nearby gallbladder or pancrease too.

So next step after cardiac studies would be to rule out pancreatic or gallbladder involvement by an ultrasound and some blood workup for amylase and lipase levels and liver functions.

All you would need is some antacids and some diet and lifestyle modifications and avoidance of NSAIDS and some muscle relaxants.

I hope it helps. Consult your doctor as our advice is just for education purposes only.

Take good care of yourself and don't forget to close the discussion please.

Regards
Khan

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar