What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain Under The Rib Cage?

Posted on Tue, 9 Sep 2014

Question: Hey was wondering if you could help me im a 22 year old female, recently iv developed a light pain which gos from underneath the rib cage down to the lower part of my abdomen on the right hand side, with bouts of lower back pain.. occassuobaly I feel this pain in the upper stomach too, in general I feel well but this is making me feel concerned, im not in agonising pain but it is irritant.

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
investigations

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your query and previous history.
The kind of pain or discomfort you have mentioned is usually seen in various conditions like Gallstones, stomach inflammation or gastric ulcers.
But it is very difficult to comment right now without palpating the abdomen or investigations.

I suggest you to go for a ultrasound scan of abdomen and get back to me with reports. I will be happy to guide you with your problem.

You can contact me directly on my page http://bit.ly/DrGaurav
Wish you a good health.

Regards
Dr. G . Katiyar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (45 minutes later)

Many thanks I will pursue with an ultrasound scan, I did visit my gp but he didnt find a concern but yet im still having mild discomfort and now lower back pain, is this common in my age group??..should I be worried iv been stressing over this all week..struggling to get into see my dr as there fully booked for 2 weeks, I keep thinking iv got something very seriously wrong with me, in general my health is good.

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
don't take stress

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the follow up.
Yes, these type of problems are common at your age. If you over stress, it might lead to stress ulcers in abdomen and psychological problems. So it is better to avoid worries. Get to see your doctor for ultrasound abdomen.

I know that you are thinking of serious stuffs like having cancer. Cancer does not present only these symptoms and it is very uncommon at your age.

Hope I have answered you. You can close the discussion and rate the answer, if you don't have further query.
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (48 minutes later)

In all honesty yea I have been thinking the worst.. amd as I say its mild pain, it does not intefere with my sleep and stop me from doing day to day activities..supposing tgese are good signs?.. can I still take pain killers whilst w Aiting to see my gp?

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
not advised

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks again for the follow up.

As i mentioned earlier that there may be some gastric problems like ulcer or inflammations. Taking pain killers will aggravate these conditions. That is why it is not advised. If pain is more and you need pain killers, then take with proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole or pantoprazole.

It will better to get prescription from your GP. Don't get stressed and try to overcome hypochondria.

Hope I have answered you. You can close the discussion and rate the answer, if you don't have further query.
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (25 hours later)

Okay many thanks for your help.. I will not be taking any medications until iv seen my gp, iv noticed all of asudden that the pain has gone slightly from undwr the rib cage and now I just have some discomfort in my stomach the centre no pain.. any other possibilities, strangley yesterday I was pain free??.. strange.

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
investigations required

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks again for the follow up.
On and off pain is not a strange thing. All the conditions i have mentioned will cause this type of pain or discomfort initially.
Have you noticed that discomfort or pain increases on eating spicy or oily or when you are empty stomach for long?
If yes, then it may be because due to gastric problem and if it is just opposite then it may be due gall stones.

Get your investigations done and get back to me reports. I will be happy to help.

Hope I have answered you. You can close the discussion and rate the answer, if you don't have further query.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (1 hour later)

Yes I do tend to get this feeling on an empty stomach, its more like a stitch sensation, hard to describe...?

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
heartburn?

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome back to HCM.
As you have mentioned that it is more during empty stomach. Discomfort or pain is like heartburn or needle prick sensation over middle of upper abdomen. So it is more likely due to gastritis. Usually proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole daily before breakfast and antacid after meals is prescribed by me to my patients.

But ultrasound should be done to rule out the other causes. Avoid spicy foods and try to eats at regular interval. See your GP for prescription.

Hope I have answered you.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (6 hours later)

The stitch pain under the rib cage on the right side I still get occasionally. .could this all be part of gall stones etc..

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
can be

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks again for follow up.

Yes it can be due to liver, gall bladder or gastroduodenal problems. Clinical examinations and investigations will reveal actual pathology.

Hope I have answered your query and I feel that I will not be able to add any value by continuing this discussion so I request you to kindly close the discussion and post a new query if you have any additional conerns.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (5 days later)

Hello there thank you for your help from my prevuous question, since iur discussion I have seen my gp who thinks it could be gall bladder disease or gall stones, and hes referred me for an ultrasound, although my pain is minimal..I have noticed that below the breasts if I press down ir feels a bit lumpy bumpy around there, starting to concern me is it normal to have fatty lumps around there??..and im still worrying over my scan

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Wait for the reports

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome back to HCM and sorry for late reply.
I am glad that you went to GP for ultrasound.
The bumpy thing below breasts is fat and there is no need to worry about it. It is a normal thing. In slim persons it will be less and in fatty, it will be more.

Worrying over the scan will not change the reports to normal. So it is better to avoid thinking about it.

Get back to me with your reports. I will be happy to help.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
Email- YYYY@YYYY
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (2 hours later)

Okay I shall try to stay calm..im just concerned about these lumpy bumpy bits around my tummy I am slightly over weight so im assuming it is fat deposits?

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
fat deposits

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the follow up again.
I understand your concern. Yes, these might be fat deposits as you have said that you are overweight. If you can send me picture of the bump on my email, then i can tell you exactly. Email is mentioned below and in previous reply.
Once you get ultrasound report, do share with me.

Hope I have answered you.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar

For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (18 hours later)

Its not so much a bump its just a bit lumpy around the area under the breasts were the liver is and across and a bit lumpy bumpy around the tummy area.. no pain from there just lumpy bumpy, but yes I am over weight, the pain is minimal I am not getting it as often now but t is still coming in bouts during the day

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
fat

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the follow up.
Lump due to fat inside in that particular area is usually in horizontal position. You have confirmed it. It is due to fat. No need to worry about this.
Main thing is pain which occur intermittently. I hope your ultrasound report is prepared by now. Do share it when available.

Wish you good health

Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (2 hours later)

Well im still waiting for a letter to go for my scan, I know I shouldn't but we all do it.. could this be in anyway related to the pancreas??.. its just its always on the right side the lump is located around that area too

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
unlikely pancreatic cause

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the follow up.
It is unlikely related to pancreas like pancreatitis. Pain due to pancreatitis is usually at the middle and left side of abdomen. Pain due to this is unbearable and is aggravated by eating spicy or fatty diet. Pancreatitis occurs mostly in alcoholic persons.
On pressing the lump, if you don't feel pain then it is from inside. May be due to GB disease. In your case if lump is not felt by your GP, it can be diffuse lipoma which is again a harmless condition. Investigation will rule out everything and considering your age it cannot be what your are thinking.

Ultrasound will clear the doubt. Hope to get it soon.

Wish you good health

Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (17 hours later)

Okay thank you next time I get back to you will be with my results, I do find this pain shifting about a bit though seem ti be having a bit of discomfort in the middle now.. bit simillar to slight indigestion.

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
waiting

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the follow up.
Regarding pain, as i told before you can take proton pump inhibitor like pantoprazole with any antispasmodic. PPI should be taken before breakfast daily and antispasmodic can be taken when there is pain. Rest is waited till the reports come out.

Hope I have answered you. You can close the discussion and rate the answer, if you don't have further query.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (15 hours later)

Yes you have answered my questions now and I can close the discussion, apologies for hypochondria im just so fearful of this its like a stinging sensation, I know theres nothing more you can do now until the scan, thank you for your help.

Answered by Dr. Gaurav Katiyar (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need of apology

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There is no need of apology. We are here to guide you of your health problems. You can close the discussion and rate the answer, so that i can get good rating to help others. You can open it and ask the follow up.

Either you can leave your email or can contact me on my page mentioned below for further queries.

Wish you good health
Regards
Dr. Gaurav Katiyar
For further queries you can contact me directly on http://bit.ly/DrGaurav

Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari