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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Intermittent Pain Under The Rib Cage?

i am having an intermittent stabbing pain under my right ribs that moves from the side to my back and feels like it pops almost. The pain starts dull and feels hot but then stabs and causes me to feel like I could cry but goes away for an hour or so until it returns again. I did not have any blunt force trauma or injury that I am aware of. This happened once before about 3 months ago and lasted off an on for about a week at which time I changed my work out routine at the gym to less abdominal exercises as this seemed to cause the pain to be worse. Is this a rib separation possible? any thing I can do?
Fri, 31 Jan 2020
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi,

Noted your history about having pain under the right rib case that does on to back, is intermittent, has similar pains 3 months ago.
The commonest causes I can think about are as follows:
Nerve pinching at the back with referred pain to the area under right rib cage.
Herpes neuropathy.
Costochondritis.
This can be diagnosed by the following ways:
Consult a Doctor for a proper clinical evaluation, examination so that a proper cause can be defined. This will help to get proper investigations done which in turn helps proper management.
You will looked for local tenderness, tenderness at the back in thoracic area.
MRI of spine at thoracic level if needed should be done.
Take an anti-inflammatory medicine like Ibuprofen if it suits you.
Hot water fomentation.
Local Rubefacient liniment.
Rest also helps in avoiding instigation in any form.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. T. Chandrakant, General Surgeon
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What Causes Intermittent Pain Under The Rib Cage?

Hi, Noted your history about having pain under the right rib case that does on to back, is intermittent, has similar pains 3 months ago. The commonest causes I can think about are as follows: Nerve pinching at the back with referred pain to the area under right rib cage. Herpes neuropathy. Costochondritis. This can be diagnosed by the following ways: Consult a Doctor for a proper clinical evaluation, examination so that a proper cause can be defined. This will help to get proper investigations done which in turn helps proper management. You will looked for local tenderness, tenderness at the back in thoracic area. MRI of spine at thoracic level if needed should be done. Take an anti-inflammatory medicine like Ibuprofen if it suits you. Hot water fomentation. Local Rubefacient liniment. Rest also helps in avoiding instigation in any form. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. T. Chandrakant, General Surgeon