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Abdominal upper right quadrant pain, just below ribs
Hi,
I too have upper right quad pain just below my ribs. I am a male, 46yrs old 6ft and weigh 175 lbs. My pain comes and goes and has for about 6 months. It is not severe pain, but at times is more annoying than anything. It feels like there is something in there pinching me. I went to an internal med MD in July. He ran blood tests that all came back fine. He sent me to have an abdominal ultrasound which showed only "healthy" organs. No dilated bile duct, no gall stones, liver enzymes were in normal range. It is 4 months later and the pain is still happening. When I sit, or bend at the waist, I can feel the pain. It is not a deep, internal pain, but seems close to the surface, just to the right of that little cartlidge/bone that splits the rib cage...just to the right of the stomach. What the heck could it be? My MD put me on Nexium, thinking maybe it is peptic in nature, but 60 days of Nexium and still the pain persists. I am freaking out because my dad passed away this past March due to a rare appendix cancer (pseudomixoma peritonei) that several MD's could not find, nor diagnose properly once they found it, another story in itself...so you know how the paranoia sets in. I don't have a lot of faith in MD's right now. Anyone out there have any input? Can the liver be screwed up for this long and still avoid being detected? Can inflamation be detected by ultrasound? It feels like it's burning, not like heartburn, but a firey sensation...hard to describe. Someone, please help me settle my fly away brain...thanks.
I too have upper right quad pain just below my ribs. I am a male, 46yrs old 6ft and weigh 175 lbs. My pain comes and goes and has for about 6 months. It is not severe pain, but at times is more annoying than anything. It feels like there is something in there pinching me. I went to an internal med MD in July. He ran blood tests that all came back fine. He sent me to have an abdominal ultrasound which showed only "healthy" organs. No dilated bile duct, no gall stones, liver enzymes were in normal range. It is 4 months later and the pain is still happening. When I sit, or bend at the waist, I can feel the pain. It is not a deep, internal pain, but seems close to the surface, just to the right of that little cartlidge/bone that splits the rib cage...just to the right of the stomach. What the heck could it be? My MD put me on Nexium, thinking maybe it is peptic in nature, but 60 days of Nexium and still the pain persists. I am freaking out because my dad passed away this past March due to a rare appendix cancer (pseudomixoma peritonei) that several MD's could not find, nor diagnose properly once they found it, another story in itself...so you know how the paranoia sets in. I don't have a lot of faith in MD's right now. Anyone out there have any input? Can the liver be screwed up for this long and still avoid being detected? Can inflamation be detected by ultrasound? It feels like it's burning, not like heartburn, but a firey sensation...hard to describe. Someone, please help me settle my fly away brain...thanks.
I should add -- I have gone gluten free, stopped coffee and alcohol completely and am on a FODMAP diet for over six months now, and still the pain remains. I will try some of the remedies you have all shared here in the weeks ahead of me -- it's all given me back a bit of hope, something, a string, to hold onto in the dark.
I'll report back here when I have more or different information.
-- S
I'll report back here when I have more or different information.
-- S
I'm hoping this thread is still active?
I've been dealing with URQ pain for over two years. Without getting into too much detail, I suffered for over a year and a half from recurring intense "episodes" that included a "bursting" feeling inside my gut where gb is (was) and then intense pain all along right side of body, but inside, following the colon. I also had intense pain in my back and under my rt rib cage (these seemed to correlate -- if you put a finger into the burning searing pain under my right rib cage and went through my body, you'd hit the intense gnawing pain deep inside my right back).
Had my gb out this past summer, and that took care of the "bursting" sensation I was having during attacks and I no longer feel the intense pain down the right colon (though it does get mildly painful at times). However all the other issues remain: SERIOUS burning sensation all along under the right rib cage that wakes me up every morning to pain (and I have been on prilosec for over 4 months); what feels like a "balloon" or "tennis ball" stuck under my ribs in my right side (this balloons out or fills up over the course of the day, getting worse as the day goes on or as I am active); a terrible, deep gnawing ache in my right back that correlates directly to the front burning pain (this can be the worst of it -- it gnaws constantly once it starts, and heat helps a little). Very, very painful.
I had doctors tell me its in my head, given me anti-depressants and even stronger psych meds like zyprexa. This is not in my head. I'm still taking clonapan and seroquel -- but never needed any of this before 2 years ago when my life suddenly . . . ended.
The pain started as a gb attack, I'm fairly sure of it -- and like I said, I had several until it was finally removed -- so why am I still suffering daily from so much pain? I've lost so much to this pain: I used to be a very fit, relatively happy and definitely content married man with an active life, and now I am a 48 yr old useless, thin and miserable person who is popping Tramadol 4-5 x day just to get through work -- and I love my job!
My spouse is ready to leave me, and my parents (thank god for my mother) are at their wits end, like me. Some days the pain is so bad, I just want to put a bag over my head and end it -- and these desires are only increasing as this URQ pain continues to go misdiagnosed and untreated.
I've spent the entire day today reading through this ENTIRE string -- from the beginning in 2002 until the most recent posts in late 2016. I've collected a lot of information and possibilities to explore by coming through all of your testimonials (which my PCP tells me I shouldn't listen to -- RIGHT, like he's been able to help?). I am seeing a neurologist this week and yet another GI later this month and feel like I am armed with some possibilities from all that you have put here. Thank you for that, at least.
Is this thread still active? If so, please reply -- it is so good to know that I am not alone, and that I am not "making it all up" or being "overdramatic." I'm not. I'm in terrible pain every day, and each day of it makes me less and less interested to see how the next day plays out, you know?
Thank you for all the ideas here.
-- S
I've been dealing with URQ pain for over two years. Without getting into too much detail, I suffered for over a year and a half from recurring intense "episodes" that included a "bursting" feeling inside my gut where gb is (was) and then intense pain all along right side of body, but inside, following the colon. I also had intense pain in my back and under my rt rib cage (these seemed to correlate -- if you put a finger into the burning searing pain under my right rib cage and went through my body, you'd hit the intense gnawing pain deep inside my right back).
Had my gb out this past summer, and that took care of the "bursting" sensation I was having during attacks and I no longer feel the intense pain down the right colon (though it does get mildly painful at times). However all the other issues remain: SERIOUS burning sensation all along under the right rib cage that wakes me up every morning to pain (and I have been on prilosec for over 4 months); what feels like a "balloon" or "tennis ball" stuck under my ribs in my right side (this balloons out or fills up over the course of the day, getting worse as the day goes on or as I am active); a terrible, deep gnawing ache in my right back that correlates directly to the front burning pain (this can be the worst of it -- it gnaws constantly once it starts, and heat helps a little). Very, very painful.
I had doctors tell me its in my head, given me anti-depressants and even stronger psych meds like zyprexa. This is not in my head. I'm still taking clonapan and seroquel -- but never needed any of this before 2 years ago when my life suddenly . . . ended.
The pain started as a gb attack, I'm fairly sure of it -- and like I said, I had several until it was finally removed -- so why am I still suffering daily from so much pain? I've lost so much to this pain: I used to be a very fit, relatively happy and definitely content married man with an active life, and now I am a 48 yr old useless, thin and miserable person who is popping Tramadol 4-5 x day just to get through work -- and I love my job!
My spouse is ready to leave me, and my parents (thank god for my mother) are at their wits end, like me. Some days the pain is so bad, I just want to put a bag over my head and end it -- and these desires are only increasing as this URQ pain continues to go misdiagnosed and untreated.
I've spent the entire day today reading through this ENTIRE string -- from the beginning in 2002 until the most recent posts in late 2016. I've collected a lot of information and possibilities to explore by coming through all of your testimonials (which my PCP tells me I shouldn't listen to -- RIGHT, like he's been able to help?). I am seeing a neurologist this week and yet another GI later this month and feel like I am armed with some possibilities from all that you have put here. Thank you for that, at least.
Is this thread still active? If so, please reply -- it is so good to know that I am not alone, and that I am not "making it all up" or being "overdramatic." I'm not. I'm in terrible pain every day, and each day of it makes me less and less interested to see how the next day plays out, you know?
Thank you for all the ideas here.
-- S
2 Comments
Make that, I've been on PROTONIX for over four months.
-- S
-- S
I have been living misrable life since 2013 till today and seen many doctors regarding my RUQ BURNING sensation with no glue
Hi all. Sorry to hear so many people are suffering with the same problem but it does put my mind a little at ease!
I've been having a weird pokey, burning sensation in my upper right abdomen for about 5 months now.
It felt similar to when cooking and oil spits at you.
When I first went to my GP, the symptoms led him to assume gallstones and an ultrasound was scheduled.
I had to wait a month for the test and within that time I was hospitalized because of the pain.
The ultrasound revealed that my gallbladder was perfectly healthy but they noticed some irregularities with my spleen.
I was then scheduled for a CT scan along with lots of blood tests a month later. All the while in agony and on strong pain meds, googling my symptoms and convincing myself I had non-hodgkins lymphoma!
I've had some results back which may possibly indicate sarcoidosis, something that looks a lot like lymphoma but not as harmful.
I'm being referred to a lung specialist who will explain the next steps but I am still in a lot of pain as well as very tired and moody.
Hopefully it will be sorted out by a course of steroid tablets but I will have to see what the specialist recommends.
I hope you all find what's causing your agony and my heart goes out to all that have been suffering for years.
Adele, 25, UK
I've been having a weird pokey, burning sensation in my upper right abdomen for about 5 months now.
It felt similar to when cooking and oil spits at you.
When I first went to my GP, the symptoms led him to assume gallstones and an ultrasound was scheduled.
I had to wait a month for the test and within that time I was hospitalized because of the pain.
The ultrasound revealed that my gallbladder was perfectly healthy but they noticed some irregularities with my spleen.
I was then scheduled for a CT scan along with lots of blood tests a month later. All the while in agony and on strong pain meds, googling my symptoms and convincing myself I had non-hodgkins lymphoma!
I've had some results back which may possibly indicate sarcoidosis, something that looks a lot like lymphoma but not as harmful.
I'm being referred to a lung specialist who will explain the next steps but I am still in a lot of pain as well as very tired and moody.
Hopefully it will be sorted out by a course of steroid tablets but I will have to see what the specialist recommends.
I hope you all find what's causing your agony and my heart goes out to all that have been suffering for years.
Adele, 25, UK
2 Comments
Did you ever figure this out? I am in same boat.
After 5 years of suffering from this, having my gallbladder out for no reason I finally figured out to the cause of my RUQ pain and intermittent mid back burning. It's IBS, and it's caused from when I have even one or two alcoholic drinks, and caffiene causes me issues also.
When I have a beer or two about two days later I start getting an uncomfortable burning like sensation in my back, usually two more days after that depending on my diet the RUQ ache will kick in and last for weeks.
Once I cut out any alcohol for 2 months the pain slowly subsided. Then I let many more months pass and reintroduced alcohol, and BAM, 2 days later had the back pain again, a few days later the RUQ pain.
I really wish I would have tried cutting out alcohol before taking out my gallbladder. Caffeine appears to cause me some issues sometimes also, but not as bad as the alcohol intolerance. I have been told I have IBS.
So I would say if you have had all the tests done, doctors telling you nothing is wrong, try to cut out any alcohol and caffeine for at least two months. Then reintroduce it later and pay attention closely. Careful with cutting caffeine though, you will likely have a terrible withdrawal headache for a few days. Good luck people!
When I have a beer or two about two days later I start getting an uncomfortable burning like sensation in my back, usually two more days after that depending on my diet the RUQ ache will kick in and last for weeks.
Once I cut out any alcohol for 2 months the pain slowly subsided. Then I let many more months pass and reintroduced alcohol, and BAM, 2 days later had the back pain again, a few days later the RUQ pain.
I really wish I would have tried cutting out alcohol before taking out my gallbladder. Caffeine appears to cause me some issues sometimes also, but not as bad as the alcohol intolerance. I have been told I have IBS.
So I would say if you have had all the tests done, doctors telling you nothing is wrong, try to cut out any alcohol and caffeine for at least two months. Then reintroduce it later and pay attention closely. Careful with cutting caffeine though, you will likely have a terrible withdrawal headache for a few days. Good luck people!
I have had the exact symptoms you described for 4 yrs. I am a white 56 yr old male. I have had a CT scan, ultrasound, colonoscopy and blood tests. All have come back negative. I can't press on a specific area to increase the pain. But it is ongoing. It does not keep me up at night and tends to be better in the morning
Having your gallbladder removed does not cause weight gain. I was a nurse for many years & also a patient who had my gallbladder removed. I have gained absolutely no weight & weigh the same as I did 30 years ago. That is because I still follow the dietary restrictions I was told to follow before my cholecystectomy. There are some patients that gain weight, but it is not due to the surgery itself. It is caused by what they eat after their cholecystectomy. Patients with pain from gallbladder disorders are told to cut out fatty & greasy foods from their diets, in order to reduce the symptoms caused by a sluggish gallbladder. Whether the surgery is due to gall stones or a sluggish gall bladder, the dietary restrictions are pretty much the same. After patients have their gallbladder removed & they are no longer bothered by the pesky symptoms they had before the cholecystectomy, they think they can return to eating whatever they want, including fatty & greasy foods. It's only natural that they would gain weight if they return to eating the foods they were not allowed to eat before the surgery. Another reason that might result in weight gain is the inactivity or inability to exercise after surgery. If someone does gain weight after surgery, it should only be a temporary problem. It can be reversed, by making a few changes in their diet. If they feel they are incapable of following a healthy diet, then they should talk to their doctor or a dietitian who can help them formulate a plan to help them substitute other foods for the greasy & fatty foods they are once again eating. Patients have to realize that just because the symptoms are gone, after their surgery, they still cannot eat certain foods, because the body is no longer able to metabolize food like it did, when they had a healthy gallbladder.
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