sharp pain underneath bottom of left ribs

[zwalls]

a little history on my self. I'm 49 and 6'4" tall and weigh 245.not in the best shape but not the worst.blood pressure has been 125/70 most all of my life and cholesterol around 145.I delt with PVC's off and on for about 20yrs and have had an ablation procedure done for SVT's and take  200mg of flecainide to control PVC's.I had to say this before asking this question.

a couple or yrs ago I was sitting in my recliner after eating and all of a sudden a very sharp contractual pain hit me right underneath my left rib cage at the bottom.it went as fast as it came.I thought no big deal it was someting I ate.

the pain came and went a few times but not as sharp.I kinda blew if off.but over time it has become more of a faint dull pain with a little sting every so often.the dullness reminds me that something is there but what I dont know.the bottom of my left ribs when pressing them seem sore but not my right ribs.I stand up very straight and press on this area and take a deep breath and it sends a dull pain up through the left side of my neck.I can feel this pain up through my neck when I workout or excercise hard at every breath in and seems to be getting worse.

I've been to an intern and took a CT scan with no contrast an was negative.I also went to an urgent care Dr.that I know to see what he thought.I also went to a cardiologist as well and he wants me to do a nuclear stress test and so does the urgent care Dr.

now my thought process is because of my arythmias they all want me to do a nuclear stress test when all of it feels muscular or skeletal to me.I can move around to different positions a feel the pain but only certain levels.I can press on my ribs and they feel sore and press and take a deep breath and feel the pain shoot up through the left side of my neck.I dont want to spen unnecessary money on the wrong test.

my question is does this sound like muscle/skeletal problem or cardio vascular problem?or maybe even  a guess at a diagnosis?where should I really start as to what kind of Dr. or test should I begin with?

any suggestion would be appreciated and I hope I posted this in the right place!!

thanks

[zwalls]

thanks,and I appreciate you trying to help me.since you have mentioned the diaphram and the plurea this may make since.

I did forget to mention while pulling on someting it felt like I stretched or maybe even tore something underneath the bottom of my left rib area.

so I wondering if I might've hurt my diaphram or the plurea?I know assuming isnt ever good but do you think I should see my intern or an orthopedician first?

thanks again Dr. Vinod!!!


Zane

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

I would suggest you to rule out musculo skeletal problems by following up with an orthopedician initially as you have pain on touch i.e tenderness.

Secondly rule out any cardiovascular problems near a cardiologist.

Then you can rule out any respiratory problems and issues with your lungs or pleura by following with a chest specialist

Before that get and ultrasound and CT scan of the area to rule out any organ involvement with your stomach, spleen, diaphragm, small intestine, lungs, pleura etc in that area.

Take care!