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It was suggested that I describe my symptoms here and perhaps someone will have dealt with something similar and have advice on how to proceed. I wouldn't normally ask strangers on the internet but am my wit's end looking for a diagnosis. About five years ago, I did several hours of shoveling dirt one afternoon while gardening (twisting torso) and since that time I have had unusual discomfort on my left side around lower ribs. It morphed into a poking or pulling sensation over the years that came and went. In the last six months, it has returned with a vengeance and occasionally seems to correlate with digestive issues. Feels like a fingernail poking my insides and is much more noticeable when I sit. Over the five years, I have had multiple CT/ultrasound scans( 5 so far), kidney/bladder tests, Cologuard recently, blood tests, etc. All supposedly normal. No practitioner has ever done a physical exam - just ordered tests. Pending an upper endoscopy now but not having stomach issues currently so wondering if that is really necessary. I have always wondered if it something structural like muscles or bones along with an aging spine might be involved but when I bring that up with docs, I don't get anywhere....Thoughts?
A few months ago I noticed something similar, only on my right side instead of the left. Pain at the bottom of the ribs.
I concluded that I was sitting too much (and sometimes driving for too many hours), so I get up and move around a lot now. Hasn't been a problem lately.
I have been losing weight gradually by eating less and my body definitely has been through more changes. I can feel lymph nodes under my skin. And I'm cold much of the time, even when the indoor temp is 70 degrees. Ain't aging grand?
It was suggested that I describe my symptoms here and perhaps someone will have dealt with something similar and have advice on how to proceed. I wouldn't normally ask strangers on the internet but am my wit's end looking for a diagnosis. About five years ago, I did several hours of shoveling dirt one afternoon while gardening (twisting torso) and since that time I have had unusual discomfort on my left side around lower ribs. It morphed into a poking or pulling sensation over the years that came and went. In the last six months, it has returned with a vengeance and occasionally seems to correlate with digestive issues. Feels like a fingernail poking my insides and is much more noticeable when I sit. Over the five years, I have had multiple CT/ultrasound scans( 5 so far), kidney/bladder tests, Cologuard recently, blood tests, etc. All supposedly normal. No practitioner has ever done a physical exam - just ordered tests. Pending an upper endoscopy now but not having stomach issues currently so wondering if that is really necessary. I have always wondered if it something structural like muscles or bones along with an aging spine might be involved but when I bring that up with docs, I don't get anywhere....Thoughts?
Have you had a colonoscopy? I have the same type of intermittent pain as you and was diagnosed with diverticulosis. If you develop a fever with the pain, and/or chills, nausea and/or vomiting, get it checked out ASAP as that could be signs of an infection, and that’s call diverticulitis, which is far worse.
My pains taper off when I increase the fiber in my diet. I eat fresh fruit daily but if I eat Fiber One cereal or something similar, I can tell a difference. It’s almost as if it’s gas that is trapped there.
I get an occasional pulling/cramping feeling around the bottom of my ribs; doctors have no explanation, but my yoga teacher suggested it was tight scar tissue (I've had a few surgeries).
It was suggested that I describe my symptoms here and perhaps someone will have dealt with something similar and have advice on how to proceed. I wouldn't normally ask strangers on the internet but am my wit's end looking for a diagnosis. About five years ago, I did several hours of shoveling dirt one afternoon while gardening (twisting torso) and since that time I have had unusual discomfort on my left side around lower ribs. It morphed into a poking or pulling sensation over the years that came and went. In the last six months, it has returned with a vengeance and occasionally seems to correlate with digestive issues. Feels like a fingernail poking my insides and is much more noticeable when I sit. Over the five years, I have had multiple CT/ultrasound scans( 5 so far), kidney/bladder tests, Cologuard recently, blood tests, etc. All supposedly normal. No practitioner has ever done a physical exam - just ordered tests. Pending an upper endoscopy now but not having stomach issues currently so wondering if that is really necessary. I have always wondered if it something structural like muscles or bones along with an aging spine might be involved but when I bring that up with docs, I don't get anywhere....Thoughts?
You've been given a lot of good suggestions. I think it will probably be a spasm of some sort. Have you googled organs of the abdomen and organs of the back? You need photos where you can try to match up the pain to a specific body part.
Every now and then I get what feels like a finger poking out under where a bra would fall on a woman's chest, below the right breast. It's right over or under ribs. It hurts like heck like something is being twisted which is probably a spasm of some sort. If I bend down wrong to cut toe nails or washing my feet, it will squeeze and poke, then finally let up, then it doesn't bother me again for a while.
The things that come to mind are a weak muscle in the abdomen, swollen spleen, or gas. I first noticed something similar when I lifted a lawnmower over a chain link fence. It was like a muscle pull and couldn't take a deep breath. This was abpout 8-10 years ago. Recently I had my arms over my head pushing up on a loose piece of house siding and got the same thing. Takes about 2 weeks to get over it. Couldn't sleep on my right side at night even though the pull was on my left side. I also have an illness which gives me a swollen spleen, but that is also accompanied by a feeling of being full most of the time as it pushes on my stomach. Gas is also a possiblility. Try a couple of Gax-x pills and see if it's any better.
Thanks all! I decided not to endure any more invasive tests since I feel so normal and energetic otherwise. Most of the issue has resolved in the past few weeks though it pops up now and them. I continue to think/hope it is a structural issue that sometimes affects digestion. I find that staying very active physically and stretching helps a lot. Sitting too much really brings it on so a future road trip might be uncomfortable.
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