What causes acute severe pain under the left ribs, radiating around the back and the front?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 68 years old and obese. I have had acute severe pain on my left side, under my ribs. It radiates around to my back and the front. My mid stomach area from bra line to waist is also swollen with pain. I went to the ER, and they gave me pain medications and did a CT and X-ray of my lungs, upper chest, and blood work. Nothing showed up. Gave pain medications and referred me to my family doctor for follow-up. I consulted my family doctor, and I am still in severe pain. She did more X-rays and blood work. X-ray showed feces high in the intestines, so she recommended laxatives to clean that out and more pain medications. I followed all instructions but got no relief. She suggested another CT of the chest, upper stomach, lungs, or intestine. More blood work only showed low potassium. The last treatment she tried was Gabapentin for possible nerve pain. It feels like something is swollen under my ribs, pushing them out. There is no pain on the right side at all. Bowels are moving fine and normal urine. Eating does not seem to aggravate it. I am a borderline diabetic patient. HBP is controlled by medications. What could be causing this, and what should be the next step in finding out what it is?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

You have lancinating pain in the left hemithorax. I feel it is a sort of radiculopathy or nerve compression, or pleural inflammation. Please tell me if the pain increases on cough, deep breathing, or movement of your torso. Do you have any skin lesions? Please send the following reports for a proper diagnosis.

1. CBC (complete blood count).

2. ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).

3. CRP (C- reactive protein).

4. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the dorsal spine.

5. Serum electrophoresis.

As it seems severe, please take the medication for nerve pain. Also, please feel free to input any other symptom or query you may have so we can get closer to a diagnosis.

Thank you.