Pain under the ribs, dull and aching: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods

Doctors conditionally divide the anterior abdominal wall into four parts, its upper quarter on the right and left sides are considered subcostal. In medicine, they are called the upper quadrants. It is in this area that many organs are located. For example, the liver. Therefore, you can not ignore the appearance of discomfort in this zone.

Head of the Emergency and Urgent Care Department of the European Medical Center (EMC)

When assessing pain in the subcostal region, you should start from which side it is localized: right or left. The discomfort may not be dangerous. For example, after physical activity. However, pain on the right side can be associated with inflammation of the gallbladder, and on the left – with pancreatic diseases or acute ischemic heart disease. In all these cases, medical consultation and assistance are necessary.

The nature of pain in the subcostal region

When a patient applies with complaints of pain or heaviness in the subcostal region, first of all it is necessary to analyze the nature of the pain. This will help to determine the preliminary cause of the problem. The exact diagnosis will show only diagnostics and passed tests.

Recall, the conclusion can only be made by a doctor.

Pain in the subcostal region can be sharp, stabbing, aching, and sometimes even shingles. The last type of pain is the most dangerous and requires urgent treatment in a medical institution.

Common causes of pain in the subcostal region

doctor-neurologist of the clinical and diagnostic center “K9”, Doctor of Medical Sciences

The root of the problem can be in completely different reasons. For example, due to lack of warm-up before training or during the menstrual cycle in women. However, there are a number of serious diseases that cannot be ignored.

Disease of the digestive organs

Physiologically, the zone of the left subcostal area includes the stomach, part of the diaphragm and the spleen. Pain in this area can be manifested by such diseases of the digestive organs as gastritis, peptic ulcer, acute pancreatitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Diaphragmatic hernia

Also, pain in the subcostal region can indicate the presence of a hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm. This is a displacement of the abdominal part of the esophagus and stomach into the thoracic cavity through the esophageal opening of the diaphragm. It forms due to injury, constipation, prolonged coughing, pregnancy or obesity.

Diseases of the spleen

The organ itself does not have sensitive nerve endings, so it can not hurt. However, with inflammation, the spleen significantly increases in size. As a result, it overstresses neighboring organs, vessels and nerves. Therefore, a person feels in the left side under the ribs sharp, pulling or cramping pain.

Pinched nerve

Another common cause is a pinched nerve associated with a spinal disease. When nerves are compressed by intervertebral discs, there is severe pain, including in the subcostal region.

Diseases of the pancreas

Pain in the left subcostal region can be a sign of a disease of the pancreas. Among them: pancreatitis, pancreonecrosis, cyst, tumor, cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis), pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus. Also in the presence of chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, the patient allows an error in the diet, this can cause pulling pains.

Improper breathing during movement

Provoke sharp, stabbing pain can be incorrect breathing when running, due to which the diaphragm muscles spasm. To avoid this, you need moderate exercise and warm-up before training.

Diseases of internal organs

Pain in the right subcostal region is manifested by diseases of the stomach, liver (including cancer and acute hepatitis), kidneys, lungs, pancreas, infectious diseases of the urinary tract. Inflammation of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) is also most often diagnosed.

When should I consult a doctor?

If pain in the subcostal region occurred because of jogging and quickly passed, in this case it is not worth going to the doctor. Discomfort of this kind is often found in professional athletes.

In all other cases, you should consult a therapist. If the symptoms indicate stomach diseases – then to a gastroenterologist. If the pain is sharp and severe, combined with other symptoms (nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea), it is necessary to call an ambulance.

Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the subcostal region

After the appearance of pain in the subcostal region for further diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound and a number of laboratory tests (blood and urine analysis). Sometimes the specialist may resort to more serious appointments. For example, send the patient to a computer or magnetic resonance imaging (CT and MRI). Indications for one or another method of examination can be determined only by a specialist during the appointment.

Based on the results, treatment is prescribed. It will depend on the severity of the disease. Therapy can be as follows:

medication. As a rule, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are prescribed;

physiotherapy. In particular, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, UHF are used. These are quite effective methods that allow you to get rid of painful symptoms in the shortest possible time;

surgical intervention. Unfortunately, there are cases when it is impossible to solve the problem without it. It is appointed if there is a threat to human life.