Sharp pain on right hand side of my body.

[Cellardoor23]

I'm wondering if anyone can help. I've had this pain for the past 3, maybe 4 years on and off. Sometimes I wouldn't have the pain for months. Yesterday was particularly bad when I went to the cinema. The pain was almost unbearable to the point I wanted to stand up and walk outside (not that I think it would have helped)

I've mentioned it to my GP last year who didn't seem overly concerned, but it doesn't seem right to me? I've googled and I can't find anything that is similar to what I'm experiencing.

The pain is sharp and can stop me in my tracks it's that painful, almost taking my breath away. It feels like it's under the ribs on my right hand side, in the middle if that makes sense?

Anyone know what this could be?

Sounds like gallstones. I am awaiting gallbladder removal op. Does it happen a while after eating? How long does it last for?

Yesterday, it felt like a slow build up of pain, then it reached its peak for a few seconds and died away again. Happened on and off for about half an hour, then it went away again. Haven't felt the pain today. I've read about gallstones before. Can you have them for years like that?

It doesn't always happen after I've eaten. I can't pin point the cause. Sometimes I can go a few weeks or months without any pain and then suddenly have this intense pain on and off for most of the day. It's agony.

Well I've had my symptoms for 18 months and still waiting for my surgery so yes, definitely is possible to have them for a long time.

Next time you have the pain go to go or out of hours, there's a blood test they do to check your liver function and pancreas (to check for the more serious potential complications from gallstones) and basically they poke you in the gallbladder to see if that hurts even more. Gallstone pain episodes usually lasts 1-8hr, so if it lasts longer than that you also need a doc.

I would rank the worst gallstone pains as incapacitating I'd like being in labour, but sometimes it's just moderate (like a bad headache you couldn't ignore) and other times mild (like right now it feels kind of like period pain level for me, but I could get on with my day).

The other characteristics for me are bloating after a meal, nausea, shoulder pain (I feel it on the right side of my back at rib level, and when it's bad it radiates all around up towards my neck and arm).

I find a hot water bottle helps. Fatty food is a big trigger but sometimes eating anything at all, or even just feeling hungry sets me off.

Ultimately you will need an ultrasound or similar to rule gallstones in or out. Other risk factors for gallstones are pregnancies, recent weight loss, or just being female/40/fertile/fair/fat are the lovely descriptors i am only 3 of these! Good luck!

Thank you for your response. I haven't experienced nausea (the pain has been that bad at times it's made me want to be sick, not all the time though) nor abdominal pain, bloating or shoulder pain. It in one place.

Having had a recent google, the only thing that seems to come close is maybe flank pain? But I'm not sure.

Did you eat popcorn at the cinema by any chance?

No I didn't eat anything at the cinema.

It's on my side just above the waist area but it feels like the pain is under my ribs. Still can't find anything online about it. Had the pain again today, but only lasted a couple of seconds and went away again.

I only asked as my Crohns plays up big time with popcorn!

Pancreas?

I don't think it's either of those. None of the pain appears to be coming from my abdomen or anywhere on the front.

I sometimes get a burning pain under my right rib but never as bad as that. I thought it was reflux to be honest!

I had similar pain with gallstones.

It went on for a few years on and off and it was only when I started having full blown biliary colic attacks that lasted hours that I was sent for a scan and it was gallstones.
I diagnosed myself from the symptoms. GP thought it was gastroenteritis, so I had a bet with him and he actually apologised after wards as the stones were big hard ones which had been growing for years!

Had the surgery and no problems since. Just have to be careful not to eat a lot of fat.

I have a pain like this and the first thing my dr suggested was gallstones. Got checked out and it wasn’t. So you might want to rule that out first. Dr says it is likely to be rib pain from some kind of injury. Ribs take ages to get better. It is becoming less sore.