pain under ribs feels like they are bruised or sprained

[vbnm89]

I have been suffering with rib pain on and off for about 10 years. It is usually just under the right boob and I can always find the spot and I can press on it and it feels like it is bruised and it sends pain round to my back. The rest of the time if I don't press it it is a like a dull ache. Sometimes it is under the left boob as well but never both at the same time. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to when it comes. I can exercise with it I can move and function normally. I can eat and drink fine there are no digestive symptoms.

I haven't been to the GP because this is the weird bit - it is so intermittent and random - that if I book an appointment for 2 days time or even the same afternoon it is always gone. Literally the tender bit may only be present for 10 minutes then be fine then be gone for an hour then come back for 3 hours etc. Sometimes I go three weeks without any pain sometimes 6 months sometimes 2 days sometimes 2 hours and sometimes half an hour. Every so often the pain is bad enough for painkillers and a hot lavender pillow but ,most of the time I just got on with stuff as normal. It is just really annoying more than anything. It is no worse or more frequent over the years really I am just getting annoyed with it now. I just wonder if I should maybe go the GP even if there is no pain when I go and explain what it feels like.

Go to the GP. You may have some gallbladder inflammation, or even stones, and an ultrasound might be in order. Gallbladder pain typically comes and goes, is generally on the right just under the ribs and can refer to your back. If you have noticed any relation between the pain and having eaten foods higher in fat that would also point heavily towards gallbladder.

Might be costochondritis www.nhs.uk/conditions/costochondritis/ - www.healthline.com/health/pain-under-right-breast#:~:text=Costochondritis,goes%20away%20on%20its%20own.

I think gallbladder. Mine is usually fine unless i eat aubergines, then it does exactly what you described.

I have often wondered gallstones but the pain is not that severe just annoying. It feels like a sprain or a bruise. Nothing that I eat aggravates it. Sometimes it is worse if I have sit still for a while and other times it makes no difference. If i could phone the docs now whilst it is niggling it would be great but I have booked several appts over the years and ended up cancelling because the bruise like tender patch disappeared at the time of the appointment.

[quote bestbefore]Might be costochondritis www.nhs.uk/conditions/costochondritis/ - www.healthline.com/health/pain-under-right-breast#:~:text=Costochondritis,goes%20away%20on%20its%20own.[/quote]
This sounds more like it as the pain isn't really a stomach ache as such. It says that it doesn't usually return and repeat attacks are rare but as I said this has been on and off for 10 years.

I have it and it's very random when it hurts. Sometimes when I press my breastbone it's really tender but doesn't hurt, other times I had this sharp pain under the left rib. I thought it was breast cancer!!

I've had this for around 15 years. They've done all sorts of tests, gall bladder, bloods, scans etc.
They have put it down to costochondritis.
Sometimes it hurts daily, sometimes not for months.
Osteopath helps sometimes too.

Another thing that really helps is to lie on the floor with a tennis ball under your back. Roll up and down on the tennis ball and this sometimes releases whatever is trapped at the front, as it's all connected.

I had this but they said it was costochondritis. I had such bad pain they said they think I also have acid reflux. I couldn't sit down my sides hurt so much.

I've had gallbladder infections in the past and it didn't feel like that.

Now sometimes I get a twinge in my side and I'll take an omeprazole and it goes.