What is that pain you feel under your left rib cage?
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Back pain under the left rib cage is a dilemma for all patients suffering from it. Any constant pain is viewed by doctors as a very serious disorder or disease and requires immediate attention and cure. The rib cage is a formation that is composed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, sternum-breastbone, and the coastal cartilages that links the ribs to the sternum. The term cage is defined as a structure to house animals. The rib cage is a similar structure which houses and also protects the animal heart and lungs, also known as a thoracic cage in medical terms.
In the chest-thorax, nerves emerge from the spine and divide into two parts. The first part heads to the under part of the skin and further sends fibers to the surface of the skin it also travels half way around the chest. The second nerve travels from the bottom of the rib right around the sternum bone, and also surfaces to the skin and then heads back towards the side of the same level as the first nerve. A pain in the rib cage can be any pain or discomfort in the area of the ribs.
Rib cage pain can be caused by cracked or fractured rib, Costochondritis, inflammation of cartilage near the breastbone, Osteoporosis, and Pleurisy. If rib cage pain exists with you, we advise that you first get the area x-rayed so as to eliminate the possibility of fractured ribs. If you do have a fractured rib an immediate surgery is advised. If you’ve suffered this pain for a longer period of time i.e. 3 or more months its necessary to go for an MRI or CT scan and consult a professional to examine for nerve damage, tumor or cancer.
Inflammation of the cartilage that is between the ribs and breastbone can cause pain around the back and down the arms. This pain is such that it might radiate a sensation as if you were having a heart attack or lung problems. Although the duration of this condition is short but very painful and uncomfortable during the period it lasts.
There may be times when you will visit a gastroenterologist because of the constant back pain under your left rib cage because the problem starts with your stomach. You might often feel hungry and the feel the urge to let out a big growl, no matter how much you eat it still does not matter, but instead results in heart burn and pain on the left side underneath the cage. To eliminate the possibility of an infection of the intestine or pancreas routine blood pathology is conducted. Digestive, gastro and bowel disorders should be ruled out after seeking doctor’s medical advice. These indications might make you think it’s due to twisted bowel, so a through checkup of the colon should be scheduled.
Constant pain under the left rib cage is very uncomfortable for pregnant women especially those in advanced stages of pregnancy. They experience extreme pain near the area where the ribcage and breast meet. The pain causes extreme trauma and sometimes makes it difficult to sleep.