Pain in my upper back left side under ribs

Have you ever taken a deep breath and felt a sudden sharp pain under the left rib? You might have thought at that point of time that it is a heart attack and an end of you. Pain under the left rib can cause a lot of anxiety, especially when you're a heart patient. As stinging the pain may be, the thought of experiencing an attack can be all the more tormenting. However, instead of rushing to conclusions, you must consider other ailments that can cause pain under your left rib. In case you feel a stabbing pain below your left rib, you need not panic as it can happen due to other reasons too. We have listed some below for you:
Costochondritis
Costochondritis refers to the inflammation of the cartilage which connects your ribs to your breastbone. You might feel a sharp pain under the left rib if you take a deep breath which can worsen while coughing or sneezing.

Costochondritis can happen due to an injury, infection and in rare cases, arthritis.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is a condition which leads to an inflammation of the membrane around your lungs. The inflammation can be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection in the membrane. In rarest of the rare cases, pulmonary infections which lead to blood clots or pus in the lungs can also be a symptom of pleurisy. The symptoms of pleurisy could be chest pain, fever and shortness of breath.

Kidney stones
In many cases, a sharp stabbing pain can also be caused by kidney stones. Kidney stones are not easy to detect and can happen at any point of time. They usually happen when waste builds up in your kidney and does not get enough water to flow out.

In order to prevent kidney stones, you must drink enough water and not control the urge to urinate.

Gastritis
Gastritis refers to the swelling in the inner lining of your stomach. It can also cause a sharp pain under the left rib along with other symptoms such as burning pain in your stomach, nausea or a sensation of fullness of your upper abdomen.

Bacterial infections and consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs are the main reasons which lead to Gastritis.

Enlarged spleen
An enlarged spleen can also be the reason behind you experience stabbing pain under your left rib. The spleen might enlarge because of bacterial infection, parasitic infection or a liver disease.

There are high chances that an enlarged spleen gets ruptured and cause further complications. A ruptured spleen can cause internal bleeding and must be reported to the doctor as soon as possible.

Pancreatitis

Another reason of pain under the left rib is Pancreatitis. It causes an inflammation of the pancreas which further instigates pain. Pancreatitis comes with additional symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

There are two types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include fever, stomach tenderness and abdominal pain that spreads to your back. Chronic pancreatitis can bring along unintentional weight loss and pain in upper abdomen.

In case you experience pain on the left side of your rib along with cold sweat, shortness of breath, tightness in your jaw and shoulder blades, then there are high chances that you are suffering from a heart attack. In such a situation, you must not ignore it and rush to a hospital to seek medical help.

We all get aches and pains from time to time but if pain doesn't go away quickly it shouldn't be ignored. If you have pain under left rib cage it could be nothing to worry about, but if it persists then it's important to get it checked out.

This area is known as the left upper quadrant (LUQ) and contains several organs, including your stomach, left kidney, spleen and parts of your liver, pancreas and bowel.

Feeling pain on left side below ribs could be a sign that something is affecting 1 or more of those organs. It could also be caused by problems with your gut.

Find out what may be causing your pain, and whether you need to see a doctor or get emergency medical help.

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Pain under left rib cage: what it could be

Costochondritis

This occurs when the strong tissue (cartilage) attaching your ribs to your breastbone (costochondral joint) becomes inflamed. It can cause a sharp pain under left rib cage and your chest.

It can be caused by injury or straining that area, or can result from an infection, for example an infection of your airways (respiratory).

If your pain is due to costochondritis, you may find it gets worse when your body moves suddenly, such as when you cough or sneeze, or when you’re doing exercise. It may also get worse when you lie down.

If you think pain on left side under ribs may be caused by this condition, try not to do any sports or anything that places more strain on your breastbone.

If you only have mild chest pain and no other symptoms, you should be able to care for yourself at home by resting and avoiding any activities that make the pain worse.

But always see a doctor if you have chest pain that doesn’t go away, feel breathless or if your pain is severe and comes on suddenly.

Problems with your gut

Common problems that can affect the stomach and gut can cause pain in your upper tummy (abdomen), and under your left rib.

Stomach ulcer

These are sores that form in your stomach lining when it’s damaged. This can happen when you’ve been taking certain anti-inflammatory medications for a long period of time, or you have an infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) bacteria.

If you have a

, you may experience a sharp pain under left rib cage towards the middle of your tummy that gets worse — this is the most common symptom. But you may also feel sick or have indigestion.

If your stomach ulcer is caused by Helicobacter bacteria, it may be treated with antibiotics. If it’s found to be caused by taking anti-inflammatories, then a doctor will prescribe you other medication.

Usually stomach ulcers clear once the cause is found and you have the right treatment, but complications can occur, such as internal bleeding. So it’s important that you see a doctor immediately if:

• the pain under your ribs comes on suddenly and gets increasingly worse
• your poo is dark in colour
• there’s blood in your vomit

Indigestion

Indigestion is common, affecting 4 in 10 people each year in the UK. It’s not a condition, but a series of symptoms which includes pain in the upper part of your tummy, just below your ribs.

It’s thought to occur when stomach acid breaks down the lining of your digestive system, causing a burning pain.

If you have

, any pain you feel in this area may come on after eating. You should look out for other common indigestion symptoms too, such as heartburn, bloating, farting or feeling sick.

If you think the pain on your left side under your rib cage could be due to indigestion, then you can treat it at home. For example, you can try:

• eating smaller meals and eating slowly
• cutting out smoking
• avoiding any particular triggers you might have, such as spicy foods

However, if you keep getting indigestion — or a pain in this area that you think may be indigestion — you should see a doctor to find out if there may be an underlying cause.

You should also see a doctor if:

• you’ve noticed blood in your vomit or poo
• you have
• you’re aged 55 or over
• you can’t stop being sick
• you’re finding it hard to swallow
• you’ve lost weight

Gastroenteritis

This is swelling in your tummy lining and it’s usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. It could be the cause of pain under your left rib as it can give you pain anywhere around your tummy.

If you have

you may also feel sick or be sick, have a temperature (fever) or have diarrhoea.

If you think you have this condition, there’s no specific treatment for it except to stay at home, rest, stay hydrated and take painkillers if necessary. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor for further guidance on how to safely get and use these medicines.

If your symptoms don’t improve within a week, you should see a doctor.

But if your symptoms are severe you should see a doctor immediately. Severe symptoms include:

• being sick a lot
• having a high temperature over 38C
• having blood in your poo
• having an underlying health condition

It’s important to note that gastroenteritis is infectious, so if you think this may be causing your pain, make sure to wash your hands regularly while you have symptoms and for up to 48 hours after your symptoms have gone.

Problems with your spleen

Your spleen is a non-vital organ that sits next to your stomach, just below your left ribs. Any pain you feel under your left rib cage could be caused by a damaged or enlarged spleen.

You may be able to identify if your pain is caused by damage to your spleen. For example, have you injured the area? Have you been involved in a sports or road accident? Have you recently broken or injured a rib on that side?

If you think your

due to injury, you may have pain around the left ribs or just below, and you may feel faint or have a faster heart rate.

If you experience these symptoms, you should go to your nearest emergency department immediately.

If you’ve injured your spleen or have a condition like

, your spleen could also swell or become inflamed, causing it to brush against your stomach. This can make you feel full more easily (even if you haven’t eaten anything) and can cause pain around your left ribs and to the left of your back.

If you suspect anything is wrong with your spleen, see a doctor. They will be able to diagnose the problem and help you treat the underlying cause.

Pancreatitis

The pancreas isn’t an organ but a gland. It sits behind your stomach, and part of it is in the LUQ.

This gland can become inflamed, usually as a result of heavy drinking. This inflammation can lead to

(a short-term condition where the pancreas recovers) or

(when your pancreas is inflamed for a long time).

If your pain has come on suddenly and you’re not sure what’s caused it, it could be due to pancreatitis. Pain in the upper part of your tummy or below your left ribs is a common symptom — sometimes sharp or severe pain.

Other symptoms may include feeling sick, vomiting or a reduced appetite.

If you have this condition, you’ll need medical help to treat it quickly as there can be complications.

Check to see if your poo is pale or smelly or if you’ve lost weight recently. If this is the case, you should see a doctor.

Kidney stones

It’s less likely that pain in left side under ribs is caused by a problem with your left kidney, but any pain you feel in your left side or back can spread.

affecting your left kidney can cause pain. These are hard stones that form inside the kidneys, and can be caused by not drinking enough fluids.

Kidney stones may not cause any symptoms if they’re small, but pain can occur if a stone gets stuck in the tubes or openings within your kidney or becomes infected.

If you’re not sure what’s causing your pain but think it may be coming from your left kidney, see a doctor.

Key points

• don't ignore pain under left rib cage as this area is home to several organs
• common problems that affect the stomach and gut can cause pain in your upper tummy, such as indigestion, gastroenteritis or a stomach ulcer
• pain in this area may also be caused by problems with your spleen or pancreas
• if your pain persists, you should see a doctor

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