Pain Under Left Rib Cage: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

Have you felt a piercing pain under your left rib cage when you take a breath or move just the slightest bit sometimes? While it is common to experience such pain, sometimes it can be an indication of an injury or trauma in the stomach or any vital organ on the left side of your body. In this article, we take a deeper look at the different factors behind the pain under your left rib.

Causes And Symptoms Of Pain Under The Left Rib Cage

Sharp pain under the left rib cage could be due to a variety of reasons. Several organs are located in this region of your body – like your heart, spleen, lung, colon, kidney, pancreas, and stomach. Hence, the causes of left side pain below the ribs can be many.

While most of these causes can be treated right at home, some of them could be life-threatening and may need immediate medical diagnosis, followed by appropriate treatment.

The life-threatening causes of the pain under your left rib cage include:

1. Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is decreased or blocked, depriving it of oxygen and causing damage to the heart muscle. The condition has numerous risk factors like smoking, increased blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. It requires prompt medical attention, as it can be life-threatening (1).

The symptoms of a heart attack (other than dull pain under the left rib cage and back) include the following:

• • A sudden feeling of dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion
  • Cold sweat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness, aching, or pressure in your chest that spreads to your jaw, back, or neck (2).

2. Angina

This is also a heart-related condition that can cause pain on the left side of the body under the ribs. Angina refers to severe pain in the chest that may spread to the shoulders, arms, and neck. This left-side rib pain occurs when the blood traveling to your heart lacks oxygen. Its symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack (3). Apart from pain under the left rib cage and chest, they include (3):

• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Shoulder pain
• Jaw pain
• Neck pain
• Throat tightness
• Dry mouth

A survey involving 1612 adults with coronary artery disease (CAD) established that angina is a common issue in patients with CAD in the US. 21.2% of the surveyed patients reported experiencing angina at least once a month. Out of them, 12.5% of people experienced it daily or weekly, and 8.7% of them monthly.

3. Pericarditis

This condition is caused due to the swelling of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding your heart. It can occur due to various reasons like viral infections, autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, recent heart surgery, trauma or injury to the chest area, etc. There are four types of pericarditis (4):

• Acute Pericarditis: Its symptoms last for less than 3 weeks.
• Incessant Pericarditis: Its symptoms are continuous and may last for 4-6 weeks.
• Recurrent Pericarditis: Its symptoms keep recurring every 4-6 weeks.
• Chronic Pericarditis: The symptoms usually last longer than 3 months.

The symptoms of pericarditis are:

• Sharp pain and tenderness in the middle or left of your chest
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Unusual swelling of your abdomen/leg
• Heart palpitationsⁱ  A sensation that the heart is missing heartbeats, pounding and racing due to stress and variation in breathing.
• Shortness of breath
• A slight fever (4)

4. Cancer

Cancer-related rib pain may vary in intensity but is generally in the mild to severe range. Painful rib metastasis (the spread of cancer cells) is a common symptom in non-small cell lung cancer (5). When cancer cells metastasize to the rib bone, they may cause rib pain. Some chest-wall tumors may also originate from body structures that form the rib cage, such as muscles, blood vessels, soft tissue, bone, etc (6). This may cause discomfort and pain in the rib cage. Some cancer treatments like radiation therapy may also cause pain and inflammation in the ribs (7). You may also experience rib pain when a tumor presses against nerves in the rib area. Hence, it is important to consult your healthcare professional if you are experiencing persistent rib pain to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

5. Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal disorders include conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoidsⁱ  Swollen, enlarged, and inflamed veins in the anus and lower rectum that cause pain, bleeding, and discomfort. , constipation, perianal abscesses (pus in the tissues around the anus), etc. The digestion-related causes of pain under the left rib cage after eating include:

• Trapped gas in the digestive tract: This can happen due to swallowing air while eating or drinking, or from the fermentation of undigested food in the gut (8). It may show up as pain in the abdominal region, including under the left rib cage.
• Constipation: It may occur due to poor diet, problems with intestinal function, or underlying diseases like cancer. When stool moves too slowly through the colon, it can cause bloating and pain, including under the left rib cage (9).
• Heartburn: This is caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, also known as food pipe (10). Heartburn can lead to a burning sensation and pain, which may be felt under the rib cage.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERDi  ): This is a chronic form of acid reflux. It may cause pain or discomfort in the chest or upper abdomen, including under the left rib cage (11).
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This is a disorder that leads to changes in your bowel movements. It may cause diarrhea, constipation, or both (12). This may cause cramping, bloating, and pain, including in the upper abdomen after eating.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): It causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract that occurs due to an abnormal immune response to gut microflora (13). The inflammation may lead to pain, bloating, and cramping, which may also be felt under the rib cage.

Pain caused due to digestive issues like gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), diverticulitis (inflammation in one or more small pouches in the digestive tract), and stomach ulcers may possibly cause pain at or referred to the left upper quadrant. Dr. Taryn Silverstein, a board-certified gastroenterologist and a member of the Gastroenterology Associates of Florida (GAF), says, “Diverticulitis more commonly presents with pain in the left lower quadrant, and gastritis/gastric ulcers more typically cause pain in the epigastrium (upper, center abdomen below the sternum), which may radiate to the back.”

Quick Tip

Avoid spicy or hot foods and alcoholic beverages. They may lead to IBD and gastrointestinal issues and trigger pain under the rib cage.

6. Issues With Other Organs

As we have already mentioned, there are other organs located in the upper left abdominal region of your body, and issues with them can also trigger a sharp pain under your left rib cage.

Such issues include:

• Kidney stones – They are hard calcium deposits that form in the kidneys and later move towards the bladder, causing extreme pain while passing urine. Kidney stones may be caused by not drinking enough water or consuming too much salt or sugar (14).
• Pancreatitis – It is the inflammation of the pancreas. It usually occurs due to an injury of the pancreas that may have many causes, such as gallstones and heavy alcohol use (15).
• An enlarged spleen – The spleen is located in the upper portion of the left rib cage and is normally about the size of your fist. An enlarged spleen is caused due to liver infections, cirrhosisⁱ  Chronic liver damage in which normal liver function is impaired due to the formation of scars. , etc. (16).

7. Infections

Certain infections may also be responsible for the sudden ache in the left part of your chest like:

• Pneumonia: It is a common respiratory infection that includes symptoms like cough, fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and sharp chest pain while coughing (17).
• Pleurisy: It is an infection that causes the membrane surrounding your lungs to become inflamed. Chest pain is a common symptom of this disease (18).
• Pneumothorax: This is also known as a collapsed lung. This occurs when air gets trapped in the space around your lung, called the pleural cavity. This space is like a protective layer for your lungs. When air sneaks in, it can press on your lungs and make them shrink or collapse, which makes it hard to breathe. The condition requires immediate medical attention (19).
• Broken Ribs: Rib fractures usually happen when something hits the chest hard or pierces it. This could be from a strong blow, like in a car accident, a fall, or a sports injury, or from something sharp cutting into the chest.
• Endocarditis: In this condition, the inner lining of the heart, called the endocardium, and the heart valves become inflamed, usually because of a bacterial infection (20).
• Appendicitis: It is a condition that causes inflammation of your appendix, a small finger-like pouch attached to the large intestine. Most cases of this condition come on suddenly, usually within 24 hours, and cause sharp abdominal pain (21).
• Costochondritis: It is a condition that causes inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone. This causes chest pain, which can feel sharp or achy and often gets worse when you move, press on the area, or take deep breaths (22).

Quick Tip

If costochondritis is causing pain and soreness under your left rib, avoid exercises or sports that may strain the chest muscles. Maintaining proper posture may also reduce pain.

In addition, conditions related to the female reproductive system, such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis (when the tissue lining the uterus grows outside of it and causes pain during menstrual periods), or pelvic inflammatory disease (an infection of reproductive organs like the uterus) may cause left side pain under the ribs in females.

If you have developed any of the above health conditions, you are at a higher risk of developing pain under your left rib cage. Hence, it can be said that all these conditions act as risk factors behind pain in the left rib cage.

It is best to consult a doctor immediately if you experience any of the other symptoms of the life-threatening conditions listed above. Your doctor or cardiologist is most likely to carry out the following diagnostic analysis to rule out other conditions associated with the pain under your left rib cage.

Diagnosing The Cause Of Pain Under The Left Rib Cage

If you are experiencing sudden sharp pain on the left side under the ribs when breathing, your doctor may begin with a physical examination and ask you whether you have a family history of a heart condition. If they suspect you have heart disease, you may be asked to take an electrocardiogramⁱ  The simplest and fastest test used to check the heart’s rhythm and measure its electrical activity. test to rule out the possible causes (23).

Other tests include blood, urine, and/or stool test to look for other potential causes like kidney stones or pancreatitis.

If the cause of the pain on the left side under the ribs is not yet determined, you may be asked to undergo an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan so that your doctor can take a better look at your organs and areas of inflammation (if any).

Before choosing what to do next, it is important to assess the degree and type of your symptoms if you suddenly develop sharp pain under your left rib cage. Learn more in the next section.

Self-Triage Guidance For Pain Under The Left Rib Cage

It is important to evaluate your symptoms before visiting a doctor. Consider these questions:

• How severe is the pain?
• Has the severity decreased or increased over time?
• Do you have any accompanying symptoms like dizziness or shortness of breath?
• How long have you been experiencing the pain?

If the pain is severe or is accompanied with additional concerning symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Once the cause of the pain is determined, your physician will prescribe treatments accordingly.

Treatments For Pain Under The Left Rib Cage

Treatments are usually prescribed based on the cause of the pain.

If any inflammation is causing lower left rib pain, you may be asked to take NSAIDsⁱ  A class of therapeutic drug, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. to relieve the pain and swelling (24).

Bacterial infections may need you to take antibiotics, while conditions like kidney stones that are hard to pass may warrant surgery if drinking a lot of water does not remedy the situation.

Immediate lifestyle changes or open bypass surgery may be needed for those whose upper left abdominal pain is associated with heart conditions like a heart attack (25).

Conditions like gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome may require dietary and lifestyle changes, medicines, or probiotics (12). If the spleen is enlarged or ruptured, surgery like a splenectomy may be suggested (16). If the pain occurs due to muscle strains or injuries, your doctor may recommend simple measures like rest and physical therapy.

Infographic: Reasons Behind Pain Under The Left Rib Cage

Sharp pain under your left rib cage is a cause of concern as it may indicate underlying heart-related health issues. While it may be due to a passing heartburn, some reasons may be grave and require immediate medical inspection.

Check out the infographic below to read about the serious infection or disorder-related cause behind your pain.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What lifestyle changes can help reduce rib cage pain?

A healthy posture may help relieve pressure on the ribs and regular gentle exercise, such as yoga or stretching, can strengthen muscles and increase flexibility. Incorporating specific yoga poses to relieve chest pain to your workout routine can be beneficial. They may help promote relaxation and open up the chest area. Also, avoid heavy lifting or activities that strain the chest area to help reduce rib cage pain. In addition, certain relaxation techniques may help manage stress, not smoking, and maintaining a balanced diet to support general health may also contribute to reducing rib cage pain.

Are there any warning signs for serious conditions associated with left rib pain?

Breathing difficulties, sudden, intense radiating pain, and persistent chest discomfort are warning symptoms of serious illnesses associated with pain under the left rib cage. Seeking medical assistance immediately is essential if symptoms such as coughing up blood, fever, or unexplained weight loss are present.

How can I differentiate between muscle strain and organ-related pain?

Examine the type of pain to distinguish between it and organ-related discomfort. Generally, muscle strain causes sharp, aching, or localized pain that gets worse with movement or pressure on the afflicted area. On the other hand, pain associated with the organs usually seems deeper, sometimes radiates to other locations, and may come with other symptoms like nausea or breathing.

When to see a doctor for pain in the lower-left side of your chest?

The cause of the upper left abdominal pain could vary from something as minor as heartburn to something as severe as a heart attack. If you feel that you are experiencing symptoms of any of the life-threatening conditions listed above, along with pain under the lower left rib cage or chest pain, consult a doctor immediately.

What organ is under my right rib cage?

The liver is located at the lower right end of the rib cage. The right kidney and gallbladder are also located under the right rib cage.

What organ is below the left rib cage?

The organs located under the left rib cage or around its surrounding area are the heart, spleen, left lung, colon, left kidney, pancreas, and stomach.

How can you tell the difference between gastritis and pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis and gastritis share many of the same symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. However, gastritis results in tarry stools, whereas pancreatitis leads to oily and foul-smelling stools (26). Pancreatitis also presents upper abdominal pain and pain that seems to be radiating upwards or sideways toward the back (15).

Can diverticulitis cause pain under the left rib?

Diverticulitis may present sudden and severe pain and discomfort on the left side of the lower abdomen. Other symptoms of diverticulitis include diarrhea or constipation, fever, and chills (27).

Seeking relief from left rib pain? Find answers in this informative video that explores possible causes and shares practical tips to ease discomfort. Reclaim comfort and get back to enjoying life pain-free. Play it now!

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

 

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations.

Read full bio of Dr. Zeel Gandhi

• 
  Dr. Taryn SilversteinMD Dr. Taryn Silverstein is a gastroenterologist and is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. She has 18 years of experience in caring for patients with various gastrointestinal disorders. She attended Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and subsequently spent 7 years at the University of Massachusetts completing her training in internal medicine, serving as chief resident and completing her fellowship in gastroenterology.
  
  Dr. Taryn Silverstein is a gastroenterologist and is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. She has 18 years of experience in caring for patients with various gastrointestinal disorders. She attended Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and subsequently spent 7 years at the University of Massachusetts completing her training in internal medicine, serving as chief resident and completing her fellowship in gastroenterology.

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

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