The left side pain
Left-sided pain under the ribs is also musculoskeletal in most cases. Broken bones, muscle aches, tears, tensions, neuralgia (nerve pain) and other superficial injuries provoke pain that can be aggravated by pressure or movement. Organic causes are mainly the left lung, heart, stomach and spleen.
Pain under the ribs is not a rare symptom in coronary artery disease. Depending on the degree of blockage of the artery, the pain occurs as pressure and a feeling of tightness with more or less strain.In the case of an acute heart attack, a strong chest pain, which can radiate into the head, neck and arm, usually occurs at rest. If the symptoms are less pronounced, such pain can be mistaken for a pain in the ribs.
Diseases of the spleen can also rarely be the cause of left-sided pain under the ribs. In rare cases, the spleen may be an organic cause of pain under the ribs on the left side. The spleen is an upper abdominal organ that filters and sorts the blood.
In certain blood diseases, such as severe blood poisoning or leukemia, the spleen does not do its job and the organ swells up considerably. The spleen is usually located below the ribs and extends to the lower left costal arch. If it swells, pressure is also exerted on the diaphragm and the ribs, which causes pain. As a result of the swelling or injury, the spleen can also rupture.
The central pain
Central pain very rarely affects the ribs themselves. The first 8 ribs are connected to the breastbone via cartilage, which extends centrally to above the stomach. This can also break in blunt injuries and lead to severe pain.
Damage to muscles and nerves is very untypical for a central pain. If the pain behind the sternum is diffuse, dull or burning, an organic cause is obvious. In the middle, the trachea and esophagus are the most common.
The trachea can be irritated by inflammatory processes. A bronchitis of viral or bacterial origin may be responsible. Foreign bodies can also enter the windpipe by swallowing and cause pain.
More often, however, the esophagus is affected. If large bites are badly chewed, it can happen that food remains get stuck in the oesophagus. This leads to acute, stabbing pain.
Acidosis of the mucous membrane can also cause pain. The typical heartburn is mainly caused by fatty food in combination with risk factors such as smoking, overweight and medication. If the stomach enters the thorax through a hole in the diaphragm, this can also lead to central pain in the ribs.
The stomach can press on the surrounding chest organs, which is worsened by eating. Heartburn affects many adults. It is an irritation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus caused by too much acid.
Especially high-energy foods like alcohol and fatty foods provoke heartburn. In addition, some risk factors promote the occurrence. These include overweight, smoking, frequent lying down, coffee consumption and certain medications.
Heartburn is a diffuse, burning pain centered behind the breastbone. In some cases the stomach is also affected, so that an ulcer (peptic ulcer) can develop. This can manifest itself as a stabbing pain under the ribs.
The stomach is located centrally to the left under the costal arch. In the case of an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, pain is felt in this area, among other things. Gastric mucosal inflammation occurs when the mucus layer that protects the stomach wall is weakened.
Then the stomach acid attacks the mucous membrane of the stomach. The pain often subsides for a short time after eating. Through the food, the stomach acid is neutralized a little, which leads to an alleviation of the symptoms.
In addition to the abdominal pain, nausea and in some cases vomiting also occur. Those affected also have less appetite and a feeling of fullness. With the right food and medication, the stomach acid can be neutralized and its production reduced, thus improving the symptoms.
A diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital or acquired defect in the diaphragmatic muscle. This causes gaps in the muscle and thus an incomplete separation of the abdomen and chest. Due to this circumstance, the stomach may be shifted to the thorax and lie next to the heart and lungs.
Especially after eating, when the stomach fills up and increases its volume, pain and various complaints can occur. A pain under the ribs is also typical. The so-called “thoracic stomach” can be easily determined by an X-ray examination.
Just like any muscle, the small muscle strands between the ribs can also be affected by sore muscles. These are tiny tears in the muscle fibers that are caused by excessive strain. Infections associated with a severe cough can lead to sore muscles.It makes deep breathing and coughing all the more painful. If the symptoms are particularly pronounced, the pain can be alleviated by a painkiller until it heals.
