Misterious side pain.

[MammaB21]

So every since I got pregnant with DD I've been experiencing this weird pain in my left side. I don't remember it ever occurring before that pregnancy, and it seemed to just get worse postpartum. DD is 4 years old now and the last year or so the pain has died down to the point that I didn't really notice it/kind of forgot about it. Then I got pregnant with DS and the pain came back. Again, it's worsened since he was born 7 weeks ago.

The pain is located on the left side directly under my rib cage. It seems like it could be originating from the back. It's a sharp stabbing type pain and it makes me want to press my finger into that spot. When I do that the pain actually feels a little better. It comes and goes and some days it's there, some days it's not and some days it's worse than others. I've never thought much about it because it never gets too painful. It probably only reaches a 3 in pain level, but it's enough to be annoying. It honestly feels like it's an organ (it's an internal pain, not muscle) but I can't for the life of me figure out what organ would be located in that spot. For that reason, I chalked it up to a side ache and let it rest, but now that it's back I'm really curious to know what this is. It has no relation to activity, so it's not a typical side ache. The pain seems to come at totally random times. Could it be a kidney? Any thoughts? Anyone else experience this?

[ASusan]

I had a pain that may or may not be similar. The description of the type of pain sounds similar, but the location was different. Mine started during pregnancy, just under my right rib cage in the front. Started at about 5 mos., and we thought it was reflux, so the OB had me taking OTC acid reducers. They tested my liver functioning, and, if I recall my gall bladder, too. But, everything was ok, test-wise. Just pain! So I downed antacid like candy when the natural remedies didn't work. The only relief I felt was when I lifted my right arm up over my head. Like when I was a passenger in the car, I would hang my arm from the strap/handle that is above the door. After birth, the pain pretty much went away.

THEN, 24 mos PP, I went to a rolfer. Rolfing manipulates the fascia, which is the connective tissue just under your skin that holds everything together. When he got to that spot, WOW! pain like you wouldn't believe. "This is how rolfers get their reputation," he said. What reputation? That rolfing is painful. But, all the other sessions with him (about 4 hours worth) felt pretty good to great. The tissue under and around my ribs was just totally out of place. It was really painful to have him work on it, and it was tender afterward. But now, I have almost no pain there. (I have to poke and prod pretty hard to provoke it).

If I get pregnant again and have this type of pain, I'm headed back to him.

[MammaB21]

Thanks for the reply. I've been thinking since I posted this that it's possible the pain is originating from a disc out of place in my back, a knot there, or the actual rib could be a bit off. I have a lot of back pain and need to get to a chiro. Maybe that will make a difference. I've also heard about transferred pain. As in the problem could be originating somewhere else but the nerve endings are in the 'right' order to create the pain to jump to a different spot. Hhhhmmm.......more research on dr. google I guess.

[Liquesce]

I'm always predisposed to guess gallstones when there's abdominal pain exacerbated by having been pregnant. So take my guess for whatever biased view it's worth. But really, gallbladder pain is "text book" on the right side, but can manifest practically anywhere in the trunk of the body ... back, shoulders, left side, whatever. I certainly wouldn't pshaw the thought just because of the location of the sensation.

As for organs actually located at your left ribs, that would be your spleen and pancreas.