Dull pain in back left side under ribs

Q: What causes back pain under rib cage on left side?

Kidney stones or infection Theyre located on either side of your spine, but when they become inflamed or infected, the pain can radiate to the front of your body. When your left kidney is involved, you might feel pain near the left side of your rib cage.

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.

Table of Contents Show

When to see a doctor
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
How the spleen works
Risk factors
Complications
Associated Procedures
Products & Services
What organ is on left side under rib cage in back?
What causes back pain under rib cage on left side?
What is dull pain under left rib cage?
When should I worry about left side pain?

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.

Overview

Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen. An enlarged spleen is also known as splenomegaly (spleh-no-MEG-uh-lee).

An enlarged spleen usually doesn't cause symptoms. It's often discovered during a routine physical exam. A doctor usually can't feel the spleen in an adult unless it's enlarged. Imaging and blood tests can help identify the cause of an enlarged spleen.

Treatment for an enlarged spleen depends on what's causing it. Surgery to remove an enlarged spleen usually isn't needed, but sometimes it's recommended.

Symptoms

An enlarged spleen typically causes no signs or symptoms, but sometimes it causes:

Pain or fullness in the left upper belly that can spread to the left shoulder
A feeling of fullness without eating or after eating a small amount because the spleen is pressing on your stomach
Low red blood cells (anemia)
Frequent infections
Bleeding easily

When to see a doctor

See your doctor promptly if you have pain in your left upper belly, especially if it's severe or the pain gets worse when you take a deep breath.

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Causes

A number of infections and diseases can cause an enlarged spleen. The enlargement might be temporary, depending on treatment. Contributing factors include:

Viral infections, such as mononucleosis
Bacterial infections, such as syphilis or an infection of your heart's inner lining (endocarditis)
Parasitic infections, such as malaria
Cirrhosis and other diseases affecting the liver
Various types of hemolytic anemia — a condition characterized by early destruction of red blood cells
Blood cancers, such as leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas, such as Hodgkin's disease
Metabolic disorders, such as Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease
Pressure on the veins in the spleen or liver or a blood clot in these veins
Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or sarcoidosis

How the spleen works

Your spleen is tucked below your rib cage next to your stomach on the left side of your belly. Its size generally relates to your height, weight and sex.

This soft, spongy organ performs several critical jobs, such as:

Filtering out and destroying old, damaged blood cells
Preventing infection by producing white blood cells (lymphocytes) and acting as a first line of defense against disease-causing organisms
Storing red blood cells and platelets, which help your blood clot

An enlarged spleen affects each of these jobs. When it's enlarged, your spleen may not function as usual.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop an enlarged spleen at any age, but certain groups are at higher risk, including:

Children and young adults with infections, such as mononucleosis
People who have Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease, and several other inherited metabolic disorders affecting the liver and spleen
People who live in or travel to areas where malaria is common

Complications

Potential complications of an enlarged spleen are:

Infection. An enlarged spleen can reduce the number of healthy red blood cells, platelets and white cells in your bloodstream, leading to more frequent infections. Anemia and increased bleeding also are possible.
Ruptured spleen. Even healthy spleens are soft and easily damaged, especially in car crashes. The possibility of rupture is much greater when your spleen is enlarged. A ruptured spleen can cause life-threatening bleeding in your belly.

Sept. 04, 2021

Bona R. Evaluation of splenomegaly and other splenic disorders. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 22, 2021.
Splenomegaly. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/spleen-disorders/splenomegaly#. Accessed April 22, 2021.
AskMayoExpert. Spleen disorders. Mayo Clinic; 2021.
Jameson JL, et al, eds. Enlargement of lymph nodes and spleen. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 20th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed April 22, 2021.
Recommended adult immunization schedule for ages 19 years or older. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2021. https://search.cdc.gov/search/index.html?query=Recommended+Adult+Immunization+Schedule&sitelimit=&utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=cdc-main. Accessed April 22, 2021.
Lab Tests Online. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. https://labtestsonline.org/tests/bone-marrow-aspiration-and-biopsy. Accessed April 22, 2021.

Associated Procedures

Products & Services

What organ is on left side under rib cage in back?

What causes back pain under rib cage on left side?

Kidney stones or infection They're located on either side of your spine, but when they become inflamed or infected, the pain can radiate to the front of your body. When your left kidney is involved, you might feel pain near the left side of your rib cage.

What is dull pain under left rib cage?

Pain in your upper left abdomen under your ribs can have a variety of causes. There are several important organs in this area, including the: spleen kidney pancreas stomach colon lung. Life threatening causes include heart attack. Pain in your upper left abdomen under your ribs can have a variety of causes.

When should I worry about left side pain?

Generally, intermittent left side pain is a sign of gas or indigestion and should pass on its own. But if you notice severe abdominal pain on the left side of your body in conjunction with any of the following symptoms, it's time to call the doctor: Fever. Nausea or vomiting.