Hi everyone. I have been experiencing a fairly constant dull ache under my left rib for the past few years. It seems to be getting a little worse lately. It hurts the most when I push down on the top of my rib cage. My doctor had told me that it was a pulled muscle, but I feel that if that were the case it should have healed by now?! I had an ultrasound of my upper abdomen which did not show any abnormalities a few years ago. My only bowel complaint is that I have constipation although it is not severe. I do not have diarrhea. Does this sound like IBS or colitis? Thank you for any input you may have.

kim,
The only way you will know is by eliminating other things and having a colonscopy done.Most people with IBS or Colitis have constipation/diarreha, or One of the other very badly. Colitis is a chronic disease and if you had that you would know it, its lots and lots of diarreha, that usually you have to take meds for to stop. So, i would talk to a Gastro doc if your concerned. Take Care Nelly

Thanks for the reply. I am actually supposed to have a barium in a couple of weeks. My doctor says that this is much gentler than the "garden hose" colonoscopy as she put it. Hopefully this will rule-out any problems.

I also have the left rib problem along with many others. First, if its the rib itself, there is condition of inflammed rib thats easily treated with antibiotics. If it is just below the left rib, it is the famous spleenic flexure area.There is a lot in that area, the stomach, bend of the intestine, spleen, pancreas and so on. If it is not severe pain, i would guess it is the final corner of your intestine. You may notice that it bothers you around the same time, or irritates you for an hour or so then disapears, or disapears with passing gas. This would all lead to it being the intestine.It can be a part of ibs, im told, or colitis. But its usually not a major problem, it just has to do with that being a tight corner for your intestine, sometimes gas accumulates there, or an irritation. Fiber can make it better or worse. Good luck.

After all your medical procedures, if there is no diagnosis of note, you can bet it is IBS. My doctors here are strange in that no one will commit to an IBS diagnosis, I had to figure it out myself. Seems my doctots were afraid to tell me it is a "mental thing" especially because I am in law enforcement and am assigned a weapon. Talking to other officers, a very, very large portion of them have these IBS symptoms that started out with the "pain under the left rib syndrome". I have been scoped from the bottom and top numerous times with negative results as to major disease. I am 45 years old. I go through bouts of constipation and diarrhea as well as a myriad of other symptoms. Hope this helps...Wayde