Thank you, I have been experiencing the same thing and I was also blaming weight gain. Maybe I should have it checked out also. Good luck with the surgery!
To all of the people who wonder what is this cramp. Read this there is something called abdominal wall pain.
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I'm 99 pounds and 5'2, and i get the same exact spasms when I bend over. It isn't your weight... But if you ever figure out what it is, please share!!! I had 3 c-sections, and wonder if it is partly from that? I have had these spasms for years.
Possibly tight hip flexor muscles. My PT is having me go through several different stretches to fix the issue. I'll let you know in a month
Did you ever find out what caused this?
I Finally looked this up today because it happened to me for the first time in over a year. For the most part I think we can relax if the cramp-like pain is in the bottom rib area. This started for me when I was in my mid-40's, I'm now 66 and still experiencing it. If it's any comfort, I still walk the earth and have the same symptoms as most of you. It's always on my left side at about rib 9. Usually, up to now it occurred when I was working on something (like under a car) and in an awkward position and twisting my body as well. Today I was just bending straight over to pick up something. I always assumed it was a "cramp"; maybe of the intercostal muscles and, like everybody else, I would immediately straighten up and "reach for the sky" for 30 seconds to a minute until it abated.
I'm very surprised at how many of us suffer from this. In the last 20 years I've only found one other person who experiences it (he saw me with vertical arms and stretching right during an attack at work) and didn't realize it was so common. It is weirdly comforting to know that I'm not the only one who has this condition. I guess what they say about misery loving company is true.
Oh, and by the way; I'm no doc but as I said, if your symptoms are associated with the last three ribs area on either side (especially if you experience the feeling of something moving out of place and ultimately back again with the ceasing of symptoms), I don't think a panic attack is necessary but, if you are concerned you might want to have a doc check you out.
For the most part, the hernia theory doesn't seem plausible; you will have a bulge or lump with any hernia but sometimes you might be unable to feel it yourself. A good GP can palpate the area and knows what to look for if you are concerned about a hernia.
The "overweight" theory seems to not hold water either, as many of the posters say they are fit and trim. When I was 45 and this started, I was 6'4" and only 178 pounds.
I have to agree with the poster or two who suggested that "Slipping Rib" is the most likely culprit for most of us. Although I won't ask for the doc to manipulate me, there is a test for this called the "hooking maneuver". The doctor cups his fingers under your lower ribs on the affected side and lifts up and back to see if he can duplicate the pain that you're experiencing. No Thanks, I think I'm perfectly happy with self diagnosis in this case. If anyone has the guts to have this diagnostic test done, I'm sure all of us would like to hear the results. Anyway, I wanted you all to know that someone can suffer from this for 20+ years and still survive.
Maybe I'll see you all around. I'll be the guy with his hands thrown up in the air, his back bowed and a painful look on his face. Cheers from Texas!
I'm very surprised at how many of us suffer from this. In the last 20 years I've only found one other person who experiences it (he saw me with vertical arms and stretching right during an attack at work) and didn't realize it was so common. It is weirdly comforting to know that I'm not the only one who has this condition. I guess what they say about misery loving company is true.
Oh, and by the way; I'm no doc but as I said, if your symptoms are associated with the last three ribs area on either side (especially if you experience the feeling of something moving out of place and ultimately back again with the ceasing of symptoms), I don't think a panic attack is necessary but, if you are concerned you might want to have a doc check you out.
For the most part, the hernia theory doesn't seem plausible; you will have a bulge or lump with any hernia but sometimes you might be unable to feel it yourself. A good GP can palpate the area and knows what to look for if you are concerned about a hernia.
The "overweight" theory seems to not hold water either, as many of the posters say they are fit and trim. When I was 45 and this started, I was 6'4" and only 178 pounds.
I have to agree with the poster or two who suggested that "Slipping Rib" is the most likely culprit for most of us. Although I won't ask for the doc to manipulate me, there is a test for this called the "hooking maneuver". The doctor cups his fingers under your lower ribs on the affected side and lifts up and back to see if he can duplicate the pain that you're experiencing. No Thanks, I think I'm perfectly happy with self diagnosis in this case. If anyone has the guts to have this diagnostic test done, I'm sure all of us would like to hear the results. Anyway, I wanted you all to know that someone can suffer from this for 20+ years and still survive.
Maybe I'll see you all around. I'll be the guy with his hands thrown up in the air, his back bowed and a painful look on his face. Cheers from Texas!
I have the same problem. I was amazed at how many people have this problem. I've seen my GI 3x and hosp 2x. No one can figure out what is going on. My pain is excruiating and now it's taking longer to go away when I straighten out. Also mine is on both sides about 3" under my breasts.
I've had this pain forever, and now it feels.like it has adapted into a little alien. Under my skin! I swear there's something in there lol. I've been going to doctors and specialists complaining, in pain, for 3 years, now, and they all look at me like I'm nuts. I, no longer, can bend over - at all, as soon as I do I experience a chairlie horse between my ribs and breast-bone (on my left side) that makes it impossible to breathe. Sometimes, at night, the pain of a constant poking keeps me from getting any sleep, and as of late, I'm having so many spasms in that area that I feel like I'm with child (unless God is playing a cruel joke, is no longer possible). My hopes are that I'll continue to go to doctors until they figure this out. I drink plenty of water so that is not the problem; however, since this has started I have been gaining crazy weight then dropping it. If anyone has the answer, I'm all ears!
Very interesting to find this post. My friend had the same thing. She told me it is hernia. She is Indian and hers was diagnosed in India during her regular checkup after giving birth to her first child. The doc asked her to bend down to touch her toes and that was the first time she felt the pain. She had surgery done and got it fixed. No pain again. She told me this when we were talking about bikini or something because she doesn't want to show her stomach which has scars, that's before I even told her my symptoms. I have the same symptoms as everybody else, bend over, acute pain, I have to stretch and I feel something goes back into its right position and the pain goes away in no time. I went to see my doc today and she said it can't be hernia because she can't see or feel anything. Still I will get my ultrasound done on Friday. Will keep everyone posted.
Been having GERD and belching issues for years, but "Charlie horse" cramping in the upper left side of my abdomen started when I had my daughter 4 years ago. Had am xray and ultrasound.... no results! Finally took my husband to my follow up to let the Dr know I'm not crazy and something is wrong
Getting blood work done, CT and then endoscopy if no results. She is suspecting it to be a hiatus hernia. After all the researching, I don't see.how it could be anything else. At this point I dont care what is wrong I just want answers.
Getting blood work done, CT and then endoscopy if no results. She is suspecting it to be a hiatus hernia. After all the researching, I don't see.how it could be anything else. At this point I dont care what is wrong I just want answers.
I didn't realize there are so many of us suffering from this problem. I was wondering if it had something to do with intestines even though it feels like a Charlie horse / cramp like pain. My discomfort usually comes from twisting my torso, or bending over at the waist. I'm about 15 pounds over weight. Which is all in my mid section.
I got ultrasound done and everything is fine. I asked the tech, and she told me she hears many people complaining about this issue, but she usually doesn't see anything wrong. So my doctor told me I am fine, nothing is wrong. And asked me to take a picture when it happens next time. So you guys should do it too, so the doctors won't think we are crazy.
I'm experiencing the same thing I was just cleaning the bathroom bending down to White around the toilet bowl then the cramp begin in my upper stomach it feels like it's a muscle cramp once I stand straight up or sit scraped back and scratch my stomach the pain goes away I don't feel sick to my stomach I don't have to vomit or anything sometime it gets locked and I would have to rub it then it will stop and go away what is this someone please let me know it is on my upper right side of my stomach
I joined this post some time ago and a lot has happened since then. I'm not saying this is what is wrong with any of you but if you have elevated liver enzymes in blood work, it could be portal hypertension causing backflow of blood from the portal vein in your liver. I had several ultrasounds all showing fatty liver for years, also was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 so my primary was blowing off the high liver enzymes as something to do with the elevated blood sugars. Finally I demanded a CT scan of my abdomen and they found Cirrhosis, portal hypertension and esophageal varicies. I also later was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hepatitis after a liver biopsy. My body is fighting against my liver as if it is a foreign body. So I am now on immunosuppressive therapy, many meds and trying to stay positive. I'm posting this in case anyone out there has a similar background. I just wish I could have been diagnosed sooner. Take care everyone.
Aww tombkat I'm so sorry to hear this, although glad you are being looked after now. I searched this post because for the last few months I've been getting cramping stabbing pain on my right side, just under my diaphragm when I bend. Even after standing up I have to vigourously massage the area to get rid of the pain. I assumed it was probably my weight as I'm very overweight (actually lost count of how much but probably weigh about 250-260 pounds). Anyway I'm glad I saw your post tombkat as I have previously been diagnosed with fatty liver disease and have had erratic liver enzyme results for years, eventually coming to a head 3 years ago when I developed pancreatitis and sepsis from my gallbladder which explained the high LFTs. I had my gallbladder removed and things settled back down again, but I'm wondering if it is worth getting my liver checked again. I'm only 29 years old. I also do not drink alcohol because it causes severe pain (I've never been much of a drinker anyway but assume the damage was already done)