Hi all, so I`ve came across this post about many people who complain about unknown pressure under rib cages: https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/uncomfortable-pressure-under-left-rib-cage?page=11
This is the first time I know so many people feel this way, and I`d like to know if any of you figured out what was going on in the end?
I`ve noticed that most people can recall the beginning of their symptoms, and many mentioned the issue on breathing it caused them. But no one seem to say anything about how it affects their speech, so I assume it doesn`t?
In my case, my left rib cage pressure has been present for as far as I can remember and it never went away. It also seems to be different to most peoples as it severely affects my ability to speak/listen/read through messing with my breathing patterns.
Whenever I try to speak, I feel out of breath fast, and am not able to pronounce words or sentences with proper intonation. I have to draw in deep breath just to follow others` speech as well. At all time I feel this weird squishy pressure in my lower left rib cage, almost as if my internal organs are tightly balled up together, and my rib cage is unable to contract (you know how it contracts when you breath out?).
After seeing countless specialists and doing all sorts of tests without getting an answer, as stupid as it may sounds, I think my abdominal organs are simply too tightly placed in the rib cage, and they simply can`t shuffle around like other people to allow proper rib cage movement to happen.
I wonder if this is a possibility at all, and if there are any other people who have ever had similar symptoms?
Hi, ThutmosisChen.
Yes, it is possible for abdominal organs to obstruct rib cage movement during breathing. This can happen when there is an enlarged organ, such as the liver or spleen, or an abdominal mass due to a tumor or hernia. It can also occur due to abdominal muscle tightness, which may be caused by stress or injury.
It really looks like you have an enlarged organ, but it is odd that doctors didn't find anything. Do you have any more exams scheduled?
I also tried to use NSAIDs on my rib muscles and there`s no help either. I can feel it has nothing to do with muscle tightness, the things that stuck underneath the ribs are definitely organs, like colons, spleens. At this point I feel like I was probably born with this abnormality. I am trying to figure out how organs usually shuffle around in ribs when you breath out, and how come mine just stick there and become an obstruction.
I have a colonoscopy coming up next month, but that is basically it, I am not sure what else I can be tested for.
Adhesion of the organs, also known as organ locking, is a medical condition in which two or more organs become abnormally stuck together. This can be caused by a number of reasons, including scar tissue, inflammation, or infection. Treatment for adhesion depends on the cause and severity of the condition. If the adhesion is caused by scar tissue, doctors may recommend surgery to remove the adhesions. If the adhesion is due to inflammation or infection, doctors may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the inflammation and help the organs separate. In some cases, physical therapy may be recommended to help reduce adhesion. If the adhesion is severe and does not respond to these treatments, doctors may need to perform open surgery to manually separate the organs.
Adhesion can be diagnosed through a physical exam, imaging tests, and other tests. During a physical exam, your doctor will look for signs of adhesion, such as tenderness and pain in the affected area. Imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI can help your doctor visualize the affected organs and tissues to determine if there are any adhesions present. Other tests, such as laparoscopy, can help your doctor to confirm a diagnosis of adhesion. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows your doctor to insert a small camera into your abdomen to look for adhesions.
You can ask for a laparoscopy if you want.