Sharp stabbing pain on right side under ribs

Precordial Catch Syndrome is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain that is painful to breathe through.

Have you ever felt a sharp pain in your ribs, that hurt when you breathed in, then quickly disappeared? While you might have panicked for a second thinking it was a heart attack, it’s possible you were actually experiencing precordial catch syndrome, a mysterious condition that can cause sharp and sudden pains in the ribs.

What is Precordial Catch Syndrome?

Precordial catch syndrome (PCS), or as it’s sometimes known, “Texidor’s Twinge”, is a condition that causes a sharp pain in the ribs that comes on and disappears quickly. PCS is often experienced by otherwise healthy children and adolescents.

The syndrome is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain that is painful to breathe through, often on the upper left-hand side of the ribs. The good news is that the pain will usually go away by itself within a few minutes and doesn’t cause any health problems.

Doctors don’t quite know what causes PCS, though it’s thought it might have something to do with irritation of the nerves that line the chest wall. Some also think that PCS is more common during growth spurts. It seems to happen most when a child is at rest, sitting or lying down, and isn’t accompanied by other symptoms. The syndrome becomes much less common after the age of 20.

What to do if my child has chest pains?

It’s always wise to treat chest pain seriously. If there are any other symptoms accompanying your child’s pain, like nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness or shortness of breath, or the pain doesn’t go away quickly, you should seek immediate medical help.

Unexplained chest pain might cause you or your child some understandable anxiety. Even if your child’s chest pain is brief and doesn’t seem to be connected to other health concerns, raise it with your GP. If it’s PCS, have them explain what’s happening to you and your child, so the condition doesn’t keep causing you unnecessary worry.

You can always call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with any questions about your health or your child’s health. If you think the situation is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance straight away.

Do you experience sharp pain under your right rib cage and are unsure whether to take it seriously? The part of your body below your right rib cage is the upper right quadrant (RUQ). Pain in this area can affect nearby organs, including the right kidney, gallbladder, and liver. Although not every kind of pain is anything to worry about, it’s essential to know what is causing it and when to see a doctor.

Pain under the right rib cage: Should I get medical help?

Ask yourself the following questions if you have pain under the right rib cage:

• Is the pain severe or persistent?
• Do you also have a fever?
• Are you short of breath?
• Is there blood in your stool?
• Did you cough up blood?
• Is your urine darker and stool lighter than usual?
• Do you have jaundice?
• Have you lost weight?

Immediately visit a doctor if you answer “yes” to any of these questions because these symptoms could be a sign of a serious medical condition. But if your answer is “no” to these questions, read along to know the possible causes of the pain below your right rib cage.

Sudden Sharp Pain Under Right Rib Cage: Causes

As mentioned earlier, there are several important organs just below the right side of your rib cage, including the gallbladder, liver, right kidney, pancreas, and intestines. Sudden pain in the RUQ is not always a point of concern. Some people experience this pain because of gas accumulation in the large intestine (known as a hepatic flexure) near the rib cage. This could be a reason, especially if you often suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort.

Another reason for this pain could be strained or injured intercostal muscles. These muscles facilitate the movement of your rib cage. For instance, if you’ve turned or twisted your body and pulled up the muscle, you can experience pain under your rib cage. In this case, you should rest to alleviate symptoms.

Pain below the right cage: When is it an emergency?

Sometimes, sharp pain in the right upper quadrant can signify a serious medical condition. In most cases, people have developed gallstones when they experience excruciating pain after eating a large meal. This condition occurs when there’s excessive cholesterol in the bile.

Liver problems can also cause pain near the right rib cage. They can be due to an abscess formation, hepatitis, or cancerous growth. Their symptoms typically include nausea, fever, tenderness near the affected area, dark urine, and fatigue.

You can also experience this pain due to kidney problems, including cancer, infection, and kidney stones formation. Symptoms include fever, nausea, fatigue, blood in urine, and pain while urinating.

If you notice any of the mentioned symptoms, visit a qualified health professional as soon as possible.

Conclusion

If you face sharp, sudden pain in the right upper quadrant or under the right rib cage, please visit Epic Heart & Vascular Center. We will diagnose your issues and address whether you require urgent treatment. Call us today at 832-432-1951 Houston and 832-952-1951 Willowbrook for an appointment.

What organ is on the right side under the ribs?

Why does my right side hurt like a stabbing pain?

When should I be concerned about pain under my right rib?