Need Help Chronic Left-Sided Stomach Pain & Rib Clicking – Seeking Answers After Years of Testing

[pnillyg]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been struggling with severe stomach pain for years, mostly in cycles, directly under my left ribs. It often feels like a mass moving or a “clicking” sensation under the ribs when pressure is applied to that region, sometimes followed by clicking during flare-ups. I’ve had both upper and lower endoscopies and CT /x-rays/MRIs, but nothing has been diagnosed.

Feelings I encounter -

- bloating

-abdominal/stomach are spasms viable just at looking at it since when it’s really bad it shakes like my abs hare having a seizure

- feeling full all the time

- Clicking sound when pressure applied to the reagion

- feels like a combo of gas and spasms and bloating

When it flairs up I get depressed because I know it’s not going to be gone in the morning.

Here’s what I’ve tried and think I ruled out so far (that being said I’m not a doctor so everything is still on the table. I thought I got to the bottom of it because after stopping cannabis it got better and after a month of no cannabis it was good until a week ago randomly (didn’t start smoking again) but now I am because why would I abstain if that’s not the cause:

• CHS (Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome): I stopped cannabis for a month, symptoms slightly improved but returned before reintroducing cannabis, so I’ve resumed use, feeling it’s likely not CHS. (Still could be it but I don’t think so since they came back without resuming use.. it could be something else this time though but it feels the same I so lost)

• Dietary Adjustments: Currently gluten-free with no clear improvements yet.

• Conditions Treated For (Without Success): IBS, SIBO, general inflammation, but nothing has resolved the issue.

Current Medications & Supplements:

• Kratom (tapering)

• Gabapentin, benzodiazepines (as needed)

• Melatonin and Lunesta for sleep

• Ketamine (for pain and mental health support)

(Specifically diazepam helps for some reason)

Other Factors:

• Chronic tongue inflammation and ulcers, often flaring along with stomach pain.

• History of opioid use, currently tapering kratom.


I’m really trying to get to the root cause of this pain, as nothing so far has provided long-term relief. I’d appreciate any suggestions on potential diagnoses, tests I may have missed, or treatments that have worked for others with similar issues.


Thanks for reading — I’m committed to figuring this out and would be grateful for any insights!

 

[kris66]

Does it flare up after consumption of any particular food or activity?

I have diverticulitis that flares when I eat too many raw fruits or vegetables, but this should have shown up on a CT or MRI scan.

It's interesting you have tongue inflamation and ulcers when this flares up. Are you eating or drinking anything acidic before a flare like tomato or citrus foods? I sometimes get sores in my mouth from tomatoes as well as stomach issues. Ibuprofen also causes this for me.

Maybe if you keep a diary of your foods you had right before a flare up (and any supplements or otc meds) you may identify a trend. Sometimes this has worked for me.

I hope you are able to figure out the cause. I have food allergies also and it's sometimes difficult to pinpoint.

 

[kris66]

I worked at a clinic and I was surprised how many patients we had who had CHS since it is supposedly rare. But their symptoms were very specific; cyclic profuse vomiting relieved only by hot showers.

 

[pnillyg]

Does it flare up after consumption of any particular food or activity?

I have diverticulitis that flares when I eat too many raw fruits or vegetables, but this should have shown up on a CT or MRI scan.

It's interesting you have tongue inflamation and ulcers when this flares up. Are you eating or drinking anything acidic before a flare like tomato or citrus foods? I sometimes get sores in my mouth from tomatoes as well as stomach issues. Ibuprofen also causes this for me.

Maybe if you keep a diary of your foods you had right before a flare up (and any supplements or otc meds) you may identify a trend. Sometimes this has worked for me.

I hope you are able to figure out the cause. I have food allergies also and it's sometimes difficult to pinpoint.

I keep a diary of all medications but not food. Recently started going gluten free and will start tracking foods as well. Thinking it could be dairy too? Who knows. I have done allergy tests and they said im fine with most foods except coconut which I haven’t ate recently

 

[kris66]

I can't tolerate dairy but fortunately it's a lot easier to be dairy free now because they have so many different choices. Almond milk and extra creamy oatmilk are both really good in cooking.

My son-in-law recently found out he couldn't tolerate olive oil. He had been getting sick and couldn't figure out what was causing it. My daughter was trying to cook heaIthy and using olive oil. It can be hard to figure out what's causing the problem sometimes.

 

[pnillyg]

I can't tolerate dairy but fortunately it's a lot easier to be dairy free now because they have so many different choices. Almond milk and extra creamy oatmilk are both really good in cooking.

My son-in-law recently found out he couldn't tolerate olive oil. He had been getting sick and couldn't figure out what was causing it. My daughter was trying to cook heIthy and using olive oil. It can be hard to figure out what's causing the problem sometimes.

Doing an elimination process and hopefully i can get some results

 

[Ds]

I'd definitely get it checked out by a gastroenterologist. They will be able to do tests and check your blood for anything that might be causing an issue.
It could be something like an issue with the cartilage, causing it to make that sound. Sometimes that won't necessarily hurt when it clicks but not 100% sure in this case.
You could try wearing one of those compression vests, or a tight undershirt with your clothes and see if that helps.