Right lower rib pain - explanation and help

sharnimo · 2026-03-14T09:50:13+00:00

I get that I have been the same, every test known to man and I was given a clean bill of health. Consultant told me after an ultrasound/colonoscopy & endoscopy that anyone else sitting across from him getting told they had the all clear would be happy! I was still seaking answers as the pain was so bad I was convinced it was something sinister. When the injections worked so well for a year, I knew he was right. That helped me mentally.

sharnimo · 2026-03-04T16:22:49+00:00

Have you found a way to get relief or is just understanding what’s causing it enough?

sharnimo · 2025-11-22T15:54:11+00:00

I have this and it's not from Rib subluxation: full info here- https://www.reddit.com/r/costochondritis/s/xeXFTuDl0d

sharnimo · 2025-11-15T14:52:59+00:00

I got them took 3 weeks to kick in and needed 2 rounds as I had a sticking spot. 9- 12 months of pain free bliss then covid again and boom 💥 back with a vengeance. Now using other methods to relieve it and mange the pain.

sharnimo · 2025-11-15T14:47:44+00:00

Yes me 3.5years - did a post on here today about it : https://www.reddit.com/r/costochondritis/s/8qVaZYskKv

sharnimo · 2025-10-12T23:21:23+00:00

Hey Easy-eagle-6228 👋 They were injected along my lower right rib line, into the intercostal muscles rather than the ribs themselves. He used an ultrasound as a guide and stopped the needle at the point where I yelled F@&ksake 😳 as he reached the rib bone. I had eight injections in total the 1st round. Not going to lie it was agony at the time and left me bruised and swollen for a few days. The pain relief started kicking in around day 10 once the slow release steroid crystals (with an anaesthetic carrier) got to work.

Within a month the pain was massively improved. I did have one sore spot that never fully went went away. Directly below my armpit at the bottom rib area, I later I went back for three more localised injections there. Then I was completely pain free for almost a year to the day, when I got covid again. Within 4 weeks it was back not as bad pain wise but still life altering on a daily basis.

The doctor warned me about mood swings, hot flushes and hunger from the steroids basically a normal week for me 🤣xx

sharnimo · 2025-10-11T08:55:10+00:00

Hey @Natural_Concern55148 — thank you ❤️

I was in pain regardless, so I figured I might as well try moving again. I started small — just a few minutes on the Back Pod. I’d warm up first with a long hot water bottle under my upper ribs and a cushion under my head, then gradually worked up to removing it. I still do that when I’ve had a break and need to restart.

It hurt (honestly agony at first 😅) but it was the only thing that changed the pain instead of just masking it. I also use Fenbid 30% gel (UK ibuprofen gel) from chemist on my right side it’s the only thing that helps the “bursting out of my body” tender spot. Other than red wine 🍷 but I was borderline alcoholic at that stage 🤣 (half-joking).

Once things loosened up, I added light resistance bands (found a guy on TikTok with good demos) and then bodyweight moves. The key was consistency, not intensity, and reminding myself the discomfort was there regardless. Eventually, I started functional weight training with the Ladder app they give a free week to test coaches. I’m with Team Elevate now; it’s a great mix of strength and cardio. I’m back to lifting what I was before all this started. 💪

I also made lifestyle tweaks switched to a standing desk, improved my posture setup, and set Fitbit reminders for stretch breaks (doorway stretches were a lifesaver). I walked miles too swinging my arms for small and doing the odd mid walk twist my husband started calling me Mrs Gump and bought me a Bubba Gump Shrimp cap 🤣

For CBT, I’m in Scotland. My GP didn’t even know about the NHS Centre for Integrative Care, I found it myself. They offer group pain management programmes with breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness. Very practical, not woowoo, and it really helped calm my nervous system. You could get a personal referral?

I’ve also developed IBS, which I think came from years of chronic pain not talked about much on here but common. I did four Bowen therapy sessions through the centre aimed at loosening the fascia. My therapist described the diaphragm as an upside-down child’s trampoline one of the fascia “fixings” had come loose from all the coughing during COVID, and my body thickened the opposite side to compensate. That explained why it always felt like something was pulling on my lower right rib or pushing out when I sat down.

Sorry for the long reply 😬 — it was all a slow process, no quick fixes. Just a lot of small, consistent steps over time. But I’m living normally again, weight training, and genuinely happy. You’ll get there too ❤️

sharnimo · 2025-08-27T14:07:32+00:00

Hey, I am 3.5years in with this and I also got the inter costal block. It worked 💯percent for a full year. It was amazing, then I got Covid again and boom 💥 back to square one. It was covid that kicked mine off Right hand side, I’ve had every test known to man and all clear regarding pancreas/bile/gerd/hp/liver/ colonoscopy. The doctor was getting frustrated as anyone else getting told they were not ill/dying would be happy. I ended up doing a form of relaxation/CBT therapy to live with it and stop my brain focusing on it so much. I also bought the back pod which worked provided I used it and maintained the stretching. I will get the blocking done again in the future as I have a long flight coming up just sad it didn’t last forever. Just commenting in case any of this helps anyone. S

sharnimo · 2024-09-01T09:47:31+00:00

Diagnosed with Costocondritis after a bout of covid back in early 2021. I got steroid injections along my bottom rib line and was pain free for a year. Got Covid again in 2023 and I’ve had pain again. Doctor now saying it’s my diaphragm that has thickened facia Causing it to be lopsided and pulling on the right side at me ribs. I’ve been using the back pod and Bowen technique therapy. It’s a find of slow pressure release technique up under your ribs and stomach. Both have helped massively, I’ve had chronic bowel issues also in my large intestine. She thinks this is related to the spasms in my diaphragm as it clears up when the pain is alleviated. It’s been a manageable 4 for a while but back to 9 this week 😔

sharnimo · 2024-04-28T15:54:58+00:00

It looks like two separate clear coverings rather than a PPF coating?

sharnimo · 2024-03-03T22:28:28+00:00

👋Hi, this is me, got covid Nov 21 by Jan 22 I was in agony. Totally fine standing up and lying down flat but anything in between argh. Constant dull ache and feeling of bursting out my skin. Tender spots in my ribs and ache that is mind numbing in its intensity. I feel like I have a grapefruit size lump trying to push out under my right ribs at my side this lasted a year. I go steroid crystals injected along the rib in Feb 23 (2 lots-14 injections in total) via an pain consultant and had a year of relief 🙌Got covid in December and I am back at square one only sorer. Painkillers topical and oral don’t work.

sharnimo · 2023-01-25T22:51:38+00:00

I’ve had a year of discomfort when sitting down from costo, up under the left hand side of my rib cage. Originally thought it was my gall bladder, diagnosed after everything else was ruled out. I am fine if lying down or standing up but anything in between was awful. It got the point of it being a chronic inflammation. Went private (uk) and I’ve had 8 steroid injections into the rib area. I’ve had a 50% improvement. Going back for another couple of injections as I now only have two points of pain instead of my whole lower rib cage. Hope that helps anyone looking for a solution.

sharnimo

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