Question

I have a pain on my left side below the rib cage; it affects me when I sit too long or bend or stretch, it also cuts out my breath. I have had many tests and nothing has been found. I have been suffering with high levels of H. pylori stomach infection for a year and no medication treatment has helped. Could this be the cause of my pain, or could it be something more serious?

Answer

The pain that you describe is most consistent with a muscular or bony/rib pain. The fact that it is aggravated by movement (or immobility) and leads to shortness of breath makes it likely that there is a problem with the muscles of the rib cage or even the diaphragm. A fracture of a rib could lead to such pain, as could an inflammatory condition of the muscles.

This pain does not fit the typical description of esophageal or stomach pain, such as acid-related disease. Esophagitis and ulcers of the stomach are usually related to meals, and are not affected by movement or position. You did not state which tests have been done and which medications you may have tried. H. pylori is a bacteria that lives in the stomach in many individuals, and can be detected by blood tests or at endoscopy. It most commonly causes no problems, but it may rarely cause gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), ulcers, and can even lead to stomach cancer. However, all of these conditions typically present with stomach discomfort associated with eating and usually improving with acid-suppressing medications. It is very unlikely that H. pylori is accounting for your symptoms.

I believe that you should follow-up with your doctor in order to find the cause of your discomfort. Perhaps a referral to a rheumatologist or pulmonologist may be needed. You may need to get a second opinion from other specialists.