Can a duodenal ulcer cause pain under the right rib?
Disease description:
I have been experiencing frequent upper abdominal pain and nausea recently. After a hospital examination, the doctor diagnosed it as duodenal ulcer. Starting yesterday, I began to have pain in the right side of my ribs. Can a duodenal ulcer cause pain in the right rib area?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Duodenal ulcers typically do not cause right rib pain. The main symptoms of duodenal ulcers include epigastric pain, hunger pain, nocturnal pain, and acid reflux. These pains usually occur in the upper middle abdomen or slightly to the right side, but they do not cause pain in the right ribs. Right rib pain may be related to other causes such as costochondritis, and a visit to a thoracic surgeon is recommended. Therefore, if symptoms of right rib pain occur, they should not be directly attributed to duodenal ulcers; instead, professional medical diagnosis and advice are necessary. In treating duodenal ulcers, medications that inhibit acid production and protect gastric mucosa are primarily used, along with attention to dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
