Here’s information on why gas bubbles in the intestines can cause so much pain, including in the rib area.
It can stop you dead in your tracks: sudden, stabbing pain in a specific region of your abdomen, and when it’s in the rib area, it can really take your breath away.
Why can a gas bubble in the intestines be so painful?
“Intestinal gas causes pain because of distension of the intestine,” says Michael Blume, MD, a gastroenterologist at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore.
“When your intestinal wall becomes abnormally distended, this usually results in discomfort.
“It usually resolves when the distension resolves, mostly by either passing gas or belching, depending on where the distension is.”
Keep track of when this nasty symptom strikes you. You should become acutely aware that within a rather brief time from the onset of this symptom, you’ll start passing gas (or burping).
In fact, don’t be surprised if you have more flatulence than usual, or if it’s frequent over the next few hours or more.
Rib Pain
“Most of the time, intestinal gas is from swallowed air,” says Dr. Blume.
“One can get abdominal distension from structural or functional problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
“However, if one has significant abdominal distension, it can cause discomfort around the rib area as a result of this.”
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