Question
For the past month I have had pain on my right side under the breast around my side to the back.  I have had been checked for Gall Bladder---ultra sound and Hydro-scan.  They show my gall bladder is functioning just slightly below normal.  When I wake in the morning I have NO pain, but as soon as I become active or do a lot of walking the pain returns, when I rest it subsides.  I do have a Hiatal Hernia but don't think that would have anything to do with the right side.  Can anyone help?
Thank you,
Dorothy

Answer
Dear Dorothy,

The first priority is to find exactly what is causing the pain.  Hiatal hernia can be responsible for referred pain to the sides/flanks because of the constriction that occurs as well as the myofascial connections that surround the organ system and muscles.  Kidney infection or stones is another consideration, but your pain patterns concerning being upright vs. lying down don't really fit kidney...if the right side of you body above the hip and below the ribs is sore to pressure than you need to have the kidney evaluated.  

Conversely this can easily be dysfunction with the sternum/rib/vertebra articulations.  Biomechanical abberation with these joint will commonly refer pain around the rib to either the back, the chest, or both, and can be alleviated with manipulation of the affected joints.  Chiropractic care is very effective in the treatment of this type of disorder and pain relief is usually attained in a week or two of treatment.

I would recommend that you call a few local chiropractic physicans and schedule a consultation/examination of the area of complaint.  It may also be advisable to ask family and friends for a referral to a chiropractor that they have been treated by.  The bottom line is that you should have the area examined with functional orthopedic tests, active ranges of motion, palpatory examination, and possible x-rays if needed.

If you can think of anything else...comments or questions, feel free to write back.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman