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Are you worried about your lower left abdomen pain? If so, this article is for you.
Today, having body pains is common due to stress, an unhealthy diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. Usually, we hear complaints of discomfort in the abdomen. It is common and sometimes does not need intervention because it will subside after a few minutes. This kind of pain usually results from strained or pulled muscles. But, we still have to know what we are dealing with because our abdomen is a community of different body organs. Pain can be a lot more serious than just a strain.
Left Side of the Abdomen: Parts and Pains
The abdomen has four quadrants: the right upper and lower quadrants, and the left upper and lower quadrants. The right side consists of the liver, gallbladder, some part of the intestines and appendix. While on the left side, we have some parts of the stomach, pancreas, spleen, colon, and a lot more organs that are not actually housed in the abdomen like ureters.
That being said, having pains in our left abdomen can mean a lot of trouble. So, before completely ignoring the pain, we might as well identify the cause.
Questions We Should Ask First:
– Are you suffering from left abdominal pain?
– When did it exactly start?
– Has it been going for days, weeks or months?
– From pain scale 1 to 10, 1 being the least painful and 10 being the worst, what is your pain scale?
– Where is the pain exactly?
– Does it spread?
– Are there any changes in your stool and defecation?
Once these questions are answered, we can have an idea of what we are suffering from.
Causes of Lower Left Abdominal Pain
When an individual experiences left-sided abdominal pain, it usually denotes a problem in the digestive tract as most of the organs involved in digestion are on the left. But there can also be other vital organs involved including one kidney and the left lobe of the liver. The following are some of the causes associated with this kind of pain.
Diverticulitis
It is a common condition found in older people wherein there is an outpouching (diverticula) on the large intestines. Symptoms include sudden pain, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, and changes in bowel habits. This condition can lead to sepsis (infection) and hemorrhage especially if the pouches develop a tear. Treatment may range from fluid therapy, rest, and in the worst conditions, it may warrant surgery.
Kidney stones
An obstruction can be present in the left kidney or ureters which can cause severe pain below the rib cage. It can radiate into the lower abdomen and below to the groin. The pain is sudden and is accompanied by dysuria (pain in urination), hematuria (blood in the urine), nausea, vomiting, and there is a frequent urge to urinate. Treatment includes hydration therapy (usually 2L or more fluids in a day), lithotripsy, and surgery. Lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses shock waves to dissolve the stones into smaller pieces so that it can pass out along with the urine.
Viral Hepatitis
This is basically an inflammation of the liver. This condition can also present as chronic left abdominal pain. It usually comes with symptoms like jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera), fever, chills, and dark urine. Treatment varies on the type of Hepatitis present. Administration of immunoglobulin and vaccine is practiced but in severe cases where liver failure occurs, a transplant will be necessary.
Pain in Lower Left Side of Abdomen Treatment
Wind Trap and Constipation
If you feel bloated or you haven’t passed stools for days, the possible causes are wind trap and constipation. Treatment for wind trapping is to burp and belch. While for constipation, you may take medications like laxatives to pass the stool. To prevent further constipation, drink a lot of water and eat high fiber food.
These two causes are the easiest to treat. But, once the signs and symptoms get more complicated, there are no easy ways. We need to go to a physician to have us checked and let him treat us.
Some of the common pain we feel that needs further checking are:
1. Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and Celiac disease
If you feel left abdominal pain, alternating diarrhea and constipation, bloating and cramps, you might have IBS, Crohn’s or Celiac disease. Aside from going to a doctor, we can hydrate our body to avoid dehydration, which can be deadly.
2. Pancreatitis and Spleen Problems
If you can feel a sharp pain on the left side that does not subside, you might be experiencing pancreatitis. You might be treated with antibiotics, oxygen, and pain medications. For severe cases, the pancreas and spleen may be surgically removed.
These are the most common things we experience inside the left side of our abdomen. There are still a lot of causes of left abdominal pain that needs further and more complex diagnosis and treatment. But, prevention is better than cure they say, which is right. With proper diet and exercise, less stress, and fewer vices, all of these pains and diseases will be prevented.
