In this article, we will look at pain in the left side, and what can hurt.
So the body signals a person about organic, and, in addition, functional problems. According to the area of location and discomfort, you can diagnose the main cause of its appearance. The localization of pain on the left should include the appearance of pain in the ilium, as well as the hypochondrium. Also, pain in the left side can occur at the level of the waist and a small part of the back at the back.
What are the types of pain?
By the nature of the sensations caused, the types of pain are divided according to the following classification:
- Acute and sharp type of pain.
- Pain that has a dull character.
- Aching form of pain.
- Having a stinging sensation.
- Pulsating kind of pain.
- Drawing character of pain.
Depending on the causes of pain in the left side, there is the following classification:
- Visceral pain, which is the result of spasms and sprains of organs. This type of pain can be dull, aching, and spasmodic.
- Peritoneal form, which occurs due to irritation of the peritoneum and can be sharp as well as harsh.
- Reflected form of pain that occurs as a result of irradiation from a diseased organ.
Causes of pain
The causes of pain in the left side can be represented by a very wide list of diseases:
- Development of diaphragmatic hernia.
- The appearance of stomach diseases.
- Various spleen problems.
- Development of urological pathology.
- Having problems with the pancreas.
- The appearance of bowel diseases.
- Development of gynecological pathology.
- Development of neuralgia.
- Pathologies of the heart.
- Having problems with the spine.
- Respiratory diseases.
- Presence of traumatic injuries of organs.
The causes of pain in the left side are not limited to this.
Symptomatics
Sharp pain in the left side, which lasts more than half an hour, is a serious reason to call an ambulance. Most often it is a symptom of serious conditions in the form of a perforated ulcer, perforation of the intestine, renal colic and rupture of the spleen. In the event that pain is due to trauma, organ damage should be ruled out along with internal bleeding.
Aching pain in the left side is a common symptom of a largethe number of chronic pathologies and inflammations. Sometimes it can turn out to be oncology or a pre-infarction condition. Against the background of stabbing sensations, especially in the hypochondrium on the left, cardiac ischemia should be excluded. Also similar symptoms are given by renal or intestinal colic with neuralgia. What other causes of pain in the left side?
Pulsating pains in the left side occur, as a rule, with inflammation of the pancreas, that is, with pancreatitis. It can also be a sign of a gynecological disease, for example, ectopic pregnancy, cyst rupture, adnexitis.
Aching pain in the left side of walking is due to insufficient blood supply to the diaphragm. Often the reason for this is the expansion of the intestine (after eating), in which it puts pressure on a specific organ.
Why is there pain in the left side under the ribs?
Pain under the ribs on the left
Hypocostal pain on the left can occur in the following situations:
- Those or other diseases of the stomach.
- Pathology of the pancreas.
- Disorders of the spleen.
- The appearance of diaphragmatic hernia.
- Pathologies of the respiratory system
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
- Development of intercostal neuralgia.
- Spine problems.
- Presence of injuries.
Stomach diseases
What can lead to sharp pain in the left side?
Against the background of gastritis, aching pain often occurs. This often happens after eating, which is accompaniedthe appearance of belching with an unpleasant aftertaste, as well as nausea or heartburn. Occasionally, vomiting or loose stools may occur.
Against the background of peptic ulcer, the symptoms are similar, but the degree of its severity is much higher. Discomfort along with sour belching, nausea and vomiting occur after eating. A serious complication is the perforation of the ulcer, causing unbearable pain, while the patient begins to turn pale. In this case, loss of consciousness is likely.
Stomach tumor can manifest itself as a dull pain in the left side. It can become constant and does not depend on food intake. This disease is accompanied by dyspepsia along with dramatic weight loss, black stools and vomit.
There may be pain in the left side at waist level.
Pathologies of the pancreas
The defeat of this organ is characterized by excessive pain in the side on the left, and, in addition, sensations are reflected in the back. Pancreatitis is characterized by an increase in temperature along with vomiting, a bitter taste in the mouth and the release of light-colored feces. Against the background of the chronic course of the pathology, pain is likely if the diet is not followed. In the presence of tumors of the pancreas, pain progresses, obstructive jaundice occurs, colorless feces and itching of the skin are observed.
What else can cause pain in the left side at waist level?
Disorders of the spleen
In the case of an enlarged spleen, pain may be felt as a result of stretching of the capsule of this organ. This is possible with leukemia and anemia. In the clinical picturemigraine may be present with sweating, soreness on swallowing, and typically swollen and inflamed lymph nodes. As a result of such diseases, the spleen begins to become loose and prone to damage and rupture. When ruptured, acute unbearable pain is observed in the left side under the ribs, and the skin of the abdomen in the navel becomes blue.
Development of diaphragmatic hernia
Against the background of this pathology, aching sensations of a dull nature appear, their reason lies in the ingress of contents into the esophagus, which occurs due to the weakness of the diaphragm. Most often this phenomenon occurs in older people or may be the result of obesity, as well as excessive exercise.
Pathology of the respiratory system
Left-sided pneumonia can be the cause of unexpressed pain in the side on the left. Pneumonia is characterized by an increase in temperature along with a dry cough, stabbing sensations in the chest area.
Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels can also cause pain under the ribs on the left. This is characterized by aching pain, which often appears with physical exertion. Due to insufficient blood supply, ischemia occurs. The body reports this with intense pain. Ischemic pathology has signs in the form of shortness of breath, arrhythmias, burning and pressure in the chest. The appearance of stabbing pain in the left side, when it is reflected in the left arm and shoulder blade, is a sign of myocardial infarction, which requires immediate medical attention.
Development of intercostalneuralgia
This phenomenon is the result of pain of various properties, which can be stabbing, aching, and so on. Due to compression of the nerves, pain can be felt in the chest and back on the left. Pain in the ribs is aggravated by sneezing or coughing.
Presence of spinal pathology
Rheumatoid lesions of the connective articular tissues are characterized by the appearance of pain on the left under the ribs. This syndrome can be observed with muscular dystrophy, which is associated with a weakening of the abdominal muscles. Osteochondrosis, along with radiculitis with pinched nerves, can also give pain signals in this area.
Presence of injury
The appearance of mechanical damage to bone or cartilage tissue can cause pain in the region of the left hypochondrium. They occur mainly due to external physical influences (shocks, falls) and can have different severity, for example, from bruises accompanied by a hematoma to cracks or fractures.
What causes left abdominal pain?
The reasons for this may be the following:
- Kidney disease.
- Development of urolithiasis.
These pathologies should be considered in more detail.
Kidney disease
Pain in the side on the left in the waist area is often caused by kidney pathology. Against the background of pyelonephritis of the left kidney, the stomach can hurt in different ways: intensely or weakly. At the same time, fever, weakness and chills are observed.
The appearance of urolithiasis
At the moment of an attack, there may be a sharp intense pain on the left. In addition, they appearurinary problems.
Pain in the lower abdomen on the left
Pain in the left lower abdomen is formed in the following cases:
- Intestinal pathologies.
- Gynecological diseases.
- Urological pathologies.
Intestinal pathologies
They are characterized by aching, as well as pulling and cramping pain in the left side in front. In colitis, diarrhea is noted along with bloating, tenesmus, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting. Pain on the left is also explained by the inability to absorb certain products in the small intestine. A common symptom is weight loss along with asthenia, rumbling in the abdomen and frequent light-colored frothy stools.
Against the background of nonspecific ulcerative colitis, in addition to pain, frequent and loose stools with the presence of blood or mucus can persist for a long time. With a similar inflammatory disease, ulcers form on the intestinal mucosa.
Crohn's disease has similar symptoms, but is even more severe as the inflammation affects the deep layers of the intestine. In the presence of oncology, pain is hardly noticeable, but can gradually increase. A common symptom is prolonged constipation and blood in the stools.
Gynecological pathologies
In such situations, women are often worried about pulling, and, in addition, aching pain, accompanied by irradiation to the lumbar region, buttocks and perineum, and the menstrual cycle is also disturbed. Adnexitis is characterized by an increase in temperature along with a sharp pain in the leftside.
Drawing pains in the left side can often cause ovarian cysts. Especially dangerous in this case is the rupture of its capsule. In this case, the blood supply to the ovary may be disturbed, which will be reported by the appearance of severe pain. In the event of a rupture of the cyst, all its contents are poured, as a rule, into the pelvic area, symptoms of peritoneal irritation occur along with peritoneal sensations. There is a risk of peritonitis.
An ectopic pregnancy is characterized by a dull pain in the abdomen. Unpleasant sensations can suddenly increase when the fallopian tube ruptures, which is a life-threatening complication. There may be bleeding. Accompanying symptoms are similar to the manifestations of pregnancy in the form of nausea, engorgement of the mammary glands and pulling sensations in the lower abdomen. There is often spotting.
Endometriosis can also cause aching pain in the left side of the abdomen in women of varying intensity, depending on the location of the pathological foci. Pain can intensify during menstruation, and menstruation itself is abundant and prolonged. It is not excluded the allocation of blood outside of menstruation, as well as after sexual intercourse. The presence of oncology of the uterus or ovary can cause nagging pain.
The emergence of urological diseases
Pain in the left side of men with irradiation to the anus may indicate inflammation of the prostate. Against the background of prostatitis, the appearance of soreness during urination and defecation is likely. Cystitis with urethritis can contribute to the appearance of pain on the left, cause discomfort duringurination along with burning, itching and blood in the urine.
Pain in the left side due to pregnancy
During pregnancy, the presence of moderate pain in the left side of the abdomen in women is not considered a pathology. This is due only to the growth of the body of the uterus, squeezing and interfering with the work of nearby organs. Soreness may also occur as a result of uterine contraction due to lack of progesterone.
Be sure to seek medical help when the pain intensifies, becomes sharp, unusual discharge occurs and the temperature rises, and, in addition, urination with defecation is disturbed. Such signs may indicate a threat of termination of pregnancy, as well as premature birth. Pathology of internal organs is not excluded.
Unpleasant pain in the left side of the back, which will be discussed later.
Pain in the back
Pain in the back of the left side are reflected, for example, with the development of myocardial infarction, when an unpleasant sensation from the heart radiates to the area of the scapula. It is also possible with kidney disease, as examples of such diseases are pyelonephritis and urolithiasis.
Gynecological pathologies that were described above also have irradiation to the lower back. Osteochondrosis, along with intercostal neuralgia and sciatica, can cause intense back pain on the left, which will increase with physical exertion, bending or unbending the torso.
Diagnosis
To orderto rid yourself of excruciating pain in this area and prevent it from becoming chronic, you need to correctly identify its cause. For this, you need to see a doctor. To the question: why the side on the left hurts, such specialists as a therapist, a gastroenterologist, and, in addition, a urologist along with a gynecologist, an infectious disease specialist and a neurologist, will help answer. After analyzing the localization, as well as the nature of the pain, the doctor will make a diagnosis. You will need to pass the following examinations:
- Analysis of blood, feces, and urine.
- Examination of the heart and abdominal organs.
- Pelvic exam.
- Passage of fibrogastroduodenoscopy, fibrocolonoscopy, fluorography and X-ray.
Treatment
After studying the results of the study, the doctor will prescribe the necessary conservative or, if necessary, surgical treatment. In the event that the pain in the left side is acute, the person should immediately seek medical help. It should be noted that a large number of pathologies with such localization pose an extremely serious threat to he alth and, therefore, need urgent treatment for pain in the left side. What can hurt, the doctor should find out.
