Pain in the left side of a person indicates the development of diseases of the digestive system, genitourinary system, female reproductive and male genital organs, back, heart or nervous system. It is especially dangerous if the discomfort occurs suddenly and lasts more than 30 minutes.
Pain lasting more than half an hour is considered dangerous and requires consultation with a doctor.
Localization and nature of pain
In order to determine exactly where the pain is felt, the patient needs to mentally divide the abdomen into 4 equal parts. Based on the location of the pain syndrome, one or another disease can be suspected.
Right upper part and hypochondrium
In the hypochondrium on the right side and in the upper abdomen there are many organs that are closely connected to each other:
- liver;
- gallbladder;
- colon;
- duodenum;
- loops of the small intestine;
- diaphragm.
On the back side, in this place there is the right kidney and the tail of the pancreas.
It is worth noting that a constant feeling of pain in this area can occur with diseases of other parts of the abdominal region. In this case, the pain syndrome occurs along the nerve fibers.
Pain is divided into several types, and each character may indicate a specific pathology.
- Acute pain
As a rule, a person experiences acute pain in the hypochondrium due to pathological processes in the gallbladder, an organ where excess bile accumulates. It happens that bile flows from the gallbladder into the duodenum, which causes an attack of acute pain.
Acute pain at night can be a sign of a duodenal ulcer, which is sometimes accompanied by flatulence, nausea and vomiting, in which an admixture of blood is detected.
- Burning pain
If an unbearable burning sensation is felt in the upper right side, the patient should be examined for the presence of acute cholecystitis. This disease is characterized by inflammation in the gallbladder caused by infections, abuse of fatty foods, and stone formation.
- Blunt pain
This symptom indicates inflammation of the gallbladder, which occurs in a chronic form. Concomitant signs of the disease are a feeling of nausea after each meal, and a yellow tint to the sclera of the eyes and skin.
- Strong pain
People with acute hepatitis complain of unbearably severe pain. Hepatitis is an inflammatory process in the liver caused by infections, or resulting from alcohol intoxication, drug or chemical poisoning. In acute hepatitis, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply, the body temperature rapidly rises, the skin and sclera of the eyes turn yellow.
- Nagging pain
Nagging pain is characteristic of chronic hepatitis, which can last for years without any symptoms. In people with a similar disease, liver cells are gradually replaced by connective tissue, and this subsequently leads to cirrhosis. Additional symptoms of the pathology are an increase in liver size and fat intolerance.
- Throbbing pain
Pulsating pain accompanies pancreatitis. The pain is usually girdling and is accompanied by non-stop vomiting of bile, nausea, intestinal upset, fever and flatulence.
- Bursting pain
This symptom is characteristic of pancreatitis, which has become chronic.
- Stitching pain
“Pricking” in the side from above can occur with kidney diseases, such as urolithiasis and pyelonephritis. In addition to pain, patients note a feeling of nausea, vomiting, weakness, fever, and pain when urinating.
One of the most common causes of side pain is appendicitis. This disease affects more than 10% of patients who seek help from a specialist with complaints of pain in the right side. The main cause of appendicitis is infection. The first sign of inflammation is a painful, aching sensation that spreads around the navel, after which, with exacerbation, it moves to the right side of the abdomen. Other symptoms of appendicitis include
:
- temperature increase;
- attacks of nausea and vomiting;
- decreased or complete lack of appetite;
- bowel disorders.
The cause of aching pain can be an ovarian cyst. The painful sensation is persistent, localized mostly in the pelvic area, but radiates to the right side. Experts also include irregular menstrual cycles as signs of an ovarian cyst. A cyst that rapidly increases in size is often accompanied by vomiting and a feeling of nausea.
- Drawing, sharp pain
Another reason may be ovulation in women. As a rule, this condition does not require medical intervention and goes away on its own.
- Acute pain
It is noted when stones form in the kidneys. The main symptom of the passage of a stone is acute, unbearable pain, which can be localized in any part of the abdomen, but most often on the right. In addition to the main symptom, patients note pain under the ribs, pain in the side, closer to the back and groin area. Attacks can be one-time, or they can torment a person in waves, with varying intensity.
Another cause of symptoms is ectopic pregnancy, a condition in which fertilization of the egg occurs in the right fallopian tube, ovary, or peritoneal cavity.
- Blunt pain
This symptom is characteristic of infectious lesions of the kidney, where the pathogen penetrates from the bladder. Signs of the development of pathology include a frequent urge to urinate, which itself causes a lot of pain to the patient. There is pus or blood in the urine, and the patient's body temperature rises sharply.
Left upper part and hypochondrium
In the hypochondrium on the left are parts of the diaphragm and stomach, intestinal loops, spleen, ureter, kidney and pancreas. Functional disorders of any of these organs can cause attacks of pain.
Describing the nature of the pain in this area can help the doctor determine the direction in which to look for the cause.
- Constant pain
Discomfort may be a sign of a diaphragmatic hernia, as well as other diseases associated with this organ. The diaphragm is designed in such a way that when the muscle fibers weaken, part of the stomach moves out of the peritoneum into the thoracic region. In this case, a certain amount of stomach contents is thrown into the cavity of the esophagus, which leads to a feeling of severe discomfort and pain. Other signs of diaphragm pathology include frequent feelings of nausea and bouts of vomiting.
- Acute pain
The cause of pain of this nature may be intercostal neuralgia, a pathology caused by irritation or pinching of the nerves passing between the ribs. Patients complain of sharp, dagger-like jabs in the chest and hypochondrium. The nature of the pain changes depending on external factors. So, for example, when inhaling, coughing, sneezing, etc. the pain intensifies. Other symptoms may include numbness in the back, redness of the skin in the area of nerve irritation, and dizziness.
Acute pain can be caused by a rupture of the spleen, which occurs after a sharp blow or injury.
Also, similar symptoms are characteristic of acute pyelonephritis. The pain is felt in the upper back with radiation to the side. Signs of pathology include fever and chills, disturbances in the process of urination, and increased sweating.
- It's a dull pain
Cardiac pathologies often manifest themselves as pain in the left hypochondrium, which patients describe as aching. Often the manifestation of the disease becomes brighter during physical exertion and emotional shocks. Pathologies of the heart muscles are accompanied by shortness of breath, increased heart rate, heaviness in the chest, and weakness.
The described pain syndrome is characteristic of a disease of the spleen.
The syndrome also often accompanies diseases of the stomach and pancreas. Pathology can be recognized by the presence of such signs as nausea after eating, a feeling of heaviness and heartburn, sensory disturbances in the hands and feet, intestinal disorders, belching, weight loss, and appetite disorder.
Other causes of pain in the left hypochondrium include:
- pathologies of the nervous system;
- osteochondrosis of the spinal column;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- gynecological pathologies;
- skeletal injuries;
- inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Bottom left
The left part of the peritoneum contains the large and small intestines, organs of the genitourinary system, and the spleen. Any diseases of these organs are accompanied by painful sensations of various types. Patients of both sexes can suffer from this symptom, with women having slightly more cause for concern. For example, inflammation of the pelvic organs is often accompanied by pain in the left lower abdomen. In addition, a woman may experience minor discomfort during pregnancy.
Pain in the right side when urinating
Acute unbearable pain localized in the right side, accompanying every urination, very often indicates an infection of the urinary tract, and in women such symptoms are also observed with inflammation of the genital organs. Both of these cases are treatable with medication.
What are the causes of pain when urinating? When pain is clearly felt above the waist on the right side, the first option for diagnosis immediately becomes acute kidney injury. This is usually how acute infectious pyelonephritis manifests itself in women. Pathogenic microorganisms, once in the vagina, rise from it through the urinary canals to the bladder, and from there to the kidneys. In the kidneys, bacteria provoke the occurrence of an inflammatory process. This disease is medically called pyelonephritis. In men, bacteria enter the kidneys according to a slightly different scenario, but the result remains the same.
All inflammatory processes in the urinary system are extremely painful, but pyelonephritis, if left untreated, can lead to the most severe consequences.
- fever;
- chills;
- pain in the side;
- urination is accompanied by a burning sensation and frequent urge to go to the toilet.
It should be noted that the classic signs of kidney infection are absent. No nausea, vomiting or high fever.
Diagnostics
In order to identify the cause of pain in the side, whether it is on the right or left, it is necessary to consult a specialist.
First of all, with complaints of this kind, you should consult a therapist. After a conversation, visual examination and medical history, the doctor should give a referral for clinical tests of blood, urine and feces. Based on the results obtained, the therapist refers the patient to a specialist with a more specialized profile:
- cardiologist;
- gastroenterologist;
- neurologist;
- gynecologist;
- surgeon
Treatment
If pain in the side occurs, self-diagnosis and self-medication are unacceptable!
The choice of treatment for pain in the side directly depends on the cause that caused the occurrence of such a symptom. After carrying out diagnostic measures, the specialist determines treatment tactics, which can be:
drug-induced
, for example, with endometriosis, diseases of the pelvic organs, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, and so on;
surgical
:
for splenic rupture, cancer, appendicitis;
physiotherapeutic
, for example, with osteochondrosis, injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and so on.
Diseases such as pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, cholecystitis and others, in addition to drug therapy, are treated by following the necessary diet.
What can you do yourself at home?
If the cause of pain is known and is temporary, then you can eliminate it yourself.
For mild poisoning, taking sorbent drugs (activated carbon, Polysorb, Enterosgel), drinking plenty of warm drinks, and staying in bed will help. After symptoms are relieved, treatment is necessary that will restore the intestinal microflora and support the functioning of the pancreas.
If the pain is caused by overeating, then you should reconsider your diet and attitude towards food. It is recommended to establish a diet and include a large amount of healthy, natural food in your diet.
For pain caused by stress and nervous tension, taking multivitamin complexes, sedatives, and maintaining a sleep and rest schedule will help. In severe cases of psychological and mental health problems, consultation with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist may be required.
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Aching pain in the left side is a most alarming symptom that should not be neglected. It may indicate one of numerous diseases, some of which are dangerous and require prompt medical attention.
Causes of aching pain in the left side
To make a correct diagnosis, the patient needs to “listen” to his body and inform the specialist about the more precise localization of pain, its duration, as well as accompanying symptoms. Let's consider the most likely explanations for the aching pain in the left side, depending on these factors.
Aching pain in the left side under the ribs
Such sensations, disturbing for a long time, may indicate sluggish inflammatory processes affecting the digestive organs. So, the reasons may be: duodenitis, cholecystitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, enlarged spleen, etc. If the aching pain is debilitating, accompanied by vomiting, this may indicate a peptic ulcer. Pain under the ribs, accompanied by a burning sensation behind the sternum, difficulty breathing, and belching, may indicate a diaphragmatic hernia. Sometimes aching pain on the left under the ribs is observed with angina pectoris, coronary artery disease, or cardiac infarction. In such cases there are also:
- dyspnea;
- difficulty breathing;
- sweating;
- severe weakness.
Such pain often occurs with pneumonia and pleurisy, accompanied by cough and high fever.
Aching pain in the left side of the lower abdomen
A likely sign of intestinal damage, such as:
- colitis;
- nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
- intestinal obstruction;
- bowel cancer, etc.
Other signs usually include:
- stool retention or diarrhea;
- false urge to defecate;
- nausea, etc.
In women, a dull aching pain in the lower left side may indicate:
- salpingo-oophoritis (inflammatory lesion of the uterine appendages);
- ovarian cysts;
- ectopic pregnancy;
- some other gynecological pathologies.
The following symptoms may occur:
- menstrual irregularities;
- too scanty, heavy or prolonged menstruation;
- increase in temperature;
- pain when urinating;
- nausea, etc.
Aching pain in the left side from the back.
Such pain, localized in the hypochondrium, is in many cases observed in heart diseases:
- aortic aneurysm;
- pericarditis;
- myocardial infarction, etc.
In this case, there may be squeezing pain in the heart area, radiating to the arm, shoulder blade, dizziness, shortness of breath, and the appearance of cold sweat.
If an aching, nagging pain in the left side is constantly present in the lower back, then this symptom often signals kidney pathologies:
- pyelonephritis;
- urolithiasis.
Other complaints in such cases are:
- pain when urinating;
- blood in urine;
- nausea, increased body temperature, etc.
What to do if you have aching pain in your left side?
The most correct decision in this case would be to see a doctor as soon as possible. And if the pain appears suddenly, gradually intensifies and is accompanied by other alarming symptoms, it is recommended to call an ambulance. Before paramedics arrive, the patient should lie down and breathe freely. You cannot eat, drink, take painkillers, or warm the sore spot.
Further tactics will depend on the diagnostic measures taken and the diagnosis made. Sometimes this requires consultations with several specialists - a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, gynecologist, oncologist, infectious disease specialist, etc. Treatment can be either conservative or include surgical methods.
Pain in the left side of the abdomen is more dangerous in women. Clinically manifested by pain in the left side, lower abdomen. Pain in the left side may indicate diseases of the spleen. Pain in the left side, lower abdomen, combined with symptoms of a disease of an organ located on the same side, is the primary stage of the disease.
Since the left side of the abdomen contains a significant number of vital organs of the digestive and other systems, people periodically experience pain in this area. If you have pain in the left side in the lower abdomen, then there is a high probability that you have problems with the pancreas, the stomach itself, the diaphragm or the spleen.
There are many reasons for the appearance of abdominal pain, so it is extremely difficult to make a diagnosis without an appropriate examination by a competent specialist. Acute left-sided pain in women, localized in the lower abdomen, should be given special attention. They may be associated not only with a rare ectopic pregnancy, but also be a sign of abnormal ovarian function or inflammation of the appendages.
Male diseases
Quite often, representatives of the stronger sex experience excruciating pain. The left side, lower abdomen in men, is an area in which quite unpleasant diseases can occur. There can be many reasons for such discomfort. It is quite difficult to independently determine the source that provokes aching discomfort in the left side, so you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.
Let's look at what causes unpleasant pain. The left side, lower abdomen in men can be bothersome as a result of a number of factors. Quite serious causes of discomfort are a hernia, inflammation of the testicles, a cyst, rough food or inflammation of the pancreas.
Strenuous exercise can also cause unpleasant discomfort in the left side. In this case, there is no need to worry too much. Such pain indicates shaking that is unusual for the internal organs. As a rule, the discomfort is tingling and pulling. You need to stop and catch your breath a little. Better yet, skip one lesson.
A very common cause of pain in men is inflammation of the testicles. This pathology is caused by colds, sitting on cold benches or infection.
Pain in the left side of the lower abdomen
Most injuries will be accompanied by severe pain and internal bleeding, so you should immediately call a doctor or call for help. Cramping and nagging pain can initially be relieved with analgesics.
It turned out to be not as scary for me as in the article. Good afternoon My left side hurt, it was just boiling, in a word, I went to all the doctors, everything was fine... But it still hurt, in Russia they couldn’t make a diagnosis, they treated me for everything... I decided to go to Germany - I did all the diagnostics in gynecology. I made an appointment with their doctor, and as it turned out, a nerve was pinched somewhere in the lower back and was radiating into my leg.. I gave an injection and everything went away..
My husband has pain in his left side for a year now; we’ve been through all the doctors and no one can give us a diagnosis! During life, periodically, it manifests itself in every sixth person on the planet. Some scientists associate pelvic pain with hundreds of various diseases of internal organs and human systems. The following organs are located on the left side of the abdominal cavity. In the parenchyma, blood cells are formed, accumulated, and utilized.
Consequences
Painful sensations are not only unpleasant in themselves, but can also lead to much more serious consequences. The pain itself is usually not dangerous. The threat is posed by the illnesses that cause them.
For example, pancreatitis without timely treatment leads to self-destruction of the pancreas and severe poisoning of the body with the products of its decay.
Erosive formations in the stomach (gastritis) lead to atrophy of the cells of the mucous membrane and dysfunction of the organ.
Acute appendicitis is an inflammatory process of the appendix, which, without timely treatment and surgical intervention, leads to rupture of the appendage of the cecum, which can cause numerous complications, including peritonitis (or inflammation of the peritoneum).
Acute pyelonephritis disrupts the normal functioning of the kidneys, as a result of which toxins are not eliminated from the body. Once in the blood, they cause severe inflammation and poison other organs.
Causes of pain in the lower abdomen on the left
Referring, referred pain occurs in chronic forms of the disease, involving large areas of organs in the pathogenesis. Symptoms of the chronic phase. There may be no pain. In some cases, it is accompanied by weight loss. As the size of the organ increases, pain occurs after eating. Many patients, when interviewed, pay attention to rapid saturation. During this period, aching pain in the joints, bones of the pelvic girdle, or at a remote distance from the location of the lesion is characteristic.
As pathogenesis develops, the pain may move down the abdomen. Accompanied by symptoms of acute abdomen. Pain in the left side, going lower. It radiates in the groin area on the left. The pain is combined with vomiting, constipation, and bloating.
For a patient with symptoms of an acute abdomen, the issue of immediate surgery is decided. Sluggish pain, with partial twisting, is subject to clinical examination. After clarifying the diagnosis, the issue of treatment, including planned surgery, is decided. Characterized by paroxysmal dull pain on the left, in the hypochondrium, it may descend down the abdomen.
Rarely as an independent disease, more often it develops as a secondary process, with the involvement of the spleen in the pathogenesis, for example, the liver. The organ is enlarged significantly less, the pain is combined with an increase in body temperature and vomiting. This is the result of the development of limited purulent inflammation in the capsule or parenchyma of the spleen. When large or multiple abscesses form, especially those that open into the abdominal cavity, peritonitis may develop.
