Why Does My Lower Left Stomach Hurt?
The lower side of the abdomen is the home to the last part of your colon. It also hosts the left ovary in women who have them. The pain originating from this part of the stomach is called left lower quadrant pain. Sometimes the pain around this region is regarded as normal because it can disappear on its own. However, if the pain persists, it’s recommended that you seek immediate medical attention. To know that the pain is serious, you can observe signs like fever, severe tenderness in the affected region, blood on the stool, persistent nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin). If you experience any of the above symptoms, it’s important to get immediate medical help for proper diagnosis and treatment. To begin with, what causes pain in the left lower quadrant? Science gives several plausible reasons which include:
Diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is one of the most common causes of left lower quadrant pain. Most often, the condition is characterized by persistent pain around the lower left quadrant. Diverticular are small pouches that are created by pressure when the colon wall is weak. When this pouch swells, the chances of tearing are usually high and this causes inflammation of the colon wall (diverticulosis). The inflammation then causes pain, fever, abdominal tenderness, and nausea. Sometimes a person could have diarrhea and constipation when suffering from diverticulosis, and therefore it’s good to monitor these two signs as well. The condition happens mostly in people above 50 years of age. To heal it, take proper rest, diet modification, and medications like antibiotics and painkillers.
Hernia. A hernia happens when an internal organ pushes through the muscles and tissue walls around it. The development of a lump or a bulge characterizes a hernia in the abdomen or the groin. If it happens in males, it is called an inguinal hernia. When men experience it, they usually report a small lump in the groin. It also causes pain that gets worse with straining, lifting, coughing, or during physical activity. Hernias cause a feeling of fullness and a dull ache as well. Symptoms differ according to the type of hernia that you are suffering from. For example, we find a bulge in the inguinal hernia and but not in the hiatal hernia.
Menstrual Cramps. Sometimes women go through a lot of challenges for their menstrual cycle. Some have them normally, while others experience the worst pain (dysmenorrhea) and others don’t get them at all. Dysmenorrhea (painful cramps) can cause pain, especially if the left ovary is affected. The pain can sometimes be mild or just interfere with your daily activities. But in most cases, the pain disappears on taking pain medications.
Ovarian Cyst. This is a sac filled with fluid inside or on the surface of the ovary. If the cyst is small, it may not cause any symptoms and women can live normally with no problems. However, if the cyst is not detected on time, it can grow rapidly, pushing the surrounding tissues and causing pain and discomforts. It may also press the bladder, making you urinate more often than usual. If the cyst ruptures, it can cause severe internal bleeding and pain.
Ectopic Pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized ovum implants itself before it reaches the uterus for proper implantation. This means that the fertilized egg grows on the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus. As the zygote continues to grow, it pushes the fallopian tubes and, when not detected on time; it ruptures, causing severe pain, infection, and bleeding. Without proper treatment, the infection may follow and may lead to death. Medical professionals describe the condition as serious when you experience vaginal bleeding, watery discharge, discomforts with urination, and pregnancy symptoms.
Testicular Torsion. Testicular torsion is when the male testicles rotate. Rotation of the testicles is usually an emergency surgery because it cuts the blood supply to the testicles, causing severe pain and swelling. Scientists don’t know the exact cause of testicular torsion, but the condition happens mostly in boys under 18 years of age. Sudden, severe scrotum pain and swelling, abdominal pain, painful urination, fever, and nausea or vomiting usually characterize the condition. Feeling the pain on the left lower quadrant could mean that the left testicle is affected and therefore immediate care is needed. Even if the pain disappears on its own, it’s important to still see a doctor because it’s possible to lose both testicles because of necrosis.
Endometriosis. Endometriosis affects women of the reproductive age. It happens when the internal cells of the endometrium called endometrial cells grow outside the uterus instead of being inside the uterus. From here, it causes pain and discomforts to the sufferer and it is a major cause of infertility in women. It also causes painful sex (dyspareunia), heavy menstrual flow, spotting between periods, painful bowel movements or urination, and painful menstrual cramps that may get worse with time. Even if the cause of endometriosis is unknown, it’s important to seek medical advice for further diagnosis and treatment.
Kidney Stones. We sometimes called urolithiasis. Kidney stones start causing pain when it finds their way into the kidneys or in the ureters. These stones may cause discomforts in the kidney, under the ribs, and the left part of the abdomen. The pain sometimes comes in waves and gets better or worse from one moment to the next as the stone makes its way through the urinary tract. Because it is possible for the stones to cause inflammation, they can cause urine that is red, pink, brown, cloudy or smelly, nausea and vomiting, fever or chills, and fever or chills. To understand more about the left lower quadrant pain, kindly check these links:
https://www.tuasaude.com/en/pain-in-left-lower-abdomen/
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/symptoms-and-conditions/what-pain-on-your-left-side-could-mean
Summary
Pain in the left lower quadrant may be because of a variety of conditions. In most cases, these conditions might be serious and therefore failure to seek medical attention may cause serious complications and irreversible permanent damage. On visiting the hospital, the underlying condition causing pain in this region is detected and treatment started. You may be required to take the drugs for a certain period, which can range from a few days to two years, depending on the severity of the underlying disease. Doctors usually aim this treatment at helping to prevent you from other diseases that can develop later in life. Examples of such conditions include abdominal abscess, bowel obstruction, fistula (an abnormal opening between organs or tissues), infertility, the spread of infections, organ failure, some types of cancers, and surgery to remove the affected parts. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, people with left lower quadrant pain can heal and live normally.
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I myself am familiar with kidney stones and multiple hernias.