Lower left quadrant pain occurs in the left part of the abdomen. This can be spontaneous, mild, sharp, or persistent. Are you experiencing a similar kind of pain? Read the following article to find out what it is along with its probable causes.
Pain in the lower left side of abdomen is a symptom that something is wrong in the various organs and structures that are located in the stomach. This is common among adult women and elderly people. The organs and structures associated with this comprise the kidneys, ovaries (in women), ureter, bowel, colon, urinary bladder, fallopian tubes (in women), blood vessels, muscles, nerves and the skin. Any condition or disease that affects all these structures will invariably cause lower left quadrant pain.
Constipation
When a person is unable to pass feces normally, or when the stools are very hard and dry, the person is known to be suffering from constipation. Lower left quadrant abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of constipation, along with a bloated stomach, and sometimes, even a headache.
Gastritis
Gastritis or gas in the stomach can cause pain in the whole abdomen, including the lower left quadrant. Bloated stomach, headaches, cramping, and expelling gases are signs that a person has gas problems.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a disease that is generally found in people above the age of 60, though younger people might also suffer from it. It happens when the walls of the bowel outgrow and expand. These outgrowing walls affect the sigmoid colon and thus, cause severe pain in the lower left quadrant. Though, in rare cases, diverticulitis may affect the right side of the abdomen too.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Pain experienced by fertile women (generally, women between the age groups of 11 to 55) could be due to ectopic pregnancy. In ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg instead of implanting itself in the uterus, implants itself on either the Fallopian tube, ovary, cervix, or the abdomen. If the egg implants itself on the left Fallopian tubes or left ovary, a sharp pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding is experienced.
Food Poisoning
Another cause is food poisoning. If a person has eaten stale food containing bacteria or parasites, he may experience food poisoning. Under this condition, the person experiences abdominal pain, along with other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting and sometimes, even fever.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If the pain is accompanied by abdominal cramping, bloated stomach, difficulty in elimination of hard stools, gas, and diarrhea, then irritable bowel syndrome could be the cause behind the pain.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are another cause of lower left quadrant abdominal pain. The pain associated can be easily distinguished from others, as it is a very sharp pain which may spread to the thighs and legs of the person. The pain is sometimes accompanied by cramping, nausea, and vomiting.
Hiatal Hernia
Another cause could be due to hiatal hernia. In this condition, a part of the stomach bulges out of the diaphragm into the chest, causing stomach discomfort and sharp pain. Other symptoms include acid reflux disease, i.e., stomach acids moving up into the esophagus and causing heartburn and nausea.
If the pain does not go away in a day or two or becomes severe, it is recommended that a thorough diagnosis by a qualified doctor should be done, as it could also be a sign of something serious, such as stomach cancer.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical advice.
