Lower Left Abdominal Pain

We all experience abdominal pain some time or the other in our lives, and know how discomforting it is. As there are many vital organs situated in the abdomen, an injury or disorder in any of these organs can result in abdominal pain. One can experience pain in any quadrant of the abdomen, like the upper, lower, left or right side.

Causes

The left kidney, left ureter, the sigmoid colon, the bowel, left ovary (in women) are the organs located on the left side of the abdomen. Let us take a look at some of the common causes of lower left side abdominal pain.

Bowel Obstruction
An obstruction in the intestines due to reasons like volvulus, hernia, Crohn's disease or also due to any adhesion or injury. Apart from pain in abdomen, muscle cramping and vomiting are the others symptoms of bowel obstruction. On the other hand, bowel cancer can also cause abdominal pain on the lower left side.

Constipation
Constipation is a universal problem faced by people of all age groups, all over the world. Constipation is not a disease, but a medical condition that is caused mostly because of having a diet completely devoid of fibers. A person is said to suffer from constipation if he does not have regular bowel movements, or passes very hard stools.

Diverticulitis
Inflammation of the diverticulum or the colon leads to diverticulitis. Left side abdominal pain is a major symptom of diverticulitis. On the other hand, fever, vomiting and constipation are also the symptoms of diverticulitis.

Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy results when the implantation of the fertilized egg occurs outside the uterus. This is one of the major causes of lower left side abdominal during pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a major and potentially life-threatening complication during pregnancy. In most of the cases, the implantation takes place in the fallopian tube. Therefore, if a pregnant woman complains of lower left stomach pain, the doctor treats it as an emergency and checks for ectopic pregnancy.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition with no known cause. But, there are certain triggers, like stress and poor diet, that can aggravate the condition. This condition is commonly seen in teenagers, but is not limited to that age group. Along with lower abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation are the symptoms of IBS.

Kidney Stone
The worst type of pain in lower abdomen, in men and women, is due to kidney stone. It occurs when the uric acid, calcium or salts in the kidney do not get flushed out from the body. They get saturated in the kidney in the form of stones, resulting in abdominal pain and difficulty in urination. Excess intake of calcium and drinking less amount of water are the prominent causes of kidney stone.

Apart from these, the other causes of abdominal pain on lower left side are urinary tract infection (UTI), lactose intolerance, ulcerative colitis and Pyelonephritis, ovarian cysts and fibroids.

Treatment

Abdominal pain of any kind should not be ignored as it can be an indication of some serious disease or disorder. The doctor will advise you to undertake X-ray and MRI tests for diagnosing the disease. All the above mentioned causes can be cured if timely treatment is undertaken. Most of these diseases can be treated through medications, and surgery is rarely needed. Ectopic pregnancy and kidney stone should be treated as an emergency to relieve the patient of the pain. On the other hand, UTI, IBS and constipation can be treated through medicines and drugs.

Lower left abdominal pain can be prevented up to some extent by having a balanced and nutritious diet. One should include a lot of fibers in the diet to avoid constipation. Similarly, drinking adequate amount of clean water can prevent kidney stone and also urinary tract infections. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! This information is not to be substituted for proper medical treatment. Take care!