What does a Ruptured Spleen Feel Like?

One of the many important parts of the immune system of the body is the spleen. It sits below the rib cage on the left side of the body. This delicate, fist-sized organ works to get rid of encapsulated bacteria, and waste products that circulate in the blood. It contains special white blood cells which destroy bacteria. Also, it is responsible for manufacturing antibodies and red blood cells in the body. Immature or newly formed blood cells become mature after passing through this organ, while cells that have become old or abnormal, are removed by the same organ. Although this organ is not essential for survival, but its absence may make the affected person highly vulnerable to contract infections.

How to Determine A Ruptured Spleen?

A ruptured spleen, is one that, due to certain factors, has suffered a break in its surface. This surface is nothing but a capsule-like covering known as the splenic capsule. This covering protects the organ from direct injury. But, due to some reasons, this cover can break open, pouring blood into your abdominal area. This kind of damage is considered to be a serious medical emergency, that is most likely to cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

Understanding about what does a ruptured spleen feel like is about knowing the different symptoms that occur post the damage has occurred. The symptoms aren't many, but may be obvious enough to indicate the onset of this problem. The most important symptom is a feeling of tenderness when you touch the upper left portion of the abdomen, as it is here where the organ is located. Also the abdominal area may look hard and swollen, because of the blood that has leaked out of the ruptured organ. And pain in the same region is also common. This pain might radiate to the left shoulder, as the nerves of this part and nerves of the left diaphragm share the same point of origin. There might be some additional symptoms which might include lightheadedness, confusion, vision getting blurry, and fainting. Signs of low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate, usually indicate that the blood loss is significant. So, this is what a ruptured spleen feels like. However, the feeling that you might experience can be different from what your doctor might see while diagnosing this problem.

What Ruptures the Spleen and What is its Treatment?

Incidents like car crashes, falls, fights, contact sports, may cause mild to serious injury to the left upper abdominal area, or the left lower chest. And one of the repercussions is the spleen getting ruptured. In some people, this might be immediate, post the injury, while in some, it may not occur till days after the injury. Another causes could be the condition of spleen enlargement.

As said, a spleen that is ruptured is a medical emergency, and requires immediate medical attention. However, there are also cases wherein, the injury heals with rest and time. Injuries that are mild, usually do not require surgery. But the patient may have to be hospitalized, while doctors carry out the treatment with non-surgical procedures. Severe cases, which may be life-threatening, are dealt with the help of surgical repair of the organ, or removal of a part or the whole organ.

To summarize, it is important to exercise a few preventive steps to avoid such situations which may injure the spleen. If you are into sports, then take adequate protection to avoid any injuries. And if you have a spleen enlargement problem, then talk to your doctor about how to deal with it, so that any such complications can be kept at bay.