Any pain near your internal organs should be taken seriously, and this includes ongoing pain along the left side of your abdomen. Here is a look at the most common causes of left side abdominal pain and signs you should seek out immediate medical attention.
Urinary Tract Disorder
A urinary tract infection is generally characterized by a constant urge to urinate or pain during urination. If the infection spreads farther up into the bladder, then the individual might experience discomfort along the left side of their abdomen. Most UTIs can easily be treated with a battery of antibiotics, but all patients should seek out medical assistance as soon as possible to prevent their infection from spreading to other organs.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones generally develop when our kidneys are forced to filter out a large amount of calcium and uric acid from our blood. People with kidney stones often feel extreme discomfort on the lower left side of their abdomen. They might also experience a burning sensation when urinating, nausea, and a constant urge to urinate. Patients are typically given a mixture of painkillers and prescription alpha blockers to pass their kidney stones.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition that is unique to women and often leads to severe pain in the abdomen. This medical issue develops when the tissue that lines the interior of the uterus grows on the outside of the uterus or even on other organs. While most of the side effects such as intestinal pain and lower back pain take place during menstruation, women that are struggling with severe endometriosis might experience these issues throughout the month. Mild endometriosis is typically treated with painkillers while advanced endometriosis will need to be treated with surgery.
Diverticulitis
Some patients will develop a “pouch” along the inside of their colon called a diverticulum. These pouches are generally not a serious medical issue, but they can become infected, inflamed, and cause severe pain. While doctors are unsure of what causes diverticulitis, many contribute it to low levels of fiber in one’s diet. The most common side effect of diverticulitis is pain along the left side of one’s stomach that often gets worse when moving around. Other symptoms include a fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.
Constipation
Constipation can be a side effect of any number of medical problems ranging from dehydration to diverticulitis. This is a generic term that is used to describe any continuous pain due to problems with bowel movements. Most doctors will begin by carrying out a battery of tests to determine if there are any serious medical conditions that are causing this issue. If they do not find any obvious problems, they will most likely suggest a number of lifestyle changes and the use of laxatives.
Crohn’s Disease
Abdominal pain is almost always one of the first signs of Crohn’s disease. This condition is an inflammatory disease that can impact almost any section of the GI tract. In addition to abdominal pain, the patient might also experience persistent diarrhea, constipation, a loss of appetite, and fatigue. Crohn’s disease currently has no cure, and the primary goal of many treatment options is to minimize the side effects.