Why does my left lower quadrant hurt?
Crampy pain may be due to gas, indigestion, inflammation or infection, or it may result from menstrual cramps, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Severe pain that comes in waves may be caused by kidney stones. Trauma to the body wall, hernias, and shingles can also cause left lower quadrant pain.
Should I be concerned about lower left abdominal pain?
Pain in the lower left abdomen is often no cause for concern, but it is still not something a person should ignore. Causes of pain in the lower left abdomen may be benign, such as gas pain, or can be more serious, as in the case of an infection.
How do you know if lower left abdominal pain is serious?
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms including:
- Sudden, severe pain.
- Fever.
- Bloody stools.
- Nausea and vomiting that persists.
- Weight loss.
- Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen.
- Swelling of the abdomen.
Can appendicitis cause left lower quadrant pain?
Appendicitis causing pain in the left lower quadrant is extremely rare and can occur with congenital abnormalities that include true left-sided appendix or as an atypical presentation of right-sided, but long appendix, which projects into the left lower quadrant[2].
Can appendicitis start on left side?
A: In most cases, pain from acute appendicitis is felt on the right. However, some people experience it on the left. This occurs when the inflammation affecting the appendix spreads to the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity.
What causes pain in lower left quadrant of abdomen?
Causes of chronic (several weeks to years or recurrent) lower left quadrant (LLQ) abdominal pain: Non-intestinal causes of chronic constipation include lack of exercise, low-fiber food, low fluid intake, depression, stress and certain medications.
How to know if you have lower quadrant pain?
Left lower quadrant pain may accompany other symptoms affecting the digestive tract including: 1 Abdominal cramping 2 Abdominal swelling, distension or bloating 3 Bloody stool (blood may be red, black, or tarry in texture) 4 Constipation 5 Diarrhea 6 Gas 7 Indigestion 8 Nausea with or without vomiting 9 Urgent need to pass stool
When to use differential diagnosis for left lower quadrant pain?
The differential diagnosis should be considered, and any additional relevant information should be obtained to guide clinical management. Imaging may not be necessary in patients with the classic triad of left lower-quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis, and in whom uncomplicated diverticulitis is suspected.
What causes left lower quadrant pain and fever?
A 76-year-old man with recurrent sigmoid diverticulitis presents with left lower-quadrant pain and fever. Contrast-enhanced CT shows a diverticular fistula communicating with an abscess ( Figure 3). Rectal contrast delineates the fistula tract. The patient undergoes a sigmoidectomy.
Causes of chronic (several weeks to years or recurrent) lower left quadrant (LLQ) abdominal pain: Non-intestinal causes of chronic constipation include lack of exercise, low-fiber food, low fluid intake, depression, stress and certain medications.
Left lower quadrant pain may accompany other symptoms affecting the digestive tract including: 1 Abdominal cramping 2 Abdominal swelling, distension or bloating 3 Bloody stool (blood may be red, black, or tarry in texture) 4 Constipation 5 Diarrhea 6 Gas 7 Indigestion 8 Nausea with or without vomiting 9 Urgent need to pass stool
What could cause pain in your lower left side?
In many cases, persistent pain specific to the lower left side of the abdomen is caused by diverticulitis. Diverticula are small pouches created from pressure on weak spots in the colon. Diverticula are common, and even more so after age 40.
The differential diagnosis should be considered, and any additional relevant information should be obtained to guide clinical management. Imaging may not be necessary in patients with the classic triad of left lower-quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis, and in whom uncomplicated diverticulitis is suspected.
