Why does my lower left side hurt?

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 50 . When a pouch tears, swelling and infection can cause diverticulitis.

What organ is on your lower left side?

Organs in Left Abdomen

In the lower-left part of the abdomen, you can find the left kidney, left ureter, colon, bladder, blood vessels, and nerves. In women, you'll find the left fallopian tube and ovary. The complex arrangement makes it prone to inflammation, obstruction, or injury.

What causes lower abdominal pain on the left in females?

A common cause for pain on your left side is trapped or excessive wind and bloating. Gas builds up in the digestive tract by swallowing air or as a by-product of gut bacteria breaking down foods. Having some gas is perfectly normal, but having a lot of wind could be a sign of an underlying health issue.

Should I go to the ER for lower left abdominal pain?

Emergency care may be necessary if you are experiencing the following symptoms. If the abdominal pain is severe and unrelenting, your stomach is tender to the touch, or if the pain extends to your back, you should immediately visit the closest emergency department.

Should I be worried about 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.

Diverticulitis Signs

Why is my left side hurting?

Some common causes of pain on the left side of the body include infection and injury to internal organs, muscles, or nerves. In some cases, this pain resolves on its own. However, other cases may require immediate medical intervention.

How do you know if lower left abdominal pain is serious?

See your doctor or get medical help right away if you're experiencing: sudden, severe abdominal pain. pain with fever or vomiting. signs of shock, such as cold and clammy skin, rapid breathing, lightheadedness, or weakness.

Can constipation cause pain on left side?

Constipation

Another cause of abdominal pain on the left side of the body is constipation. Constipation is usually caused by a lack of exercise, dehydration, or a diet that is too low in fiber.

What are the signs of a blocked bowel?

What do stools look like with diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis stool characteristics

Color: The stool may be bright red, maroon, or black and tarry, which indicates the presence of blood. Stools may contain more mucus than normal. Odor: The stool odor may be increasingly foul compared to the typical smell.

Can appendicitis cause left side pain?

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.

How do I relieve pain in my lower left abdomen?

Can your appendix be on the left side?

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].

What organ is above your left hip?

Since the upper part of the pelvic bone lies within the abdominal area, any organs in this region can be possible causes of pain on left side above hip. Some of the organs include the descending and sigmoid colon, the left ureter, as well as the left ovary and fallopian tube in females.

What causes pain in the lower left abdomen by hip bone?

Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is a condition causing inflammation or infection of the small pouches (called diverticula) that line the digestive system. This often causes pain in the left side of the abdomen.

What side hurts when you have appendicitis?

Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go. Within hours, the pain travels to your lower right-hand side, where the appendix is usually located, and becomes constant and severe. Pressing on this area, coughing or walking may make the pain worse.

What organs would cause pain on your left side?

Causes of left rib pain

On the left side, this includes your heart, left lung, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and left kidney. When any of these organs are infected, inflamed, or injured, pain can radiate under and around your left rib cage. It's also possible to injure your ribs themselves.

What is at left side of abdomen?

Organs in the left upper quadrant include the stomach, spleen, left portion of the liver, main body of the pancreas, the left portion of the kidney, adrenal glands, splenix flexure of the colon, and bottom part of the colon.

When should I go to the doctor for abdominal pain?

If your pain is sudden and severe, or if it occurs with any of the following, you should seek immediate medical attention: Persistent vomiting and nausea. Constipation (especially with vomiting) Vomiting blood.

How do I know if abdominal pain is serious?

What does colon pain feel like?

Inflammation, irritation, and obstruction in the colon can all cause pain, which a person will typically feel as abdominal pain. Possible causes of colon-related abdominal pain include constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colorectal cancer.

Can a bladder infection cause pain in the lower left abdomen?

Urinary tract infection

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that targets your urinary system. UTIs typically cause bladder-specific symptoms like cloudy urine or pain when you urinate. However, the bacteria causing the infection can also affect your abdomen, specifically your lower abdomen.

Can you have gas pains in your left side?

Gas in the intestine causes pain for some people. When it collects on the left side of the colon, the pain can be confused with heart disease. When it collects on the right side of the colon, the pain may feel like the pain associated with gallstones or appendicitis.

Will diverticulitis go away on its own?

In about 95 out of 100 people, uncomplicated diverticulitis goes away on its own within a week. In about 5 out of 100 people, the symptoms stay and treatment is needed. Surgery is only rarely necessary.

What are the early warning signs of diverticulitis?