Cutting pain under left rib in front. What can hurt under the left rib in the front, how to relieve the pain? Symptoms of what possible diseases include pain and discomfort in the left side, under the left rib in front? Constant pain under the left rib

Pain in the left hypochondrium in front, the place where the spleen, pancreas, intestines are concentrated, and the left kidney can also extend there

When something hurts, very few people immediately run to the doctor. On the one hand, it is better not to take risks, because acute pain can indicate a serious health problem that requires immediate medical attention. However, on the other hand, depending on the location of the pain, a person can independently determine what exactly is bothering him, and only then decide to visit a doctor.

What is included in the left hypochondrium area?

Our material today will discuss the causes of pain under the ribs, which are located on the left. The side of the abdomen immediately below the rib on the left is the place where the spleen, pancreas, and intestines are concentrated. The left kidney or ureter can also go there. The hypochondrium area itself is the upper quadrant on the left, which is located under the ribs.

Causes of pain in the anterior hypochondrium on the left

Now let's talk about the most common causes of pain:

If the pain is stabbing and occurs during exercise.

If you've run a couple of kilometers and feel an unpleasant tingling sensation, there's no need to worry. Most healthy people experience similar stabbing pains during prolonged physical activity. After some time, the pain will go away on its own.

Hence the conclusion: before any physical activity, be sure to do a thorough warm-up so that the body adapts to a rapid increase in blood circulation.

When pain manifests itself during exercise, it is better not to test your strength, but to stop, properly relax your whole body (shoulders, arms, legs) and take a good breath. As you exhale, you can lightly press with your palm on the place where it hurts the most, and then bend forward. We repeat several times and move on.

In general, breathing during such exercise should be deep. If we breathe frequently, small excursions of the diaphragm begin, and the body lacks oxygen. It is also not recommended to run less than an hour and a half after a heavy meal. At this time, the body has not yet had time to adapt to physical activity.

A cutting pain is tormenting.

It can also be called “dagger”. If such sharp pain appears for no apparent reason, it makes sense to consult a doctor. Acute pain that suddenly appears in the left hypochondrium may indicate a rupture of the spleen, as well as perforation of the walls of the stomach.

I am worried about pain after an injury.

Asking for help is a must. Especially if the injury was caused by a fall. It is possible that internal organs were seriously damaged.

There is a dull pain.

Are you worried about prolonged pain that “spreads” around the hypochondrium? If it “rolls up” periodically, this is already a cause for concern. Such symptoms indicate a mild disease of the stomach, intestines, etc. For example, cholecystitis or gastritis. To confirm or exclude pathologies, go to a gastroenterologist to get tested and undergo an ultrasound.

The aching pain lingered.

Is there something constantly pulling at the bottom left? This is a characteristic symptom of colitis, although duodenitis should also not be excluded. It happens that the pain is accompanied by unpleasant nausea. A stomach ulcer should not be ruled out. The most dangerous thing is that aching pain may indicate a pre-infarction condition.

To summarize, pain of various types under the ribs may indicate the following diseases:

An impending heart attack, damage to the heart muscle.
Gastrointestinal disease. For example, ordinary gastritis or cholecystitis. More serious disorders are stomach ulcers or pancreatitis.
Neuralgia.
Rupture of the spleen due to a blow, its enlargement due to another disease.
Tumor of the diaphragm or injury to it.

In rare cases, pain may indicate a rheumatic manifestation, pneumonia, occurring in the lower left part of the lung.

Types of pain and how to recognize them

All pain can be divided according to the mechanism of its occurrence. This indicator is an additional sign that helps determine pathology.

Referred pain appears as radiating from an organ located relatively far from the site of pain. In other words, you may have a heart attack or left-sided pneumonia, and you will think that something happened to your stomach.

Visceral pain. Most often caused by intestinal spasms and muscle strain. Flatulence is also accompanied by aching, dull pain, cramping conditions during colic, radiating to nearby areas.

Peritoneal pain. Has clear localization. It is caused by irritation of the peritoneum - for example, in the case of a stomach ulcer. With deep breathing and sudden movements, the pain intensifies.

Now let's look at the types of pain according to the nature of their localization. If pulls under the ribs in front, a differential diagnosis is made between myocardial infarction, diseases of the spleen and stomach. A shift of pain closer to the central part may indicate stomach diseases in combination with problems of the gallbladder or duodenum.

Localization of pain in the hypochondrium, but more in the back, may indicate kidney damage. In itself, such pain is quite strong and can also signal osteochondrosis. For diagnosis, an ultrasound is performed, urine and blood tests are taken. To diagnose osteochondrosis, palpation of the nerve processes is performed.

Another type of pain is its encircling nature, spreading to the anterior wall of the peritoneum. This symptom may indicate inflammation of the pancreas. At first the pain is stabbing, but then it subsides a little if you lean forward.

Diseases with pain in the left hypochondrium in front

Now you understand that nothing can “just happen” in the area of the left hypochondrium. Below we will discuss the most common diseases that make themselves felt with such symptoms.

Pathology of the diaphragm.

If the pain does not stop, it may indicate a pathology of the diaphragm. There is a special hole in it that separates the peritoneum from the chest. The esophagus needs it for normal connection with the stomach. If the muscle tissue is weakened, the lumen begins to expand. The upper section begins to extend into the chest cavity, which is unacceptable. The stomach throws the contents back into the esophagus, which causes pain on the left, sometimes with nausea.

Why does a diaphragmatic hernia develop? There are several reasons - from heavy loads to pregnancy. Due to muscle weakness, a hernia can occur in the elderly. But if the stomach is pinched, the pain is cutting in nature.

Intercostal neuralgia.

Irritation and strong compression of the nerve between the ribs will certainly lead to unpleasant sensations. The most common is a nagging pain, which intensifies if you inhale sharply. The attack is accompanied by a tingling sensation in the chest area, which radiates to the left hypochondrium. Twitching of individual muscle groups is observed, the skin may turn pale, and increased sweating. Painful sensations appear if you press on points on the back, as well as between the ribs. Pain in the hypochondrium does not depend on the time of day or weather. It can be observed both in the morning and in the evening.

Cardiac pathology.

Coronary heart disease can be felt by pain in the left side. However, such pain is also accompanied by shortness of breath during exercise, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and heaviness in the chest. Similar pain can be observed with cardiomyopathy, which is the medical term for a disorder of the blood supply to the heart.

Problems with the spleen.

The fact is that the spleen is very close to the surface of the human body. Any of its pathologies are accompanied by painful sensations. If it is infectious mononucleosis, additional symptoms may include fever and muscle pain, as well as swollen lymph nodes.

Splenic hypertrophy– this is a condition when an organ begins to work in an enhanced mode and perform immune, phagocytic functions. The size of the organ increases, which causes pain on the left. Particularly sharp pain may occur due to injury or blow. Blueness of the skin around the navel indicates a ruptured spleen.

Diseases of the stomach and pancreas.

It is worth noting that these diseases are one of the most common causes of unpleasant pain in the hypochondrium. The first place is occupied by gastritis, which affects the majority of citizens of our country. The spread of the disease is explained by the poor state of the modern food industry. Our gastric mucosa reacts very subtly to any irritants. Well, there are enough of them in our diet. The most characteristic signs of gastritis are aching pain in the hypochondrium and epigastric region, nausea and unpleasant belching, heartburn, and a feeling of heaviness. These symptoms appear after a heavy meal.

Peptic ulcer disease.

Has similar symptoms. However, if the ulcer is perforated, the main symptom is a fairly sharp, cutting pain. It occurs suddenly, and the person may even lose consciousness.

Pancreatic diseases.

A characteristic symptom of pancreatitis is severe pain in the left hypochondrium. It is accompanied by vomiting with bile, severe and constant nausea, and bitterness in the mouth. The temperature may rise and the urine may turn dark.

Oncological diseases.

You should be wary of discomfort in the hypochondrium if it is accompanied by an aversion to a particular food, lack of appetite, rapid satiety, a series of diarrhea and constipation.

Now you know what pain in the left hypochondrium is and what needs to be done in case of certain manifestations of it.

Most people associate pain under the ribs on the left side with heart problems. However, a similar syndrome can be a sign of other diseases - from intercostal neuralgia to renal failure. There is no clear reason that will allow you to initially determine the diagnosis based on the localization of pain. That is why pain under the left rib requires consultation with a specialist.

A visit to the clinic under such circumstances should not be postponed in order to avoid unforeseen health consequences. Timely diagnosis will help determine the cause, and treatment prescribed by a doctor will relieve you of your ailments in the shortest possible time.

Causes of pain on the left under the ribs

Localization of discomfort in the area of the left rib may indicate the development of an acute process or the presence of chronic diseases of the nervous, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract, injuries of the diaphragm, ribs, liver, kidneys, spleen, etc.

Periodicity, irradiation, accompanying syndromes (nausea, vomiting, headaches), factors that intensify the pain syndrome (physical activity, respiratory activity, change of position, eating or drinking water) - this information provides the basis for a detailed analysis of pain and understanding why it hurts on the left side. ribs.

To diagnose pain, a list of studies (laboratory, instrumental) is used: CBC, blood biochemistry, urinalysis, radiography, ultrasound examination, MRI, CT. Depending on the medical history, external examination and research results, a consultation with a specialized specialist (gastroenterologist, traumatologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, surgeon, etc.) is scheduled.

Diseases associated with pain on the left under the ribs

The reasons why it hurts under the left rib may be:

cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction;
enlarged spleen, splenic rupture;
gastrointestinal dysfunction (ulcer, gastritis, gastroduodenitis, stomach cancer, pancreatitis);
kidney dysfunction;
pulmonary diseases (pneumonia, pneumonia, cancer, pleurisy);
endocrine disorders;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
injuries to the ribs, diaphragm, internal organs;
musculoskeletal system (osteochondrosis, protrusion, etc.).

The nature of the pain (sharp, dull, aching, pulling, shooting) also provides information about the possible source of the problem. Pain in the left side under the ribs often accompanies injuries and ruptures of internal organs. Dull, diffuse, long-lasting pain distinguishes gastrointestinal diseases; they are also indicated by pain in the morning in the epigastric region. Morning pain after a long sleep of a shooting nature with sudden movements is a characteristic of osteochondrosis. Permanent aching pain is a sign of disturbances in the functioning of the heart, and aggravated by nausea and vomiting is a sign of stomach ulcers.

Elimination of pain on the left under the rib

Localization of pain makes it possible to focus on dysfunction of specific organs. Pain in the left side under the ribs in front, retrosternal pain is associated with functional disorders of cardiac activity - clinical forms of coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction). The same localization of pain is observed in gastrointestinal ulcers, stomach cancer and gastritis with high/low acidity. Damage to the diaphragm is characterized by pain on the left under the rib in front, radiating to the supraclavicular region or under the scapula, aggravated by respiratory activity, coughing, and sneezing.

Painful sensations accompanied by headaches, migraines, and manifestations of convulsions are a sign of disorders of the nervous system. The pain is localized on the left under the ribs on the side and is paroxysmal in nature. The same symptoms are characteristic of a viral disease – herpes zoster. The pain is aching at first, eventually turning into a sharp one. Pain syndrome precedes the appearance of herpetic eruptions.

Kidney disease and vertebral osteochondrosis are distinguished by pain in the back left under the ribs. Acute severe pain indicates renal colic. Tolerable pain of a constant nature indicates an enlargement of the organ and the development of inflammation. With osteochondrosis, pain changes the level of intensity with physical activity. The answer to the question of what hurts in the left side below the ribs is in most cases the same - the spleen. Disturbances in its work entail the appearance of aching pain.

The patient’s understandable desire is to relieve acute pain with the help of antispasmodics and analgesics. However, this is a situational temporary solution that does not eliminate the cause and is very dangerous to health. If you have pain on your left side under the ribs, especially in combination with pallor/blueness of the skin, nausea, vomiting, increased pain when lying down, or increased temperature, contact a medical facility immediately.

Treatment of pain in the left side

Based on the causes and nature of pain in the left side near the rib, various treatment methods can be used. Our clinic specialists use it to eliminate pain.

On the left side of the abdomen, under the diaphragm, is the stomach. Therefore, pain under the stomach often indicates stomach diseases. With (inflammation of the stomach), pain occurs either after eating, if gastritis is with, or in the morning before eating (this is typical for gastritis with). The pain is usually aching and dull. With a stomach ulcer, the pain is severe, often burning. It may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

In the most severe cases, stomach pain can be caused by a malignant neoplasm. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and be sure to examine the gastrointestinal tract (for example, undergo a gastroscopy procedure). This procedure is not pleasant, but it is better to endure a few minutes of discomfort than to cause swelling. After all, stomach cancer can be successfully treated in the early stages, but in the later stages it is immeasurably more difficult to cure.

Pain in the left hypochondrium can also begin due to inflammation or injury to the spleen. If the pain is very strong, cutting and is also accompanied by blueness of the skin of the abdomen (due to the accumulation of blood), this may indicate a rupture of the spleen. You must immediately call an ambulance.

If the pain is dull and encircling, we may be talking about diseases of the pancreas. If the girdle pain becomes very strong, cutting, often accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, the cause may be severe inflammation of the gland - acute pancreatitis.

Finally, pain under the left rib can be signs of heart disease, even as serious as myocardial infarction. There are many cases where, during a heart attack, the pain “radiated” not to the left shoulder and left side of the sternum, as usually happens, but to the abdominal cavity and even to the legs!

Pain in the left hypochondrium can also be caused by disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands, as well as damage to the nervous system.

Which doctors should you consult for pain in the left hypochondrium?

If you feel pain under the rib, you need to be examined by a gastroenterologist, cardiologist, surgeon, endocrinologist and neurologist. It is advisable to do an ultrasound of the spleen and pancreas, as well as undergo gastroscopy. After making a diagnosis, you must strictly follow the doctors’ orders, only then will you get rid of pain.

Pain under the left rib is a symptom that cannot be considered specific without taking into account the accompanying clinical signs; in addition, in a diagnostic sense, it is important to know exactly the location and nature of the pain, its dependence on food intake or other etiological factors.

In the area of the left hypochondrium there are many organs, nerve endings, blood vessels, lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissue, muscles - all of them can be a source of pain. Pain under the left rib may be associated with the following organs:

Left lung.
Pancreas (tail).
Heart and mediastinum (mediastinum).
Upper part of the stomach (fundus).
Upper pole of the left kidney.
Left zone of the diaphragm.
Left uterine appendages in women.
Left-sided bend of the colon.

To accurately diagnose a pain symptom under the left rib, a combination of symptoms, instrumental and laboratory examinations are required, which, combined into a clinical picture, help to establish the actual cause of the pain.

Causes of pain under the left rib

From a pathophysiological point of view, pain is a signal of impaired blood supply to a certain local area of an internal organ, changes in tissue trophism, nerve endings, swelling, and so on. As a rule, the causes of pain under the left rib are closely related to these types of provoking factors:

Tissue swelling due to an inflammatory process in a nearby organ.
Changes in the trophism of nerve endings and tissues due to poor blood supply and oxygen starvation (ischemia).
Mechanical cause – injury as a result of a fall, impact, or accident.
Violation of the integrity of the tunica mucosa (mucosa) of the hollow organs located in the area of the left hypochondrium as a result of exposure to a bacterial, pathogenic factor (ulcers, erosion, perforation).
Postoperative pain as an objective symptom after surgical treatment of the pancreas, left kidney, spleen, stomach.
Radiating pain, the source of which, as a rule, is located above the painful area - in the aponeurosis, muscles of the intercostal spaces (intercostal neuralgia, osteochondrosis).

In clinical practice, the following causes of pain under the left rib are considered the most common:

Acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas, pancreatitis.
Splenomegaly, splenitis, splenic rupture.
Acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, cholecystitis.
Inflammatory process in the mucous membrane, in the wall of the stomach, gastritis.
Inflammatory process in the lower lobe of the left lung.
DH – diaphragmatic hernia.
Chronic myeloid leukemia.
Diverticulitis.
Ischemic colitis (large intestine).
Pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.
Cardiopathy – myocarditis, pericarditis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.
Vegetative crises.
Rheumatoid inflammatory processes, osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia.
Flatulence.
Rarely - inflammation of the appendix.
Expansion of the volume of the bronchopulmonary system during pregnancy.

Gastrointestinal pathologies:

Gastritis, in which a functional disorder or inflammation occurs and, as a result, pain. The pain symptom is expressed in a burning sensation, heartburn, is aching in nature and is associated with food intake. Also, with gastritis, a person feels nausea, heaviness, pressure in the hypochondrium, often on the left, and general disorders may include weakness, increased sweating, impaired functioning of the cardiovascular system, anemia (B12 deficiency), and an atypical taste in the mouth.
PUD is a gastric ulcer, the symptoms of which may appear in the left hypochondrium. The difference between ulcerative stomach and ulcerative process in the duodenum is that the erosive stomach reacts to food intake, pain occurs after eating, “hungry” pain is not typical for it.
Ulcer perforation is a condition considered an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Symptoms of perforation are very specific - sudden, sharp (dagger) pain, cyanosis of the skin, dizziness and often loss of consciousness.
Adenocarcinoma of the stomach, which in the initial stage does not have obvious clinical signs, but, as it grows, is felt as constant pain, independent of the time and amount of food taken. Also, among the minor signs of cancer there may be loss of appetite, loss of body weight, anemia, aversion to protein foods, especially meat, heaviness in the stomach. Obvious signs of malignancy in the process are nagging pain radiating under the right or left rib (at the location of the tumor), melena (black stool), vomit with a consistency similar to coffee grounds.
Constipation or constipation, especially secondary to damage to the large intestine.
Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly). Stretching of the organ capsule is most often provoked by infectious mononucleosis and is manifested by weakness, migraine-like headaches, joint pain and myalgia, increased sweating, a lump in the throat, inflamed lymph nodes, herpetic rashes and characteristic pain under the left rib.
A rupture of the splenic capsule of traumatic or infectious etiology manifests itself in the form of a sharp, acute pain on the left under the rib, radiating to the back, cyanosis of the skin around the navel, and the left abdominal region. This condition is classified as an emergency, requiring immediate hospitalization.
Exacerbation of pancreatitis, which causes heaviness and severe pain on the left, girdling in nature. Often pain under the left rib radiates to the back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and hyperthermia.
DH is a diaphragmatic hernia, which clinically in the initial period can signal itself with heartburn due to the reflux of acid into the esophagus - the esophagus, then dull, constant aching pain in the left hypochondrium, a feeling of nausea, heaviness in the epigastrium. If the stomach is pinched, sharp pain may occur.

Causes of pain in the left side associated with cardiac diseases:

All types of functional, structural pathology of the heart muscle - cardiomyopathy. Pain under the left rib is provoked by excessive physical activity, and less often by stress. Symptoms of cardiomyopathic diseases may include pain on the left side, tachycardia, decreased motor activity, and weakness.
Ischaemia – IHD (coronary heart disease), a condition in which blood flow and blood supply to the heart muscles are disrupted due to narrowing and obstruction of the coronary arteries. Symptomatically, IHD is manifested by aching pain, burning in the left side, under the rib, heaviness, difficulty breathing, nausea.
Infarctus, ischemic necrosis, myocardial infarction is a condition that requires emergency care and manifests itself in the form of heaviness spreading from the middle of the chest, most often to the left, under the rib, scapula, under the jaw, into the neck, into the arm. A heart attack may be accompanied by shortness of breath, tachyrkadia, and a strong burning sensation in the chest space.

Bronchopulmonary diseases:

Left-sided pneumonia, in which pain is provoked by an inflammatory process in the lower lobe of the lung, is felt as dull, vague, aching. The pain symptom intensifies with the cough reflex, then the pain feels like a stabbing sensation.
Dry pleurisy of the left lung. The disease is manifested by rapid breathing, hyperthermia, pain, which is associated with persistent cough, body turns, and bending. If pleurisy occurs in an exudative form, the pain is aching in nature, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, pressure in the chest, cyanosis of the skin of the face and fingers.

Neurological diseases:

Intercostal neuralgia caused by irritation of the nerve roots. It manifests itself as acute, severe pain in the acute stage; in a chronic course, clinical signs may be pain under the rib of an aching nature, associated with movements, changes in posture, and bending. The pain intensifies with intense physical activity, inhalation, sharp turns, and sneezing. Also, intercostal neuralgia is characterized by certain pain points that respond to palpation. Pain sensations are often radiating in nature and extend under the shoulder blade, into the arm, which creates confusion in the differentiation of diseases.
Autonomic crises that are not associated with cardiac diseases, however, are symptomatically manifested by pain under the left rib, a feeling of pressure in the chest, increased heart rate, sweating, a feeling of fear, and panic.

Symptoms of pain under the left rib

Symptoms of pain under the left rib depend on their pathogenetic mechanism (occurrence and development) and are quite difficult to differentiate due to their nonspecificity. However, they can be combined according to the following characteristics:

Visceral symptoms that are typical of gastrointestinal pathologies. Symptoms most often appear in the form of cramping pain with colic, spasms, or as aching, dull pain in the chronic form of the pathology. Visceral pain is also characterized by reflection, that is, it can radiate to nearby areas, most often to the left or right.
Localized peritoneal pain, typical of rupture or perforation. This pain symptom is acute, sharp in nature and intensifies with tension, movement, and breathing.
Radiating symptoms characteristic of inflammatory processes in the bronchopulmonary system.

In addition, in a diagnostic sense, enough typical clinical descriptions have been accumulated, so the symptoms of pain under the left rib can be systematized as follows:

Pain under the left rib in front

A painful symptom that is localized in the left hypochondrium on the side of the chest may indicate diseases of the stomach or spleen. If the pain is dull, aching in nature and occurs periodically, regardless of food intake, this may be a sign of splenitis, splenomegaly in the initial stage. In addition, pain under the left rib in the front can signal a diaphragmatic hernia, abscess, in such situations the symptom is sharp, acute, the pain quickly increases, intensifies when turning, coughing, breathing. It is necessary to differentiate the pain symptom from simple colitis, which can also appear in the left hypochondrium area, especially if they are associated with the upper loops of the intestine. In addition, myositis, inflammation of the gallbladder, displaced to the left and manifested by atypical symptoms, can be felt in this way. The most dangerous factor that provokes pain in the lower part of the left rib is myocardial infarction.

Sharp pain under the left rib

Severe, sharp pain in the left hypochondrium can be a sign of perforation of the stomach wall or perforation of the upper loops of the small intestine. Such “dagger” pains are a reason to immediately call emergency services and urgent hospitalization. In addition, sharp pain under the left rib is often a signal of rupture of the splenic capsule. If the pain is of a girdling nature, perhaps this is evidence of an attack of pancreatitis, which begins acutely, suddenly; constancy is typical for such pains, they do not depend on coughing, changes in body posture, movements, and so on. Left-sided sharp pain in the hypochondrium can also manifest itself as a gastralgic infarction, which is not common in clinical practice; however, this type of ischemia indicates necrosis of the infero-posterior part of the ventriculus sinister cordis - the left ventricle.

Pain under the left lower rib

Localization of the pain symptom under the lower left rib is most often associated with neuralgia. Intercostal neuralgia has many signs, often disguised as cardialgia, signs of ulcerative processes in the stomach and intestines. However, pain under the left lower rib, like many neurological symptoms, has its own typical parameters:

Sharp, piercing pain in which a person “freezes.”
Any movement increases the pain.
The pain intensifies when inhaling.
The pain is paroxysmal and lasts several minutes.
A painful symptom that is not relieved or treated, is repeated more and more often.
The pain is not relieved by taking heart medications.
The pain is localized in the area from the V to the IX ribs on the left, reflected in the shoulder, left shoulder blade, and less often - the arm.

Aching pain under the left rib

Aching pain under the left rib, as a rule, is constant and indicates a chronic, sluggish disease, most often inflammation. This symptom is characteristic of gastroduodenitis, colitis and the beginning of an ulcerative process in the stomach. If such pain is accompanied by vomiting, which relieves pain, then gastric ulcer (peptic ulcer) is almost undeniable. In addition, constant, aching pain in the left hypochondrium can signal developing angina, ischemia, and even an atypical picture of a pre-infarction state.

Also, aching pain under the left rib can serve as one of the clinical signs of a diaphragmatic hernia, the initial stage of stretching of the spleen capsule.

Pain under the left rib behind

Localization of pain behind the left hypochondrium may be a sign of kidney pathology and require a comprehensive diagnosis, including standard nephrological studies - urinalysis, ultrasound, urography, and so on. In addition, pain under the left rib from behind is one of the manifestations of osteochondrosis of the lumbar, and less commonly, the thoracic spine. These diseases are diagnosed using palpation of paravertebral zones, x-rays, general and biochemical blood tests, and computed tomography. Often the pain, starting from behind, becomes encircling and moves to the abdominal area, which indicates an attack of pancreatitis. The pain in this case is sharp, acute and does not depend on changes in posture, movements, or turns.

Pain under the left rib behind can be caused by the following reasons:

Dry left-sided pleurisy.
Oncological process in the left lung.
Pneumothorax.
Atypical manifestations of myocardial infarction.
Pericarditis.
Atypical manifestations of renal artery thrombosis.
Renal colic.
An attack of pancreatitis.

Stitching pain under the left rib

Most often, stabbing pain under the left rib is associated with the onset of stretching of the splenic capsule; this symptom is especially characteristic during physical activity, active movements, and overexertion. In addition, a stabbing symptom in this area may be associated with a life-threatening disease - myeloid leukemia, which does not manifest itself clinically in the initial stage and can be determined randomly by examining blood serum. With this disease, the spleen, which is responsible for the production of leukocytes, also suffers, splenomegaly develops, manifested by heaviness under the left rib, tingling after eating. In the terminal stage of myeloid leukemia, a compaction is clearly palpable under the left rib.

A more favorable prognosis has osteochondrosis of the thoracic spinal column, which can also be signaled by stabbing pain in the left hypochondrium.

It should be noted that left-sided pleurisy, especially exudative one, is manifested by sharp stabbing symptoms in the hypochondrium, the pain intensifies with coughing and breathing (exhalation).

Dull pain under the left rib

Dull, aching pain symptoms are characteristic of the onset of inflammatory processes. Dull pain under the left rib is typical for developing chronic pancreatitis, gastroduodenitis, and less commonly, cholecystitis. In addition, a factor provoking dull pain may be splenomegaly - stretching of the spleen capsule, in which the breakdown and utilization of red blood cells occurs during hemolytic anemia. Less commonly, dull pain under the left rib can be a sign of hemoblastic pathologies - lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoma. The spleen is sensitive to pathologies of the organs associated with it and can enlarge due to portal hypertension, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatitis, which often manifest themselves clinically indirectly through symptoms of spleen diseases. Also, nagging, dull pain can serve as a diagnostic sign of an acute infectious disease - mononucleosis, which causes hypertrophy of the spleen until it ruptures. Less commonly, dull pain in the left hypochondrium indicates chronic cardiac diseases - bacterial endocarditis, pericarditis.

Nagging pain under the left rib

The nagging nature of the pain indicates the following diseases:

Osteochondrosis, which manifests itself as dull, aching pain, aggravated by hand movements, turns, and static tension.
Inflammation of the left shoulder joint, in which pain under the left rib is referred.
Myalgia is inflammation of the chest muscles on the left, caused by physical overload and hypothermia.
Inflammatory processes in the heart muscle, not associated with ischemia, spasms of the coronary vessels.
Cardioneurosis, autonomic attacks in which nagging pain under the left rib is caused by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
Chronic inflammatory processes in the stomach, intestines, pancreas.

Severe pain under the left rib

Severe, sharp pain in the left hypochondrium is most often associated with a serious condition, exacerbation of pathological processes, which requires emergency medical care.

Severe pain under the left rib can be caused by the following factors:

Inflammation of the lower lobe of the left lung in the acute stage.
Injury to the left ribs (lower) – bruise, fracture.
Splenomegaly caused by infection or cancer.
Traumatic damage to the splenic capsule.
Splenic cyst.
Splenic rupture.
Abscess of the spleen.
Pathological expansion and dissection (aneurysm) of the splenic artery.
Terminal gastric adenocarcinoma.
Exacerbation of gastroduodenitis.
Exacerbation of stomach ulcers.
Perforation of the stomach wall.
Acute pyelonephritis.
Exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Oncological process in the tail of the pancreas.
Pancreatic cyst.
Colic of the left kidney.
Tumor of the left flexure of the colon.
Angina attack.
Myocardial infarction.

Severe pain under the left rib, as a rule, is unbearable, even if it is relieved with antispasmodics, cardiac medications or other means, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible to avoid life-threatening conditions.

Constant pain under the left rib

The constant nature of the pain indicates the development of a pathological process in the organs and systems associated with the left hypochondrium area.

Constant pain under the left rib may be associated with a sluggish, latent disease of the stomach, intestines, kidneys, pancreas, lymphatic system and many other organs. In addition, constant pain is characteristic of intercostal neuralgia, the symptoms of which are “masked” as signs of cardiac diseases. Painful discomfort that does not stop is also a cause for alarm, since the pre-infarction state often has such signs. Despite the fact that aching, constant pain is quite tolerable, it must be presented to the attending physician for differentiation, diagnosis and treatment. Only in this way is it possible to avoid the transformation of an implicit pain symptom into an acute, intolerable one, and to prevent the development of the disease.

Throbbing pain under the left rib

Pulsation and tingling are a typical symptom of the developing pathology of many membrane-covered organs. Throbbing pain under the left rib may indicate a violation of tissue trophism and a change in blood supply in the spleen; in addition, stretching of its capsule most often manifests itself in the form of periodic, dull, throbbing pain. The spleen can either expand (splenomegaly) or decrease in size, atrophy with anemia; all changes in its parameters are signaled by characteristic pulsating symptoms in the left hypochondrium. Diagnosis of diseases of the spleen is standard; as a rule, the connection between pulsation and the state of the peritoneal vessels is determined, ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, and angiography of the aorta are performed to exclude or confirm an aneurysm.

Pain below the left rib

The etiology of symptoms in the left zone of the body can be varied, since pain below the left rib is not a specific sign of a particular disease.

However, such manifestations have been well studied and in clinical practice are systematized as follows:

Diseases of the spleen caused by the following reasons:

Injuries - bruises, falls, accidents.
Inflammatory process.
Infectious mononucleosis.
Ischemia and infarction of the spleen.

Stomach diseases:

Gastroduodenitis.
Dyspepsia.
PUD – gastric ulcer.
Tumor process, gastric adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic diseases:

Pancreatitis.
Pancreas cancer.

Pathologies of the diaphragm:

Hernia.
Congenital anatomical anomalies of the diaphragm.

Cardiac diseases:

IHD – coronary heart disease.
Angina pectoris.
Myocardiostrophy.
Pericarditis.
Myocardial infarction.

Neurological conditions:

Vegetative attack.
Fibromyalgia.
Intercostal neuralgia.
Osteochondrosis, radiculopathy

Pain below the left rib is a symptom that should not be overlooked, since important organs are located in the left hypochondrium area, on the condition of which human life often depends

Pain under the left rib on the side

Most often, pain in the left side on the side is associated with heart disease, but such a symptom can indicate many other reasons. In the area of the left rib there are the digestive organs - the stomach (the fundus, the cardiac part of the stomach), part of the intestines, the colon, as well as the spleen, left kidney, ureter, and uterine appendages. In addition, pain under the left rib may indicate dry left-sided pleurisy, which manifests itself as stabbing pain on the side, on the left. Indeed, left-sided pain, radiating to the jaw, neck, arm, back, often to the side, is a signal of an angina attack, but more often it is a symptom of a pre-infarction condition or a heart attack. Any discomfort in the left hypochondrium should be a reason to consult a doctor who can differentiate the signs of the disease, make an accurate diagnosis and begin symptomatic and basic treatment.

It should be noted that pain on the left side is not a specific symptom indicating the nature of the pathology, much less its etiology. All clarifications and confirmations must be based only on laboratory, instrumental and hardware diagnostic studies.

Sharp pain under the left rib

The acute nature of the pain indicates a serious, life-threatening condition, possibly due to a perforation of an ulcer of the duodenum or stomach. Acute pain under the left rib in such cases is cyclical, most often it develops suddenly at night and is seasonal - spring or autumn. The pain radiates from the left rib to the back, less often to the lower back. The typical body position during perforation of an ulcer is the “fetal” position, when the patient presses his knees to his stomach or clasps his arms around the sore spot. In addition, an acute pain symptom is characteristic of exacerbation of gastritis; so-called severe “hungry” pain occurs with a duodenal ulcer.

Clarification of the location of the pain symptom (above, below, behind, in front).
Find out the nature and intensity of pain.
Determine whether there is irradiation of pain, path, place of reflection.
Identify factors that provoke pain - food, tension, cough, stress.
Determine how the symptom is relieved - vomiting, body position, taking medications.
Assess associated symptoms.

General and biochemical blood test.
X-ray, computed tomography of the spine.
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.
Coprogram.
FGDS.
Angiography.
Cardiogram and ultrasound of the heart.
A biopsy is possible.

Treatment of pain under the left rib

Treatment of pain under the left rib directly depends on the severity of symptoms

Acute conditions requiring emergency care are treated on site, then therapy is carried out in an inpatient setting.

It should be noted that patients with a history of chronic diseases should know the ways and means of relieving acute pain symptoms, that is, have the necessary emergency medications with them, this is especially true for cardiac diseases, stomach and intestinal ulcers.

In addition, symptomatic treatment should be the prerogative of the doctor; self-medication sometimes only aggravates the severity of the process and can lead to serious complications, including death. Any left-sided pain is a direct indication of a timely visit to a doctor and receipt of adequate, professional help. It is completely inappropriate, even dangerous, to look for ways to treat pain under the left rib in the media, from friends, using online resources, since such signs require diagnosis, often therapy in a hospital setting, and possibly resuscitation measures.

How to prevent pain under the left rib?

Preventive measures to prevent pain in the left hypochondrium are regular medical examinations, that is, routine examinations and visits to the attending physician. Prevention of pain under the left rib is especially important for older people, when the risk of developing heart disease and pathologies of the digestive system increases. Also, you should not let the disease take its course in case of subtle pain, which can serve as the first signal about the possible development of the disease. Almost any disease can be treated quite quickly and effectively if it is detected at an early stage. In addition, the prevention of pain in the left rib area is associated with adherence to healthy diet and lifestyle standards, since most often pain discomfort in this area is caused by inflammatory or erosive processes of the digestive tract. Giving up bad habits, trusting modern, high-tech medicine, and timely preventive examinations will help avoid not only serious complications, but also extinguish the source of the disease at its very beginning.

Pain in the left hypochondrium is a very common occurrence, as it is a symptom of many diseases.

To determine what kind of illness pain in the left hypochondrium is signaling, first of all you need to diagnose the nature of the pain, since pain can be of several types, for example, dull, cutting, stabbing and aching.

Thus, with the correct determination of the nature of the pain and accompanying symptoms, it is possible to find out which organ needs medical diagnosis and further treatment.

Causes of pain in the left hypochondrium

The causes of pain in the left hypochondrium are varied. The following vital organs are located in this area: heart, spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestinal loops, diaphragm. Any malfunctions in their operation provoke discomfort under the ribs on the left.

So what could it be? Here the main causes of pain in the left hypochondrium:

spleen diseases;
pathology of the left kidney;
stomach diseases, most often -,;
pancreatic diseases - ;
diseases of the small and large intestines.

In more rare cases, pain in this area may be caused by:

inflammatory processes of the diaphragm, its hernias and tumors;
, and ;
inflammatory processes in the left appendages in women (and others);
postoperative and post-traumatic consequences (hematomas, cuts, stitches, etc.);
heart diseases, in particular coronary disease;
left lung;

Each of these reasons can pose a potential threat to human life. Therefore, for their timely elimination and treatment, immediate consultation with a doctor is required.

Dull pain in the left hypochondrium

It begins to worry when a sluggish chronic disease occurs, most often due to problems with the gastrointestinal tract, such as:

pancreatitis;
gastritis.

It is quite difficult to establish a diagnosis, so it is necessary to undergo a series of studies and pass the necessary tests.

Sharp and acute pain

This pain is typical for serious damage to internal organs. If the onset of pain was preceded by blows or bruises to the left side of the body, then injuries such as rib fractures, rupture or hematoma of the spleen, rupture of the kidney or kidney ligaments can be assumed.

If pain appears without the influence of external traumatic factors, then renal colic, acute pancreatitis, intestinal perforation, and strangulated renal cyst can be diagnosed.

After load

After physical activity, pain should not be a reason for panic, as it is a companion of almost every healthy person. It is associated with insufficient preparation and warm-up.

Blood circulation increases too quickly and the body cannot adapt to it in time. Insufficient breathing may also be a cause. Frequent shallow breathing strains the diaphragm too much and this causes pain in the hypochondrium at the back.

Pain in the left hypochondrium anteriorly

What could it be? If such pain is localized under the ribs in front, this most likely indicates diseases of the spleen or damage to the tissues of the stomach. In these cases, the differential diagnosis is made with myocardial infarction, colitis of the upper intestinal loops, and myositis.

If the pain shifts more towards the center, a combination of stomach disease with diseases of the gallbladder and duodenum is possible.

Pain in the left hypochondrium from behind from the back

Almost always, pain in the left hypochondrium radiating to the back is associated with a disease such as chronic or acute pyelonephritis of the left kidney, resulting from infections in it.

Urolithiasis is characterized by the absence of pain at rest, but when the stones begin to move and exit into the ureter, an attack of intolerable, sharp pain occurs, usually localized in the left hypochondrium at the back.

Intercostal neuralgia

This disease is associated with irritation or compression of the intercostal nerves. Patients complain of piercing, shooting pain in the chest area and under the ribs. The nature of the pain can change: from acute to aching, from burning to dull.

It also leads to pain under the shoulder blades or in the lower back. They are long-lasting and appear regardless of the time of day.

Stomach pathologies

With gastritis, there is a dull pain in the left hypochondrium and epigastric region, a feeling of fullness, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

With a gastric ulcer, a defect in the mucous membrane occurs. The disease has an undulating course with alternating exacerbations and remissions. Patients are concerned about bursting pain in the left hypochondrium, which occurs after eating, nausea, vomiting, sour belching, heartburn.

Pancreatic diseases

Pancreatitis, cancer and other diseases of the pancreas may be accompanied by symptoms such as lack of appetite, vomiting, bloating, upset digestion, nausea, pain in the left upper abdomen, etc.

Pain in the left hypochondrium, caused by pathologies of the pancreas, intensifies a couple of hours after eating or at night, forcing the patient to wake up from pain.

Kidney inflammation

Pain in the left hypochondrium at the back most likely occurs due to inflammation of the kidneys. This disease is called pyelonephritis and can occur in both acute and chronic forms. It occurs due to various types of infection entering the kidneys. To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to see a doctor, but there is a self-diagnosis method that allows you to make a preliminary diagnosis.

You should lightly tap the edge of your palm on the back under the lower rib. If there really is an inflammatory process in the kidneys, pain increases and spreads, and nausea is felt.

Spleen diseases

If we consider the causes of pain of this type, one of the most common is diseases of the spleen. With such diseases, the spleen can increase in size until it ruptures, so it is extremely important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and begin treatment.

Rupture of this organ can also be caused by other problems - inflammation, splenic infarction or infectious mononucleosis.

Heart pathologies

Coronary artery disease leads to pain in the left side and frequent shortness of breath, which occurs regardless of whether the person is at rest or physically active. Pain and shortness of breath are usually associated with a burning sensation and heaviness in the chest, rapid heartbeat and nausea.

The same pain can be caused by cardiomyopathy - several diseases that lead to dysfunction of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy provokes structural changes in the heart muscle, causing pain in the left side that occurs during exercise and fatigue.

Respiratory diseases

Left-sided bronchitis, pneumonia and pleurisy are also accompanied by the appearance of dull pain, aggravated by coughing, breathing or changing body position.

It is quite easy to diagnose respiratory diseases based on other characteristic signs: increased body temperature, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and so on.

Treatment

Treatment should begin with examination and establishment of an accurate clinical diagnosis. Only after identifying the cause can we proceed to eliminate it.

All of the above diseases that cause pain in the left hypochondrium require consultation with a specialist. This is associated with the risk of complications that can lead to the most severe consequences.