Pain under the ribs on the left side

Pain under the ribs on the left is a common phenomenon, which is most often regarded as a sign of heart problems. In fact, pain in the left hypochondrium can signal diseases of various organs and systems of the body.

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Causes of pain under the ribs on the left

Pain in the right hypochondrium is a dangerous symptom that signals serious diseases of the following organs and systems:

• Heart (myocardial infarction).
• Spleen (enlargement or rupture).
• Stomach (gastritis, peptic ulcer, dispersion, cancer).
• Pancreas (pancreatitis).
• Lungs (inflammation, pneumonia, lung cancer).
• Right kidney (urolithiasis, pyelonephritis).
• Problems with the left side of the diaphragm.
• Diseases of the nervous system.
• Diseases of the endocrine system.
• Damage or fracture of ribs.
• Vertebral osteochondrosis.

The list of possible diseases associated with pain under the ribs on the left is large, so in order to accurately determine the affected organ, you need to pay attention to where the pain is concentrated.

Pain on the left side under the ribs in front

Pain in the left hypochondrium in front is a signal of heart disease, most often myocardial infarction. In this case, the pain occurs on the left side and radiates more to the front, the patient feels a supporting unpleasant sensation.

In addition, pain on the left under the ribs can radiate to the front with a stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer. With an ulcer, the pain is acute and migrates to the right hypochondrium.

If the pain in the left hypochondrium increases in the front when inhaling, coughing or sneezing, then this may be due to damage to the left part of the diaphragm - subdiaphragmatic abscess. The pain often migrates under the shoulder blade or to the supraclavicular region of the left side.

Pain on the left side under the ribs

Pain on the left side under the ribs may be the first symptom of diseases of the nervous system or shingles.

In cases of nervous system disorders, paroxysmal pain on the side under the left ribs is accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as migraine and cramps.

Shingles affects the nerve endings in the intercostal area, so it does not appear immediately. Initially, aching pain on the side in the left hypochondrium becomes acute, and only over time, herpetic rashes appear on the skin.

Pain in the back left under the ribs

Pain in the left hypochondrium that radiates back occurs with kidney disease (in this case, the left kidney) and spinal osteochondrosis.

Kidneys can hurt in different ways:

• Severe, unbearable pain is a sign of renal colic.
• Constant, but not strong, “severe” pain – with inflammation and enlargement of the organ.

Vertebral osteochondrosis can also provoke both not very strong aching pain after sleep or a long stay in one position, and strong piercing pain that weakens after a person freezes in one position.

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Pain under the ribs on the left below

Almost always, pain under the left ribs below (especially under the lower rib) is of a nagging nature and is caused by an enlarged spleen.

The spleen is an organ that, by increasing in size, reacts to all sorts of diseases.

1. Infectious diseases provoke an enlargement of the spleen - infectious mononucleosis, accompanied by fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes.
2. Hemoblastic diseases: lymphomas, leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
3. Septic diseases: purulent abscesses, bacterial endocarditis
4. Chronic diseases with a high degree of severity: tuberculosis, lupus erythematosus, malaria.

Pain under the lower left rib, which is associated with an enlarged spleen, is a very dangerous symptom, since in severe cases the inflamed organ can rupture even with the slightest movement.

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Symptoms of pain on the left side under the ribs

In order to understand what disease pain on the left under the ribs may foretell, it is not enough to determine its localization. An important point in making a diagnosis is the nature of the painful sensations. The pain may be:

• Cutting.
• Dull and aching.
• Acute.
• Stinging.

Depending on the nature of the pain and its accompanying symptoms, it is possible to determine which organ requires a thorough medical examination and subsequent treatment.

Dull aching pain on the left side under the ribs

If you feel a nagging pain on the left side under the ribs, which is also located in the middle of the abdomen, this indicates gastritis or gastric ulcer. Associated symptoms of these diseases are:

• Vomiting that brings relief.
• Decreased appetite.
• Diarrhea.
• Sour and bitter belching.

Often, gastritis with decreased secretion of gastric juice provokes the development of such a terrible disease as cancer.

A dull aching pain in the left hypochondrium is also a sign of stomach cancer. But it should be remembered that the pain can also be sharp. Stomach cancer is characterized by:

• Unexplained weight loss.
• Anemia or signs of intoxication (yellowing of the face and whites of the eyes).
• Growing weakness and impairment of human performance.
• Depression.
• A sudden desire to change your diet, such as an aversion to meat.

A dull aching pain in the lower left rib indicates an enlarged spleen – splenomegaly.

Often, aching pain on the left bothers people suffering from diseases of the pancreas. It is in the left hypochondrium that the "tail" of the organ is located, so the attack begins there. Afterwards, the pain takes on a girdle-like character. Associated syndromes of pancreatic diseases:

• Elevated temperature.
• Vomit.
• Nausea.

Sharp pain on the left side under the ribs

Sharp pains in the left hypochondrium are typical for gastric and duodenal ulcers. They can radiate to the lower back and back. Sharp pains are so excruciating that the patient is forced to squat, clasping or pressing the stomach to a hard object. In addition, ulcer patients suffer from:

• "Hunger" pains.
• Heartburn.
• Vomiting.
• Constipated.
• Weakness, increased irritability and headaches.

Sharp pain may increase under the ribs on the left after physical exertion or nervous tension.

Stabbing pain under the ribs on the left

A stabbing pain in the left hypochondrium, which intensifies when coughing or inhaling, is a serious symptom of lung disease (left-sided pneumonia, inflammation of the left lung, tuberculosis, lung cancer ) or the left part of the diaphragm.

Associated symptoms for lung diseases include:

• Elevated temperature.
• Fever (for pneumonia and subdiaphragmatic abscess).
• Constipation.
• Shortness of breath.
• Pale blue color of the nasolabial triangle (for pneumonia).
• General intoxication of the body (if the diaphragm is damaged).

Sharp pain on the left side under the ribs

Acute, or as it is also called, "dagger" pain under the ribs on the left indicates a duodenal ulcer and stomach ulcer. In addition to a severe attack of pain, which forces the patient to take a lying position with his legs pressed to his stomach, these diseases are characterized by:

• Migrating pain.
• Nausea.
• Vomit.

Also, acute "dagger-like" paroxysmal pain, which subsides a little if a person freezes in one position, is characteristic of heart diseases. In addition, acute pain occurs with vegetative-vascular dystonia.

It is worth remembering that pain in the left hypochondrium may be associated with elementary damage to the rib bones (crack or fracture). In this case, the pain may be of different nature, but most often it intensifies with movement, deep breathing and coughing.

Diagnosis of pain under the ribs on the left

Whatever the pain under the ribs on the left, only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. The initial examination and diagnosis is carried out by a family doctor (therapist), who, if necessary, will refer the patient for a subsequent examination to another specialist.

Depending on the underlying cause of the pain, treatment is carried out:

• Surgeon.
• Gastroenterologist.
• Cardiologist.
• Neurologist.
• Endocrinologist.
• Traumatologist.
• Infectious disease specialist.

Diagnosis of pain in the left hypochondrium takes place in several stages:

• Anamnesis (patient interview), during which the doctor finds out about the patient’s chronic and past inflammatory diseases.
• Palpation (manual examination).
• Examination of the skin, tongue and eyes.
• Further hospitalization and laboratory examination.

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Treatment of pain under the ribs on the left

The left hypochondrium is a protection for internal organs (heart, lungs, spleen, pancreas), diseases of which often do not tolerate delays in visiting a doctor, since they can lead to immediate death. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that the main principle of treating pain under the ribs on the left is a timely visit to a specialist.

If you have pain under your ribs on the left, you can reduce the intensity of the pain yourself with the help of medications:

• no-shpa (two tablets no more than three times a day).
• nitroglycerin (1 tablet under the tongue or three drops per piece of refined sugar).
• subcutaneously: 1 ml of 0.1% atropine solution and 1 ml of promedol; 5 ml of baralgin and 2 ml of no-shpa.

Do not forget that in case of severe pain, which is accompanied by such symptoms as nausea and vomiting, it is necessary to call a doctor immediately. Often, with a list of diseases, the first symptom of which was acute pain in the left hypochondrium, emergency surgical intervention is indicated (with an enlarged spleen, stomach ulcer, pancreatitis).

If the diagnosis has already been made by a specialist, then, in addition to the prescribed drug treatment, you can resort to traditional medicine recipes:

• for enlarged and painful spleen - rosehip decoction or one gram of royal jelly per day.
• for gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer – powder of lemongrass seeds (1 gram) 20 minutes before meals three times a day; fresh unsalted water from boiled potatoes – one glass before meals three times a day.
• For heart disease, the following are effective: hawthorn tincture (1 tablespoon per glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours and take three tablespoons before meals), infusion of birch buds, motherwort and chicory (brew and take the medicinal herbs according to the prescription).

Prevention of pain on the left side under the ribs

In order for pain on the left side under the ribs not to lead to disastrous consequences, it is necessary to follow several simple rules that should become the norm of life:

• Have a complete medical examination once a year to be aware of any chronic or potential illnesses you may have.
• Always be aware of how your illness is progressing and follow your doctor's recommendations.
• At the first sign of pain and accompanying symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

Pain on the left side under the ribs is a dangerous symptom, since it is quite difficult to determine exactly what is bothering you: the heart or the stomach; therefore, to avoid serious problems, consult a doctor at the first slight pain in the rib area on the left, carefully monitor your condition and be healthy!

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