Abdominal pain on the left side, or abdominal pain that occurs on the left side of the navel and is of a strong to severe character, can be, in addition to, among other things, a stuck ureteral stone and an inflammation of the fallopian tubes, a so-called diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is the term used to describe bulges in the bowel that are actually harmless and are usually not noticed by patients. However, these diverticula can become inflamed, which leads to the described pain on the left side, which is typical for diverticulitis.
In general, the pain can occur in any position of the body. Some patients complain of abdominal pain in a sitting position, for example. There are therefore many causes for abdominal pain on the left side.
Causes of left-sided abdominal pain
Pain in the left side of the abdominal cavity can have many different causes. In order to facilitate a diagnosis, it is very important to characterize the abdominal pain on the left side more precisely. Important information includes the exact location of the pain (upper or lower abdomen), any radiation (into the back, chest or legs), frequency, intensity and type (stabbing, drilling, dull) of the pain and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms.
Pain in the left upper abdomen usually indicates stomach problems. This can occur if there is an inflammation of the stomach lining or if something intolerable has been eaten. These findings are obvious if the pain is food-related, i.e. always after or when (certain) meals or drinks are consumed.
The same applies to diseases of the colon, which also manifest themselves occasionally in the left upper abdomen. Pain in this area also causes inflammation or diseases of the pancreas or spleen. In rare cases, certain conditions affecting the heart can also put strain on the left upper abdomen.
For example, in the case of an atypical heart attack, the pain may radiate mainly (or even exclusively) into the left upper abdomen. Pain in the left lower abdomen almost always indicates pathological processes in the colon. Diverticulitis, which most frequently occurs in the sigmoid of the colon, is the main cause.
This is a disease in which protrusions have formed in the intestine, which then lead to secondary inflammatory processes, which can sometimes be very painful. These diverticula can form without a recognisable cause, as a result of prolonged constipation or as part of genetic diseases. In women, pain in this area is also always triggered by complaints of the adnexes (ovaries and fallopian tubes).
Stones stuck in the kidneys or ureters can also cause severe pain on the lower left side of the abdomen, although these are usually felt more in the back or laterally. However, since the pain rarely follows these rough guidelines exactly, it is difficult to make a diagnosis of abdominal pain on the left side solely on the basis of localisation. Pain caused by diseases of the bladder, small intestine or uterus (or period pains) can also occur more frequently on the left side, although one would normally expect it to be more central. On the other hand, diverticulitis or stomach inflammation can also occur on the right side. For this reason, in the case of abdominal pain on the left side, an exact medical history is usually necessary and can be very helpful, but a subsequent further diagnosis with aids such as an ultrasound machine or, depending on the suspicion, for example gastroscopy or colonoscopy is advisable.
