Hi, I have pains in my lower stomach near my left hip bone and the pains seems to move towards the back but I feel it mostly on the front portion. I get severe pains which at times wake me up at night. The pain in my side is constant and sometimes is worse than other times. If any pressure is put on my stomach near my hip the pain becomes worse. I am not sure what organs are found on that side or what can be causing this pain, also the pain does travel down my left leg as well. Do you have any idea as to what could be causing this pain, I was in an auto accident about 2 wks ago and this has been happening since. I do not know if anything was aggravated due to the accident. Thank You for any help that can be given. Nikki
The SteadyHealth member who started this discussion reported pain in the lower stomach near the left hip bone, which seemed to move towards the back, although it was felt mostly on the front portion of the abdomen. The reported pain was severe, constant and sometimes is worse than other times, causing wake ups at night. Putting any pressure on stomach near the hip would worsen the pain. The pain has been reported to travel down the left leg. The others joined the discussion complaining about the similar pain.
I have the same pain on my left side and it sometimes hurts so bad I can hardly walk any idea on what it is?
The member who started discussion mentioned that he/she was in an auto accident two weeks before the discussion has been started and that that the pain has been happening ever since. So, there was a strong link between the accident and pain. However, the others were mostly clueless about what may have caused their pain. So they tried to identify other possible reasons for their pain.
Around my hip and also feel it under my ribs and pain in my groin? Any idea?
While the injury/trauma has been mentioned a few more times in the discussion, most participants never had been injured, but still felt the pain in the lower abdomen near the hip.
For some, the constipation was the cause, but this evidence has been inconsistent because many who experienced pain had regular bowel movements. Few people reported pain when emptying bowels. One member noted his 20-year history of kidney stones claiming that many of the symptoms mentioned in the discussion sound very much like that. He, however, suggested a medical examination that would confirm this.
The pain described was usually a constant type of pain that is also present at night. The participants described it as pinching, cramp-like, burning pain (like a sunburn). The pain was occasionally accompanied by dizziness and vomiting. Leaning forward was reported to aggravate it.
In most participants, the pain was identified to be caused by kidney stones or kidney cyst. Few people were diagnosed with diverticulitis, which is an inflammation of small pouches in the descending colon called diverticula. For few, the pain was caused by a sports injury or car accident trauma. One woman reported that the pain was caused by IUD placed after she gave birth, while the other was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst that caused the pressure and pain.
What do experts say?
Pain in the lower left abdomen is often no reason to worry about, however, it should not be ignored. Causes of pain in the lower left abdomen may be benign, such as pain from trapped gas or constipation, or more serious, as in the case of an infection or inflammation. People experiencing both persistent or chronic pain, and a sudden onset of severe pain in the lower abdomen should seek immediate medical attention.
Possible causes for the pain in lower left abdomen
There are several possible causes of lower left abdomen pain, some of which are more common and benign, while others can be more serious, requiring medical attention.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is one of the most common causes of lower left abdominal pain. Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in the intestinal wall called diverticula become infected and inflamed. Diverticula are created from pressure on weak spots in the colon. They are common in adults and after age 40 their number in colon increases. The pain from diverticulitis is usually present while a person is eating or shortly after a meal. Other symptoms may be present as well such as:
- tenderness in the abdomen
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- feeling bloated
Treatment of diverticulitis includes rest, a change in diet, and antibiotics. The more severe or reoccurring form may require surgery.
Gas
Gas is another common cause of pain in the lower left abdomen. Gas is the normal result of swallowing and digestion and typically, it is not anything to worry about since it will pass through either the rectum or esophagus. Gas that is temporarily trapped in the digestive tract when a person swallows air while eating can cause pain and discomfort until it moves out of the system.
Constipation
Constipation is another cause that occurs when a person cannot pass a stool. It may manifest as pain or discomfort in the lower left abdomen, accompanied by rectal pressure. Improving diet and increasing exercise are two of the most effective treatments for constipation.
Kidney stones
Kidney stones may cause this type of pain, although rarely. A stone may develop in kidney causing no problems. The pain occurs when the stone is blocking part of the kidney or as it moves in the kidney or passes through the urethra.
Endometriosis
Women may experience the lower left abdominal pain with endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue that typically lines the inside of your uterus also grows outside of the uterus. Besides the pain, other symptoms may be present as well such as:
- painful menstrual cramps
- painful intercourse
- painful bowel movements or urination
- heavy menstrual periods
- spotting between periods
Other conditions that may cause the lower left abdominal pain are trauma, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), shingles, hernia, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cyst, testicular torsion, intestinal obstruction, etc.
Diagnosis of the pain in the lower left abdomen
A doctor can order a range of tests to diagnose the possible causes and decide on the best course of treatment.
These may include:
- Physical examination, including pressing on the painful area to identify possible causes or locate any suspicious lumps
- Imaging tests such as CT scan, ultrasound imaging, or MRI scan
- Endoscopy, in which a doctor inserts a tube with an attached light and camera down the throat and into the stomach, producing an image of the lower abdomen
- Colonoscopy
Treatment of the pain in the lower left abdomen
The type of treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pain. The lower abdominal pain due to an infection, such as diverticulitis, will often only require antibiotics and resting. Constipation and trapped gas will require basic dietary changes and the use of laxatives. Other, more serious problems may require more invasive treatments, such as surgery.
Links:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12599037
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3812483/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468117/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5265196/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK348937/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773885/
- https://gut.bmj.com/content/gutjnl/29/8/1112.full.pdf
Discussion highlights
What diagnosis the doctors have made?
- I have a 20 year history of kidney stones and many of your symptoms on this thread sound very much like that, but again, only an examination will confirm this.
- I've only had renal failure once in 20 years and I couldn't pass any water, but I passed the stone while in hospital on pain killers (Pethidine) and lots of fluids.
- I also have cysts - quite a few and had a bleed on the kidney cyst which kept me resting for 15 days.
- i was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and endometriosis.
- I have Crohn's disease which is an inflammatory bowel disease.
What therapies and treatments have been recommended?
- In the UK they don't like using Pethidine now and so I'm on morphine when I get attacks.
- I take co-codamol 30/500 for the pain (especially at night - helps sleep) or Severdol (Morphine sulphate) for extreme kidney colic.
- You can take Ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time if you need to - always ask your pharmacist.
- I have tried taking pain killers and put a heat pack on the area and sometimes it doesn't work.
- I tried different types of birth control pills to see if that would work (also oxycode for the pain and naproxen), but these did not work.
What the participants in the discussion suggested?
- However, the secret is to go to a doctor and keep going until they have got to the bottom of the problem.
- Always better to get the doctors opinion and value your health and your right to health.
- If you think your doc isn't taking you seriously, see another doc or specialist.
- Might be a good idea to get blood test for uric crystals - these form into stones and also deposits in your joints, which cause 'Gout'.
- My advice to you would be to see a physiotherapist or osteopath or whichever physical therapist you prefer, to help relieve the pain.
In conclusion
Pain in the lower left abdomen is often no cause for concern, however, it is still not something a person should ignore. Causes of pain in the lower left abdomen may range from benign, such as gas or constipation pain, to more serious that may require medical attention. Diverticulitis is one of the most common causes of lower left abdominal pain that develops as a result of infection or inflammation of small pouches in the colon. The treatment usually requires resting, a change in diet, and antibiotics.