Symptom, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Left-sided stomach pain can arise due to a number of causes, from mild digestive issues to more serious underlying conditions. Abdominal pain or stomach pain on the left side can be felt as sharp localised pain or intermittent pain.
There are several reasons for experiencing left-side stomach pain. It may be due to disease, infection, injury, or something as simple as indigestion. Depending on the perception of the location of the pain and nature of pain, a medical expert can get an understanding about the cause of pain.
Symptoms of Left Side Stomach Pain
Left-sided stomach pain can present in various forms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe distress, and may differ in intensity, duration, and sensation. Such pain can be:
- Mild or Severe
- Burning or Itchy
- Sharp or Dull
- Persistent or Intermittent
- Crampy or Colicky
- Localized or Generalised
Common Causes of Left Side Stomach Pain
While some extremely mild discomfort may be associated with potentially fatal underlying conditions, sometimes relatively minor causes of stomach pain might present with severe symptoms. Therefore, understanding the causes of stomach pain on the left side is essential.
There are some non-serious causes of left-side stomach pain, like:
Indigestion
Pain in the left side of the stomach may be caused by indigestion, gas problems, constipation or diarrhoea, food poisoning, or even allergies.
Infection or Inflammation
- Infection causing inflammation within the internal organs like the stomach, pancreas, spleen, kidney, or intestines causes pain and irritation. Common gastrointestinal infections include viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu), peptic ulcer disease, and chronic acid reflux.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) may sometimes lead to pain in the left side of the stomach.
- Left-side abdominal pain due to inguinal hernia can be specific to men.
Causes of Left Side Stomach Pain in Women
- Left-side stomach pain is commonly experienced during menstruation and during ovulation.
- Endometriosis and ovarian cysts are very common yet serious diseases that may cause left-side stomach pain.
Treatment for Left Side Stomach Pain
- There may be many causes for left-sided stomach or abdominal pain.
- Treating the underlying reason offers optimal and permanent pain relief.
- Over-the-counter medicines may be enough to relieve indigestion and gastric issues.Â
- Infections and inflammation along the internal organs of the digestive system require medical intervention to address infection and control it.
- In cases of ulcers or kidney stones, surgical intervention may be required if medical management fails to offer relief.
- Consulting a doctor for any kind of severe or persistent left-side stomach pain helps to identify the problem and to treat it properly.
When to see a Doctor?
It is mandatory to consult a healthcare expert if over-the-counter medication doesn’t help in relieving the symptoms. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible in case the pain is associated with fever, swelling, tenderness, or passing blood in urine or stool and persistant pain that doesn’t subside in over days. If there is severe stomach pain on the left side along with the above-mentioned symptoms, visiting a doctor right away to rule out the possibility of anything more serious is always better.
