Causes of pain under the left rib

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.

Causes of pain under the ribs on the left

Pain in the left 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 for 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 the 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 supportive unpleasant sensation.

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

If the pain in the left hypochondrium intensifies from the front when inhaling, coughing or sneezing, then this may be the cause of damage to the left side of the diaphragm – a subdiaphragmatic abscess. The pain often migrates under the scapula 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 herpes zoster.

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.

Herpes zoster affects the nerve endings in the intercostal area, so it does not appear immediately. Initially, aching pain on the side in the left hypochondrium turns into an acute one, and only over time do herpetic rashes appear on the skin.

Pain in the back left under the ribs

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

Kidneys can hurt in different ways:

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

Vertebral osteochondrosis can also provoke both mild aching pain after sleep or a long stay in one position, and strong piercing pain that weakens after a person freezes in one position.

Pain under the ribs on the lower left

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

The spleen is an organ that, when enlarged, responds to all kinds of diseases.

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

Symptoms of pain on the left under the ribs

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

• Harsh.
• Dull aching.
• Spicy.
• Stabbing.

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

Dull aching pain on the left under the ribs

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

• Vomiting, bringing relief.
• Decreased appetite.
• Diarrhea.
• Sour and bitter eructations.

Often gastritis with reduced secretion of gastric juice provokes the occurrence 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 become severe. Stomach cancer is characterized by:

• Unreasonable weight loss.
• Anemia or signs of intoxication (jaundice of the face and eye whites).
• Increasing weakness and impairment of human performance.
• Depression.
• A strong desire to change your diet, for example, an aversion to meat.

A dull aching pain at the bottom of the left rib indicates an enlarged spleen – splenomegaly.

Often, aching pain on the left side plagues 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 becomes irritating. Associated syndromes of pancreatic diseases:

• Increased temperature.
• Vomiting.
• Nausea.

Sharp pain on the left under the ribs

Sharp pain in the left hypochondrium is characteristic of gastric and duodenal ulcers. They can radiate to the lower back and back. The sharp pain is so excruciating that the patient is forced to squat, clasping or pressing his stomach against a hard object. In addition, ulcer sufferers suffer from:

• “Hungry” pains.
• Heartburn.
• Vomiting.
• Constipation.
• Weakness, increased irritability and headaches.

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

Stitching pain under the ribs on the left

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

Associated symptoms for lung diseases are:

• Increased temperature.
• Fever (for pneumonia and subphrenic 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 under the ribs

Acute, as it is also called “dagger-like” pain under the ribs on the left indicates a peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach. 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.
• Vomiting.

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

Do not forget that pain in the left hypochondrium can be associated with elementary damage to the rib bones (crack or fracture). In this case, the pain can be of a different nature, but most often 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 root cause of the pain, treatment is carried out:

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

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

• Anamnesis (patient survey), 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.

Treatment of pain under the ribs on the left

The left hypochondrium is protection for internal organs (heart, lungs, spleen, pancreas), diseases of which often require a visit to the doctor, as they can lead to immediate death. Therefore, you need 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 the ribs on the left, you can reduce the intensity of the pain yourself with the help of medications:

• no-spa (two tablets no more than three times a day).
• nitroglycerin (1 tablet under the tongue or three drops on a piece of raffinate).
• 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 if you experience severe pain, which is accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, you should immediately call a doctor. Often, with a list of diseases, the first symptom of which is acute pain in the left hypochondrium, emergency surgical intervention is indicated (for 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 stomach and duodenal ulcers – lemongrass seed powder (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 diseases, 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 pharmaceutical herbs according to the recipe).

Prevention of pain on the left under the ribs

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

• Once a year, undergo a complete medical examination to know about your chronic or possible diseases.
• Always know how your illness is progressing and follow the recommendations of your doctor.
• At the first attacks of pain and accompanying symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

Pain on the left under the ribs is a dangerous symptom, since it is quite difficult to clearly determine what exactly 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!