Dull, aching pain in the left hypochondrium

Pain after eating in the left hypochondrium can be the result of a variety of disorders, deviations from the normal functioning of the body, and even diseases. It is for this reason that you should never ignore the signals from your body that tell you that certain processes in the system are not working as they should.

Pain in the left hypochondrium indicates possible dysfunction of the heart and stomach, pancreas and spleen, but now we will highlight a separate type of pain – pain in the left hypochondrium after eating. Pain in the left hypochondrium can also be different in nature: cutting, dull, sharp and spasmodic. It is very important to understand how the pain syndrome manifests itself and how severe the pain is, since information about this will give the doctor the opportunity to correctly diagnose and begin treatment.

Now read carefully and remember what such pain can lead to, what are the symptoms of some diseases associated with it, and also find out how to diagnose and treat it. And then be sure to consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.

The most common causes of pain under the ribs on the left side after eating can be:

• Eating habits. Many fast food lovers complain of this type of pain after eating. This is due to the fact that when preparing French fries or fried pies, the oil in which these dishes are cooked, in order to save money, is changed very rarely. And when used for the third or even fourth time, the vegetable oil begins to turn into poison, releasing harmful carcinogenic substances. This effect can be seen even with the naked eye by looking into a deep fryer at any kiosk. The oil begins to change color from transparent yellow to dirty brown, or even black. For this reason, those who like to eat “on the go” most often suffer from peptic ulcers, and some of them know firsthand what stomach cancer is.
• Alcohol abuse. Not a single meal is complete without “one hundred grams”? Then this may be one of the reasons for pain after eating. In moderate doses, alcoholic drinks can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, but the dosage should not exceed fifty grams of vodka, cognac or one hundred grams of wine; in large doses, alcohol not only clouds the mind, but also rapidly destroys healthy cells of the body, terrorizes the pancreas and takes away your vital resources .
• Binge eating. Excessive love for tasty food can lead not only to obesity, but also to pain after eating. When a person overeats, the walls of his stomach begin to stretch, which leads to pain. Control the amount of food you can eat at one time, and you can not only get rid of the unpleasant heaviness in your stomach, but also save yourself from gaining excess weight.
• Injury. Often the result of pain after eating under the left rib can be a previous physical injury. A bruise, a blow, a conflict or simple carelessness can forever provide you with pain syndromes after any meal. As a result of exposure to strong physical force on the body, hematomas, micro-tears and cracks are formed inside, which disrupt the normal painless functioning of the internal organs.

Now let’s move on to more serious causes of pain after eating in the left hypochondrium:

• Gastritis is a disease associated with inflammatory processes in the gastric mucosa; it is one of the most common and well-known diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, patients with gastritis do not experience pain after eating, but with low acidity, a dull and boring pain signal when eating food becomes the norm, and with increased acidity, pain occurs on an empty stomach.
• Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum is a chronic disease that usually appears as a result of poor nutrition, nervous stress, smoking and alcohol abuse. A hereditary predisposition to ulcerative formations in the duodenum plays a very important role. The main signs of a gastric ulcer are usually pain in the pancreas, and with a duodenal ulcer, aching and debilitating pain appears in the left hypochondrium, spreading to the left shoulder blade or back. With a duodenal ulcer, nausea and vomiting may occur, and body weight decreases due to decreased appetite.
• Acute pancreatitis is a disease of the pancreas, usually accompanied by cholelithiasis and appears as a result of excess weight, addiction to alcohol, and problematic pregnancy. It can also become a side result after acute poisoning, or ingestion of parasites. There is a very high probability that a relapse of acute pancreatitis can occur immediately after a heavy lunch with the consumption of a considerable amount of alcohol, because the affected pancreas reacts very strongly to the patient’s addictions. At the time of exacerbation, the pain is so severe that the patient may lose consciousness or even die from painful shock. And if pancreatitis has purulent complications, then the temperature will certainly rise. Vomiting often occurs after eating.
• Chronic pancreatitis progresses much more slowly and affects such larger areas than its acute form. However, it can bring a lot of discomfort to the patient. The pain in this form of pancreatitis is dull, aching in nature, usually based in the epigastric region and under the ribs on the left side. Sick people with chronic pancreatitis are always prescribed a diet, which must be strictly adhered to, however, if the patient’s lunch was not according to the specified menu, but as the heart desires, then pain in the left hypochondrium will not take long to occur. Typically, periods of exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis are followed by remissions. If an attack of pancreatitis occurs, you must immediately call an ambulance. This is a necessary measure, because the patient will require further hospitalization and specialist care. And sometimes the only right decision is an operation, the outcome of which is ambiguous.
• Impaired functioning of the diaphragm may be one of the causes of painful spasms in the left hypochondrium. A hernia or pinched diaphragm can cause a painful spasm on the left side under the ribs. Immediately after eating, the patient experiences shortness of breath, nausea, and then vomiting.

Based on the above reasons for the appearance of pain in the left hypochondrium after eating, we can conclude that determining the type of pain is very important so that the diagnosis is correct and the treatment is effective. Therefore, further we will talk directly about the symptoms of pain:

• A dull, aching and exhausting pain syndrome after eating under the ribs on the left is a clear sign of such serious diseases as gastritis, stomach cancer and peptic ulcers. These disappointing diagnoses are also determined by the accompanying symptoms of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and bitter belching. In particular, cancer related symptoms: sudden weight loss, depression, yellowness of the skin of the face and the whites of the eyes, as a sign of intoxication, as well as a sharp dislike for certain foods, weakness and impaired performance.
• Severe acute pain after eating in the left hypochondrium, leading to loss of consciousness, is a sign of pancreatitis and abuse of fried food and alcohol; it is also one of the signs of duodenal ulcer. This pain may spread to the left shoulder blade or back.
• Stitching pain appears as a result of dysfunction of the diaphragm and manifests itself as a consequence of previous injuries. It is often accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting.

You should always remember that any pain has its root cause, and only an experienced specialist can determine it. The initial examination is always carried out by a general practitioner, and after diagnosis he refers the patient for examination to a specialist doctor. Depending on the cause of the pain, the patient may be referred to the following specialists:

• Gastroenterologist.
• Oncologist.
• To the surgeon.
• Endocrinologist.
• To the traumatologist.

After the patient has decided on the specifics of the disease, the specialist doctor must make a final diagnosis, which is made in four stages:

• Questioning the patient, or as professionals call it differently, anamnesis. As a result of the survey, the doctor should obtain detailed information about the patient’s past, chronic and hereditary diseases.
• Palpation is a method of examining a patient using tactile contact.
• Diagnostics of the skin, integument and mucous membranes, as well as eyes and tongue.
• Laboratory examination during further hospitalization.

Nothing will protect your internal organs, such as the lungs, heart, spleen and pancreas, better than the left hypochondrium, as this is a reliable shield given to us by nature. Diseases of these organs have a very bad effect on the overall functioning of the body, so their treatment does not require delay. And the best solution when the above symptoms appear is to visit a doctor in a timely manner.

It is highly not recommended to treat someone who has a disease on their own, but you can relieve pain before a doctor arrives or before transportation to the hospital with the help of:

• No-spa – take strictly according to the prescription: two tablets no more than three times a day.
• Nitroglycerin: take one tablet under the tongue or three drops of liquid nitroglycerin per piece of refined sugar.

If the pain from painkillers has gone away, this is not a reason to give up on it. Because she will definitely come back again. Very often, acute pain requires immediate surgical intervention. For example, an ulcer may open. In any case, you cannot take risks, but be sure to seek medical help.

Once your doctor has made a diagnosis and prescribed medication for you, you can begin to help your body accept the treatment better. Folk recipes will help you with this. Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting to use herbal mixtures and decoctions, make sure that you are not allergic to certain ingredients of medicinal preparations, so that additional treatment does not harm you. We bring to your attention several proven traditional medicine recipes that will help cope with pain in the left hypochondrium, not only after eating, but also for a longer period:

The following will help in the fight against gastritis:

• Mix medicinal herbs in equal parts: yarrow, calendula flowers and St. John’s wort. To get an infusion, pour two tablespoons of the mixture with half a liter of boiling water and let it brew for an hour. Take one hundred grams each time half an hour before meals.
• Propolis tincture will help cure gastritis at home. Dissolve ten drops of propolis tincture in one hundred grams of water and take half an hour before meals. Propolis tincture is such an effective remedy that it is even used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.

The following will help in the fight against ulcers:

• You should drink a glass of cabbage juice four times a day for six weeks. It helps better than any medicine. You can, of course, replace it with fresh tomato or sea buckthorn juice, but it’s still not the same.
• Mumiyo is a fast-acting and effective medicine for stomach ulcers. Take 150 milliliters of mint decoction and dissolve five grams of mumiyo in it. Take one teaspoon before breakfast and before bed for ten to fifteen days.

The following will help in the fight against pancreatitis:

• Calendula tincture will improve the condition of the pancreas if you take it one teaspoon every day.
• Tincture of echinacea and eleutherococcus root helps well against pain due to pancreatitis.
• Grind one hundred grams of barberry and pour one liter of alcohol or vodka, let it brew for 1 week and drink one teaspoon daily.

Pain syndrome and its causes are the result of the patient’s lifestyle, bad habits and behavior. To prevent pain from appearing in the left hypochondrium after eating, you need to eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle. No fast food can give you as much pleasure as you get from a delicious home-cooked meal. Bad habits such as nicotine and alcohol are not only the causes of pain – they are nails in the coffin of your health! If you want to live a long and happy life, you shouldn’t artificially shorten it. Take care of your nerves so as not to get an ulcer. After all, all our experiences and stress primarily affect the stomach.

If you have already been diagnosed, you must strictly follow the treatment and follow a strict diet prescribed by your doctor. Otherwise, a relapse of the disease may occur, which will lead to very disappointing consequences.