Abdominal Pain Left Side

                Abdominal pain left side is likely what you will be typing into a search engine if you are experiencing pain.  Upon pushing the search button, an array of websites with information written in medical jargon will likely appear on the screen. Like most people, waiting until the next day to see a doctor can be nerve wracking, and you have turned to the Internet to quiet your mind.  There are several causes of left side abdominal pain.  While some are more serious than others, most of the common ailments you will experience are not life-threatening. 

If your left side hurts, think back over the past few days.  If you have been involved in a physical activity, it is possible that the pain you feel is simply a pulled muscle.  A quick visit to the doctor can confirm this diagnosis, and you will likely leave with instructions to take it easy and a prescription for the pain.

If physical activity is not the culprit, perhaps gastritis is the cause.  The two most common problems are irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis.  You can think of IBS as a migraine of the bowels, and diverticulitis is an inflammation of the small pockets along the intestinal walls.  Both can be easily diagnosed and treated with a change in diet and medications.

Ulcerative colitis, an ulcer located in the colon, can also cause pain.  Your doctor can perform blood tests and a colonoscopy with a biopsy to determine if this is the cause of your pain.  Medications and a possible change in your diet will alleviate discomfort. 

Your abdominal pain could also be a side effect of another problem such as gallstones, heartburn, or in the most severe case, colon cancer.  If you have been diagnosed with any of these, make sure to tell your doctor you are experiencing abdominal pain.

If you are a woman, abdominal pain left side can be attributed to an ovarian cyst, pelvic inflammatory disease, or an ectopic pregnancy.  Your OB/GYN can perform an endovaginal ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan along with a blood test to confirm an ovarian cyst.  An ovarian cyst will usually go away on its own after a few months.  PID can be diagnosed with a pelvic exam.  Other associated symptoms in addition to left side abdominal pain include low back pain and an irregular cycle.  PID is inflammation of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or a combination of any of these.  It is treated with antibiotics, and the symptoms should resolve.  If there is a chance that you could be pregnant, an ectopic pregnancy is a possibility.  Your OB/GYN will be able to determine if this is the case with an ultrasound. 

Having an unexplained abdominal pain can be nerve wracking, and while a self-diagnosis online might put your mind at ease there is no substitution for a doctor-given diagnosis.  The sooner you schedule your appointment, the sooner your doctor can prescribe an appropriate treatment.