Pain upper left abdomen under ribs

Pain in your upper left abdomen under your ribs can have a variety of causes.

Individuals can experience a painful sensation in the upper part of the left abdomen directly under their ribs for several reasons. Some of the possible causes will include gastrointestinal conditions and problems or an injury that affects specific organs around the left upper part of their body. The rib cage is attached to the spine and the breastbone, while the ribs perform the function of protecting many of the vital organs. The organs found on the left-hand side include:. Here is an overview of 10 common causes of left upper abdominal pain that occurs under the ribcage, along with when an individual with these symptoms should seek medical attention.

Pain upper left abdomen under ribs

Pain under the left rib cage is commonly a sign of pancreatitis, kidney stones, or inflammation in the stomach. However, it can also be associated with injury to any other organs located in the upper left abdomen, such as the heart, spleen, pancreas, lung or left kidney. Pain in injured, left-sided organs can be sudden and is usually accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or increased pain with movement, coughing or sneezing. Since pain under the left ribs can be caused by so many different problems, it should always be assessed by a doctor preferably a gastroenterologist , specially if it is very intense or if it lasts for more than two days. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach, in the left upper quadrant. It is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. This inflammation can cause an intense pain under the left rib cage that can radiate to the back. Other symptoms of pancreatitis include nausea, vomiting and fever. See how these symptoms vary from pancreatic cancer. Usually, the most common cause of pancreatitis is excessive alcohol intake, however it can also be caused by viral infections like measles or mumps , gallbladder stones, cystic fibrosis or use of certain medications like liraglutide, losartan, or corticosteroids. What to do: You should see a general physician or gastroenterologist, who may recommend admission to the hospital for IV treatment of fluids and analgesic medication. In more serious cases, surgery might be necessary. Diet changes like avoiding fatty foods can help to reduce risk of pancreatitis flares. Supplements like oral enzymes can also be recommended by your doctor.

A computerised tomography CT scan or an ultrasound scan may be helpful to look at your spleen, pancreas or kidneys. How we reviewed this article: Sources.

This leaflet looks at pains which can develop in the upper part of the tummy abdomen on your left hand side. It deals with possible causes such as stomach ulcers or pancreatitis , how a diagnosis might be made and what the treatment might be. The left upper quadrant LUQ is a section of your tummy abdomen. Look down at your tummy, and mentally divide the area from the bottom of your ribs down to your pubes into four quarters. The quarter on your left side closest to your ribs is your LUQ. Your spleen is just behind your stomach, under and behind the lower ribs on your left. Its main functions are to filter your blood, create new blood cells and store platelets.

Acute pancreatitis can occur due to infection or another health condition. You may experience symptoms that include pain within minutes of eating and pain that spreads to your left shoulder. The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach and near the small intestine. It produces and distributes insulin , digestive enzymes, and other necessary hormones. Acute pancreatitis AP is inflammation of the pancreas.

Pain upper left abdomen under ribs

Epigastric pain affects the middle of the upper abdomen, just below the ribcage. It is common during pregnancy. Other causes include indigestion, acid reflux and GERD, peptic ulcer disease, and more. There are many common digestive problems associated with epigastric pain, as well as a range of other underlying conditions that can cause pain in that area.

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Treatment may involve the use of antibiotics, antacids, and protein-pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, pantoprazole or esomeprazole. Gastritis refers to inflammation of the lining of your stomach, which is also near the left side of your rib cage. Read more about the treatment and manage of an enlarged spleen. This membrane, which also becomes irritated, is called the pericardium. People with chest pain should seek immediate medical treatment. This usually happens due to a bladder infection. This can be caused by:. Which problem did you find on this page? Applying warmth to these areas and using pain relievers can help to treat costochondritis. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. However, it can also be associated with injury to any other organs located in the upper left abdomen, such as the heart, spleen, pancreas, lung or left kidney. Broken ribs can sometimes puncture surrounding organs. Therefore, someone with a broken rib should seek immediate medical attention if they:.

People can experience pain under the ribs in the upper left abdomen for many reasons.

Join our weekly wellness digest from the best health experts in the business Enter your email Join now. When you have chest pain, your first thought may be that it's a heart attack. Occasionally, an injury to the left side of the body can cause the spleen to rupture, leading to pain in the upper left abdomen, dizziness, and an increased heart rate. This leaflet looks at pains which can develop in the upper part of the tummy abdomen on your left hand side. Their function is to protect the organs that lie beneath them. In children common causes include:. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. This pain usually worsens when laying down. Diet changes like avoiding fatty foods can help to reduce risk of pancreatitis flares. This is a full-body and versatile self-massage tool. They might have also felt a crack when the accident occurred. Urinary tract infections are also more common in pregnancy. The doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment plan according to how severe the condition is. Applying warmth to these areas and using pain relievers can help to treat costochondritis.