Pain on Left Side of Stomach, Going to Back

Definition/Facts
- Facts and Definition of Abdominal Pain in Adults
Lower/Upper/Left
- Types and Location of Abdominal Pain
Symptoms
- What Are Symptoms of Abdominal Pain in Adults?
- When Should an Adult Seek Medical Care for Abdominal Pain?
Causes
- What Causes Abdominal Pain in Adults?
- What Are Causes of Abdominal Pain by Location?
Relief/Treatment
- What Kind of Doctor Treats Abdominal Pain in Adults?
- What Is the Medical Treatment for Causes of Abdominal Pain in Adults?
- Do I Need to Follow-up with My Doctor After Having Abdominal Pain?
Doctor Specialists
- What Questions Will My Doctor Ask About My Abdominal Pain?
Diagnosis
- How Is the Cause of the Abdominal Pain Diagnosed?
Home Remedies
- What Home Remedies Soothe Abdominal Pain in Adults?
Surgery
- Is Surgery Necessary for Some Causes of Abdominal Pain in Adults?
How to Prevent
- Can Abdominal Pain in Adults be Prevented?
Prognosis
- What is the Outlook for an Adult with Abdominal Pain?
Guide
- Abdominal Pain (Adults) Topic Guide
- Doctor's Notes on Abdominal Pain in Adults Symptoms

Facts and Definition of Abdominal Pain in Adults

Person with Abdominal Pain

Picture of Person with Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is the feeling of pain in a person's stomach, upper or lower abdomen, and can range in intensity from a mild stomach ache to severe acute pain.
Causes of symptoms of abdominal pain vary and may include gallbladder disease, ulcers of the stomach, food poisoning, diverticulitis, appendicitis, cancers, gynecologic (for example, fibroids, cysts, sexually transmitted diseases - STDs), and vascular problems.
Some women experience abdominal pain during pregnancy.
Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic and include sharp pain as well as dull pain.
The location of the abdominal pain may be in the upper right or left side (quadrant), lower right or left side, and upper, middle, and lower.
The cause of abdominal pain is diagnosed by a combination of history (questions the doctor asks you about your problem), physical examination (examination by a doctor), and testing (for example, X-rays and blood tests).
Treatment for abdominal pain depends upon the cause and may include anything from observation, medications, and procedures that include endoscopy, and surgery.
The prognosis for abdominal pain depends on the cause and the promptness of medical care and diagnosis.

Types and Location of Abdominal Pain

The type and location of pain may help the doctor find the cause. The intensity and duration of pain must also be considered when making a diagnosis. A few general characteristics of abdominal pain are:

What the pain feels like: Abdominal pain can be sharp, dull, stabbing, cramp-like, knifelike, twisting, or piercing. Many other types of pain are also possible.
How long the pain lasts: Abdominal pain can be brief, lasting for a few minutes, or it may persist for several hours and longer. Sometimes the abdominal pain comes on strongly for a while and then lessons in intensity for a while. Is the pain continuous or does it come and go?
Events that trigger pain: The pain may be worsened or relieved by certain events, such as worse after meals, better with a bowel movement, better after vomiting, or worse when lying down. Do certain foods trigger the pain?
Location of the pain - The location often will help your doctor diagnose the cause of the pain.
- Upper left abdominal pain: Enlarged spleen
- Upper right abdominal pain: Gallbladder disease, hepatitis
- Lower left abdominal pain: Diverticulitis, ovarian cysts, ovarian torsion
- Lower right abdominal pain: Appendicitis, right ovary problems
- Upper abdominal pain: Stomach ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis
- Lower abdominal pain: Urinary tract infections, gynecologic problems like uterine fibroids and cancer

SLIDESHOW

Appendicitis: Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Appendectomy in Detail See Slideshow

What Are Symptoms of Abdominal Pain in Adults?

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Abdominal pain is a symptom. It may mean that the person has a medical problem that needs treatment.

Abdominal pain may go along with other symptoms. Keep track of your symptoms because this will help the doctor find the cause of your pain. Make a special note if there is a sudden abdominal pain, severe abdominal pain after eating, or abdominal pain with diarrhea.

What Causes Abdominal Pain in Adults?

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Many acute (short-duration) and chronic (long-duration) diseases cause abdominal pain.

The diseases that most people are concerned about having are:

gastritis,
appendicitis,
kidney stones,
gallbladder pain disease,
duodenal and gastric ulcers,
infections, and
pregnancy-associated problems since these are the most common.

Doctors also are concerned about the other causes:

ruptured blood vessels,
heart attacks,
liver and pancreas inflammation,
kidney stones,
problems with the blood circulation to the intestine,
diverticulitis,
cancers, and
other diseases.

Abdominal pain may not arise from the abdomen.

Some heart attacks and pneumonia can cause abdominal pain and even nausea.
Diseases of the pelvis or groin can also cause abdominal pain in adults.
Testicular problems often can cause lower abdominal pain.
Certain skin rashes, such as shingles, can feel like abdominal pain, even though the person has nothing wrong inside their body.
Even some poisonings and bites, such as a black widow spider bite, can cause severe abdominal pain.

What Are Causes of Abdominal Pain by Location?

Abdominal pain can occur in any area of the abdomen. You might experience pain in one area of the abdomen although the cause for the pain is in a different area. Some diseases can cause pain in multiple areas of the abdomen. Below are the usual pain patterns associated with diseases, but please note that this does not include all diseases and conditions, and the below do not hold true all of the time.

Pain in the Upper Abdomen

Stomach ulcers
Gastritis
Pancreatitis

Pain in the Upper Right Side

Gallbladder disease
Liver inflammation (hepatitis)

Pain in the Upper Left Side

Enlarged spleen

Pain in the Lower Right Side

Other diseases and conditions of the uterus
Appendicitis
Right ovarian inflammation or torsion
Right ovarian cyst

Pain in the Lower Left Side

Diverticulitis
Left ovarian inflammation or torsion
Left ovarian cyst

Pain in the Lower Abdomen

Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Fibroids

From the above it is apparent that abdominal pain can have many causes, some linked directly to the abdomen and others caused by a non-abdominal disease. Sometimes the cause of abdominal pain is not determined, and you may be asked to return the next day to recheck and you perhaps need more tests. In some cases, no specific cause is determined, and the pain gets better in hours or days.

When Should an Adult Seek Medical Care for Abdominal Pain?

Call or see a doctor if the affected person has any of the following:

Abdominal pain that lasts more than six hours or continues to worsen
Severe abdominal pain
Abdominal pain after eating
Pain that stops a person from eating
Pain accompanied by vomiting more than three or four times
Abdominal pain during pregnancy
Pain that worsens when a person tries to move around
Pain that starts all over, but settles into one area, especially the right lower abdomen
Pain that awakens a person up at night
Pain with vaginal bleeding or pregnancy, even if a female only thinks she might be pregnant
Pain accompanied by a fever over 101 F (38.3 C)
Pain along with an inability to urinate, move the bowels, or pass gas
Any other pain that feels different from a simple stomach ache
Any other pain that alarms a person, or concerns them in any way

If the person has any of the following, or cannot reach their doctor, go to a hospital emergency department:

Very severe pain
Pain so bad the affected person passes out or almost passes out
Pain so bad the affected person cannot move
Pain and vomiting blood, or any vomiting that lasts more than 6 hours
Pain and no bowel movement for more than three days
Pain the person thinks might be in their chest, but they aren't sure
Pain that seems to come from the person's testicles

What Kind of Doctor Treats Abdominal Pain in Adults?

Abdominal pain can be treated by a variety of doctors depending on the cause of the pain. It is usually best to start off with a primary care physician who can start the process of diagnosing the origin of the pain. Depending on the final diagnosis you will be treated by a primary care doctor (i.e. ulcers, infection) or referred to a surgeon (appendicitis, ovarian torsion), gastroenterologist, or gynecologist. If the pain is severe you might end up in the emergency department where an emergency medicine physician will be the first one to take care of you.

What Questions Will My Doctor Ask About My Abdominal Pain?

Diagnosing the cause of abdominal pain is one of the hardest tasks for a doctor. Sometimes all that the professional can do is be sure that the pain does not require surgery or admission to the hospital.

The healthcare professional may ask these or similar questions to try to determine what is causing the patient's pain. Some may seem unrelated to the patient's current condition, but it is important to try to answer them as completely as possible. The answers to these questions can help the healthcare professional find the cause of the patient's pain more quickly and easily.

How long have you had the pain?
What were you doing when it started?
How did you feel before the pain started?
Have you felt OK over the last few days?
What have you tried to make the pain better? Did it work?
What makes the pain worse?
Where is the pain located?
- Right side?
- Left side?
Does the pain make you want to stay in one place or move around?
How was the ride to the hospital? Did riding in the car hurt you?
Is the pain worse when you cough?
Have you thrown up?
Did throwing up make the pain better or worse?
Have your bowel movements been normal?
When was your last bowel movement?
Are you passing gas?
Do you feel you might have a fever?
Have you had a pain like this before? When? What did you do for it?
Have you ever had surgery? What surgery? When?
Are you pregnant? Are you sexually active? Are you using birth control?
Have you been around anyone with symptoms like this?
Have you traveled out of the country recently?
When did you eat last? What did you eat?
Did you eat anything out of the ordinary?
Did your pain start all over your stomach and move to one place?
Does the pain go into your chest? Into your back? Where does it go?
Can you reduce the pain with the palm of your hand, or is the hurting area bigger than that?
Does it hurt to breathe?
Do you have any medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or AIDS?
Do you take steroids? Pain medicine such as aspirin or Motrin?
Do you take antibiotics? Over-the-counter pills, herbs, or supplements?
Do you drink alcohol? Coffee? Tea?
Do you smoke cigarettes?
Of course, the doctor may not need to ask all of these questions or may need to ask additional questions depending on the symptoms.

How Is the Cause of the Abdominal Pain Diagnosed?

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Physical Examination

Physical examination will include a careful examination of the patient's abdomen, heart, and lungs in order to pinpoint the source of the pain.

The doctor will touch different parts of the abdomen to check for tenderness or other signs that indicate the source of the pain.
The doctor may do a rectal exam to check for small amounts of blood in the stool or other problems, such as a mass or internal hemorrhoids.
If the patient is a man, the doctor may check the penis and testicles.
If the patient is a woman, the doctor may do a pelvic exam to check for problems in the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
The doctor also may look at the patient's eyes for yellow discoloration (jaundice) and in the mouth to be sure the patient is not dehydrated.

Laboratory Tests

Laboratory tests may or may not help to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. Combined with the information gained from the questions the patient was asked and the physical examination performed by the doctor, certain blood or urine tests may be ordered and could assist in determining the diagnosis.

One of the most important tests is to see if a woman is pregnant.
A raised white blood cell count may mean infection or may just be a reaction to the stress of pain and vomiting.
A low red blood count (hemoglobin) may mean that a patient is bleeding internally, but most conditions that involve bleeding are not painful.
Blood in the urine, which may not be visible to the eye, suggests that a patient may have a kidney stone.
Other blood tests, such as liver enzymes and pancreas enzymes, can help determine which organ is the cause of the pain, but they do not point to a diagnosis.

Radiology Tests

Radiology studies of the patient's abdomen can be useful, but are not always necessary or helpful.

Occasionally, an X-ray will show air outside of the bowel, meaning that something has ruptured or perforated.
An X-ray also can help diagnose bowel obstruction.
Sometimes X-rays can show a kidney stone.

Ultrasound is a painless procedure useful in finding some causes of abdominal pain.

This may be done if the doctor suspects problems with the gallbladder, pancreas, liver, or the reproductive organs of women.
Ultrasound also assists in the diagnosis of problems with the kidneys and the spleen, or the large blood vessels that come from the heart and supplies blood to the lower half of the body.

Computerized tomography (CT scan) provides useful information about the liver, pancreas, kidneys and ureters, spleen, and small and large intestine.

The patient and doctor should discuss the need for an X-ray or CT scan and their associated radiation exposure before proceeding with any radiological examination.

MRI is usually less helpful than a CT scan when the abdomen is examined, although with certain problems and symptoms your healthcare professional may order an MRI rather than a CT scan or in follow up to any of the above examinations.

The doctor may perform no tests at all. The cause of the patient's pain may be clear without any tests and may be known not to be serious. If the patient does undergo tests, the professional should explain the reason for the test and any contraindications. When the results are available, the professional should discuss them with the patient, as well as whether the results impact the treatment.

What Home Remedies Soothe Abdominal Pain in Adults?

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Abdominal pain without fever, vomiting, vaginal bleeding, passing out, chest pain, or other serious symptoms often get better without special treatment.

If the pain persists or if a person believes the pain may represent a serious problem, they should see a doctor.
A heating pad or soaking in a tub of warm water may ease the pain.
Over-the-counter (OTC) antacids, such as Tums, Maalox, or Pepto-Bismol, also can reduce some types of abdominal pain. Activated charcoal capsules also may help.
Acetaminophen (common brand names are Arthritis Foundation Pain Reliever, Aspirin Free Anacin, Panadol, Tylenol) may help. This product should be avoided if liver disease is suspected. Patients should try to avoid aspirin or ibuprofen (common brand names are Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Pamprin IB) stomach or intestinal ulcer disease is suspected; these drugs can make the pain worse.

What Is the Medical Treatment for Causes of Abdominal Pain in Adults?

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The patient's treatment will depend on what the doctor thinks is causing the abdominal pain.

The patient may be given IV (intravenous) fluids. The doctor may ask the patient not to eat or drink anything until the cause of the pain is known. This is done to avoid worsening certain medical conditions (for example adding food to the stomach if there is a ruptured ulcer) or to prepare the patient in case they need to have surgery. (An empty stomach is better when general anesthesia is needed.)

The patient may be given pain medication.

For pain caused by bowel spasm, they may be given a shot in the hip, arm, or leg.
If the patient is not throwing up, they may receive a drink that has antacid in it or pain medication.
Although the patient's pain may not go away completely, they have the right to be comfortable and should ask for pain medicine until they are made comfortable.

Is Surgery Necessary for Some Causes of Abdominal Pain in Adults?

Some types of abdominal pain require surgical treatment.

If the patient's pain comes from an infected internal organ, such as the appendix or gallbladder, hospitalization, observation, and possibly surgery are indicated.
Bowel obstruction sometimes requires surgery, depending on what is causing the obstruction, how much bowel is obstructed, and whether or not the obstruction is temporary.
If the patient's pain comes from a ruptured or perforated organ, such as the bowel or stomach, they will need immediate surgery and will be taken directly to an operating room.

Do I Need to Follow-up with My Doctor After Having Abdominal Pain?

If the person is allowed to go home after their evaluation, they may be given instructions about what they can and cannot eat and drink and which medications they may take. The person may be told to return to the emergency department if certain conditions develop.

If the person is given no specific instructions they should follow these recommendations:

As soon as you feel like eating, start with clear liquids.
If clear liquids cause no further pain or vomiting, progress to "bland" foods such as crackers, rice, bananas, applesauce, or toast.
If your symptoms don't return in a few days return to your normal diet.

Patients should return to the emergency department or doctor in the following situations.

The pain worsens or if the patient starts vomiting, has a high fever, or cannot urinate or move their bowels
Any symptom that worsens or is alarming
Abdominal symptoms are not better in 24 hours

Can Abdominal Pain in Adults be Prevented?

If the cause of the pain determined a person should follow the instructions specific for the diagnosis.

If, for example, an ulcer causes the pain, the person must avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.
If it is caused by gallbladder disease, the person should avoid greasy, fatty, and fried foods.

What is the Outlook for an Adult with Abdominal Pain?

Overall, many types of pain go away without surgery and never determined the cause, and most people need only relief from their symptoms.

Medical causes of abdominal pain generally have a good outcome, but there are exceptions.

Surgical causes of abdominal pain have varying outcomes depending on the severity of the condition and the person's underlying medical condition.

If the patient has uncomplicated appendicitis requiring surgery or uncomplicated gallstones, they should recover from the surgery with no long-term problems.
If the patient has a ruptured appendix or infected gallbladder, recovery may take longer.
Abdominal pain from a perforated ulcer or blocked bowel may mean major surgery and a long recovery.

For problems with a major blood vessel, such as rupture or blood clot, the prognosis may be less poor.

In general, the older the person is and the more underlying conditions they have, the worse the outcome of a surgical intervention.

From

Abdominal Pain Causes and Location (Right, Left, Lower, Upper)

Abdominal pain is caused by

inflammation (appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis),
by stretching or distention of an organ (for example, gallstones, hepatitis), or
by loss of the supply of blood to an organ (for example, ischemic colitis).

References

Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.

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Pain on Left Side of Stomach, Going to Back

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