Left Side Pain Above Hip: Symptoms Causes And Treatments
Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health
Left side pain above the hip can be caused by problems with your hip bone, pelvis, or organs in your lower left abdomen. Pain above the left hip can feel like a persistent dull ache or a burning sensation that comes and goes. Or, pain at the left hip bone can result in sharp, shooting pains in your lower back and down your left leg. Sometimes, pain from other organs in your abdomen can radiate to your left side and can feel as if your left hip is sore.
Pain on the left side above the hip bone in the front can often affect women more than men. For example, ovary pain or endometriosis can cause sharp aches in the lower left abdomen and left hip. However, both men and women can experience left side hip pain if they have inflammation in the pelvic bone, digestive issues, kidney stones, or an abdominal hernia.
In order to treat pain on the left side of the body above the hip you need to address the underlying problem. For example, a course of physical therapy can help to relieve a pressed nerve or release pressure from a painful hip joint. If kidney stones are causing agonizing pains in the left abdomen above the hip, diluted apple cider vinegar can help to dissolve the stones. However, whatever the reason for left side hip pain, a hot or cold compress can bring temporary relief.
What Is Stomach Churning
Stomach churning and gurgling can be an uncomfortable feeling in the abdomen. Although a queasy stomach is usually only temporary if you have an upset stomach for a week or longer it could be a sign of an underlying condition.
If you have ever experienced stomach growling, especially stomach gurgling after eating, then you may well know the other symptoms that run alongside it. Other symptoms of a sour stomach can include nausea and digestive issues.
Moreover, continue reading to find out what causes upset stomach and gas. We also explain when you should see a doctor, and further signs to look out for.
Stomach Noises such as stomach churning and gurgling and Pain: Causes and Symptoms for Those Belly Noises and Cramps
Lifestyle Changes For Pain Under The Left Rib Cage After Eating
Overall, the best initial solution to pain under the left rib comes down to making appropriate lifestyle changes. Reducing the quantity of food eaten, the size of meals, and the specific foods being consumed can bring results, as can the elimination of foods that may be irritating your stomach.
Excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco products, or painkillers should also be curbed. Another simple change might involve your habit of lying down after a meal. This is inadvisable, as it makes it easier for stomach acids to wash back up without the benefit of gravity.
Stress is a well-documented trigger for pain in the ribs, so a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and other activities designed to mitigate and reduce stress will be beneficial. Being faithful to dedicated lifestyle changes for a prolonged period of time is important before considering other more invasive or disruptive solutions.
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What Is Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes harm to the lining of the small intestine once foods containing gluten are consumed. Gluten is a type of protein thats found in several grains. Once protein damages the intestinal lining, its tough for the body to absorb nutrients. Besides abdominal pain and bloating, celiac disease sufferers might experience symptoms such as severe skin rash, iron deficiency, diarrhea, weight loss, seizures, muscle cramps, joint pain, and mouth ulcers.
Blood tests are able to detect the presence of certain antibodies in individuals with celiac disease, as well as low iron levels. Your doctor may collect a stool sample to search for fat within the stool, since celiac sufferers absorb fats from food less effectively. Or, he/she may prefer to take a biopsy of the intestine to examine the for tissue harm. Once the patient switches to a gluten-free diet, full restoration of the intestinal lining is possible.
How Is The Cause Of The Abdominal Pain Diagnosed
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 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.
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.
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Other Causes For Left Side Abdominal Pain
This is not a complete list of conditions that may cause pain on left side of belly button. Other causes could include cancers, kidney infections or kidney stones, abdominal aortic aneurysm, gas, and more. If the pain becomes severe, seek medical attention immediately from your doctor or nearest emergency room.
What Organs Are Located Above Or Near The Left Hip
Your lower left abdomen is sometimes referred to as the left lower quadrant . The left lower quadrant is the area on your left side between your belly button and your pelvis.
Dr. Jacqueline Payne on Patient.info says that organs near or above the left hip that can cause pain include the following:1
- Part of your large bowel. Digestive issues can cause inflammation or infections that can affect the area just above your left hip bone.
- Your left kidney. Although located in your left upper quadrant above the hip, stones in your left kidney can cause referred left-sided hip pain.
- The left ovary and fallopian tube. Part of a womens reproductive system is in the LLQ. Cysts or polyps in the left ovary can be a source of pain on the left side above the hip bone and back.
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What Are The Less Serious Causes Of Abdominal Pain
The key to determining less serious causes of abdominal pain is the definition of “less serious.” There is little or no agreement among patients about what constitutes “less serious”abdominal pains however, doctors have a general consensus of what constitutes “less serious” abdominal pain.
If the cause of the pain is likely short-lived possibly treatable, and the patient does not have an emergent condition, does not need to be hospitalized, or should be worked up or further diagnosed by outpatient tests, then the cause of the pain are considered “less serious” by many doctors. A large number of causes of abdominal pain may fit the doctor’s definition of “less serious” abdominal pain. However, even though a cause may generally fit these subjective requirements, there can be instances where they will not. The reader is urged to examine the following section to see what constitutes “serious” causes of abdominal pain. Consequently, the following is a list of potential less serious causes of abdominal pain :
Common Causes Of Upper Abdominal Pain
The common causes of upper abdominal pain are typically the byproducts of the digestive process. The pains are usually felt in the upper area of the abdomen, as well as in the chest, neck or shoulders. The common symptoms are:
- bloating and gas
- loss of appetite
- nausea
The management of the pains and symptoms can usually be accomplished by changes to the diet, eating habits and lifestyle. The avoidance of caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol will reduce the symptoms.
There are cases where people have described the warning signs of a heart attack as upper abdominal pain or heartburn. The pain can feel like a burning in the chest, or the chest being pressed by something heavy. This type of pain may also be felt in the jaw, the neck or the arms.
Heart attack victims may also experience breathlessness, sweating and nausea along with the burning or the chest pain. A person experiencing these symptoms, together with a family history of heart conditions, should seek immediate medical attention in an emergency room in New Braunfels, Texas.
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There Are Many Organs In Your Upper Left Abdominal Quadrant That Can Be Affected Causing Pain In That Area Treatment For Luq Pain Depends On Cause
Abdominal pain occurs in the area between your chest and your pelvis, and is something that everyone has experienced. It can be as simple as a little tummy ache to more severe medical conditions depending on how much pain there is and how persistent it is. Your abdominal pain can be acute and short lived. However, there are many cases in which abdominal pain is chronic, lasting for days, weeks or even months. Hopefully, if you are experiencing chronic abdominal pain you will not wait months before seeking medical help.
Pain in the upper left side of your abdomen, often referred to as upper left quadrant pain, is usually indicative of something wrong with the organs and/or tissue structures located on that area of the torso. Part of your bowel, your spleen, the end part of the pancreas, part of the stomach, the left part of your liver, the left side of your kidneys, a portion of your ureter, the left adrenal gland, part of your left lung, the lower portion of your left ribs, the aorta, many muscles and skin are all located in this upper left quadrant of your abdomen. Your heart is also situated just above this area. Any issue or condition in any of these organs, bones, tissues or muscles will directly cause pain in this area, which will be discussed in detail below.
Gas In The Digestive Tract
A buildup of gas in the colon can lead to pain on the left side of the body. The pain can also occur on the right side or on both sides.
Under normal circumstances, people pass gas through burping or passing it through the rectum. This is a routine process for the body. In fact, most people produce about 14 pints of gas per day and pass gas about 1423 times per day.
Sometimes, gas accumulates in the digestive tract from swallowing excess air while eating or drinking. It can also accumulate due to the breakdown of undigested foods by intestinal bacteria.
Foods that can cause excess gas include carbonated beverages, sugar substitutes, and fiber supplements.
Other symptoms include:
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend similar treatments for sprains and strains. These are:
- rest
- compression
- elevation
A person may also need to perform gentle exercises and take OTC medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
A ruptured ovarian cyst causes pain that typically occurs on one side of the body.
An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that can develop inside, or on, an ovary. The Office on Womens Health note that these are common and usually harmless.
Ovarian cysts can rupture. In some cases, they do not cause any symptoms, or they may cause mild symptoms. In other cases, the ruptured cyst can cause severe symptoms, such as sudden and severe pain in the lower belly. Bleeding can also occur.
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Noisy Abdomen / Rumbling
A noisy gut does not always mean youre hungry. There may be other reasons why your stomach is churning and gurgling. The digestive system causes belly noises, known as borborygmi when fluids or air moves around your small and large intestines.
Borborygmi Definition: The term for the gurgling or rumbling noises made by the movement of gas and fluids in the intestines. During the process called peristalsis, the small intestine and stomach muscles contract and move contents forward in your gastrointestinal tract. These gas noises in stomach can occur both when the stomach is empty and when its full.
Peristalsis Definition: A series of wave-like contraction and relaxation of stomach muscles. Two hours after the stomach contents are emptied, the brain signals the digestive muscles to begin peristalsis again. The belly noises and contractions of an empty stomach can make you hungry. A noisy gut may be louder in this case because the intestines and stomach are empty the stomach noises and pain are not muffled. Take note that you may swallow a lot of air because of eating too fast or talking while eating. This can lead you to have louder stomach rumbles after eating.
What Are The More Serious Causes Of Abdominal Pain
Unfortunately, the more serious causes can be almost any cause, including most of the ones listed above as “less serious” causes. Consequently, the subjective requirements that most doctors consider as serious causes of abdominal pain are any causes that may generate at least one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
- Penetration of an object into the abdomen or back
- Blunt object injury to the abdomen or back
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Types And Symptoms Of Left
Pain on the left side of your abdomen may last a short time or a long time . The pain might start in one place and move to another. The pain might be sharp or dull.
Other symptoms you experience along with the pain can be very important in figuring out the cause of your pain. They can include , cramping, diarrhea, fever and .
Common causes of left-sided abdominal pain include:
Ruptured Spleen And Splenic Infarct
Your spleen also sits in the upper portion of the left side of your body, near your rib cage. It helps to remove old or damaged blood cells and produce white ones that fight infection.
An enlarged spleen, also called splenomegaly, usually doesnt cause any symptoms other than fullness after eating only a small amount of food. However, if your spleen ruptures, youll likely experience pain near your left rib cage. An enlarged spleen is more likely to rupture than a normal-sized spleen.
Several things can cause an enlarged spleen, including:
- viral infections, such as mononucleosis
- bacterial infections, such as syphilis
- parasitic infections, such as malaria
- blood diseases
- liver diseases
If your spleen ruptures, the area might also feel tender when you touch it. Youll also likely experience:
- low blood pressure
- blurry vision
- nausea
A spleen rupture most commonly occurs as a result of trauma. Its a medical emergency and you should seek medical attention immediately.
You can also experience pain under the left side of your rib cage with a splenic infarction. Splenic infarcts are rare conditions where a portion of the spleen necrotizes or dies. This happens when the blood supply is compromised, usually as a result of trauma or arterial blockages.
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A Quick Guide To Improving The Quality Of Your Sleep
The four primary sleeping positions are your back, your tummy, left side, or right side. While all these positions have their pros and cons, sleeping on the left offers the most benefits and the fewest disadvantages.
Here are a few other reasons why sleeping on your left is a great way to get a good nights sleep every night:
Problems With The Spleen
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. It is also a key part of your body’s immune system. It may cause pain:
- When it becomes enlarged, which can happen in certain blood-related cancers such as leukaemias and lymphomas. This tends to be a vague ache which may gradually get worse. It can also become enlarged during infections such as glandular fever, in which case a very mild pain would be associated with tiredness and repeated bouts of a sore throat and sometimes high temperature .
- If it bursts following an injury, such as in a road traffic accident. This causes a sudden severe pain shortly after trauma to the tummy (abdomen.
- If it is damaged as part of a crisis in sickle cell disease.
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When To See A Doctor
If you think the pain on the left side of your abdomen could be caused by any of the conditions above, you should see a doctor.
You should also contact a doctor if you have left-side abdominal pain and you:
- are pregnant
- experience persistent sickness or vomiting
- are bringing up blood, or see blood in your poo
- have persistent diarrhoea
- have recently lost a lot of weight without trying to
- feel breathless or light-headed