Pain under the left rib in front and behind: causes and accompanying symptoms

The pain that occurs in the left side under the ribs can be caused by various causes associated with diseases / injuries of the abdominal and thoracic organs. The priority task of diagnosis is the determination of the exact localization of the pain syndrome, which in 80% of cases allows one to assume the presence of pathology in a specific organ. The left half of the abdomen unites three segments: iliac, sub-ribbed and lateral. The pain that appears in the projection of these areas in clinical medicine is commonly referred to as "pain under the left rib."

What is under the left rib of a person?

The left hypochondrium is the zone located on the left side of the abdomen center under the two lower ribs. Here are: small intestine, spleen, part of the stomach, pancreas, large intestine, diaphragm, kidney with ureter. Pain is a combination of physiological and mechanical causes that cause the blood supply to fail in a particular part of the body. The first is a trophic disorder (processes ensuring the preservation of the function / structure of the cellulose), the second is the swelling of the tissue due to inflammation, which leads to the infringement of the nerve receptors, the third - damage to the nerves / tissues due to external action, the fourth - the change in mucous membranes due to the influence of pathogenic microorganisms.

Pain under the left rib - characteristics:

• acute pain. A sharp sudden pain in the left side under the ribs is an occasion for an emergency call of an ambulance. It indicates the perforation (rupture) of the loops of the small intestine, the wall of the stomach, the renal pelvis or the spleen. If the combat sensations occur with a sigh, this indicates a dangerous damage to internal organs that threaten life;
• It's a dull pain. Unabated, moderate pain under the edge indicates a slow inflammatory process. The associated vomiting is a clear symptom of a stomach ulcer. Aching pain in the side in 40% of cases manifest ischemic heart disease and angina pectoris;

• Blunt pain. Spilled dull pain with concentration in the left hypochondrium indicates chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: cholecystitis, gastritis, pancreatitis.

What can hurt under the left rib?

Pain under the ribs is a non-specific symptom, therefore, it is necessary to take into account all its indirect manifestations and the clinical course of the disease: development, nature, intensity, duration, conditions of enhancement / alleviation, prevalence.

1. Pain under the left rib - diseases of the stomach:

   • gastritis. Irritant effects on the gastric mucosa lead to its functional disorders and inflammation, causing aching pain in the left side under the rib in front, accompanied by heartburn and vomiting. Clinical symptoms of gastritis: belching, burning of veggastria, unpleasant taste in the mouth, heaviness in the epigastric region, diarrhea / constipation, general weakness, sweating, irritability, decreased sensitivity in the extremities (upper / lower);

   • a stomach ulcer. Manifestations of peptic ulcer depend on the duration of the course and severity. With a stomach ulcer, in contrast to a duodenal ulcer, the pain under the rib appears after eating, and not on an empty stomach. It is combined with vomiting after eating, weight loss, "acidic" eructation, heartburn;
   • neoplasms. A typical sign of the tumor process is permanent pain in the left hypochondrium, not associated with meals. In the initial stages, stomach cancer gives me scanty symptoms and manifests itself as "small signs" - dyspepsia (feeling of pressure, eructation, heartburn), aversion to meat products, weight loss, loss of appetite, rapid satiety. At the last stage internal hemorrhages and vomiting "coffee grounds" are joined;

   • perforation of the stomach ulcer. It is observed with the formation of a hole in the stomach wall, which causes acute "dagger" pain under the rib, strong weakness, loss of consciousness.

2. Pain under the left rib - pathology of the spleen:

   • enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly). Pain in the side arises from the increase in the spleen and the overgrowth of its capsule - this symptom is most often fixed in infectious mononucleosis. In addition to the pain sensations under the rib, the disease is characterized by general weakness, temperature irregularities, headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, joint and muscle pains, lymph node inflammation, liver enlargement, herpesvirus infection in the lower / upper lip zone;
   • rupture of the spleen. The main cause of the condition is a physical effect on the spleen, which leads to sharp pain in the side and cyanosis of the skin around the navel, which is due to the accumulation of blood in this segment;

3. Pain under the left rib - problems with the diaphragm

   If it hurts under the rib, the cause may be associated with the formation of a diaphragmatic hernia. The diaphragm, which serves as a fence between the thoracic and abdominal cavities, has a hole for the passage of the esophagus. When the control parameters of the opening muscle tissue weakens, it expands, which makes it possible for the upper gastric outlet beyond the peritoneum to enter the thoracic cavity. Diaphragmatic hernia is characterized by a constant aching pain in the left side, heartburn, nausea. When the stomach is jammed, there is a sharp and sharp pain syndrome under the left rib.

4. Heart pathologies:

   • cardiac ischemia. The basis is the failure of the blood supply to the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease. Ischemia is accompanied by nausea, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, heaviness in the chest, aching pain under the rib;
   • cardiomyopathy. A group of diseases of the heart muscle, under which the structure changes and its work is disrupted. Pathology is not associated with arterial hypertension, valve apparatus, vessels. Soreness under the rib often appears against the background of physical activity. It is combined with rapid fatigue, weakness, increased heart rate.

5. Rheumatic diseases of the spine:

   • damage to the connective tissue of the joints in muscular dystrophy, due to the weakening of the muscles of the abdominal press;
   • costochondritis. Inflammation of the cartilages that connect the sternum with the ribs, provokes a dull or sharp pain in the side under the rib, which occurs during deep breathing. Important: rib chondrites can be easily confused with a heart attack due to similar symptoms. The difference is that the pain from chondritis increases with palpation, from a heart attack - does not increase;

   • pinched nerve. Hernia / deformation of the intervertebral disc, arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylitis can cause nerve / nerve entrapment in the thoracic spine, manifested by burning, pain in the side, tingling or numbness;
   • fracture of ribs / ribs on the left side. Pain is gaining intensity with the movement of the upper body and deep breathing, "leaves" after taking pain medications;
   • sarcoma on the rib. The severest oncological pathology of the Ewing sarcoma family is a malignant formation that produces bones and surrounding tissues. This type of tumor is distinguished by a very aggressive clinic, rapid hematogenous spread of metastases, a high percentage of relapses. The danger of the disease is greatly aggravated by the fact that the ribs are located near vital organs - the trunk of the Central Nervous System, lungs, and heart.

6. Injuries

   Severe pain in the side under the rib can cause mechanical reasons. Injury of cartilaginous, bony, soft tissues occurs during external physical influences (impacts, falls). Injuries can be of varying severity - from minor bruises to fractures / cracks in the ribs, which can lead to rupture of internal organs.

7. Neuralgia

   Intercostal neuralgia occurs when the intercostal receptors are squeezed / irritated. The pain is characterized by a wide range of manifestations: paroxysmal, dull, piercing, acute, burning. Accompanied by increased sweating, reddening of the skin, muscle twitching, intensified against the backdrop of sudden movements, coughing, sneezing, irradiates into the lumbar region and under the scapula.

8. Diseases of the pleura:

   • pleurisy (left-sided). The inflammatory process, localized in the pulmonary membrane, with the deposition of fibrin (high molecular weight protein) on its surface in dry form, with the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity - in exudative form. Pain sensations under the rib are associated with coughing, breathing, inclines in the opposite direction. Concomitant symptomatology: heaviness in the left half of the sternum, dry cough, shortness of breath, swelling of the cervical veins, pallor of the limbs / face, sweating, fever, shallow breathing;
   • pneumonia (left-sided). Inflammation of the tissue in the lower lobe of the left lung provokes the appearance of dull (60-65% of cases) or severe "stitching" (35-40%) pain in the hypochondrium. Pneumonia "starts" with a dry cough, general malaise, perspiration in the throat, weakness. An expanded clinic of the disease includes fever and cough with a lot of purulent sputum.

9. Diseases of the pancreas:

   • pancreatitis. A typical manifestation of acute pancreatitis is intense pain in the left side in front and the epigastric zone. With pancreatitis, there are constant and clearly expressed painful sensations, which are accompanied by vomiting "fountain" with an admixture of bile that does not bring relief. An increase and damage to the head of the organ causes mechanical jaundice, combined with clarification of stool, dark color of urine, yellowing of the skin. The chronic process is characterized by aching dull pain under the ribs, irregular temperature, nausea, bitterness in the mouth;
   • pancreas cancer. It does not give any other symptomatology, except for intense and prolonged pain under the rib and in the middle of the abdomen, therefore malignant neoplasm is most often found only in the last stages.

It hurts under the rib at the bottom

Pain in the side below is a constant and earliest symptom of intestinal obstruction. Painful sensations arise suddenly, "on an equal place" - they are not preceded by any precursors and do not depend on food intake. Cramping attacks recur every 15-20 minutes, the progression of the disease leads to the cessation of acute pain, which is a poor prognostic sign, since it indicates the stopping of peristaltic activity of the intestine.

It hurts under the rib behind

Pain sensations arising behind the rib, indicate the presence of pathologies of the left kidney:

• urolithiasis disease. It is characterized by the formation of concrements in the organs of the urinary system. The disease is lubricated, with a dull aching pain in the side, giving back, which is repeatedly amplified after physical exertion, a long walk, a jolting ride. The obstruction of the ureter by the displaced stone manifests itself by spasmodic pains in the lumbar region, vomiting, blood in the urine, and calls for nausea. Intense sharp pain syndrome in the side in front and behind indicates the progress of the calculus along the ureter;
• pyelonephritis. Inflammation of the kidneys, developing against a background of bacterial infections. Pain sensations are dull, may be strong or mild, accompanied by the progression of intoxication, an increase in temperature to 40 degrees, vomiting, nausea. Left-sided pyelonephritis is disturbed by aching pain, painful urination, chills and severe weakness.

Pain in the left hypochondrium may appear in the back and with myocardial infarction, for which the "wandering" pain syndrome is typical, radiating to the left arm, neck, under the scapula, the left side. Other symptoms: pre-stupor, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea.

Pain under the rib, not associated with diseases

Soreness in the side can periodically appear during intense physical activity - this occurs when the body is not ready for excess loads, which rapidly increase the level of blood circulation: the vessels, including the right hollow vein, increase in diameter, provoking stitching pain on the right, giving to the left hypochondrium. Sometimes painful sensations arise at sharp inclinations of a trunk / movements - it is caused by a contact of a surface of the left rib with internal bodies.

Diagnosis and treatment

The pain under the left rib is a dangerous symptom, therefore any self-medication measures are inadmissible, since they can lead to complications and aggravate the clinical picture of the disease. Levopodbedrennaya lokalizatsiya pain syndrome requires mandatory consultation with specialized specialists - gynecologist, traumatologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist, surgeon. Most patients with pain under the ribs need urgent medical care, often with subsequent hospitalization. If the pain sensations are pronounced, do not subside within 25-30 minutes - this is the reason for immediate treatment in the hospital.