Stitch-like pain in the left and lower abdomen can occur in both men and women. This pain is often short and transient and should not be a cause for concern.
To better understand the causes and necessary measures when faced with stitch-like pain in the lower and left side of your abdomen, read the following:
What you will read next:
What organs are in the lower left part of our abdomen?
The ends of the large intestine in men and women are located in the lower and left abdomen. In women, in addition to the ends of the large intestine, the left ovary is located in this area of the abdomen
Causes of lower and left abdominal stitch-like pain
Before counting and explaining the causes of lower and left abdominal pain, it is necessary to say that if this pain is caused by an accident or a trauma (for example, during sports) or falls from a height and causes lower abdominal pain, an immediate visit to a well-equipped treatment center is mandatory.
We will examine the causes of pain in the left and lower abdomen
- Diverticulitis
Inflammation of the intestinal diverticulum is called diverticulitis
Diverticula are small structures created by pressure on weak areas of the intestinal wall. Diverticula are benign and noncancerous and are very common, especially after the age of 40.
Sometimes the wall of these small structures ruptures, through which the material inside the intestine enters the diverticulum and causes inflammation. As a result of these changes, diverticulitis develops.
The left side of the colon is more prone to diverticulitis
Pain in the left and lower abdomen is the most common symptom of diverticulitis, but sometimes other symptoms are seen in addition to abdominal pain. Including:
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomit
- Abdominal tenderness to the touch
Sometimes diarrhea or constipation also occurs following diverticulitis
Treatment:
Most people with diverticulitis who suffer from stitch-like abdominal pain are cured by prescribing appropriate antibiotics, changing their diet, and resting. In some people, surgery may be needed if the pain persists and the patient’s clinical condition worsens.
- indigestion
After eating, stomach acid begins to secrete. Sometimes in some people, this acid irritates the esophagus, stomach and even the intestines. Most often the pain caused by indigestion is felt in the upper abdomen, but rarely the lower abdominal pain may be felt.
The pain is usually not severe and is burning, or the person may only report a slight, vague feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, which may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- flatulence
- fullness
- Gas disposal
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, it is best to see a doctor.
Antacids may also be appropriate.
- Hernias
A hernia occurs when an internal organ is displaced through muscle and tissue.
Part of your bowel can come out of a gap in the muscles of the abdominal wall and appear as a bulge in the abdomen (abdominal hernia) or groin (inguinal hernia).
If you have the following symptoms, it is best to be examined by a doctor:
- Dull pain
- Increase the size of the bulging mass
- Increasing pain
- Increasing pain when lifting objects
- fullness
- Hernias can lead to intestinal death if left untreated
- Kidney stones
The movement of urinary stones inside the pelvis and ureter can be painful. In addition to the lower abdomen, kidney stone pain can be felt in the sides and back. Other symptoms include:
- Discoloration of urine (pink, red and brown urine)
- Pain when urinating
- Fever or chills
- Nausea
- Vomit
- zoster
If you did not have chickenpox as a child and currently have stretch-like pain in the left and lower abdomen, it is likely that you have varicella zoster virus.
Following the pain, special rashes that form very small, group blisters that form on the sides and bottom of your abdomen, sometimes with rashes on your neck, shoulders, or face.
Other symptoms include:
- Feeling numb and tingling
- Itching
- Burning
- Gas accumulation
The presence of digestive gases is completely normal and is the result of the swallowing and digestion process
Sometimes, for the following reasons, the possibility of gas accumulation and discomfort and pain in the lower and left abdomen increases:
- smokers
- chewing gum
- Breathe with your mouth open
- Talking a lot
- Inability of the digestive system to fully digest foods
- Overgrowth of bacteria in the gut
- Overeating
- Constipation
The above are some of the reasons that cause stitch-like pain in the lower and left abdomen in both men and women.
If the pain persists or fever and chills occur, it will be necessary to see a doctor.
Causes of stitch-like pain in the lower and left abdomen
The following reasons will only cause stick-like pain in the lower abdomen in women:
- Dysmenorrhea
Uterine cramps occur during menstruation. If these cramps cause severe pain that makes your daily activities out of the normal routine, or if the severity of these cramps is increasing, it is best for you to be examined by a doctor.
- Endometriosis
Endometriosis refers to the tissue inside the lining of the uterus that forms abnormally in the abdomen, pelvis, and outside the uterus, causing severe pain in the abdomen and pelvis. People with the condition may have other symptoms as well.
- Pain during intercourse
- Heavy menstruation and bleeding
- Pain when defecating
- Pain when urinating
Seeing a doctor and following the treatment instructions are effective in controlling the symptoms of endometriosis.
- Ovarian cysts
Cysts are small sacs full of fluid. There are different types of ovarian cysts most of which have temporary symptoms. Larger cysts are associated with more pain and discomfort. Rupture of some cysts causes sudden severe abdominal pain.
- If your pain is sudden.
- If you have a lot of pain that is accompanied by rapid breathing, lightheadedness and general weakness and other shock symptoms
- If you have fever and vomiting, be sure to go to a well-equipped medical center
- Ectopic pregnancy
The normal location of the Embryo implantation is in the wall of the uterus. If the fetus is replaced in any area of the pelvis outside the uterus, a very dangerous and critical condition called an ectopic pregnancy is created. Rupture of the area where the ectopic pregnancy is located can be fatal for the mother. Be sure to tell your doctor if your pregnancy test is positive and you have abnormal discharge and vaginal bleeding in addition to lower and left abdominal pain.
- Ovarian torsion
Ovarian cysts are some of the factors that can cause ovarian torsion
When the ovaries become complicated, the blood supply to the ovaries is cut off, there is a sudden, very severe pain in the lower abdomen and one of the two sides of the abdomen. Ovarian torsion should be treated urgently
- PIDs
Pelvic inflammatory disease in women is a group of inflammatory and infectious conditions that can sometimes include sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Sometimes PID is asymptomatic. If you experience pain in the left and lower abdomen along with the following symptoms.
- Fever
- Urinary incontinence
- Unusual bleeding between periods
- Bad vaginal odor
- Abnormal and foul-smelling vaginal discharge
The following are the causes of left and lower abdominal pain in men:
- inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernia in men will cause pain in the right or left lower abdomen. When a small part of the intestine comes out through the weakness of the muscles of the lower abdominal wall, an inguinal hernia develops.
Symptoms of this hernia include:
A small bulging in the groin that initially resolves on its own but becomes larger and more permanent over time
Swollen testicles
Groin heaviness
Groin pain, especially when lifting a heavy object
In case of any of the following symptoms, an emergency visit to an equipped medical center is mandatory.
- Severe and widespread pain
- Pain that is sudden and intensifying
- loss of appetite
- Nausea vomiting
- Fever
- Testicular torsion
Testicular rotation can occur on both sides
Testicular complication is associated with loss of testicular tissue blood loss in the absence of emergency treatment.
Testicular torsion is more common between the ages of twelve and sixteen
Which are associated with the following symptoms:
- Sudden severe pain in the scrotum
- Fever
- Vomit
Referral to an equipped medical center should be made without delay
If you have stitch-like pain in the left and lower abdomen, in the following cases, you should go to an equipped medical center without delay:
- The onset of pain is sudden
- Over time, not only has the pain not decreased but it has increased
- Severe progressive pain with fever
- Severe progressive pain with nausea and vomiting
- Severe pain following an accident or trauma
- Blood in the urine
- The presence of blood in the stool
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness
- Problems with defecation
- Excretion in the urine