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What Causes Constant Pain In Lower Left Abdomen In An Elderly Woman?

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Posted on Fri, 1 Jul 2016
Question: I am a 52 year old male, 6 foot 3 inches tall and 196 pounds with an athletic build. I keep myself in shape and I am always working on something when I am not busy teaching science or coaching one of my varsity athletic teams (Cross Country Running, Swimming and Diving, or Track and Field).
Here is my medical problem:
I have been having increasing pain in my lower/middle abdomen on the left side if my body and the pain has become quit intense the last 3 days. I have been noticing this pain and mild discomfort for about the last nine months and went to my local Doctor again about 4 months ago for a check-up including blood work and a full physical. Supposedly nothing discovered at the time but I have been feeling lousy, run down, tired and in abdomen pain for quite some time. Today the pain on my left side has reached a level 9 or 10 several times. I have eaten only a small bowl of oatmeal today because I thought maybe it could be gas related, or a form of constipation, or what I've eaten the previous days but it will not go away. Now when I bent or stand up there is a major shooting pain on my left side. If it were my right side I would think my appendix ruptured. I am a non-smoker, very occasional drinker 1-2 per week, and I am not on any meds and I have never done any illegal drugs. I do have a healthy appetite and have always made eating good foods a priority. I'm in pain and in need of advice before I take the next step. Could you help me please....What do you think it could be? Thank you for you time- XXXXX



I am worried that this may be some for of tumor inside of me. When I press the left side of my abdomen the pain shoots/radiates to my right side. What can I try to make this go away. I don't dare eat today in case I have to go to the E.R. Could this simply be GI gas? How do I know? I had a colonoscopy and body imaging two years ago but they did not see/find a problem then. I feel like something is going to burst inside of me. Sometimes my abdomen cavity feels like their is a warm flush going through it followed by a cool flush sensation. Could this be diverticulitis or an abdomen tear, a growth/tumor, a leaky bowel, a saggy bowel, a bowel obstruction????? What should I do.....Give it more time or go to the ER.
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Abdominal pain-undiagnosed

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
There are two possibilities .
One-the abdominal pain which your having on left flank is of intra-abdominal cause.Since colonoscopy and body imaging was non-contributory two years ago but pain recurs from time to time,I would suggest to go for a repeat CT abdomen now to clarify the issue.
Two- the shooting pain on your left side when when you bend or stand up is due to pathology in thoraco-lumbar spine and the pain radiates to front of abdomen. A plain x-ray of thoraco-lumbar spine AP and Lateral view will help clear the suspicion.







Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1975

Answered : 1920 Questions

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What Causes Constant Pain In Lower Left Abdomen In An Elderly Woman?

Brief Answer: Abdominal pain-undiagnosed Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns. There are two possibilities . One-the abdominal pain which your having on left flank is of intra-abdominal cause.Since colonoscopy and body imaging was non-contributory two years ago but pain recurs from time to time,I would suggest to go for a repeat CT abdomen now to clarify the issue. Two- the shooting pain on your left side when when you bend or stand up is due to pathology in thoraco-lumbar spine and the pain radiates to front of abdomen. A plain x-ray of thoraco-lumbar spine AP and Lateral view will help clear the suspicion. Regards Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX