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What Causes Sharp Pain On Left-sided Abdomen, Nausea And Breathing Problem?
Question: Was eating a salad and I felt a sharp pain on left side of abdomen. It's been an hour and it hurts most when I breathe in. Have chronic pain if taking deep breath and I can't really do that. Have no clue why this is happening. I had nausea before this happened for a few hours of the day tho not sure if it's related but I don't have it now. It's a sharp pain when I breathe in and I can feel it if I move my body certain ways. Definitely getting worse. Please help.
Brief Answer:
Go in to be seen now.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I'm sorry you are having this. The cause is not obvious from your description, but when people have pain when breathing in, it can be from a musculoskeletal strain. But as it happened when you were eating, esophageal spasm might be possible. This is more of a midline pressure type pain rather than sharp.
Structures on the left side of the abdomen are the stomach, pancreas, spleen (usually not involved in things like this), and there can be referred pain from the left kidney and urinary tract.
As you say it is definitely getting worse, I think you should go in to be seen now - either urgent care clinic or ER. There you can show them precisely where the pain is and from that they will have a better idea of what the underlying structures are that may be involved. They can palpate to locate the pain, and get imaging studies such as X-ray too.
So... since it is getting worse and not better, please go in to be seen now.
I welcome you to let me know how you are doing after you have gone in to be seen.
Go in to be seen now.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I'm sorry you are having this. The cause is not obvious from your description, but when people have pain when breathing in, it can be from a musculoskeletal strain. But as it happened when you were eating, esophageal spasm might be possible. This is more of a midline pressure type pain rather than sharp.
Structures on the left side of the abdomen are the stomach, pancreas, spleen (usually not involved in things like this), and there can be referred pain from the left kidney and urinary tract.
As you say it is definitely getting worse, I think you should go in to be seen now - either urgent care clinic or ER. There you can show them precisely where the pain is and from that they will have a better idea of what the underlying structures are that may be involved. They can palpate to locate the pain, and get imaging studies such as X-ray too.
So... since it is getting worse and not better, please go in to be seen now.
I welcome you to let me know how you are doing after you have gone in to be seen.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It has seemingly gone away, this happened approx 15 min after going to the bathroom (#2). Again not sure if that is related to the pain disappearing but I did notice that whatever the problem was it seemed to be moving from it's position a few minutes after using the bathroom and then it went away. Strange, and scary.
Brief Answer:
An explanation
Detailed Answer:
This makes me think that it was pain in the left splenic flexure of the colon (large intestine). This part of the colon is over on the left side of the abdomen. I should have added it to my list.
http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/64/6476/NUD6100Z/posters/nucleus-medical-art-this-illustration-depicts-the-anatomy-of-the-large-intestine-colon.jpg
Gas/stool in this area can sometimes cause pain from distention of the colon.
And a spasm or contraction in the colon can correlate with eating because there is a reflex called the gastro-colic reflex, where the act of eating and food going into your stomach causes the colon to "move".
So I think this is very likely to be what was going on.
If you have a return of this problem, consider using simethicone (such as Gas X) as it can help break up gas bubbles into smaller bubbles (anywhere in the digestive tract), decreasing the pain from distention.
I am glad you are better!
An explanation
Detailed Answer:
This makes me think that it was pain in the left splenic flexure of the colon (large intestine). This part of the colon is over on the left side of the abdomen. I should have added it to my list.
http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/64/6476/NUD6100Z/posters/nucleus-medical-art-this-illustration-depicts-the-anatomy-of-the-large-intestine-colon.jpg
Gas/stool in this area can sometimes cause pain from distention of the colon.
And a spasm or contraction in the colon can correlate with eating because there is a reflex called the gastro-colic reflex, where the act of eating and food going into your stomach causes the colon to "move".
So I think this is very likely to be what was going on.
If you have a return of this problem, consider using simethicone (such as Gas X) as it can help break up gas bubbles into smaller bubbles (anywhere in the digestive tract), decreasing the pain from distention.
I am glad you are better!
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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