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Splenic flexure pain

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leigh74005
leigh74005

Hi all. I have been suffering with pain in upper left abdomen below the ribs for 7 months now. I've had loads of tests and nothing has come back showing anything. Had faecal calprotectin test done and that was normal so the docs have not done an endoscopy. Sometimes the pain ramps up to where I can constantly feel it and I can agrivate it with movement such as twisting or stretching Other times it just rumbles along and I hardly notice it but it's always there. Do any of you guys ever get this?

The best way that I can explain the location of the pain is like this. Make a fist with your left hand and place it half way down your left rib line just underneath. Where your little finger rests is where the pain is mostly. I does travel about a little bit but it's mostly there. This normal for ibs?

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  • cinder6977
    cinder6977 leigh74005

    Edited

    I too have had these symptoms of pain in the left just under the ribs and into the back. Sever fatigue, muscle spasms in the mid torso area (abdominal area) a couple of days go by and I start to think all is going on the mend and then it all flares up again and seems to start like a knot in my left back area and just left of my belly button area. Gas, bloating, pressure throughout my body, heartburn, shortness of breath. Most of these symptoms I contribute to the bloating. I have tried diets of all kinds and now forcing myself to strengthen my bodies core. I've had an MRI, endoscopy, immunology Dr., colonoscopy, stool test, several blood test. I've seen a couple of regular family mds, functional medicine Drs, 2 Gastrointestinal Drs, acupuncturist, chiropractors due to the pain threw to the back pain and them thinking it's referred pain from degenerative disc disorder. The medical field has mentioned fibromyalgia, acid reflux, DDD, gallstones, repetitive back injury, and even mold in the work place. Pancreatic enzymes taken for undigested foods and then an ERCP which showed no issues with the pancreas only several small gallstones. Sorry this is so long. I've been trying to find out why this is happening to my body for over 2 years now. Good luck all. May you all have good health.. let me know if anybody finds out anything I will keep an eye on this post.

    • stevejohn121
      stevejohn121 cinder6977

      Posted

      Hi Cinder,

      How are you feeling now,were you able to narrow down to the cause, I see you have done so many tests still trying to understand the root cause.

    • sarah62791
      sarah62791 cinder6977

      Posted

      You are the 1st person explain having all of the symptoms that I'm having. the back pain I get is horrific and I believe is due to bloating or gas. I've had trouble with their for over a year and the doctors kept saying it's my gallbladder I get it removed and was fine a couple of days after the surgery and then all of a sudden on my 5th day. The gassy bloating pressure pain is back? Im new to having IBS and it sucks. I hope you're able to find things that make you feel better if so please share . God bless!

    • donna85494
      donna85494 cinder6977

      Edited

      Hi Cinder,

      Not sure if your still posting here ?? But I am having the same exact symptoms as you are and have had all the test you mentioned. I am a little over 2 years now and am so depressed and tired of the pain 😦 if you get this would you please tell me if you have gotten any answers?

    • Hein
      Hein cinder6977

      Posted

      hello Ihave replied on someone elses post...i have precisely the same problem...

      go read there you might find it interesting...

      please also let me know if you find anything but I think mine is close since it worked in perfection once....

      it is just something new...the thing is a step in right direction.

    • cinderina
      cinderina cinder6977

      Posted

      I really feel for you it's virtually exactly how I am all you describe! It's shocking you have no diagnosis, I had all bowel tests In my 20s I'm now 56 had ibs for years but managed to control it by avoiding certain food and nutty cereal kept me regular I sit here no feel I can't breathe and the tiredness is upsetting, I do get ridiculous amounts of gas sometimes, I'm convinced it part of bowel doing something or moving where it shouldn't.. ill definitely report back if I ever find out

  • ram_dayal00725
    ram_dayal00725 leigh74005

    Edited

    I hv same symptoms since last 5 months. Done all tests of Thoracic & Abdomen. But All Normal. Now taking Acidity tab. on direction of Doctor but no significant relief. I hv pain on left side just below & left of nipple area. I am puzzled since last 5 months. Its constant dull pain except sleep. Any one hv similar prob?

    • HJ1012
      HJ1012 ram_dayal00725

      Edited

      I too have had these same symptoms. I feel it most, if not all of the day. I get relief when I sleep. The strange thing that I have noticed is that is tends to be more intense during my monthly cycle. 

      I also have pain in my upper mid back that spans across my entire back. 

      I have an appointment on Friday with a new general practioner.  Hoping to find out more information then or at least start the process of elimination. 

    • chirag83
      chirag83 ram_dayal00725

      Posted

      having the same pain for last 9 months..had a similar attach 6 years back..some how i was releived after an interval of 2 years.. trying everything under the earth but no help..sometyms it feels that ll have to live with it..and makes me depressed...anyone having any help..please share..

      releived seeing i m not alone

    • ram_dayal00725
      ram_dayal00725 chirag83

      Edited

      Hi I am 38 yrs old male fm India. I am still having left side chest pain since Aug-2017 almost more than two years. Done ECG, 2D Echo, TMT twice/thrice, CT Scan abdomen/Chest, USG, Lots of Blood tests all negative. Little bit Vitamin D low. Taken all kind of prescribed medication. No relief. Consulted psychiatrist as well. No relief. Chest pain left side 24/7 except few hours. I had anxiety issue. Now in control. But pain persists. Also done CT Brain. Negative. Done tests top to bottom. Nothing. Anyone having same experience can share & suggest.

  • Cinderella70
    Cinderella70 leigh74005

    Edited

    Wow! I have had same left side pain under left breast under my rib for 1 and a half yrs. I hav had ultrasound, ctscan, mri, colonoscopy and endoscopy. All show nothing there. No diagnosis but still in pain. Feels like a tiny twig is stuck under my rib. Sometimes pain moves an inch or 2 around.. sometimes it leaves for a week or two at the most, but always comes back and then lasts for several weeks or months each time. I am loosing my mind with this constant gnawing pain in my side. No answers from the doctors.

  • toby51885
    toby51885 leigh74005

    Edited

    Thanks for posting Leigh, I've been suffering with this same pain for almost 4 years now and it only seems to get worse and more consistent. I also find that I'll have periods of several days where it gets better, but then back to normal and I can't pinpoint why. Just recently I found the term "splenic flexure syndrome" and these posts which really seem to hit the nail on the head regarding symptoms. None of the doctors or GIs I saw mentioned this or seemed to care about the localized pain.

    I tried many tests and supplements and a food log for 18 months and could not find any magic answers, but I've been on the fodmap diet for 2 months now which seems to reduce to intensity of flareups in general, but certainly hasn't stopped the issue. As far as diet goes I've found I do feel better if I eat, fewer beans, less dairy (especially ice cream and cereal with milk), less caffeine (although it usually makes me feel better at first), less sugar, and less oats.  I've found the most effective temporary fixes are deep breathing and meditation exercises that engage the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. On top of this exercise (cardio and strength training) both help me to manage the symptoms. Other things that help include drinking lots of water and spending time outside / not sitting at a desk all day when I can help it. Natural light increases seratonin, which acts on gut motility and generally helps move things through your gut. Apparently 90% of seratonin in the body is in the gut and more sertonin helps to move things along.  I think this is also why I feel way better after a couple drinks of alcohol (dangerous!). Obviously, exercise also helps move things along and I think working the core like someone else mentioned is a good idea.

    Anyways, I think anything that reduces gas can help and some of the other stuff I've read online is that there are some medications to reduce gas. Has anyone tried activated charcoal or Beano? I'd be interested to know if this has helped anyone. I'm going to the store now to get some... I'm sorry to hear that others are suffering as well but comforted to know that I'm not alone in this struggle. I will report back if I find a cure!

     

    • patti92233
      patti92233 toby51885

      Edited

      Hi Toby.  I just read your post and it seems we have the same issues and have tried the same fixes.  I have had ibs for years but recently, after a routine colonoscopy, theses new symptoms appeared.  I've had ultrasounds, Ct scans and another colonoscopy all in the past six months.  All normal.  However, this pain in my back and left abdomen is driving me crazy.  I've tried the fodmap diet.  It's brutal and not much relief.  No dairy, gas x, levsin, Advil for the back, coffee, no coffee, exercise, blah blah blah.  I get relief for a few days and then, out of nowhere, my back starts hurting.  Within an hour, I'm bloated and the pain in my abdomen starts.  Then, I get depressed and just want to sleep.  Once I fall asleep, I'm good.  It will last days, five or six and then a reprieve.  I'm so disgusted.  I won't plan anything for fear I'm going to have to be near a bathroom or just want to lay with a heating pad.  I guess it's something we just have to live with but the thought of spending the rest of my life like this really saddens me. When you find the cure, please let me know 😂   Good luck and thanks for sharing.  I don't feel so alone or as crazy!   Still crazy, just not AS crazy.

    • chirag83
      chirag83 patti92233

      Posted

      any help buddy??.. i m suffering from same left sided pain under ribs for last 9 months..i m trying everything..even the antidepressants also failed to control it

    • toby51885
      toby51885 patti92233

      Posted

      Hi Patti,

      I just posted some information on recent treatments/practices that are helping me feel alot better. Should be the most recent post. Let me know if you'd like any additional info. All of the links to stuff that's not peer-reviewed were removed by the moderator (good policy IMO!) but I can send them to you directly if you like. Best of luck getting past your pain!

    • nancy207
      nancy207 patti92233

      Edited

      Hi Thanks for sharing I have had this problem off and on for years, I do think its a condition of IBS and splenic flexure syndrome it is comforting to have found this website andknow that I'm not alone

    • cinderina
      cinderina chirag83

      Posted

      I guess we all found these posts as not getting any joy with our gp's, and absolutely sick of no diagnosis! I too have terrible pain under left rib and round the side and in my back, feels like swelling in all the area too, initially thought it was a kidney infection, or kidney stone, all ruled out by ct scan, I also have blood in urine on all urine tests whether this is separate I'm yet to find out as I'm due to have the camera test for bladder cancer, I'm still waiting but I don't think it's connected and now think this upper pain is bowel related? Spleen? I dunno I send myself nuts on Internet trying to diagnose myself. Bloods a month apart say WBC has risen and high haemoglobin nothing makes sense, but like the rest of you if I ever get a diagnosis I will be sure to share it with you.

    • Selena93
      Selena93 patti92233

      Posted

      i have the same fears. i was stuck in a public loo with my kids for 3hrs in the summer. the worst my bowels have ever been... i dont take my kids out by myself now, rarely leave the house, scared on the short walk to school that i may have an accident. ive had ibs for 10 years but only these symptoms for 6 months. it is life ruining

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