Splenic flexure pain

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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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  • Posted

    Oh my. I have the exact pain before, every single day, every time I go to work. I take calls and it was so stressful. I resigned and now, with little stress, it is almost gone. Just flare ups now and then but not to the extent to be compared before. 

     

  • Posted

    Is the pain in one spot - roughly the size of a fingertip?

    Is the pain on the edge of your abdominal muscle, and do you not have bowel/eating etc. symptoms?

    If so google Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome.

    Learn how to do Carnett's test.

    Good luck finding a doctor who can treat it.

  • Posted

    Yep. I’ve had the same thing for 20+ years. It’s always there. Feels like something’s “sticking out” or is out of place...was told with my first colonoscopy 15 yrs agonit was a splenic flexure issue. It comes and goes at different intensities. 
    • Posted

      What did they see on your colonoscopy that made them think Splenic Flexure?

  • Edited

    I have the exact same pain on the left just underneath the rib, sometimes under the rib too. Started March 2018 and it was just annoying and uncomfortable and sometimes used to almost disappear. It feels like I have a stitch or something stuck there that shouldn't be there. Since November it is definitely more uncomfortable and more intense and it's also in my back now. No other symptoms and I have never had IBS or any problems going to the toilet. 2 weeks ago I also started getting cramps in my colon before going to the toilet.

    I had a ultrasonography scan and bloodwork including liver and pancreas enzymes but they found nothing. The next step is CT scan in January. I'm a bit worried that it's a tumour..

    Has anyone got to the bottom of their left side pain?

    • Posted

      I had a CT scan which showed nothing. Liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and all the ducts in between are clear. The radiologist however said to me that a CT scan is not a diagnostic tool for stomach or colon so she suggested colonoscopy and gastroscopy. So more tests coming. The uncomfortable feeling/pain is still there, back and front.

    • Posted

      Hi Folks,

      I was on here about 1 year ago. Well I still have the pain in my left lower rib. Feels like a small vine is growing around it or a tiny little stick is poking my rib. I am really scared. Its 2 years now. They found nothing back then, but I am going back to Dr tmro. Cannot take it. I had all sorts of tests back then, nothing was found. I have a hunch whatever it is may have enlarged a bit because pain is more intense. Yet oddly enough I had like 2 months of no pain at all several weeks ago so i dont get it.. Then it returned. Maybe a cyst that inflates and deflates at times? When inflated causes pain???

      Anyone find anything?

    • Edited

      Hello everyone, I'm back to say I have got to the bottom of my problem. After all the tests showed no organic changes to my internal organs I finally went to see an osteopath and found out I have a muscular problem in my diaphragm and the deeper muscles in that area. After he released them my pain is practically gone. It's the same in my back, on the left side, right opposite - intercostal muscular problem. I should have gone to see him in the first place, would have saved myself a lot of tests and CT scan radiation plus the contrast dye injection which I'm sure is not good for the body. Hindsight.. Anyway, perhaps it will help someone. It really didn't feel like it was the muscles, yet it was.

    • Posted

      Very pleased for you. I'm also interested as when my pain started several years ago, the first endoscopy showed I had a lax diaphragm. I do get relief also when I hold myself just under my left breast. Hmm

    • Posted

      Thank you! Yes, very happy it's over. I still have some pain in the back, below the ribs, especially when I twist. So it might take a bit of time to release completely. At least the front is better 😃

    • Edited

      It's August 2019 and the pain is back! Front left is now better than at the left back, the back is very uncomfortable. I am not sure if it's a muscular problem any more. I am going to have colonoscopy and gastroscopy in September. So it's not over...

    • Edited

      i m on the same boat.. have u found a solution to it..suffering everyday with this horrific pain

    • Posted

      It is good to hear of someone getting an accurate diagnosis. It is very thoughtful of you to report back on this forum too. I got all the CT Scans, tests, etc that everyone has mentioned above. I got 2 diagnosis: splenic flexure and costochrondritis. I am not sure either is accurate. Can you give us some more detail on detection of your problem? Seems like it should have been noted as possible in your CT. Thanks for posting.

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