Colon pain can occur both in the
right and left side and could be an indication of various pathological conditions, first of all the irritable bowel syndrome, but there are many others as we will see in the course of the article.
What to do in these cases
What pathological conditions can be connected to this pain
There are risks
How we should behave in these cases
Today we will deal with this topic, hoping to answer all your questions.
What is the colon
Before going to see specifically what it means to have pain in the colon right and left and what are the possible risks associated with this situation, it is necessary to understand well what the colon is.
Well, the colon is the terminal portion of the large intestine and serves to promote the absorption of liquids by food that we cannot digest. In practice, the colon could be seen as a sort of reservoir for collecting liquids.
The task of the large intestine is precisely to favor the expulsion of waste products that derive from digestion and, in addition to the colon, it is also made up of the rectum and the cecum.
Specifically, the colon is divided into four main portions, namely:
- The ascending colon;
- The transverse colon;
- The descending colon;
- The sigmoid colon.
If one of these parts fails, there may be more or less serious problems for our body. So let’s see what it is.
What are the
symptoms of colon pain Colon pain can manifest itself in a wide range of symptoms. Although it would be better to make a distinction between right and left colon, which we will do later, the symptoms of colon pain can be generalized in the following points:
- Feverish states;
- Chills;
- Gagging
- Pain in the liver;
- Pain typical of PMS;
- Urinary difficulties;
- Diarrhea;
- Tiredness;
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss.
As you can see, the symptoms that occur when there are colon problems can also be uncomfortable, especially for our daily life but, as we have said, the situation changes whether it is the right or left colon . Let’s see how it works.
What are the causes of pain in the right colon
When you suffer from pain in the right colon, we usually notice it by locating the pain practically at the height of the liver , in the upper area of ​​the abdominal belt. This pain can also involve the surrounding areas, even reaching up to the back.
Sometimes pain in the right colonit could be caused by simple fatigue or even by an effort that we are not used to making. In principle, we can summarize the main causes of pain in the right colon in the following pathological conditions:
- A condition of constipation;
- The presence of an abdominal hernia;
- Kidney stones on the right;
- Right kidney infection
- Appendicitis;
- Food spasms;
- Food malabsorption;
- Menstrual cramps.
Also, the pain in the right colon could be caused by the presence of a tumor. Therefore, given that the causes of this problem are different and can have different severity, to understand what it is it is necessary to consult a doctor.
What are the causes of pain in the left colon ?
Different and the situation if we perceive pain in the left colon . In this case, in fact, pain is associated with a malfunction of the large intestine which, as we said earlier, has the function of expelling digestive waste from our body.
Pain in the left colonit manifests itself in the part below the ribs and, like the one in the right colon, it can involve the surrounding areas, even reaching the back and axillary area.
One of the peculiar characteristics of pain in the left colon concerns the fact that, those who suffer from it, perceive it more during sleep, causing annoying insomnia.
Establishing what are the precise causes of pain in the left colon is an almost impossible undertaking because it is a common symptom in many pathological conditions.
For this reason it is important to undergo the necessary diagnostic tests which, of course, will be prescribed by the doctor after a careful check-up.
Among the most serious causes that can cause pain in the left colonwe remember the splenic flexure, also known as left colic, which causes severe and short pains to those who suffer from it.
How do we understand if it is a colon cancer
As we have already mentioned above, the pain in the right and left colon could be linked to a very serious situation, namely the presence of a tumor. For this reason it is always advisable to go to the doctor to understand what it is and to intervene in a timely manner.
To understand if cancer cells are developing inside our colon, we can pay attention to the most common symptoms, which are the following:
- Rectal bleeding;
- Unjustified weight loss
- Anemia;
- Dyspnea;
- Change in bowel habits
- Presence of blood in the stool
- Abdominal swelling;
- Abdominal pain and cramps;
- Feeling of weakness and fatigue;
- Feeling of not being completely emptied after defecating.
However, given that, as we have said, the colon is divided into several parts, the tumor can also be localized in only one of the portions of the colon and, therefore, manifest itself with even more specific symptoms.
For example, if the tumor is located in the ascending colon, or rather, in the right colon , the symptoms may appear late, making the situation even more complicated. In the case of ascending colon cancer, the symptoms will be as follows:
- Occult blood in the stool
- Anemia;
- Dyspnea;
- Feeling of fatigue and feeling of weakness;
- Internal bleeding;
- Unjustified weight loss
- Presence of a palpable mass of the right portion of the abdomen;
- Pain in the right side of the abdomen.
As for the descending colon cancer (either in the sigma or on the left ), it is a real intestinal obstruction, due precisely to the presence of the tumor.
In this case the symptoms are as follows:
- Anemia;
- Presence of a palpable mass in the left portion of the abdomen;
- Hemorrhage;
- Rectal bleeding;
- Abdominal pain on the left;
- Change in bowel habits
- Feeling of not being completely emptied after defecating
- Sensation of having a foreign body in the rectum;
- Severe abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomit;
- Decreased appetite
- Burning and anal itching;
- Urinary and genital disorders.
How do we know if it is an irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is without a doubt the most common pathological condition that can affect our large intestine and, therefore, also the colon.
As we have already seen previously, irritable bowel syndrome is one of the pathologies that may have caused pain in the colon, right or left. In this case, to understand if it is this syndrome or not, we refer to the following symptoms:
- Non-continuous contractive cramp pain;
- Abdominal swelling
- Constipation;
- Meteorism;
- Presence of mucus in the stool;
- Nausea;
- Intense stomach pain
- Diarrhea.
What to do in these cases Obviously, the treatment for left and right colon
pain mainly depends on the cause that triggered it. For example, if it is a consequence of irritable bowel syndrome, particular attention must be paid to our diet.
In this case, making changes to our diet, avoiding eating fried foods, drinks rich in sugars and sweets in general, is of fundamental importance to restore a normal condition of the large intestine.
It is also essential to go to the doctorif the pain in the colon becomes more and more unbearable and persists over time. Only the specialist, in fact, after having examined you carefully, will know what to do and how to intervene, whether to prescribe drugs or not.
In general, diagnostic tests are prescribed, such as a CT scan, or magnetic resonance imaging, or an endoscopic examination which, together with blood tests, help us understand what the problem is and, therefore, identify the best treatment for our case. .
Share on:
