Left Side Pain

boron · Mar 10, 2015

If you see a health article with the title "Left Side Pain," what all (or what only) would you expect to find in the article?

The article would have a list of causes of left side pain with related symptoms.

I'm not asking for the actual causes but which body regions should the "left side" include. I have a pretty good idea what "side" means but I want to be sure about it's actual usage.

Lauram6123 · Mar 10, 2015

boron said:
If you see a health article with the title "Left Side Pain," what all (or what only) would you expect to find in the article?

The article would have a list of causes of left side pain with related symptoms.

I'm not asking for the actual causes but which body regions should the "left side" include. I have a pretty good idea what "side" means but I want to be sure about it's actual usage.

Renal or ureteral stone. Low rib fracture. Spleen (infarct or trauma), diverticulitis or pyelonephritis. Those are the differential diagnosis for left abdominal or flank pain.

Is that what you are looking for?

boron · Mar 10, 2015

What exactly do people think when they say "left side pain?"

1. Left abdominal pain (the front part on the left side of the belly button)
2. Left flank (the left middle part of the back, where the left kidney is)

So, is the term "side" more specific than just the entire side of the trunk?

Cath · Mar 10, 2015

What's the purpose of this question, boron? If you're writing an article, it's up to you to decide what it's about.

Your question is extremely general. Think of it this way - can you go into a library and find the answer? If not, then you either need to refine the question or you're asking in the wrong forum.

boron · Mar 10, 2015

I was intending to write an article about "Left Side Pain," which would include a list of causes with related symptoms, but then I realized I'm not sure what exactly the "side" means - the side of the abdomen or side of the back or both.

OK, I'll probably go with this: "Side pain is discomfort that occurs on the left or right side of the torso between the armpits (axilla) and the hips."

Foolonthehill · Mar 11, 2015

"side" would most likely mean Hip and upwards or lower abdomen, you can google this and find every horrific illness ever..... even when most often the pain is nothing serious.... so... there you go

Layla Nahar · Mar 11, 2015

Honestly, I thought of everything to the left of a line drawn down the center of the body from crown to floor - for me it included head, leg, arm...

Disa · Mar 11, 2015

On the left side of the body, as opposed to the right- it always makes me think of the abdominal area.

Left side abdominal pain makes me think of colon cancer/issues.
Ride side pain- appendicitis, gallstones, etc.

In general surgery they would say Right upper quadrant pain, right lower quadrant pain- things like that

C.bronco · Mar 11, 2015

I'd plug the symptoms into webmd and see what they suggest.

snafu1056 · Mar 11, 2015

I've read that right side abdominal pain or swelling is the liver, and left side could be stomach, kidneys, some kind of intestinal issue

MDSchafer · Mar 11, 2015

transfusion reaction.

jennontheisland · Mar 11, 2015

heart attack.

ClareGreen · Mar 12, 2015

Trapped nerve(s)/sciatica.

boron · Mar 12, 2015

Foolonthehill said:
"side" would most likely mean Hip and upwards or lower abdomen

Yes, this is probably what most people think when they search online for "side pain."

Dave Williams · Mar 12, 2015

When I think "left side pain" I think "heart attack."

Usher · Mar 12, 2015

Left side pain to me would mean anything from the left little toe to the top of the head. Stroke or MS would probably be my first thought.

Left Side Pain

boron

Health writer

Lauram6123

boron

Health writer

Cath

The mean one

boron

Health writer

Foolonthehill

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

Disa

C.bronco

I have plans...

snafu1056

MDSchafer

jennontheisland

the world is at my command

ClareGreen

Onwards, ever onwards

boron

Health writer

Dave Williams

Zappa isn't frank!

Usher