Pain on my lower abdomen from the left to center, only in the front

by Roger Grenier
(Montréal, Québec, Canada)

Hello, i am a sixty years old man who is active, i play softball and work out in a gym. About a month ago, i started to have this pain, it was uncomfortable to run or do some exercises that needed me to squat, the pain was not so bad. Last night i played softball and i had make fast sprints to first base, after the second race, it was hard to walk for me but i stayed in the game. This morning, as it was painful just to walk my grandson to daycare.
Do you think this is only muscular, i am a little afraid of cancer cause i lost a sister, a brother and my father. (i never smoked)

Thanks a lot.

Roger

.................................................

Dear Roger,

I can see why you are concerned about this pain on your lower abdomen from the left to center, which you say you experience only in the front part of your body; after losing three close relatives to cancer.

It would be presumptuous of anyone to completely dismiss your concerns without a thorough detailed information gathering, a focused physical examination and blood works coupled with some scans or x-rays as might be necessary.

By way of finding out more information, you said this pain on your lower abdomen has been going on for about a month now.

• Did the pain come on suddenly or did you notice the pain to have developed gradually over days and weeks?
  
• You said the pain is only on the front part of your left lower abdomen. Is there any associated lump or swellings there if you look closely or cough very hard?
  
• Do you feel bloated?
  
• Has there been any change in your use of the restroom / washroom? Any constipation or diarrhea? What about the color of your stool?
  
• Do you experience any nausea? Any change in your appetite? What about your energy levels? Any recent change in these?
  
• Has there been any unintended weight loss in the last few months? If yes, from what to what now?
  
• At 60, as well as given the family history of cancers, I believe you must have had a recent Colonoscopy / FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) done at least within the last 5 years. Has there been any abnormal findings e.g of polyps?

It would be reasonable to see a doctor to examine your left lower abdomen to exclude an hernia as well.

Top conditions that could lead to the type of pain you described in the front of your left lower abdomen include:

1. Muscular pain as suspected
   
2. A left Inguinal hernia
   
3. Diverticular disease.

Very very rarely, a bowel cancer could cause pain in the front of your lower abdomen but I have no reason whatsoever to suspect this as a cause, from the information provided. I will therefore suggest you book in to see your family doctor. Explain all your concerns to him or her, including your strong family history of cancers.

I hope this helps to point things in the right direction?

Please do not hesitate to contact us, should you have any other specific queries.

Thank you for using our free online consultation services.

Good Health To You.


Dr Omatseye Edema MD MRCGP CCFP MSc DRCOG
Family Physician, Emergency Medicine Practitioner and WebMD
Abdopain.com.

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