Suffering Form Upper Left Abdominal Pain. What Test Should Be Done?

Posted on Mon, 5 Nov 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 5 Nov 2012 Answered on

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi,

I am suffering form upper left abdominal pain just below my ribs, recently it is radiating to my left Hypochondriac region and left arm. I recently undergone Ultrasound and my pancreas and spleen are adviced to me as normal. Pain comes and goes, severity is increasing recently. Please advice me what tests should I undergo to diagnose. I had endoscopy done 2 years before for GERD and was normal.I stopped PPI’s after endoscopy.

Answered by Dr. Ketan Vagholkar (2 hours later)

Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
There are a number of possibilities which need to be considered.
1. Left renal colic. This will require a plain x XXXXXXX KUB to be done and if required a USG of the KUB region.
2. If assocaited with constipation then a course of stool softners will help.
3. Peptic ulcer disease will require a endoscopy to be done .
4. cardiac cause for pain needs to be ruled out by doing as stress ECG evaluation.
I hope this answers your querry.
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar