Why do pains in the lower abdomen give in the leg? What diseases can cause such unpleasant symptoms? How to diagnose and treat them? We will provide answers to all these questions in the materials of this article.
Basic information
Acute pain in the lower abdomen in the fair sex is a fairly common symptom. It can be associated with disorders of the genitourinary system, and with the pathologies of other systems, including neurological, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal.
Most often, acute pain in the lower abdomen develops in women 24-35 years old. The development of such a symptom is observed in approximately one in seven patients.
Experts argue that such a pathological condition can be a sign of a serious illness that requires immediate surgical or conservative treatment.
What organs can provoke pain in the lower abdomen?
Symptoms of abdominal pain depend on which organs are susceptible to a particular disease. Most often, this pathological condition is associated with changes in:
- small and large intestine;
- fallopian tubes;
- the bladder;
- the uterus;
- ovaries.
Inflammatory processes
Causes of pain in the lower abdomen can be associated with inflammatory processes that occur in one of the following structures and organs:
- internal genital organs (including the vagina, uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes);
- pelvic muscles or the so-called piriformis muscle;
- small intestine;
- kidneys
- large intestine, as well as appendix, cecum, rectum and sigmoid colon;
- ureter;
- bladder;
- sciatic nerve.
The main causes of pain in the lower abdomen
This pathological condition can be caused by completely different disorders. However, experts argue that most often the syndrome in question occurs due to:
- ectopic reproductive disorders;
- urological disorders;
- uterine diseases;
- intestinal disorders;
- neurological lesions.
Ectopic disorders
Pain in the groin extending to the leg can occur due to diseases of the genitals such as the fallopian tubes, vagina and ovaries. Symptoms of such gynecological problems are:
- the allocation of whites (often mucopurulent);
- pains that intensify before the onset of menstruation;
- infertility;
- menstrual irregularities;
- weakness and general fatigue;
- severe itching in the perineum (especially with the inflammatory process);
- frequent urination.
Similar symptoms may occur due to endometriosis, adhesive disease, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts, adnexitis, residual ovary syndrome, vaginitis and ovulatory syndrome.
Uterine Disorders
Why do pains in the lower abdomen give in the leg? This condition may be associated with the development of one of the following diseases:
- uterine polyps;
- adenomyosis, or the so-called genital endometriosis;
- cervicitis;
- endometritis;
- dysmenorrhea;
- uterine fibroids;
- genital prolapse;
- stenosis of the cervical canal;
- improperly selected or inserted intrauterine device.
It should be especially noted that uterine disorders can be accompanied not only by pains in the lower abdomen, but also by unpleasant sensations before and during menstruation, as well as during sexual intercourse. In addition, such pathologies are characterized by heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual irregularities, fever, hardening of the uterus and its soreness.
Urological disorders
Frequent pains in the lower abdomen often indicate pathologies in the urinary system, which can be associated with damage to the ureters, kidneys, bladder and urethra. In particular, discomfort may occur due to the development of such diseases:
- cystitis;
- urolithiasis disease;
- bladder tumor.
The listed diseases are manifested by renal colic, pain in the lumbar region, fever, vomiting, nausea, the appearance of blood in the urine, frequent urination, piercing pain at the end of urination, aching pain in the lower abdomen, clouding of urine, weakness, malaise, and others.
Intestinal diseases
Why do pains in the lower abdomen give in the leg? This condition can occur with intestinal lesions, in particular:
- appendix (vermiform appendix);
- ileum (lower part of the small intestine);
- cecum;
- sigmoid colon (subdivision of the colon);
- rectum.
Thus, intestinal disorders can occur due to the development of the following diseases:
- Crohn's disease;
- ulcerative colitis;
- intestinal obstruction;
- chronic constipation;
- IBS;
- colon polyps;
- diverticulosis of the large intestine;
- appendicitis;
- hernias;
- colon cancer.
Symptoms of appendicitis in women are manifested by acute pains, which are localized first in the epigastric region, and then are concentrated on the lower right abdomen. In this case, painful sensations can give to the right leg and inguinal region. Common symptoms of appendicitis in women and men include nausea, vomiting, stool retention, fever and gas formation.
As for other intestinal disorders, they are characterized by bleeding from the rectum, loose stools with mucus or blood, abdominal pain on the left, decreased appetite, fever, weight loss, general malaise, bloating, flatulence, etc.
Neurological disorders
Most often, pain in the lower abdomen is given in the leg with neurological diseases. These include the following:
- damage to the lumbar plexus, as well as its branches;
- piriformis syndrome.
The first pathology is caused by the defeat of the ileo-inguinal, iliac-hypogastric or femoral-genital nerve. These fibers can be damaged by hernia repair and during surgery on the pelvic organs. Such lesions are characterized by severe pain. Moreover, the localization of pain depends on which particular nerve is affected (lower abdomen, lower back, on the inner surface of the thigh, in the inguinal region).
As for the piriformis syndrome, it is characterized by damage to the deep pelvic muscle under the gluteus maximus muscle. It originates from the inner region of the sacrum and goes to the femur.
With the development of a spasm of this muscle, an infringement of the sciatic nerve occurs. By the way, the latter is the longest nerve in the human body.
With this pathology, the patient has severe pain in the buttock and thigh. In this case, painful sensations are given in the groin, as well as in the posterior surface of the lower limb. Discomfort is almost always aggravated by the movement of a person’s legs, since in the process all the affected nerve fiber is stretched.
Diagnostic process
If pain in the lower abdomen gives to the left leg or to the right limb, then you should immediately consult a specialist.
To identify those or other diseases that provoked the development of a pain syndrome, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- interrogation of the patient;
- examination of the abdomen of the patient;
- blood test and other tests.
It should also be noted that, depending on the localization of the pathological process, the patient can be assigned:
- gynecological examination;
- study of the urinary system;
- bowel examination.
What to do?
What if there is severe pain in the lower abdomen, extending to the legs? Therapy of the pathology that caused the development of pain in this area should be aimed at restoring the natural work of the affected organ, as well as improving the patient's quality of life and preventing the recurrence of chronic diseases.
For symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease, you should immediately go to the hospital. The timely detection of such a pathology can prevent an adverse outcome of the disease. The symptom under consideration can be a symptom of not only a gynecological problem, but also a serious surgical pathology (including appendicitis).
What can not be done?
Acute abdominal pain cannot be treated independently, especially in the following ways:
- taking painkillers and antispasmodic drugs, as this can hide the true picture of the disease and significantly complicate the diagnosis;
- applying warm compresses, since such procedures provoke vasodilation and the spread of the infectious process through the circulatory system;
- washing the intestines, especially if the pain was caused by intestinal obstruction;
- taking laxatives.
One cannot fail to say that if pains in the lower abdomen are accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, worsening general condition, vomiting, uterine bleeding, fever, you should immediately seek medical help.
Treatment methods
Acute or aching pain extending to the leg can be eliminated by the following methods:
- taking antibacterial drugs;
- diet therapy;
- hormone therapy;
- laparoscopy
- endoscopic methods of treatment;
- physiotherapy.
Diet therapy for this symptom may include the use of a third or fourth table. In this case, the patient should strictly observe the diet. His diet should be varied and rich in vitamins.
Antibacterial therapy involves the use of antibiotics, that is, drugs that selectively suppress the activity of harmful microorganisms. As a rule, such medications are prescribed for infectious and inflammatory processes.
Hormone treatment involves the use of drugs containing sex hormones such as progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. Each of them is unique. The latter is responsible for the development of secondary and primary sexual characteristics, testosterone - for performance and libido, and progesterone - for the onset and maintenance of normal pregnancy.
Laparoscopy is a procedure during which a special optical system is introduced into the abdominal cavity, which transmits an image of the internal organs to the monitor. With it, you can remove benign and malignant tumors, restore patency of the fallopian tubes, and more.
Endoscopic treatments include colonoscopy, cystoscopy and hysteroscopy. Such procedures can remove malignant and benign tumors, stop bleeding, eliminate existing blockages, crush stones, excise polyps, dissect adhesions and so on.
Physiotherapy involves the use of the following methods:
- electrophoresis;
- ultrasound therapy;
- magnetotherapy;
- ultra high frequency therapy.
If the pain in the lower abdomen is very severe, then doctors prescribe medication aimed at eliminating the unpleasant syndrome. In this case, use:
- potent analgesics (including Tramadol or Tramal);
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Dexalgin);
- narcotic analgesics (e.g. morphine).
It should be noted that only a doctor should prescribe such drugs. This is due to the fact that their uncontrolled intake can cause the following negative reactions:
- violation of the stool (development of diarrhea);
- nausea and vomiting
- gastrointestinal ulcer;
- gastrointestinal bleeding;
- negative effects on the bone marrow;
- toxic effects on the liver and kidneys.
Take all of the listed funds should be strictly after a meal.