{"id":14478,"date":"2020-03-30T06:08:09","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T06:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14478"},"modified":"2021-05-06T19:59:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T19:59:09","slug":"14-common-causes-of-spleen-pain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-spleen-pain\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Spleen Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The spleen is an organ located right below the rib cage at the upper left of the abdomen.  It is part of the comprehensive lymph system that works to enhance the immune system. The spleen recycles old red blood cells and stores platelets and white blood cells. White blood cells produced and stored in the spleen fight bacterial infections that cause pneumonia and meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A healthy spleen is fist-shaped, purple in color and about 4 inches long. Due to its location in the body, even a doctor can hardly tell the condition of your spleen by feeling it unless it is abnormally enlarged. You would hardly experience any symptoms of an enlarged spleen. However, when the condition worsens one is likely to feel pain and sometimes fullness in the left upper abdomen region that often spreads to the left shoulder. Spleen pain is mostly felt behind the patient\u2019s left ribs. The region feels tender when touched. This is usually a sign of a damaged, enlarged or a ruptured spleen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 common causes of an enlarged spleen characterized by pain and several other symptoms; <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Physical Trauma<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Physical trauma refers to a deep injury to any part of the body. Physical trauma comes in two forms \u2013blunt force trauma and penetrating trauma. Blunt force trauma is when the body is stricken with an object that causes concussions, creates deep cuts and sometimes broken bones. Penetrating trauma, on the other hand, occurs when a sharp or blunt object pierces through the skin leaving an open wound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A serious physical injury to the spleen can either rapture the spleen <\/a>or cause it to swell. A ruptured spleen is obviously painful and most probably a cause for alarm. The spleen may become damaged or rapture from an injury, impact to the abdomen, a car accident or a sporting accident. Luckily a damaged spleen can be removed surgically and a person can live without it given the liver would assume some of its critical functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. When you are recovering from spleen surgery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A spleen surgery <\/a>is necessary to repair a ruptured spleen, especially following a physical injury. Sometimes the spleen gets overworked in its role of filtering impurities from the blood and warding off infections that its ability to function optimally gets compromised. In such instances, surgery might be necessary to remove clots and other unwanted materials from the organ. It is normal to experience pain while recovering from a spleen injury. A recovering patient is likely to feel sore and a little bruised after the procedure.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recovering patient should feel normal soon after the operation. The pain also fades in due time. Like many other surgical procedures, spleen surgery poses a small risk of complications that include bleeding and contracting infections. Feeling pain after surgery is not a big medical concern; the doctors already know this and will prescribe you some pain-relieving medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Viral infections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a couple of viral infections that can cause an enlarged spleen. The most common of all is the infectious mononucleosis \u2013a group of symptoms caused by the notorious Epstein-Barr Virus<\/a> (EBV). Individuals of any age can contract this infection although it is most common among teenagers. The virus quickly spreads through saliva, explaining its cheesy moniker \u201cthe kissing disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An enlarged spleen resulting from mononucleosis will lead to pain around the rib area. The patient will also experience sore throat, fever, jaundice, fatigue, rash, and swollen glands among others. Mild cases of the glandular fever often resolve on its own but severe cases will require a medical diagnosis. Over the counter drugs can help relieve the pain and reduce the overbearing fever. When the symptoms persist, urgently seek medical attention.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Anemia <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anemia <\/a>is a condition in which the blood has an insufficient amount of healthy red blood cells. The condition can also stem from dysfunctional red blood cells in the body leading to reduced flow of oxygen to various parts of the body. As earlier mentioned, the spleen is critical in maintaining healthy red blood cells, and a damaged spleen cannot perform this critical role optimally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hemolytic anemia refers to a condition where the spleen destroys red blood cells at a faster rate than they are manufactured. This has a ripple effect from leaving the immune system exposed to actually damaging the spleen itself. Due to infections caused by insufficient levels of red blood cells in the body, the spleen can swell causing pain and other symptoms of a damaged spleen. Hemolytic anemia is a treatable condition and one needs not to panic. The common symptoms of hemolytic anemia include jaundice, dark-colored urine, fever, dizziness, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Cancer <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite its defensive role, the spleen is not entirely safe from cancer<\/a>. Cancerous tumors can grow on the spleen altering the normal functioning of the organ and causing pain among several other symptoms. Spleen cancer can either be primary or secondary. Primary spleen cancer starts in the spleen while secondary spleen cancer starts on another organ and spreads to the spleen. Both forms of spleen cancer are highly unlikely, which is not to say that they don\u2019t exist.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lymphoma is a spleen cancer that affects the lymphatic system and is characterized by an enlarged spleen among other signs. Leukemia is a type blood cancer that occurs when the number of white blood cells in the body rises abnormally. The excess white blood cells \u201csuffocate\u201d the red blood cells and platelets the body needs for healthy functioning causing further complications that include swollen spleen which we have established to be painful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Malaria<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The spleen does a complex task of warding off infections but sometimes it gets compromised in the process. The spleen is vital in the development of an immune response to malaria <\/a>parasites. Unfortunately, infection by malaria parasites is the common cause of spleen rapture (damage). Spleen rupture resulting from malaria infection occurs when rapid inflammatory responses in the spleen during the process of Plasmodium infection cause vascular dysfunction and sometimes severe organ failure.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. The condition can be life-threatening especially when a lot of blood has been lost. The ruptured spleen can be repaired surgically with a few stitches or it can be removed totally in which the liver will assume most of its key roles. A damaged spleen from malaria infection is often painful and poses multiple health complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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 7. Bacterial infection (syphilis) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wondering how a sexually transmitted infection can affect your spleen? Well, here is how \u2013 research has established that syphilis bacteria can inhabit your spleen inactively for decades without causing any alarm. Syphilis<\/a> is a common infection that spreads through sexual contact. You can contract syphilis by coming in contact with the blood or sores of an infected person, especially in the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first sign of syphilis in men is sores on the penis while women will experience sore around the vagina. In most cases, these sores are not painful and can disappear in 3 to 6 weeks. Another sign that is highly unlikely is an enlargement of lymph nodes in your groin including the spleen. When the condition is corrected quickly it can result in spleen pain and a host of different other secondary complications. It is important to visit your doctor for routine diagnosis to ensure that inactive syphilis bacteria do not reside in your spleen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Sickle cell diseases <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sickle cell <\/a>diseases refer to a group of hereditary disorders known to cause the red blood cells to contort into a distinctive sickle shape and breakdown leading to an acute shortage of healthy red blood cells. Sickled cells are rigid and often get trapped in the spleen causing the organ to expand. Over time more and more sickled red blood cells are trapped making the spleen enlarge more and more, a condition referred to as the splenic sequestration crisis which causes anemia. Resolving this condition might require carrying out a blood transfusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sickled red blood cells are known to tamper with the tissue of the spleen compromising its normal functioning. This explains why individuals with sickle cell disease are more vulnerable to infections. An enlarged spleen as a result of sickle cell disease is usually painful and causes a lot of discomfort to the person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Thalassemia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thalassemia is a common cause of enlarged spleens among newborns. The condition is hereditary where both parents with either alpha or beta thalassemia traits have a 1 in 4 chance of siring a child with the condition. During child development (in the womb), the spleen is solely responsible for manufacturing blood cells. In healthy children, the bone marrow assumes this role after birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in cases of thalassemia, the bone marrow is incapable of performing this role and therefore the spleen is left to carry on with the job. Obviously the spleen gets overworked and ends up swollen <\/a>to adjust with the increased workload.\u00a0 In the United States, serious patients of thalassemia are diagnosed in the newborn screening program while milder cases can be established during a complete blood count (CBC). Thalassemia can cause anemia (resulting from low hemoglobin) and microcytosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Sarcoidosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sarcoidosis <\/a>is a serious inflammatory condition that targets different organs in the body including the lungs and the lymph glands. The disease is characterized by the growth of small collections of inflammatory cells in the body. Depending on where it manifests, the abnormal growths comprising of inflamed cells may affect the normal structure and possibly the functioning of the affected organs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our case, when the spleen which forms part of the, lymphatic system is affected, the organ may become enlarged and subsequently fail to work optimally. The patient may experience towards the upper left side of the abdomen extending to the shoulders. This only occurs in severe cases of sarcoidosis whereas milder go away on their own. Most cases of sarcoidosis usually require minimal treatment if any at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Overworked spleen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Excess destruction of unhealthy red blood cells, for instance, can stress the spleen causing it to enlarge. Everybody organ has a threshold of the amount of work it can perform optimally. When this threshold is surpassed the organ fails to function properly causing a series of other complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like we have discussed earlier, an enlarged spleen may not show a lot of symptoms at first. However, when the condition persists, the patient can feel pain around the rib area extending to the shoulder. A failing spleen exposes the body to various infections including viral and bacterial diseases since the body\u2019s immune system<\/a> has been compromised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are different other conditions that can overwork the spleen. Thalassemia is one of the many conditions that occur when the bone marrow fails in its duty to manufacture blood cells overburdening the spleen with that crucial function.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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 12. Splenic Infarction <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Splenic infarction refers to a condition where the flow of blood to and from the spleen is derailed leading to an infraction (death of tissues in the organ resulting from oxygen deficiency). The condition occurs when the crucial splenic artery <\/a>or its branches are blocked probably by a blood clot. The notorious causes of splenic infarctions include hematological disease and thromboembolism. The condition can also be caused by vasculitis, surgery- pancreatectomy and liver transplant, trauma, and collagen tissue diseases among several other causes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Splenic infarction can cause complete or partial death of spleen tissues. The good news is that you can always survive without a spleen, the same way some people can survive without kidneys although they would need dialysis. The problem of living without a spleen is that you always be prone to more infections. Splenic infarction can cause more serious complications like hemorrhage, aneurysm, abscess and sometimes splenic rupture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Gaucher\u2019s Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gaucher\u2019s disease is a metabolic disorder resulting from the buildup of fatty substances in crucial organs particularly the spleen and liver. This condition causes the organs to enlarge subsequently affecting their normal functioning. In some cases of Gaucher\u2019s disease, fatty substances can buildup in bone tissues weakening the bones <\/a>and posing a serious risk of bone fractures. When the condition worsens and affects the bone marrow, the blood ability to clot may be compromised.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialists have established that the enzyme responsible for breaking down fatty substances don\u2019t work in patients with Gaucher disease. Treatment includes administering an enzyme replacement therapy that restores the normal metabolic process. An inherited Gaucher disease is common among the Jews and Eastern and Central European individuals of the Askenazi descent. The symptoms of this disorder vary widely between people but the most common signs include abdominal pains resulting from liver and spleen enlargement, skeletal abnormalities and blood disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Niemann-Pick Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Niemann-Pick disease refers to a group of hereditary <\/a>metabolic disorders that affects the spleen, liver, and the brain. Like in the Gaucher disease, in this condition lipids buildup in the spleen, brain, and liver. This disorder comes in three forms, Type A, B, and C. Each form of this disease affects different organs. The different types of disorders display different symptoms but most of the symptoms are similar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type A and B of the disorder occur when the body has a deficiency of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). This enzyme is responsible for metabolizing a fatty substance named sphingomyelin found in every cell of the body. When the enzyme is missing or in a small quantity, the lipid collects in the cells. This suffocates the cells and therefore compromising the normal functioning of the organ. The common symptoms of this condition include an enlarged spleen and liver, difficulty in moving limbs, jaundice, seizures, and loss of muscle tone.
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