It is also true that gastrointestinal pain and discomfort can trigger anxiety and/or depression.Īccording to WebMD, “medical illness sometimes brings with it anxiety disorders”. This leads to increased gas production with subsequent bloating and cramping. It is commonly accepted that anxiety can cause GI upset by stimulating the secretion of more acid in the intestinal tract. Fluid and high-fiber intake can help balance this out. Unfortunately, many of the foods that help regulate the bowels are on the ‘do not eat’ list and must be avoided or strictly limited. With splenic flexure syndrome, passing gas is more difficult but can be achieved.Ī proper diet is important in controlling constipation in SFS patients.

Similar symptoms caused by ordinary gas attacks are relieved by passing gas by mouth or by rectum. Irregularities of the bowel caused by splenic flexure syndrome (SFS) may manifest as diarrhea or as constipation.Īccompanying these anomalies, there may be fever, bloating, abdominal cramping, or spasms of the colon. Other conditions that can mimic or cause splenic flexure syndrome are colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, adhesions (scar tissue) from surgery, and internal hernias.Īn overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine can also cause bloating symptoms.Ī hollow sound may be elicited if the stomach is tapped, similar to the sound of tapping a ripe watermelon.Īs stated in an article by HealthResource4u, ingesting too many fatty foods may worsen the distention. Other conditions that result from this motility disorder are peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome.īecause of the poor muscle contractibility, people may feel bloated at times when they are not. This means the intestinal muscles do not move or contract normally to help digest food and keep it moving through the intestinal tract. The symptom of bloating is tied to a motility disorder of the intestines. Along with this distention, there may be excessive sensitivity to touch. Distended AbdomenĪbdominal distention (bloating) in the upper-left abdomen is another identifying symptom of splenic flexure syndrome. Gas-filled intestines can make relaxation difficult, which can exacerbate back pain. Spasmodic contractions of the colon cause pain that can be referred to as the back as well, and like abdominal pain, it can be severe to debilitating at times.

The pain is severe, may last for several minutes, and recur often for weeks or even months. The location of the pain, under the left rib cage, often accompanied by shooting pains in the shoulder, has led people to believe they are experiencing a heart attack. The pain will persist and be located in the upper, left side of the abdomen. Early on, it may be interpreted as a simple, transient gas attack. One symptom of splenic flexure syndrome is continuing abdominal pain. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SPLENIC FLEXURE SYNDROME? Pain The video will help you to visualize the position, shape, and placement of the splenic flexure. It is believed by many health care providers that many patients postpone seeking treatment for the condition too long.Īccording to HealthForm, it is stated that splenic flexure syndrome might be defined as a sense of having “a large bubble” in the middle of one’s body that is refusing to go away.Īnatomical features surrounding the splenic flexure and a discussion of splenic flexure syndrome can be found on this YouTube. The spleen is partially protected by the lower rib cage and sits below the diaphragm near the tip of the pancreas and behind the stomach.Īccording to the University of Michigan – Comprehensive Cancer Center, splenic flexure is located at the junction of the transverse and descending colon.Įxperts in the field of medicine have studied for years trying to comprehend the multi-faceted condition of splenic flexure syndrome.

Splenic flexure syndrome is named for its close proximity to the spleen, located in the upper left abdominal quadrant. This condition is caused by gas becoming trapped in the flexures (curves) of the intestinal tract. Our doctor may diagnose splenic flexure syndrome. When gas symptoms such as pain and bloating linger too long, we turn to our doctor for help. What happens, though, when the usual treatments do not work and the pain and discomfort worsen? Most likely, we consult our physician for testing and diagnosis of our ongoing illness. All of us have occasionally suffered from abdominal pain involving trapped gas in the intestinal tract.Īs miserable as we feel when this happens, we look for a cause and believe relief will not be far away.

Intestinal flexture