Pain in the iliac region

Pain in the iliac region is not a specific symptom indicating a specific disease. Rather, it is a sign that should prompt a person to listen carefully to their feelings, analyze them, and promptly consult a doctor to find out the cause of the painful symptoms.

The iliac zone regio iliaca is a part of the peritoneum, or more precisely its anterolateral zone. The iliac fossa is not included in the international anatomical atlas as an independent zone, it is considered the inguinal region - regio inguinalis. In the international medical community, the iliac fossa is compromisedly called the ilioinguinal. In clinical practice, this concept denotes the peritoneal zone and the iliac fossa.

Pain in the iliac fossa is typical as a complaint from female patients, as it most often indicates many gynecological diseases. Of course, men and even children suffer from pain in the iliac fossa. Also, the pain symptom can develop as a temporary sign of overwork or excessive physical exertion.

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Causes of pain in the iliac fossa

The most common causes of pain in the iliac region are the following pathologies:

• Chronic or acute inflammatory processes in the uterine appendages, postoperative adhesions, various types of gynecological tumors.
• The pain is provoked by a static body position, causing varicose veins of the pelvic venous system. This is typical for women who work sitting or standing. Varicose veins can also be caused by prolonged sexual abstinence.
• In both men and women, pain in the iliac region can be caused by urolithiasis.
• Pain in the iliac region may be caused by prolapse of the ureter, dropsy, or inflammation of the kidney.
• Among other reasons, hernias, both inguinal and femoral, quite often provoke pain.
• Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region is also a factor that provokes pain in the iliac region.
• Pathology of the sigmoid colon structure or dolichosigma is one of the causes that provoke painful sensations in the iliac fossa. In addition, the elongation of the sigmoid colon, which is unstable, that is, moves freely in the peritoneum, can end in bowel torsion and intestinal obstruction. Such pathology causes intense, severe pain.

The nature of pain in the iliac region can vary - from dull, aching and transient to sharp, intolerable. In clinical practice, the following patterns have been statistically determined to help in diagnosing diseases:

Pain in the iliac region on the left side:

• Adhesions of inflammatory etiology.
• Ectopic, tubal pregnancy in women.
• Pain after gynecological surgeries.
• The inflammatory process in the appendages is both acute and chronic.
• Sexual abstinence.
• Oncological process.
• Nephrological diseases.
• Pathology of the structure of the sigmoid colon.
• Colitis.
• Prolapse of the pelvic organs.
• Parasitic infection.
• Varicose veins of the pelvis.
• Torsion of the pedicle of the right ovarian cyst.
• Salpingitis.
• Renal colic.
• Spigelian hernia.
• Iliac artery aneurysm.

Pain in the iliac region on the right side:

• Rupture of the Coecum - the cecum.
• Inflammation of the appendix, acute appendicitis.
• Perforation of gastric ulcer.
• Perforation of the duodenal ulcer.
• Granulomatous enteritis (Crohn's disease).
• Renal colic.
• Malignant tumor of the ovary.
• Urolithiasis.
• Proctosigmoiditis is an inflammatory process in the rectum and sigmoid colon.
• Kidney stones.
• Parasitic infection.
• Iliac artery aneurysm.

In addition, pain in the iliac region can be caused by chronic constipation, diarrhea, dysbacteriosis or intoxication (most often food).

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What to do if the iliac region hurts?

Like any alarming symptom in the abdominal area, pain in the iliac region requires a medical examination, possibly a comprehensive examination and an accurate diagnosis. Judging by the above reasons that can provoke pain in this area, self-determination of the disease is impossible in principle. Moreover, self-medication is not only unacceptable, but also dangerous, because the factor causing the painful symptom can be inflamed appendicitis, which can quickly transform into peritonitis. That is why, if the pain in the iliac region does not subside, becomes more intense, or lasts more than one day, you need to see a doctor and undergo a full examination.