Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Feels LikeSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentOutlookSelf-Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Feels Like
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Self-Care
Splenic flexuresyndrome is a non-life-threatening digestive system disorder associated with upper left abdominal pain and a sensation of fullness and swelling in the belly.
This article will discuss splenic flexure syndrome, including its symptoms, possible causes, diagnosis, and treatment. It will also highlight self-care strategies to optimize your care and how you feel.
South_agency / Getty Images
What Does Splenic Flexure Pain Feel Like?
A person with splenic flexure syndrome may feel pain that is a sharp or cramping pain. It can be mild to severe. It is felt in the upper left abdomen.
Splenic Flexure Syndrome Symptoms
The splenic flexure is the bend or curve inside the body where the transverse colon, which runs across the abdomen from right to left, joins thedescending colon, which runs down the left side of the stomach.
Splenic flexure symptoms are attributed to distension of the splenic flexure as excess gas becomes trapped within the transverse colon.
Possible symptoms include:
The above symptoms may improve or go away after passing gas or having a bowel movement.
Colon Pain Symptoms and How to Relieve Them
What Causes Splenic Flexure Syndrome?
It’s not clear what exactly causes splenic flexure syndrome. Some experts speculate that anatomical variations of the colon influence the development of this disorder.
Specifically, an excessively elevated splenic curvature, a transverse colon that’s longer than typical, and a narrower-than-typical angle where the transverse colon meets the descending colon might contribute to gas accumulation.
Some experts also consider splenic flexure to be a type of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Irritable Bowel SyndromeIBS affects between 5% and 10% of healthy individuals at some point in their lifetime. Symptoms include crampy abdominal pain and a change in stool frequency, including constipation, diarrhea, or an alteration between the two.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS affects between 5% and 10% of healthy individuals at some point in their lifetime. Symptoms include crampy abdominal pain and a change in stool frequency, including constipation, diarrhea, or an alteration between the two.
Certaincauses of IBSmay similarly trigger the development of splenic flexure syndrome. Some of these potential causes include:
Diagnosing Splenic Flexure Syndrome
Medical History and Physical Exam
When evaluating abdominal pain, a healthcare provider will inquire about a person’s symptoms, including location, severity, and triggering or alleviating factors. They will also ask about past and current health conditions.
During the physical exam, a healthcare provider will take yourvitals(temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate) and gently press on and tap your abdomen. Vitals should be normal in a person with splenic flexure syndrome, other than their heart rate perhaps being elevated due to acute pain.
With splenic flexure syndrome, tenderness and a high-pitched drumlike sound (when tapping) may be evident in the upper left side of the belly due to gas buildup.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can help a healthcare provider rule out other causes of abdominal pain. For example, acomplete blood count (CBC)can provide clues about infection oranemia(possibly from blood loss or chronic inflammation).
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests help providers confirm a diagnosis of splenic flexure syndrome and rule out alternative abdominal or spleen-related diagnoses like tumors,polyps(growths), or inflammation.
The two imaging tests often used to help diagnose splenic flexure syndrome are:
Results from the above tests may reveal a swollen transverse colon that sags or droops downwards and a narrowed splenic curvature (less than 45 degrees).
Ruling Out Alternative DiagnosesSplenic flexure syndrome is not a serious condition, although potentially life-threatening conditions such as the following can mimic it, and they need to be ruled out to come to a diagnosis:Splenic rupture(when the spleen breaks open, often from blunt abdominal trauma)Perforated ulcer(when a stomach or small bowel ulcer creates a hole, leaking digestive fluid into the body)Acute pancreatitis(sudden inflammation of the pancreas)Bowel obstruction(when stool cannot move through the intestines)Intestinal ischemia(impaired blood flow to the intestines)Pyelonephritis(kidney infection)Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm(when a weakened area of the body’s main blood vessel breaks open)Ruptured ectopic pregnancy(a nonviable pregnancy that implants in and breaks through the fallopian tube)Heart attack(impaired blood flow to the heart)
Ruling Out Alternative Diagnoses
Splenic flexure syndrome is not a serious condition, although potentially life-threatening conditions such as the following can mimic it, and they need to be ruled out to come to a diagnosis:Splenic rupture(when the spleen breaks open, often from blunt abdominal trauma)Perforated ulcer(when a stomach or small bowel ulcer creates a hole, leaking digestive fluid into the body)Acute pancreatitis(sudden inflammation of the pancreas)Bowel obstruction(when stool cannot move through the intestines)Intestinal ischemia(impaired blood flow to the intestines)Pyelonephritis(kidney infection)Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm(when a weakened area of the body’s main blood vessel breaks open)Ruptured ectopic pregnancy(a nonviable pregnancy that implants in and breaks through the fallopian tube)Heart attack(impaired blood flow to the heart)
Splenic flexure syndrome is not a serious condition, although potentially life-threatening conditions such as the following can mimic it, and they need to be ruled out to come to a diagnosis:
Common Tests Used to Diagnose Abdominal Pain
Splenic Flexure Syndrome Treatment
Splenic flexure syndrome treatments aim to relieve symptoms. People should also be reassured that while it’s uncomfortable, the condition is not dangerous.
There is no cure or best treatment for this disorder, although healthcare providers may recommend making dietary changes aimed at reducing gas. They may suggest avoiding gas-producing foods like beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, onions, apples, and wheat.
What to Eat With Gas Pain
They may also recommend:
Surgery as a treatment for splenic flexure syndrome is only rarely reported in scientific literature. It appears to be reserved for children (who are seldom diagnosed with this disorder) or adults with severe and persistent symptoms who fail other therapies.
Spleen Is a Highly Vascular Organ
Splenic Flexure Syndrome Complications and Outlook
There are no real complications of splenic flexure syndrome, although, as mentioned above, serious conditions with similar symptoms (e.g., bowel obstruction or ischemia) need to be ruled out.
Undergoing testing with agastroenterologist(a medical doctor specializing in digestive disorders) to confirm the diagnosis is ideal.
The good news is that people with this digestive disorder tend to do well with the right combination of lifestyle and medical therapies. That said, be mindful that gaining control of symptoms may take time and be trial and error process.
Prevention and Self-Care Strategies for Splenic Flexure Syndrome
Similar to individuals with IBS, living with splenic flexure syndrome can cause mild to significant physical and mental stress.
Summary
Splenic flexure syndrome occurs when gas accumulates in the bend where the transverse colon and descending colon connect in the upper left part of the abdomen. While not a life-threatening condition, symptoms like cramps and pain in the upper left side of the abdomen below the left ribcage and bloating can cause significant physical and emotional distress.
A physical exam, blood tests, and imaging tests like a CT scan or barium enema are used to make a diagnosis of splenic flexure syndrome and rule out alternative diagnoses. Treatment aims to ease symptoms and may include medication and lifestyle changes, like adopting a low-FODMAP diet to reduce gas.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hokama A, Nakada Y, Yanagida A, Koga E, Hoshino K, Fujita J.Bloating in a supine position.Intest Res. 2021;19(2):252-253. doi:10.5217/ir.2020.00019Min J, Wu B, Zhu J, Gu Z, Huang S, Wang J.Pediatric syndrome of the splenic flexure of the colon: a case report and literature review.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;27:1-4. doi:10.1016/j.ijso.2020.09.005Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801Mansueto P, D’Alcamo A, Seidita A, Carroccio A.Food allergy in irritable bowel syndrome: the case of non-celiac wheat sensitivity.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(23):7089-109. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i23.7089UCSF.Barium enema.Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Gas in the digestive tract.Ford AC, Lacy BE, Harris LA, Quigley EMM, Moayyedi P.Effect of antidepressants and psychological therapies in irritable bowel syndrome: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(1):21-39. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0222-5Li B, Xiong-Fei L, Si-Wen L, et al.Abdominal massage reduces visceral hypersensitivity via regulating GDNF and PI3K/AKT signal pathway in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:3912931. doi:10.1155/2020/3912931Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036Masuy I, Pannemans J, Tack J.Irritable bowel syndrome: diagnosis and management.Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol.2020 Jun;66(2):136-150. doi:10.23736/S1121-421X.19.02640-0Horn A, Stangl S, Parisi S, et al.Systematic review with meta-analysis: stress-management interventions for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Stress Health. 2023;39(4):694-707. doi:10.1002/smi.3226
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hokama A, Nakada Y, Yanagida A, Koga E, Hoshino K, Fujita J.Bloating in a supine position.Intest Res. 2021;19(2):252-253. doi:10.5217/ir.2020.00019Min J, Wu B, Zhu J, Gu Z, Huang S, Wang J.Pediatric syndrome of the splenic flexure of the colon: a case report and literature review.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;27:1-4. doi:10.1016/j.ijso.2020.09.005Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801Mansueto P, D’Alcamo A, Seidita A, Carroccio A.Food allergy in irritable bowel syndrome: the case of non-celiac wheat sensitivity.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(23):7089-109. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i23.7089UCSF.Barium enema.Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Gas in the digestive tract.Ford AC, Lacy BE, Harris LA, Quigley EMM, Moayyedi P.Effect of antidepressants and psychological therapies in irritable bowel syndrome: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(1):21-39. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0222-5Li B, Xiong-Fei L, Si-Wen L, et al.Abdominal massage reduces visceral hypersensitivity via regulating GDNF and PI3K/AKT signal pathway in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:3912931. doi:10.1155/2020/3912931Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036Masuy I, Pannemans J, Tack J.Irritable bowel syndrome: diagnosis and management.Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol.2020 Jun;66(2):136-150. doi:10.23736/S1121-421X.19.02640-0Horn A, Stangl S, Parisi S, et al.Systematic review with meta-analysis: stress-management interventions for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Stress Health. 2023;39(4):694-707. doi:10.1002/smi.3226
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hokama A, Nakada Y, Yanagida A, Koga E, Hoshino K, Fujita J.Bloating in a supine position.Intest Res. 2021;19(2):252-253. doi:10.5217/ir.2020.00019Min J, Wu B, Zhu J, Gu Z, Huang S, Wang J.Pediatric syndrome of the splenic flexure of the colon: a case report and literature review.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;27:1-4. doi:10.1016/j.ijso.2020.09.005Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801Mansueto P, D’Alcamo A, Seidita A, Carroccio A.Food allergy in irritable bowel syndrome: the case of non-celiac wheat sensitivity.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(23):7089-109. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i23.7089UCSF.Barium enema.Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Gas in the digestive tract.Ford AC, Lacy BE, Harris LA, Quigley EMM, Moayyedi P.Effect of antidepressants and psychological therapies in irritable bowel syndrome: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(1):21-39. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0222-5Li B, Xiong-Fei L, Si-Wen L, et al.Abdominal massage reduces visceral hypersensitivity via regulating GDNF and PI3K/AKT signal pathway in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:3912931. doi:10.1155/2020/3912931Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036Masuy I, Pannemans J, Tack J.Irritable bowel syndrome: diagnosis and management.Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol.2020 Jun;66(2):136-150. doi:10.23736/S1121-421X.19.02640-0Horn A, Stangl S, Parisi S, et al.Systematic review with meta-analysis: stress-management interventions for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Stress Health. 2023;39(4):694-707. doi:10.1002/smi.3226
Hokama A, Nakada Y, Yanagida A, Koga E, Hoshino K, Fujita J.Bloating in a supine position.Intest Res. 2021;19(2):252-253. doi:10.5217/ir.2020.00019
Min J, Wu B, Zhu J, Gu Z, Huang S, Wang J.Pediatric syndrome of the splenic flexure of the colon: a case report and literature review.International Journal of Surgery Open. 2020;27:1-4. doi:10.1016/j.ijso.2020.09.005
Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8
Zhou GQ, Huang MJ, Yu X, Zhang NN, Tao S, Zhang M.Early life adverse exposures in irritable bowel syndrome: new insights and opportunities.Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1241801. doi:10.3389/fped.2023.1241801
Mansueto P, D’Alcamo A, Seidita A, Carroccio A.Food allergy in irritable bowel syndrome: the case of non-celiac wheat sensitivity.World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(23):7089-109. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i23.7089
UCSF.Barium enema.
Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Gas in the digestive tract.
Ford AC, Lacy BE, Harris LA, Quigley EMM, Moayyedi P.Effect of antidepressants and psychological therapies in irritable bowel syndrome: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(1):21-39. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0222-5
Li B, Xiong-Fei L, Si-Wen L, et al.Abdominal massage reduces visceral hypersensitivity via regulating GDNF and PI3K/AKT signal pathway in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020:3912931. doi:10.1155/2020/3912931
Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al.ACG clinical guideline: management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036
Masuy I, Pannemans J, Tack J.Irritable bowel syndrome: diagnosis and management.Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol.2020 Jun;66(2):136-150. doi:10.23736/S1121-421X.19.02640-0
Horn A, Stangl S, Parisi S, et al.Systematic review with meta-analysis: stress-management interventions for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Stress Health. 2023;39(4):694-707. doi:10.1002/smi.3226
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
