Beneath the ribcage on the left side of the body sits the spleen, a fist-sized organ responsible for generating immune cells and removing toxic substances from the blood. Physical trauma or certain infections can cause damage to this organ, resulting in potentially life-threatening complications. People who develop symptoms of spleen damage should consult a medical professional to ensure receipt of prompt and appropriate care.
Abdominal Tenderness or Pain
Mild to severe abdominal tenderness or pain can arise in people with spleen damage. Typically, pain localizes within the upper left abdominal region, immediately beneath the ribcage. Sensations of pain occur because blood from the damaged spleen irritates the surrounding tissues in the abdomen, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Abdominal pain may increase in severity if spleen damage is left unresolved. People who experience sudden or severe abdominal pain for any reason should contact a doctor immediately. This type of pain can be indicative of other types of medical problems, such as a ruptured spleen or ovary or appendicitis.
Low Blood Pressure
Damage to the spleen can cause this organ to bleed into the abdominal cavity. Internal bleeding causes a person's blood pressure to drop, a symptom of spleen damage called hypotension. People who develop decreased blood pressure may experience blurred vision, dizziness and confusion, and they may faint or lose consciousness, MayoClinic.com warns. Bleeding within the abdomen is a medical emergency, and affected people should be seen by a doctor immediately.
Pain in Left Shoulder
Blood that leaks from a damaged spleen can inflame and irritate a person's diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. Diaphragm irritation can cause sensations of pain to radiate from the abdomen into a person's left shoulder, according to the Children's Hospital in Boston. Shoulder pain may be achy or sharp, and it may persist until the spleen is healed.
