Can you feel spleen pain

It can also become enlarged as a result of a health condition, such as cirrhosis , leukaemia or rheumatoid arthritis.

Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen. The spleen is not usually removed if it's just enlarged. Instead, you'll receive treatment for any underlying condition and your spleen will be monitored. You may be prescribed antibiotics if there's an infection. You'll need to avoid contact sports for a while, as you'll be at greater risk of rupturing the spleen while it's enlarged. Surgery is only necessary if the enlarged spleen is causing serious complications or the cause cannot be found.

You may need an operation to remove your spleen, known as a splenectomy, if it's not working properly or it's damaged, diseased or enlarged. If there's time, you'll be advised to have certain vaccinations before the operation. This is because spleen removal weakens your immune system and can make you more likely to get an infection.

Most operations to remove spleens are carried out using keyhole surgery laparoscopy. Keyhole spleen removal allows a surgeon to get inside your tummy abdomen to your spleen without having to make large cuts. This means you'll have less scarring and may recover from the operation more quickly.

But you'll still need a general anaesthetic. Open surgery is where one large cut is made. It may be needed if your spleen is too large or too damaged to be removed using keyhole surgery. Often, in emergencies, this is the preferred method. You'll need a general anaesthetic and may need to stay in hospital for a few days to recover.

It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief. Like any operation, spleen removal carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection. You should be given breathing and leg exercises to do at home to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Symptoms Causes When to seek help Treatment Outlook Overview Splenomegaly is a condition that occurs when your spleen becomes enlarged. This organ is found on the left side of your body, below your rib cage. The spleen is usually about the size of your fist, but when enlarged, it can become much bigger. What should I look out for? What can cause splenomegaly?

When to see a doctor. Relieving your splenomegaly. Going forward. Read this next. What Does the Spleen Do? Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Spleen Removal. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Bona R. Evaluation of splenomegaly and other splenic disorders. Accessed April 22, Merck Manual Professional Version. Spleen disorders. Mayo Clinic; Jameson JL, et al, eds. Enlargement of lymph nodes and spleen.

In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw-Hill; If you go home the same day, someone will need to stay with you for the first 24 hours. Open surgery, where one large incision is made, may be needed if the spleen is too large or too damaged to be removed via keyhole surgery. Often, in emergencies, this will be the preferred method to rapidly control bleeding. It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief medication. Like any operation, a splenectomy carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection.

You should be given breathing and leg movement exercises to do at home, to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection.

Another risk is the surgical wound becoming infected. If you spot any signs of infection, contact your GP or hospital immediately, as you may need antibiotics. Recovery usually takes a few weeks. Your doctor or nurse will advise when you can go back to your usual activities, such as driving. If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs such as the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions.

This means you will still be able to cope with most infections. However, there is a small risk that a serious infection may develop quickly. This risk will be present for the rest of your life. Young children have a higher risk of serious infection than adults, but the risk is still small.

The risk is also increased if you have a medical condition such as sickle cell anaemia , coeliac disease or a condition that affects your immune system, such as HIV. Make sure you have had all your routine childhood vaccinations. You should also be vaccinated against:. It's recommended that you take low-dose antibiotics for the rest of your life to prevent bacterial infections. Antibiotics are particularly important:. Your GP can prescribe a course of antibiotics for you to use if you get an infection.

You should start taking them at the first sign of an infection, so see your GP as soon as possible. Bites from animals and ticks small blood-sucking parasites can cause infections. If you get bitten by an animal, particularly a dog, start your course of antibiotics and seek medical advice urgently. If you go trekking or camping regularly, you may be at risk of babesiosis, which is a rare disease transmitted by ticks.

Try to avoid tick bites by wearing clothes that cover your skin, particularly long trousers.