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Colorectal Diseases

Abdominal Pain and Rectal Bleeding

11/02/2009

Question:

For the last few years, I have had lower abdominal pain on my left side. At one point, I did have rectal bleeding (again years ago) for a day. For months now, I have had no pain, but this morning (after a hard work out the previous day and night out to dinner with drinks) I experienced the pain again and have bright red rectal bleeding. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Answer:

Yes, you should be concerned enough to seek evaluation by a local physician. The cause may be anything from diverticulitis, to inflammatory bowel disease, to a malignant lesion in the colon. It may also be related to hemorrhoidal disease or an infectious process. In any case, your complaints deserve evaluation, possibly with colonoscopy, and/or CT scan.

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati Janice Frederick Rafferty, MD
Professor of Surgery
Chief of Colorectal Surgery Division
Division of Colorectal Surgery
Department of Surgery
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Janice Frederick Rafferty, MD