You should go talk to your doc, jacq10.

I get pains like that. Sometimes it's like a sudden stabbing in the lower left of my abdomen, sometimes it's all over and other times I feel like I have a burning belt wrapped around my hips. I always feel like I need to stand up really straight and then bend over backwards and stick my stomach out -- like stretching will make the pain go away (but it doesn't).

It turns out my pain is caused by IBS. Anxiety has a huge effect on IBS. When my anxiety is bad, that's when my IBS flares up and I experience the most pain and bloating and all sorts of unpleasantness.

So, go talk to your doctor. There are plenty of benign (but uncomfortable) conditions that could be causing your pain. It's best to get to the bottom of it. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.