Common Causes Of Abdominal Pain
Having abdominal pain can be a mild inconvenience or have a significant impact on your well-being. There are several reasons why you may have abdominal pain, ranging from minor muscle strains to appendicitis that requires surgery.
Our skilled providers at Smart Clinic Urgent Care often deal with patients suffering from abdominal pain. Here are the six most common causes.
Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Small stones are unlikely to cause you much of a problem. Symptoms dont usually occur until the kidney stone has got to a size where it becomes stuck in either the kidney, ureters or urethra. A stone blocking the ureter can also cause a kidney infection to develop, which can cause a different set of symptoms.
If you have a large stone you may experience:
- Persistent ache in your lower back or groin
- Intense pain that comes in waves in your back, abdomen or groin that can last for several minutes or several hours
- Feeling generally uncomfortable or restless
Symptoms of a kidney infection include:
- A high temperature of 38C or higher
- Chills and shivering
- Cloudy and/ or foul smelling urine
Urgent Advice: Speak To Your Gp As Soon As Possible If:
- you have severe abdominal pain, especially if it’s concentrated in one area
- the pain starts suddenly or unexpectedly
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Serious causes of sudden severe abdominal pain include:
- appendicitis the swelling of the appendix means your appendix will need to be removed
- a bleeding or perforated stomach ulcer
- acute cholecystitis inflammation of the gallbladder, which may need to be removed
- kidney stones small stones may be passed out in your urine, but larger stones may block the kidney tubes, and you’ll need to go to hospital to have them broken up
- diverticulitis inflammation of the small pouches in the bowel that sometimes requires treatment with antibiotics in hospital
If your GP suspects you have one of these conditions, they may refer you to hospital immediately.
Sudden and severe pain in your abdomen can also sometimes be caused by an infection of the stomach and bowel . It may also be caused by a pulled muscle in your abdomen or by an injury.
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Can Stomach Bloating Be A Sign Of Kidney Failure
My husband was diagnosed in October with stage 3 chronic kidney disease and has not yet been seen by kidney doctor I was not aware of his chronic kidney disease because his doctor never discussed it with me he went to his doctor on March the 20th and I didnt realize he had chronic kidney disease until around March the 27th when I called about his blood work and thats when they told me he was diagnosed in October we went on April the 20th 2018 for blood work at the kidney doctor he has an appointment on May 3rd for the results of his blood work but he keeps talking about hurting it in his stomach both sides underneath his rib cage he had a colonoscopy done
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Kidney Stones & Ureteral Stones
Kidney stones and ureteral stones share many of the same signs and symptoms. While you can have a stone in your kidney for years and not feel any pain, once it moves or becomes enlarged, you may begin to experience symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- Lower back or side pain often starts as a dull ache but can become more sharp and severe if left untreated.
- Nausea or vomiting along with the previously mentioned pain.
- Blood in your urine.
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Prevalence Of Constipation In Ckd
Chronic constipation is classified to three categories based on colonic transit and anorectal function : normal transit constipation, slow transit constipation, and defecatory disorders. Normal transit constipation is the most common form encountered by clinicians . Patients report symptoms that they consider to be consistent with constipation, such as hard stools or a perceived difficulty with evacuation. Most of these patients are treated empirically with dietary fiber or osmotic laxatives and responded well. Defecation disorders are a group of functional abnormalities of the pelvic floor or anorectum leading to the symptoms of constipation . Slow transit constipation may be caused by dysfunctions in colonic smooth muscle or neural innervation, resulting in neural colonic motor abnormalities . Wu et al. reported that the colonic transit time of patients treated with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis was significantly longer than that of age and sex-matched healthy subjects . Delayed intestinal transit was also observed in CKD animal models . Thus, constipation in CKD may primarily be classified as the slow transit type.
Table 1 Rome IV diagnostic criteria for functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
How Do They Affect The Body
Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract from your kidneys to your bladder and form when your urine creates more minerals and other substances than your urine can dilute. This can result in different types of kidney stones including calcium , uric acid, struvite, and cystine stones.
Symptoms dont show until the stones start to move around in your kidneys or pass through your ureter, which connects your kidneys and bladder. The stones can then become lodged in your ureters, which can lead to blocking urine flow and swelling in the kidneys. This leads to directly lower abdominal pain, bloody urine and other symptoms.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Probability Based On Crude Hr
We found that the risk of suffering new-onset IBS was significantly higher in the study patients than in the comparison patients during the 3-year follow-up period. We found that 3.3% of patients experienced IBS after the occurrence of an initial urinary stone attack, whereas the percentage of IBS was only 2.6% in the comparison patients. The study patients had a crude HR 1.29 times greater than that of the comparison patients , which is showed in the stratified Cox proportional hazards analysis. Furthermore, adjusting for likely influence factors, including patient geographic region, monthly income , personal history at baseline and both modes 1 and 2 , did not affect the HRs of suffering IBS, which all remained higher in patients with an initial stone attack compared with controls .
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How Kidney Stones Are Diagnosed
There are several tools doctors can use to diagnose kidney stones, according to the NIDDK. After talking to you about your symptoms and doing a physical exam, your doctor may order these tests as well:
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Urinalysis: This is a test of your pee that can show whether your urine contains high levels of minerals that form kidney stones. A urinalysis can also tell whether your pee has blood, bacteria, or white blood cells in it .
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Blood tests: Your doctor may want to take a sample of your blood to test for high levels of certain minerals that can lead to kidney stones.
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Abdominal X-Ray: This is a picture of your abdominal area that can potentially show the location of kidney stones in your urinary tract. One major caveat, though: Not all kidney stones can be seen on X-ray.
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Computed Tomography Scan: CT scans use a combination of X-rays and computer technology to create images of your urinary tract. In some cases you might be given an injection of contrast medium, a dye or other substance that makes certain things inside your body easier to see during imaging tests.
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Easy Ways To Live Well: Steph Mcgovern Discusses Bloating
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Bloating could be harmless, especially if it’s just too much gas in your intestines after a hearty meal. But, in some cases, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
What are the kidneys?
The NHS explained that kidneys are organs shaped like kidney beans, around 15cm long.
Most people have two kidneys, located either side of the spine, deep in the abdomen.
The primary function of kidneys is to cleanse the blood of toxins and transform water into urine.
Gas And Gastrointestinal Problems
Most of the time, gas is no more than a minor annoyance.
However, gas occasionally produces intense pain that makes the entire abdomen feel full and tender. This pain can radiate to the back, causing back pain and bloating. Minor gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach viruses, may also cause intense gas pain.
Sometimes, GI issues can cause muscle pain. This can happen after straining to have a bowel movement or repeatedly vomiting.
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How Is Kidney Stone Disease Diagnosed At The American Hospital Of Paris
The patients care pathway begins with identifying the cause of stone formation. This is achieved through the coordinated collaboration of several health professionals: emergency physician, urologist, nephrologist, radiologist, endocrinologist and dieticians. Exams are conducted during and after a renal colic emergency for long-term treatment and monitoring purposes. Laboratory tests conducted at the American Hospital of Paris are helpful for determining dietary recommendations as well as the prescription of appropriate medications.
It is also extremely important to collect the stone, whether they are naturally eliminated or removed by a urologist, in order to conduct a spectrophotometry analysis and gain a better understanding of why the stones formed. Certain specific compositions will enable a definitive diagnosis. If the stone cannot be retrieved, testing for crystals in the urine can facilitate the diagnosis in some cases and very often pinpoints metabolic abnormalities as the cause of stone formation. The presence of urine crystals is a useful indicator when assessing stone formation and the risk of recurrence.
The nephrologist will interpret the results of these tests and define preventive measures and specific treatment if necessary.
In most cases, the type of stone, the lab and imaging results and a review of the patients history make it possible to determine the cause and contributing factors of the kidney stones. It is often a question of diet and lifestyle.
Constipation And Bloating Before And During Periods
I am 22 years old and for about the past 6 months Ive been getting REALLY bloated/constipated the week before my and during my period and it just keeps getting worse and worse as the months go on. I have not had a bowel movement for a week now. My stomach is twice the size it normally is and I weigh seven more pounds than normal. It is so uncomfortable and it has gotten to the point where I am scared to eat or drink anything else because I just do not think it will fit in my stomach I think I might literally throw up if I try. My stomach feels like it is going to explodeIve tried taking a laxative in the past but that didnt help much and yesterday I tried taking a diuretic. The diuretic also did not help. Ive been eating fiber one cereal for the past 2 weeks because I though that may prevent it but it did not. Has this happened to anyone else before? Does anyone have any suggestions about what to do for a long term fix? I was thinking maybe try eating activia or taking Metamucil?
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What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Stone Disease
A patients first bout of renal colic is the most frequent indicator of kidney stone disease. It is caused by a moving stone which prevents urine from flowing from the kidney to the bladder. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys due to an imbalance in urine composition. When they occur, urine collects in the kidney, which becomes swollen. This sudden swelling causes renal colic.
Renal colic is characterized by acute, sudden pain in the back or side which radiates to the lower abdomen and groin. The patient may have other symptoms including blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting. No position brings relief, and the pain is so intense that emergency medical care is generally necessary.
While renal colic is benign in most cases, it can lead to complications and be life-threatening in the short term, particularly if it is combined with a urinary tract infection or occurs in patients with only one kidney.
Other clinical signs may indicate the presence of stones in the urinary tract: blood in the urine, recurrent UTIs, or chance discovery thanks to x-rays performed for a different reason.
The condition can also lead to chronic kidney disease or even to end-stage renal failure, particularly if recurrences are poorly managed or if a diagnosis is not made or is incorrect. Kidney stones are responsible for two to three percent of the cases of end-stage renal failure in France.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy
In this outpatient surgical procedure, shockwaves are transmitted through the body to break up kidney stones and allow the fragments to drain through the urinary system on their own. This treatment is best for stones located in the kidneys or upper ureters.
Both Ureteroscopy with Laser Lithotripsy and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy are performed in the Urology Surgery Center of Colorado located at TUCC in Denver. Kidney stone treatment is provided by our surgeons, offering the most technologically advanced treatment in our convenient, comfortable ambulatory surgery center.
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Follow These Top Warning Signs Indicating You May Have Kidney Stones
About one out of every ten people will have a kidney stone at some point in their lives, according to the National Kidney Foundation, with stones occurring about twice as often in men. Kidney stones have become more common during the past couple of decades. That increase could be due to the concurrent rise in obesity, which is a potential risk factor for kidney stones.
Kidney stones form when minerals and salts in your blood create hard concretions inside your kidneys. Normally, your kidneys filter out these materials, but when concentrations are high or when your kidneys are overworked or arent working normally, the substances can collect and clump together, forming sharp crystals. Very small stones may be excreted on their own when you urinate. But sometimes, the crystals get stuck and thats typically when most symptoms begin.
Larger kidney stones usually cause significant symptoms almost right away. With smaller stones, the symptoms can be less obvious and more difficult to discern. If you have a kidney stone, getting prompt medical care is essential for preventing complications. Heres a list of some of the most common kidney stone symptoms to watch out for.
When Should You See A Doctor
Stomach bloating and lower back pain often go away on their own or are alleviated through OTC medication and home remedies. However, you should consult with your healthcare provider if your symptoms come on suddenly, are unexplained, or are persistent and severe enough that they interfere with your daily activities.
Stomach bloating and/or lower back pain may indicate a serious condition if accompanied by:
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Urine that contains blood and/or pus, is cloudy, or foul-smelling
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Painful urination or difficulty in urination
If you are pregnant, contact your doctor immediately about any worrisome or unusual symptoms.
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Kidney Stone Pain Relief
If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney stones, you should:
- Drink plenty of fluids to try to flush out the stone. Aim for 2 to 3 quarts a day. Water is best.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
- Ask your doctor about prescription medicines like nifedipine or tamsulosin that relax your ureter to help stones pass through.
See your doctor right away if you have severe pain or signs of an infection or urinary blockage.
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Treatment For Kidney Stones
Most kidney stones can be treated without surgery. Ninety per cent of stones pass by themselves within three to six weeks. In this situation, the only treatment required is pain relief. However, pain can be so severe that hospital admission and very strong pain-relieving medication may be needed. Always seek immediate medical attention if you are suffering strong pain.
Small stones in the kidney do not usually cause problems, so there is often no need to remove them. A doctor specialising in the treatment of kidney stones is the best person to advise you on treatment.
If a stone doesnt pass and blocks urine flow or causes bleeding or an infection, then it may need to be removed. New surgical techniques have reduced hospital stay time to as little as 48 hours. Treatments include:
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Culprit: Constipation Or Diverticulitis
Signs: Chronic constipation causes hard stools and strained bowel movements. Over time, it can lead to diverticulosis, which can be thought of as pockets or balloons that tend to develop in the lower part of the large intestine. These can sometimes become inflamed .
Who: Diverticulosis usually occurs after age 50 and in patients with a history of chronic constipation and straining. We are seeing it in younger and younger patients with low-fiber, highly refined diets as well as rising rates of obesity. Low- fiber diets, medications and sedentary lifestyles may all contribute to constipation.
Take Action: Your primary care doctor or pharmacist can suggest diet/lifestyle modifications. Weight loss, exercise, drinking more fluids and eating a diet higher in fiber and lower in fat also help. Over-the-counter laxatives can be used for mild symptoms.
Head to the emergency room if pain and vomiting become relentless, fevers exceed 100.4 degrees or youre unable to drink water or have bowel movements. Fevers with left lower quadrant abdominal pain, especially in a patient with known constipation, may indicate diverticulitis. Extreme discomfort in the left quadrant that spreads to the entire belly is worrisome and requires immediate care.
Patients over 4550 years of age who present with new-onset, unexplained constipation should talk to their primary care physician about getting a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer.