Lower Abdominal Pain In Females: Causes
Commonly known as pelvic pain, lower abdominal pain is very common among most of the females. This pain occurs below the belly button, and the effect is felt at the pelvic area along with the bladder and reproductive organs.
- PMS- Pre-menstrual Syndrome
PMS is one of the main causes of lower abdominal pain among females. This condition affects physical condition, emotions, and behavior generally before and during menses. Some females feel pain during the cycle, while for some the pain goes away once the cycle begins. According to the researchers, the pain and emotional flashes are because of change in sex hormone and serotonin levels at the onset of the menstrual cycle. There is no such cure for PMS but if the syndrome is mild, it can be eased down by drinking plenty of fluids, taking vitamins and calcium supplements, eating a good diet for good overall health and stamina, proper sleep, meditation, and workout.
- Digestive System Disorder
Yet another cause is pain coming from the large intestine. Both constipation, as well as diarrhea, can cause pain. Initially, if you treat your constipation and diarrhea with appropriates liquids and complete rest along with OTC pain relievers, you can soon feel relaxed and notice that lower abdominal pain also fades with time.
- Urinary Tract Infection
Chronic Low Back Pain Of No Specific Origin
Low back pain is defined as pain, tightness, and stiffness between the lower end of the rib cage and the buttocks. “Chronic” means the pain has lasted for twelve weeks or longer, and “no specific origin” means the pain cannot be traced to any specific cause, incident, or injury.
Most susceptible are individuals who perform heavy physical work, especially when there is ongoing anxiety, depression, and emotional stress at the same time. The longer the stress and back pain continue, the more difficult it is to ease the symptoms and return the patient to normal functioning.
Treatment involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sometimes opioid medications for pain, though both have risks when used long term. Antidepressants may also be tried, along with psychological counseling.
Corticosteroid injections for the back are effective for some patients, and fusion surgery is sometimes attempted. Lifestyle changes in the form of improved diet, exercise, and stress management are very helpful in most cases.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: lower back pain, unintentional weight loss, back pain that shoots to the butt, fever, involuntary defecation
Symptoms that always occur with chronic low back pain of no specific origin: lower back pain
Symptoms that never occur with chronic low back pain of no specific origin: thigh numbness, buttocks numbness, lower back pain from an injury
Urgency: Primary care doctor
What If Its Something Serious
Generally, simultaneous occurrences of stomach and back pain are relatively non-threatening and can be naturally remediated at home. However, there are some causes for concern, especially if the pain recurs often or simply does not subside. Some additional symptoms might indicate something more serious is going on.
Bloating, constipation, and spinal pain can indicate the presence of autoimmune disorders, such as Hashimotos thyroiditis, Celiacs Disease, and Sjogrens Syndrome. Those with different types of neuropathy sometimes report having these symptoms.
On a somewhat more rare occasion, spinal pain that leads into stomach pain can be an indicator of certain types of cancer. Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer often report feeling back and stomach pain as well as experiencing increasingly worse constipation prior to their cancer diagnoses. What Can Be Done to Ease the Pain?
Spinal and abdominal pain can be annoying, if not downright challenging to deal with. There are a few steps you can take to reduce pain in stomach and back areas. One of the most vital steps you can take is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will get the built-up fiber moving through your digestive system. This is especially important for people with disorders like Sjogrens who experience chronic dryness throughout their bodies.
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When An Emergency Room Visit Is Warranted For Back Pain
When dealing with severe back pain, making a judgment call about whether to seek help in a doctors office or visit the ER may be difficult.
The following list describes the symptoms and signs related to conditions that may have resulted in spinal cord, cauda equina, or internal organ damage, which are typically considered as a medical emergency.
Stomach And Back Pain: Common Causes Symptoms And Treatments
Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Paris, D.C on Nov. 6, 2018.
Are you experiencing lower back pain that radiates to your abdominal area?
Stomach and back pain often go hand-in-hand. After all, they are two sides of the same coin.
Stomach pain is very common among people who suffer from chronic lower back pain.
Either your back and stomach pain have a single cause, or the two symptoms are unrelated.
So how are you supposed to tell the difference?
One clue is the timing of your symptoms.
If youve been experiencing back pain for years, but the pain only recently spread to your abdomen, it could be a cause for concern.
Sometimes pain in the back and stomach indicates a medical emergency. Other times, its a sign of a worsening back injury.
This article will give you a good overview of what could be causing your back and stomach pain, what you should do about it, and when you should start to worry.
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Your Period Is Coming
In women and young girls, abdominal pain is common days before period will starts. Though severity may vary from woman to woman, you may also feel pain in your back.
If you just started having menstruation for the first time, dont be too concerned about this kind of pain. In most women, its normal and will become less severe as your period ends.
Heres an email I received from one of my readers
Hi Dr. Dunn,
I have been getting pain in my abdomen for about a week now and my period will start in few days time. Does this mean Im pregnant because Ive never had sex before?
If you are already a week close to your period and experience back pain and cramps, its normal.
During your menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone level begin to fall days before your next period. Because of this drop in hormones, you may start to feel different few days before your next period.
Some of the symptoms you will experience are breast pain, mood changes with anxiety or depression, headache, body weakness, and belly cramps.
What to do?
If you are feeling pain in your abdomen before and during your period, you should know that many other girls feel this way. It mostly occurs because of hormones changes and effect of prostaglandins on your uterus.
Pain will not be the same for all ladies, and you may have mild cramps or very bad menstrual cramps.
First, you should learn your signs of period coming, and then other causes of cramps before your period.
Medications For Lower Back Pain Relief
While lower back pain often goes away without treatment, research has demonstrated that recovery occurs faster with activity compared to rest. OTC anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are the first recommendation when deciding which medication to take for lower back pain. Consult with your doctor to determine how much you should take and for how long as long-term use of ibuprofen can cause side-effects.
Muscle relaxants such as Cyclobenzaprine may be used to treat muscle spasms, which can cause excruciating pain and a dramatically reduced range of motion. These drugs should only be prescribed for acute lower back pain as they are not meant to be taken for long periods of time. These medications can be misused and abused, follow all instructions given by your doctor, and never take more than prescribed.
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Less Common Reasons For Acute Pelvic Pain
Less common causes of acute pelvic pain include:
- a pelvic abscess a collection of pus between the womb and vagina that needs urgent treatment in hospital
- endometriosis a long-term condition where small pieces of womb lining are found outside the womb, such as on the ovaries, leading to painful periods
Living With Lumbar Strain
Cold reduces swelling. Both cold and heat can reduce pain. Protect your skin by placing a towel between your body and the ice or heat source.
- For the first few days, apply an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes.
- After the first few days, try heat for 15 minutes at a time to ease pain. Never sleep on a heating pad.
- Over-the-counter medicines can help control pain and swelling. Try aspirin or ibuprofen.
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What Is Back Pain
Back pain is not a disorder, but a symptom of some diseases or disorders. These diseases cause back pain because they affect some components of the back muscles, ligaments, nerves and bone parts. Some of the common causes of back pain are structural problems such as injuries of the vertebral discs, compression of the discs and so on. Also, the discs can herniate or rupture, which could lead to the compression or injury of the nerves. Patients might present with symptoms such as pain, tingling sensation, or numbness of the affected part. Below are some of the symptoms you should not ignore when noticed
Red Flags For Swollen Stomach And Back Pain
Bloating causes a distended stomach when the abdomen fills up with gas or air. This discomforting sensation can also cause pain that may be felt in the back. Together, a swollen stomach and back pain can make you feel not only distressed but perhaps a bit self-conscious as well.
The two symptoms are tied together because the back provides support and stabilizes the body. However, abdominal bloating causes pressure and pain in the area which can spread to the back. The pain may vary in severity and type from sensations of dull throbbing to sharp and pinching pain.
When the two symptoms are experienced separately they are fairly common and not usually a cause for concern. But in instances where a bloating stomach pain is also accompanied by back pain, they could be indicative of a more serious condition. These should not be taken lightly as they can include the following:
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Is Lower Right Back Pain Serious
Lower right back pain can vary in severity. You will probably have the best idea of your pain level and when you should see a physician.
- Not serious: Mild pain may come on fairly suddenly after exercise and responds to rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Moderately serious: In some cases, an injury that at first seems minor can become worse over time. Back injuries can easily become chronic if not treated quickly.
- Serious: If your back pain interferes with your normal activities and is becoming severe, you should see a physician as soon as possible.
What Causes Pain In Lower Left Side Of Stomach And Back
1. Sickle Cell Crisis This a painful condition in which the red blood cells, which are generally round in shape become sickle-shaped due to abnormal hemoglobin . This process is called SICKLING.Due to this shape of red blood cells, they tend to occlude smaller blood vessels and rupture. Sharp, dull and throbbing type of pain in the abdomen, back, knees, arms, legs and chest is a common presentation of sickle cell crisis.
2. Pyelonephritis This is an inflammatory condition of the kidneys usually due to bacteria. Mechanical obstruction of urine due to stones, strictures in the urethra and benign enlargement of the prostate. Use of urinary catheter can also favour the occurrence of pyelonephritis.
When the left kidney is affected, the signs and symptoms include fever with chills, severe left side flank region pain and tenderness at back in the region of kidney affected. Urinary complaints include burning or pain during urination and increased the frequency of urination.
3. Renal Calculus Presence of stones within the kidneys is called Renal Calculi. Low water intake, high calcium intake, recurrent urinary tract infections, obesity, high intake of sugars and animal protein and certain medications favour kidney stone formation. Stones up to 5mm in size can be passed through urine.
These kidney stones frequently pass into the ureter . Ureteric stones are capable of causing severe agonizing pain which can disable the person.
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After The Visit To The Doctor
Do not expect an instant cure or immediate diagnosis. Multiple office visits and tests are often necessary to establish the diagnosis and/or to exclude serious illnesses. Doctors may start you on a medication before a firm diagnosis is made. Your response to that medication sometimes may provide your doctor with valuable clues as to the cause. Therefore, it is important for you to take the medication prescribed.
Notify your doctor if your symptoms worsen, if medications are not working, or if you think you are having side effects. Do not self-medicate without discussing it with your doctor. Even the best physician never bats 1000, so do not hesitate to openly discuss with your doctor referrals for second or third opinions if the diagnosis cannot be firmly established and the pain persists. Self-education is important, but make sure what you read comes from credible sources.
Gastrointestinal Problems And Flatulence
A common gastrointestinal problem is gas or flatulence. In the majority of cases, gas is simply a minor annoyance that quickly goes away. However, excess gas may lead to intense pain that is accompanied by bloating, belching, flatulence, tenderness, and a feeling of fullness. The pain can also extend to the back, causing lower back pain.
Excess gas in the upper stomach region may be the result of swallowing more air than usual, overeating, or chewing gum. Gas that develops in the lower abdomen is often linked to eating gassy foods, the improper digestion of certain foods, or an imbalance of healthy bacteria in the gut or colon. The following foods may lead to excess gas for some people:
- Bran
- Carbonated drinks
- Dairy foods that contain lactose
- Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy
Another common issue that may cause these symptoms is gastritis, which is characterized by inflammation of stomach lining. More specifically, this condition occurs when foreign invaders or certain substances weaken the protective mucosal lining of the stomach, thereby allowing digestive juices to damage the lining. It is most often caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, but is also linked to other factors such as alcohol use or taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs frequently.
- Peptic ulcer
- Peritonitis
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Treatment for Lower Back and Abdominal Pain
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When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider
- Can’t stand or walk
- Temperature over 101.0°F
- Chills
- Frequent, painful, or bloody urination
- Severe belly pain
- Pain or numbness in your leg
- Pain in a new area of your back
- The pain isnt decreasing after more than a week
- Pain radiating down the leg.
- Pain that is accompanied by fever or chills, leg weakness, or loss of control of the bladder or bowels.
What Are The Potential Complications Of Abdominal Pain
Complications of abdominal pain depend on the underlying cause, but can range from missed school or work to malnutrition to life-threatening infections. Getting an accurate diagnosis and following your treatment plan will help you avoid complications. Over time, abdominal pain can lead to serious complications including:
- due to blood loss
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Common Causes Of Acute Pelvic Pain
The most common causes of acute pelvic pain in women who aren’t pregnant are:
- an ovarian cyst a fluid-filled sac that develops on an ovary and causes pelvic pain when it bursts or becomes twisted
- acute pelvic inflammatory disease a bacterial infection of the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries, which often follows a chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection and needs immediate treatment with antibiotics
- appendicitis a painful swelling of the appendix which usually causes pain on the lower right-hand side of your abdomen
- peritonitis inflammation of the peritoneum it causes sudden abdominal pain that gradually becomes more severe and requires immediate medical treatment
- a urinary tract infection you’ll probably also have pain or a burning sensation when you urinate, and you may need to urinate more often
- constipation or bowel spasm this may be brought on by changes in diet, medication, irritable bowel syndrome or, in rare cases, a bowel obstruction
Can Back Pain Cause Stomach Pain
Jul 14, 2017 | Pain
Many adults experience back pain on a somewhat frequent basis. While back pain can be triggered by a number of stimuli, there seems to be a connection between stomach and back pain, especially when abdominal bloating is involved. But why does this connection exist? Again, there are multiple reasons, but each one demonstrates just how interconnected the stomach and spine truly are.
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Lower Back Pain And Diarrhea Treatment
There are several medical and at-home treatments for lower back pain and diarrhea, depending on the cause.
General back pain and diarrhea that are unrelated can often be relieved using home remedies. If a medical condition is causing your symptoms, your doctor will need to treat the underlying cause of your lower back pain and diarrhea.