What Causes Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is frequently caused by a problem in the digestive tract . However, it can also be caused by other organs located in the abdomen, such as the kidneys. Large blood vessels, such as the aorta are also found in the abdomen and may give rise to pain. Abdominal pain can even be caused by some medicines.
Causes of abdominal pain connected to the gut include:
- trapped wind or indigestion
- gallstones, gallbladder problems, liver problems
- medicines to help manage the symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Some of the causes of abdominal pain are short-term , whereas others are long-term or ongoing conditions. Find more information about the underlying causes of abdominal pain here.
When Is Pain In Your Lower Right Abdomen An Emergency
If you have lower right abdominal pain, you might be wondering if you need to go to the emergency room.
Most of the time, lower right abdominal pain isnt serious. You should get immediate medical attention if youre experiencing sudden, severe abdominal pain, or your abdominal pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- a feeling of pressure in your chest
- pain in your chest, jaw, neck, or arm
- shortness of breath
- bowel problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, or being unable to pass gas
The condition often requires immediate medical attention. Its possible for the inflamed appendix to burst, which can cause life threatening complications. So, if youre experiencing symptoms of appendicitis, you should see a doctor right away or go to the nearest emergency room.
While antibiotics can clear some cases of appendicitis, surgery is sometimes needed to remove the appendix .
When Should You Call A Doctor Or Go To The Emergency Room
You should call your doctor if you have any symptoms of gallbladder pain that concern you.
Certain complications of a gallstone attack can be serious or life threatening. You should seek immediate medical care if you develop:
- severe abdominal pain
- yellowing or discoloration of your skin or whites of your eyes
- a high fever with chills
Doctors may perform different tests to diagnose your condition, including an:
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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.
Who May Be Prone To Back Pain From Medical Emergencies
While a serious medical condition can affect anyone, some individuals are more prone to these problems due to their underlying health conditions, physical characteristics, and lifestyle habits.
This list outlines the groups of people most prone to back pain from medical emergencies:
- The young and the elderly. The age of the individual is an important initial consideration when diagnosing back pain. Those less than 18 years or more than 50 years of age are typically at a higher likelihood of serious conditions as the cause for the back pain and typically need immediate care when symptoms occur.
- Tumors and infection occur with higher frequency in both these age groups.1
- Younger individuals are at increased risk of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.1 If these conditions are severe, they can affect the neural elements of the spine, causing pain and disability.
- Elderly individuals are more susceptible to abdominal aortic aneurysm.3
- Older individuals may sustain fractures, including pathologic fractures, even with minor trauma.1
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Problems Digesting Your Food
The pancreas plays an important role in breaking down food . Its common for pancreatic cancer to cause problems with eating and digesting food.
Symptoms of this include feeling full up quickly when you eat, a bloated tummy, lots of wind, and burping. But these symptoms can be common problems and arent usually due to pancreatic cancer.
What Causes Mild To Moderate Abdominal Pain
Most Australians will experience mild or moderate abdominal pain from time to time. Often these episodes last only a few hours or days. They may clear up without the need for treatment. However, you may be more comfortable managing the symptoms with medicines from your pharmacy or doctor.
Some of the causes of short-term abdominal pain are:
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Myth: Stress Does Not Affect Back Pain
Truth: Stress is an emotional experience that can cause behavioral and psychological alterations in the body â elevating the perception of lower back pain. Depression and anxiety are thought to be the most common stress-related conditions associated with lower back pain.10
Research suggests that certain life stressors such as lack of social support and demanding jobs are associated with musculoskeletal back pain.11 For treating back pain associated with stress, individual psychological management is recommended as the primary treatment, followed by medical treatment for the back problem.10
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Can Stress Cause Stomach Pain
Yes. Stress and anxiety can cause stomach pain or make existing pain worse. Stress makes your body over-produce cortisol, the hormone associated with the fight-or-flight instinct. This can cause stomach cramps, as can stress-relieving behaviors like drinking caffeine or alcohol, smoking, or eating unhealthy foods.
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Home Remedies For Stomach Pain
There are plenty of ways to get some relief from the less serious causes of stomach pain. Your first step for how to stop stomach pain is to drink plenty of clear fluids, especially water. Drink slowly, sipping rather than chugging. You could also drink small amounts of sports drinks like Gatorade, but be careful not to have too much. Being hydrated helps prevent and treat constipation, a common cause of abdominal pain. If your pain is from gas, indigestion, or food poisoning, drinking small, frequent sips of water can help you remain hydrated and improve discomfort.
Over-the-counter stomach pain medicine like antacids and acetaminophen can help alleviate some of your symptoms. Try to avoid pain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen if you have upper abdominal discomfort, since they can make abdominal pain worse by irritating the lining of your stomach.
If you’ve been vomiting, or if the discomfort is centered on your upper abdomen , stick to bland foods like crackers or rice. Non-solid foods, like apple sauce, are even better. Avoid rich foods, especially dairy. If you’re experiencing heartburn along with your stomach pain, avoid high-fat foods, citrus, tomato-based foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
If your pain level doesn’t improve after 48 hours, you should seek medical help.
How Can I Prevent A Stomach Ulcer From Occurring Or Returning
- Reduce NSAID use, if possible. Consider whether acetaminophen might substitute. If you take NSAIDs for medical reasons, talk to your doctor about reducing your dosage or switching your medication. Your doctor may also prescribe another medicine to take with NSAIDs to protect your stomach lining.
- Reduce other irritants that may contribute to too much stomach acid or erode your stomach lining, including smoking and alcohol use.
- Take an H. pylori breath test to find out if you have an overgrowth of the bacteria.
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What It Means When You Feel Upper Stomach And Back Pain Together
Home » What It Means When You Feel Upper Stomach and Back Pain Together
Back pains are quite common because there are a plethora of possible reasons why they happen from simple ones like stress or more serious diseases, such as herniated discs or scoliosis. The same goes for stomach aches they may be caused by overeating or autoimmune disorders. But if the co-occurrence of these symptoms happens too often, its time to consult a doctor to find out the exact reason.
So why do the upper stomach and back feel painful at the same time? These two uncomfortable symptoms are causes for concern because they might be a sign of more serious health conditions like pancreatitis, kidney stones, peptic ulcer, and gallstones.
Sudden Stomach Cramps With Diarrhoea
If your stomach cramps have started recently and you also have diarrhoea, the cause may be a tummy bug . This means you have a viral or bacterial infection of the stomach and bowel. It should get better without treatment after a few days.
Gastroenteritis may be caused by:
- coming into close contact with someone whos infected
- eating contaminated food
If you have repeated bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea, you may have a long-term condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome .
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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.
What To Expect At Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical history. Your specific symptoms, the location of pain and when it occurs will help your provider detect the cause.
LOCATION OF YOUR PAIN
- Where do you feel the pain?
- Is it all over or in one spot?
- Does the pain move into your back, groin, or down your legs?
TYPE AND INTENSITY OF YOUR PAIN
- Is the pain severe, sharp, or cramping?
- Do you have it all the time, or does it come and go?
- Does the pain wake you up at night?
HISTORY OF YOUR PAIN
- Have you had similar pain in the past? How long has each episode lasted?
- When does the pain occur? For example, after meals or during menstruation?
- What makes the pain worse? For example, eating, stress, or lying down?
- What makes the pain better? For example, drinking milk, having a bowel movement, or taking an antacid?
- What medicines are you taking?
OTHER MEDICAL HISTORY
- Have you had a recent injury?
- Are you pregnant?
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Treating Back And Stomach Pain
In order to properly relieve your pain, a proper diagnosis will be important. A doctor will listen to you describe your symptoms and medical history to try and determine potential causes and will then use a series of tests to rule out serious issues. These tests may include blood tests, ultrasounds, endoscopies, X-rays, or urine tests. You may also be sent to an Atlanta MRI center for more advanced imaging.
At AICA Orthopedics, our onsite imaging site is readily available and works with a range of doctors, giving you access to various forms of treatment depending on your diagnosis. If you are experiencing a combination of stomach and back pain, call AICA Orthopedics today.
When To See A Doctor About Abdominal Pain
Go straight to your doctor or the emergency department of the nearest hospital if you have any of the following:
- pain lasting for several hours
- pain or vaginal bleeding if you are pregnant
- pain in your scrotum if you are a male
- pain and vomiting or shortness of breath
- pain and vomiting blood
- blood in your bowel motions or urine
- pain that spreads to your chest, neck or shoulder
- unable to move your bowels or pass gas
- any other concerns.
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Common Causes Of Lower Back And Abdominal Pain
Lower back pain, bloating, and abdominal issues are frequently reported complaints that can have numerous causes. If the pain is not intense or accompanied by more serious symptoms , then it is generally safe to wait and see if the discomfort will resolve on its own. The most common causes of lower back and abdominal pain include:
- Kidney and urinary tract infections
- Gastrointestinal problems and flatulence
Pain that is persistent, gradually begins to intensify, or occurs along with other troubling issues warrants a consultation with a health care provider. Prompt treatment can help target serious or life-threatening conditions.
Other Causes Of Pain In The Lower Stomach And Back
Some of the other reasons for lower stomach pain and back pain include gallstones and peptic ulcers. Gallstones are similar to kidney stones, except that they are found inside the gallbladder. Their formation can cause both stomach and back pain. There is no clear cause of why gallstones form, though it is believed to be due to the presence of excess cholesterol and bilirubin in the bile. Stomach pain caused by gallstones tends to begin in the upper right side, along with back pain.
Peptic ulcers occur when erosions form in the lining of the small intestine or the stomach. If these erosions cause a perforation or hole, they cause severe pain in the upper left or central abdomen. This pain can travel to the back and shoulders. If there is no perforation, back pain is usually not associated with peptic ulcers.
Kidney conditions like pyelonephritis or acute inflammation of the gallbladder can also lead to pain in the lower stomach and back.
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Can Stomach Ulcers Just Go Away
Some ulcers follow a chronic pattern of healing temporarily on their own and then returning. This might happen if the factors contributing to your ulcer, such as NSAID use, smoking and alcohol, are temporarily reduced and then resumed. You wont completely heal your ulcer until you eliminate the cause, whether that is chronic NSAID use, H. pylori infection or an overactive stomach. Even after successful treatment, you can get another ulcer.
What Does Abdominal Pain Location Tell You
Location is an important clue to your abdominal pain, though its not the only factor. It may indicate which organs are involved. For example, pain in the upper right quadrant may indicate a problem with your liver or gallbladder.
However, your healthcare provider will also want to know more about what your pain feels like, how often you feel it, and how severe it is. This will give them additional clues about what kind of condition you may have.
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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:
- 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.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Treatment for Lower Back and Abdominal Pain
Common Causes Of Abdominal Pain
Stomach pain causes can vary widely. Isolating the cause will largely depend on what other symptoms you’re experiencing alongside your abdominal pain. Some of the most common, non-serious causes of abdominal pain include:
- constipation – fewer than three bowel movements in a week, dry/hard/lumpy stools, difficulty passing stools, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels after using the bathroom
- food poisoning – symptoms include cramps, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, fever/chills
- viral gastroenteritis -symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramps, nausea and/or vomiting, muscle aches, and a low-grade fever
bile or acid reflux – when your stomach contents rise part way back up your esophagus, causing heartburn, nausea, vomiting, upper abdomen pain, and other symptoms
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What About Natural Remedies
Although they are not supported by solid scientific evidence, several natural products and grandmother’s remedies are used to treat lower back pain, especially for their anti-inflammatory power.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of plants and essential oils that are effective in controlling pain and inflammation. The products are available on the site Kalae. Use promo code LOMBAFIT15 if you wish to obtain one of the following products, or any remedy aimed at relieving your symptoms and improving your quality of life: