What Does It Mean If Your Lower Stomach Hurts

What Does A Hard Stomach Mean

When your stomach swells and feels hard, the explanation might be as simple as overeating or drinking carbonated drinks, which is easy to remedy. Other causes may be more serious, such as an inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes the accumulated gas from drinking a soda too quickly can result in a hard stomach.

You Might Have Gallstones Or Kidney Stones

Both gallstones and kidney stones can cause pain in the right side of the abdomen, Dr. Matthew Souder told Geisinger. Estimates show that about one in 10 people will get kidney stones at some point in life, notes the Mayo Clinic. This condition appears to be more common in adults who don’t drink enough water or have certain diseases, such as diabetes, gout, or ulcerative colitis. Genetics play a role, too. A diet rich in meat, sodium, or sugar can increase your risk as well.

Kidney stone pain is often accompanied by lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloody or cloudy urine, explains the Mayo Clinic. You may also experience pain when urinating. These symptoms can last anywhere between a few days and several weeks, depending on when you pass the stone. Larger stones may not pass on their own and must be surgically removed, says Dr. Souder.

Gallstones, on the other hand, may cause pain between the shoulder blades, as well as in the upper right area of the abdomen. Other symptoms include pain in the right shoulder, nausea, and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. The pain and discomfort can last several minutes to a few hours. In severe cases, gallstones can cause jaundice and high fever, but it’s possible to experience no symptoms at all.

What Is Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is discomfort or other uncomfortable sensations that you feel in your belly area. Just about everybody at one time or another will get a bellyache.

Most causes of abdominal pain aren’t reasons to worry, and your doctor can easily diagnose and treat the problem. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of a serious illness that needs medical attention.

Don’t Miss: How To Lose Stomach And Arm Fat Fast

Severe Stomach Pain After Eating A Fatty Meal

If you find yourself doubled over after eating a high-fat meal, you may be experiencing a gallbladder attack. “Women are especially prone to gallbladder disease,” says Hardeep Singh, MD, gastroenterologist from St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, CA. “Overweight women in their 40s are at highest risk.” The pain becomes worse after eating, lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and may come and go, becoming more constant and severe over time, says Singh.

What Is Abdominal Pain Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention

Most people experience abdominal discomfort or pain at some point in their lives. Abdominal pain is usually felt in the part of the trunk below the ribs, above the pelvis and the groin. It can range in intensity from a mild ache to severe, disabling pain.

While abdominal pain isnt normal, it isnt necessarily serious, and it often resolves itself.

Don’t Miss: How To Lift Your Stomach

Should I Go To The Er For Lower Left Abdominal Pain

If your stomach pain is severe, chronic, or accompanied by additional symptoms, visit your nearest ER as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis and treatment. Some signs and symptoms that may mean your stomach pain is serious enough to go to the ER include: New onset of pain. Chronic abdominal pain.

When To Call The Doctor About Abdominal Pain

If your abdominal pain is serious, doesn’t go away, or keeps coming back, talk to your doctor. Call 911 right away if your belly hurts because you had a recent injury there or if you have any chest pain.

You should also contact your doctor as soon as you can if you have symptoms along with the pain, such as:

• Can’t keep food down for more than 2 days
• Signs you’re getting dehydrated, including not urinating frequently, dark-colored urine, and being very thirsty
• Can’t have a bowel movement, especially if you’re also vomiting
• Pain when you pee, or you need to urinate often

Also call your doctor if:

• Your belly is tender to the touch
• Pain lasts more than a few hours

You may have other symptoms that could be a sign of a problem inside your body that needs treatment as soon as possible. Get medical care right away if you have abdominal pain and you also:

• Have unexplained weight loss

Recommended Reading: Why Is My Stomach Upset

How Do Doctors Diagnose Kidney Stones

Doctors diagnose kidney stones based on an evaluation of the patients symptoms and medical history, a physical exam, and a variety of tests.

If you are experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, your doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner will ask you several questions related to your symptoms, including:

• How long have you been experiencing pain?

• Where is the pain located?

• Is the pain radiating to other parts of your body?

• Do you have a family history of kidney stones?

• Do you have other health conditions, such as gout or ?

• How much water do you drink each day?

• What types of foods are in your diet?

Tests your doctor may use to diagnose kidney stones include:

• Urinalysis, which evaluates a urine sample for the presence of blood or minerals that may indicate a stone

• Blood test, to look for elevated levels of certain minerals that can cause kidney stones

• X-ray, which in some cases can show the location of the stone and how it is affecting the urinary tract

• Computed tomography , an imaging scan that may or may not use liquid contrast to highlight the location and size of the kidney stone

Common Causes Of Pelvic Pain

As you might imagine, periods are the number one cause of pelvic pain in women. Most women get pelvic pain in the first couple of days of their period – so-called menstrual cramps or simply period pain. Some women also get pelvic pain around the middle of their cycle when they ovulate. These pains vary hugely in severity, but if they’re lasting more than a few days, starting before your period, associated with other symptoms or having a significant impact on your life, they need checking out.

Read Also: What To Eat With Stomach Cancer

What Causes Stabbing Pain In Right Side Of Abdomen

The classic symptoms of appendicitis include: Dull pain near the navel or the upper or lower abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen this is usually the first sign, but it occurs in less than half of appendicitis cases. Loss of appetite. Nausea or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins.

Uncomfortable Feeling In The Stomach

Not all digestive problems lead to pain. Abdominal problems might lead to having an uncomfortable feeling. You might be experiencing bloating, feeling gassy, feeling full, nausea, vomiting, burning sensation, or even churning of the stomach.

There can be several causes behind your symptoms. You would need a proper diagnosis in order to treat your condition. The best way to do that is to consult your doctor. They are like to run some tests that might include testing your stool and urine. They might also include invasive tests like endoscopy.

A proper diagnosis would lead to proper treatment. However, it is necessary to be knowledgeable about your symptoms. Thats why wed be discussing some of the most common symptoms of upper abdominal and lower abdominal discomfort.

Also Check: How To Lower Stomach Fat

Diagnosis Of Abdominal Pain In Adults

If examinations and tests are needed, these may include:

• a rectal exam to check for hidden blood or other problems
• if you are a man, the doctor may check your penis and scrotum
• if you are a woman, the doctor may do a pelvic exam to check for problems in your womb , fallopian tubes and ovaries, and do a pregnancy test
• a blood test to look for infection or bleeding
• other blood tests may look at enzymes in the liver, pancreas and heart to sort out which organ may be involved
• a urine test to look for a urine infection or blood
• an ECG to rule out a heart attack
• other tests, including x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan
• sometimes you may be referred to another doctor to help find the cause of the problem.
• endoscopy is an examination where a flexible tube with a light and video camera at the tip is used to examine some internal organs without the need for surgery. Different names are used depending on which organ is being looked at.

If you do have tests, the doctor will explain the results to you. Some results may take a number of days to come back and these will be sent to your local doctor.

Pelvic Pain Prior To Menstruation

A variety of gynecologic disorders can cause pelvic pain. Some of these conditions are more or less likely depending on a womans age and sexual history. In girls who arent old enough to menstruate, gynecologic problems are an unusual source of pain. However, ovarian tumors occasionally occur in this age group, and up to 35 percent of ovarian tumors in prepubescent girls are cancerous. Therefore, persistent or severe pelvic pain in a young girl should prompt a visit to a physician.

Recommended Reading: Can Tightening Your Stomach Help

Ovulation Pain Or Midcycle Spotting

Mittelschmerz is a German word that translates as “middle pain.” It refers to the normal discomfort sometimes felt by women during ovulation, which is at the midpoint of the menstrual cycle.

Each month, one of the two ovaries forms a follicle that holds an egg cell. The pain occurs when the follicle ruptures and releases the egg.

This is a dull, cramping sensation that may begin suddenly in only one side of the lower abdomen. In a few cases, there may be vaginal spotting. Mittelschmerz occurs about 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period.

Actual Mittelschmerz is not associated with nausea, vomiting, fever, or severe pelvic pain. These symptoms should be evaluated by a medical provider since they can indicate a more serious condition.

Diagnosis is made through patient history.

Treatment requires only over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain. An oral contraceptive will stop the symptoms, since it also stops ovulation.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: abdominal pain , last period approximately 2 weeks ago, vaginal bleeding, bloody vaginal discharge, pelvis pain

Symptoms that always occur with ovulation pain or midcycle spotting: last period approximately 2 weeks ago

Urgency: Self-treatment

How Do Doctors Diagnose A Bowel Perforation

If you develop symptoms soon after abdominal or bowel surgery, your doctor may suspect a bowel perforation. If you havent had recent surgery, your doctor will ask about your medical conditions and medical history.

After a physical exam, your doctor may order blood tests to look for signs of infection or blood loss. In addition, imaging exams can be very helpful for diagnosing a bowel perforation. When a hole occurs in the intestine, air and digestive contents enter the peritoneal cavity. Imaging exams, such as X-ray or ultrasound, can reveal these pockets of air and fluid. Doctors may also need to use CT or MRI to find the hole. Radiopaque solutions may be introduced into the intestines to localize a perforation. In some cases, a diagnostic procedure, such as , may be necessary to locate the tear.

You May Like: Can Stomach Ulcers Be Cancerous

Causes Of Sharp Pain In The Lower Right Abdomen When Coughing

When I cough I feel a sharp pain in my stomach, these statements have been said by tons of patients, who are facing this pain. This sharp pain can lead us to death bed. Our abdomen contains many organs, which are the liver, appendix, intestine, and pancreas.

Any problem with this can built a gateway of pain. . All abdominal pain is not a thing to worry about. Serious pain is usually sharp, that may have droplets of blood in all of the excretions.

That makes it difficult for patients to breathe and chest pain is a must. In severe cases, the patient can be a blackout. Ignoring lower abdominal pain when coughing cant be a wise choice. It can have many causes, consultation of health care is a must.

Few ailments related to lower abdominal pain can be bladder inflammation, Endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and other forms of cancer. Dry cough and stomach pain can be due to a disease called gastroesophageal reflux disease .

Causes And Risk Factors Of Abdominal Pain

While we dont usually feel the inner workings of our abdomen, pain can occur when there is a disruption of the normal functioning of an organ or area of tissue inside.

Abdominal pain can be caused by inflammation , organ distention or stretching , or loss of blood supply .

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as dietary supplements, can cause stomach pain. Medications can do this by irritating the stomach, leading to nausea, pain, and diarrhea, or by slowing digestion, leading to constipation. Be sure to check the label of any drug you take to see if abdominal pain is listed as a possible side effect.

• Lead poisoning, often from eating paint chips
• Emotional upset

You May Like: What Foods Flatten Your Stomach Fast

When To Seek Immediate Medical Help

Severe abdominal pain is a greater cause for concern. If it starts suddenly and unexpectedly, and persists, it should be regarded as a medical emergency, especially if the pain is concentrated in a particular area.

or go to your nearest hospital emergency department if this is the case.

If you feel pain in the area around your ribs, see the section on chest pain.

Arsenic Or Other Contamination

Arsenic in groundwater is a huge issue in many countries, such as Bangladesh. Arsenic poisoning can be linked with acute vomiting, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea. Similarly, contaminants such as mercury, copper, manganese etc. in your drinking water can also cause an upset stomach. This is why you need to perform regular tests on your drinking water quality.

Also Check: How To Treat Stomach Virus In Toddler

Water Quality And Stomach Ache

Drinking safe and clean water is essential to remaining healthy. However, the water in our taps usually comes from municipality distribution. There can be many impurities that are missed during the initial water treatment, or the water can pick up unwanted contaminants due to unmaintained and old water pipes.

The following can be some water quality-related issues that are causing your stomach ache:

What Does That Mean When A Pregnant Women Cough And Her Stomach Hurts

In pregnancy, when the uterus grows, the ligaments which are attached it to the side of the abdomen are stretched. Consult doctors call this as round ligament pain. If that women sneeze and cough, that will ultimately put more pressure on the ligament that will eventually cause stabbing pain.

The treatment includes that is first to do the practice of getting up slowly when the women are sitting or lying down. If women think that a sneeze or cough is coming, so she should bend or flex the hips, Daily stretching is also an effective method for reducing pain

You May Like: Why Does My Stomach Hurt After I Eat

What Are The Earliest Signs Of Pregnancy

Some symptoms to watch for before you miss your period are sore breasts, fatigue, sensitivity to smell, food aversions, nausea, and more frequent urination. Keep in mind, however, that it’s very likely you will have no symptoms.

One study found that 50% of women showed no symptoms at five weeks after conception, 30% had none six weeks after conception, and 10% still didn’t have any at two months after conception!3

Below there are three tables.

• One is the signs of pregnancy you might experience before you miss your period.
• The next is the most commonly reported first signs of pregnancy, so you can get a sense of how common these symptoms are.
• The third shows 14 signs of pregnancy you might experience within the first three weeks after conception to get a better look at some other symptom possibilities.

When To Seek Help

âAny urgent or non-urgent pain can become serious with time. If you are experiencing any sort of pain that doesnât feel like a normal, âate too muchâ stomach ache, you may want to be seen as soon as possible. If you have stabbing pains, cramping, persistent pain, or sudden pain, you should look into being seen by a medical professional.

BASS Urgent Care is here for you and ready to help. With multiple services that allow us to run various tests and even x-rays, our urgent care services will help you find the answers and relief you seek. Donât wait around for your condition to worsen before seeing a doctor.

Recommended Reading: Why Is My Stomach Protruding

How To Relieve Stomach Pain Caused By Drinking Water

Generally, we combat a burning sensation with water. But what can we do when water itself seems to be a problem? Here are a couple of things that you can try:

• Try to drink warm water as it is easier to absorb.
• Consult a doctor if any of the medical reasons ring true.
• Adopt a healthier diet as overly processed or spiced foods can also irritate your stomach lining.
• Test your water supply annually to check for any contamination.
• Check your water pipes and make sure they are well-maintained without any leakage.

What Are The Potential Complications Of A Perforated Bowel

A perforated bowel can lead to serious complications, including peritonitis and sepsis. Both of these conditions can quickly become fatal. Mortality increases dramatically the longer treatment is delayed. In fact, sepsis kills up to 30% of its victims. It is especially dangerous for the elderly, very young children, and people with chronic medical conditions.

Fortunately, surgery to repair a perforated bowel is successful in most cases. But it relies on rapid recognition of a problem and prompt medical care. Remember TIME , do not delay seeking care, and tell the medical provider you are concerned about sepsis. It is better to be mistaken than to gamble by postponing treatment.

Also Check: Why Stomach Hurts After Eating