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.
Signs Your Abdominal Pain May Be Serious
Itâs quite common to get a little stomach ache after eating a big meal or taking a tumble around in a roller-coaster. But there are times where these abdominal pains are highly painful. Our stomach can tell us a lot about our health. Many underlying medical conditions can cause pain to our stomachs. Therefore, certain abdominal pains should not be ignored.
Sharp Pain In Vagina: 25 Causes 15 Symptoms 10 Treatments
Sometimes you may experience a very sharp pain in vagina. You surely must have checked the calendar to verify if your periods are about to start!
Are you surprised that your periods are not due but still you experience a shooting pain in the vagina?
Of course, vaginal pain commonly occurs in women just before and during their periods. But sometimes there are numerous other reasons for this intense pain.
Note that pain is not a cause of worry if it is temporary and goes within hours or a day. But sometimes it is constant sharp and even severe. Why does it occur and how to get relief? Should you take home remedies or go to the doctor?
To know this, you need to understand your vagina, other female genital organs and their functions. There is also an exhaustive list of causes that can cause sharp pain in Vagina. Read on to know more..
Contents
The vagina is the tube made of muscles that connect external of women/female mammals to the Uterus. It is also called the Birth Canal. Though scientifically it is a muscular passage, in common parlance it refers to all the female genital organs. These include the vagina, Ovary uterus, Vulva, cervix and Fallopian tubes.
Sharp pain in vagina may be due to problems/infection in any of these organs. Surprisingly, it may also be due to the organs performing their functions regularly.
Ovaries:
The sharp pain in Vagina may at times be attributed to big cysts that are formed in the ovary at times.
Uterus:
Vulva:
Fallopian tubes:
Cervix:
- Spotting
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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.
How Is The Cause Of Sharp Pain In Stomach Determined
Since there are so many prospective causes of sharp pain in stomach, your health care provider will carry out a comprehensive physical examination, go over with you the type of symptoms you are experiencing, and ask you a number of questions about the pain you are feeling, according to iytmed.com. These concerns may include:
As soon as an initial evaluation has actually been completed, your health care provider might have you go through some tests to help find the cause of your pain. These might include stool or urine tests, blood tests, barium swallows or enemas, an endoscopy, X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan.
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Vague Upper Abdominal Pain Associated With Nausea And Belching
Sometimes stomach pain is hard to identify or comes with multiple symptoms. Vague pain in the upper and mid-abdominal area that is linked to nausea, burping, or belching could be signs of a heart attack, particularly in older patients. Physicians say tests like an ECG or cardiac markers can be lifesaving. They also warn that vomiting with back or jaw pain and shortness of breath can also be a sign of a life-threatening emergency.
Vague Upper Abdomen Pain
If you are an older adult, and this vague pain is accompanied with nausea, belching, and burping, it may actually be signs of a heart attack. If the symptoms also include vomiting and pain in the jaw and back with shortness of breath, call Digestive Health Services immediately or go to the nearest ER.
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Can Abdominal Pain Be Prevented
Eating enough fibreand doing regular exercise can help prevent constipation and keep your bowels working well, which will prevent some forms of abdominal pain. It will also reduce your long-term risk of some diseases, such as diverticular disease or bowel cancer.
Drinking plain water but not carbonated or fizzy drinks will reduce the chance of pain from bloating as well as keeping your body healthy.
Following a specific diet can help reduce pain due to lactose intolerance, gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome and trapped gas, or wind.
Common Causes Of Stomach Pain
Harmless abdominal pain usually subsides or goes away within two hours.
- Gas: Formed in the stomach and intestines as your body breaks down food, this can cause general stomach pain and cramps. This often can be indicated by belching or flatulence.
- Bloating: Related to gas, this occurs when excessive gas builds up in your digestive tract. Your stomach will usually feel full, and you may experience cramps.
- Constipation: This occurs when you are having difficulty making bowel movements. If you are having two or fewer bowel movements a week, constipation is the likely cause. In addition to feeling bloated and nauseous, you may experience cramping and pain in your rectum.
- Indigestion: You typically experience this as an upset stomach, burning, or belly pain after eating.
- Stomach flu: Your stomach may hurt before each episode of vomiting or diarrhea.
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Signs Of Passing A Kidney Stone
David Cameron, DO, an emergency medicine physician at Medical City Lewisville and Medical City McKinney, says that you will know immediately if you are passing a kidney stone, with pain in the side of your back or abdomen.
This is the worst pain of your life that you’re experiencing, Dr. Cameron says. It’s so profound that it’s beyond a 10. You’ll be incapacitated with the pain, quite often. It’ll lead to nausea and vomiting, the pain is so severe.
Stomach Pain After Drinking Water At Night
Some people complain about stomach pain when they drink water at night too. This is not as common as people who experience such a symptom in the morning, but still a possibility. There are multiple reasons why a sip of water when you wake up during the night can cause stomach pain. This is often due to the fact that you have an empty stomach at the time.
If you have something to eat just before going to bed, then the problem may rather lie with the overloading of the stomach. Carefully consider when you are eating and drinking before getting into bed. This helps you identify the possible reason for aches in the stomach in this particular scenario.
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When To Make An Appointment To See Your Doctor
Schedule an appointment to see your doctor if:
- Your stomach pain doesnt go away within a couple of days.
- The pain comes back after going away.
- Symptoms like diarrhea dont go away within a couple of days.
- Youre urinating more or less often, and/or its painful.
- You have unintended weight loss.
Know your body, Dr. Kingsley says. If you start having pain that you have not had before and does not go away, you should contact your doctor to be evaluated further.
Bottom line: Trust your gut! Contact your doctor if youre concerned about lingering or unusual stomach pain.
Editor’s Note: This infographic was originally published on June 24, 2014.
What Are Symptoms Of Stomach Pain
Stomach pain, or abdominal pain, can range from bloating and indigestion to severe and sharp, stabbing pain.
Symptoms of stomach pain depend on the cause.Pain may be dull or sharp, intermittent or constant, mild or severe. Pain may occur in any part of the abdomen, and may also radiate to other areas such as the back, flank, or shoulder.
Symptoms that may accompany stomach pain may include:
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Severe Pain Like A Knife In The Lower Abdomen
Sometimes this knife-like pain is located in the lower back. If you also have chills, vomiting, and a fever, it may be kidney stones. Although quite painful, kidney stones are not life-threatening. Take anti-inflammatory medications for pain as soon as possible, and have an ultrasound to rule out any other medical issues. The stones may pass on their own, or you may need surgical intervention from Digestive Health Services if the stones cause a blockage.
Why Do I Get Sharp Pain In My Anus
October 11, 2016 by Admin2
Pain in the bottomanal pain, or rectal paincan be very uncomfortable. This may cause extreme discomfort from going to the toilet to merely sitting. Excruciating pain in the bottom area may also spread to the other area, such as the stomach, making the discomfort even worse. There are in fact, a quite large variety of risk factors that may lead to pain in the bottom area. These risk factors include the ones, which are less harmless and some others, which can be much more severe. As the pain may affect children, adults, and the elderly, it becomes essential to figure the causes out in order to find the most suitable treatments. Proper initial treatments should help reduce the caused pain and when done consistently, may help get rid of the causal risk factors.
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When To See A Doctor
Many causes of intermittent stomach pain, such as ovulation pain, do not require treatment. Others, such as food sensitivities, are not medical emergencies.
It can be difficult to decide when to see a doctor and when to wait, so it is important to pay attention to any additional symptoms. Seek medical care for severe pain or pain that gets worse with time.
Speak to a doctor about:
- unexplained stomach pain that gets steadily worse over time
- worsening menstrual cramps or cramps that are regularly severe
- worsening digestive symptoms
- symptoms of an ulcer or a digestive disorder
- occasional, mild pain in the upper right abdomen
Symptoms that may require emergency medical attention include:
- intense stomach pain during pregnancy
- symptoms of premature labor
Why Am I Having A Sharp Pain In My Stomach When I Pee
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When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Get medical help immediately if:
- You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden.
- You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder.
- Youre vomiting blood, have bloody diarrhea, or have black, tarry stools
- You have a high fever.
- Youre having difficulty breathing.
- You develop consistent nausea and/or vomiting.
- Your abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender to the touch.
- You cant move your bowels, especially if youre also vomiting
When It’s Not An Emergency
If your stomach pain is not severe or long-lasting, and if you’re not having symptoms like those discussed above, the pain may go away on its own.
This kind of pain is often caused by minor problems such as constipation, gas, or something you ate. Waiting a few hours, having a bowel movement, or passing gas may help.
Try taking these steps:
- Limit yourself to clear liquids for a few hours.
- If you have vomiting or diarrhea, stick with the BRAT diet. Eat mild foods until you feel better.
- Avoid foods that are hard to digest. Fatty, fried, or spicy foods can cause stomach pain. So can drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.
- Try an over-the-counter antacid or a product to relieve gas.
- Try to have a bowel movement. Eating raw fruit, vegetables, beans, or high-fiber cereal can help.
- Use a hot water bottle or heating pad. Place the pad on your abdomen for a half hour at a time, and be sure to place a towel under the pad to protect your skin.
Your symptoms may improve within a day or two. If they do not, call your healthcare provider.
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Right Or Left Lower Abdominal Pain In Women
Sudden onset of right lower abdominal pain or left lower abdominal pain can indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst in a woman who is mid-cycle. This kind of pain could also be a sign of ovarian torsion, which is the rotation of the ovary and part of the fallopian tube, or possibly a twisting of the ovary due to compromised blood supply. Seek treatment immediately at the nearest emergency department. Surgery to remove the ovary may be required.
How Is Abdominal Pain Treated
Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause. Options include:
- Medications for inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease or ulcers.
- Antibiotics for infection.
- Changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages.
- Local or spinal injections of numbing agents or corticosteroids by pain management physicians.
In more severe cases like appendicitis and hernia, surgery is necessary.
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Symptoms Of Sharp Pains In The Stomach
The symptoms of sharp stomach pains depend on the characteristics and location of the pain. It can also be accompanied by other symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, or fever.
You may experience different types of stomach pain. These characteristics can include:
Generalized pain
Generalized pain is pain that you feel in large areas of your stomach, typically more than half of your abdominal area. This pain may be caused by a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas. If the pain is severe, it could be caused by blocked intestines.
Localized pain
Localized pain is focused in one area of your stomach. This is more likely to be a sign of issues in an organ, like the appendix, uterus, gallbladder, or stomach.
Cramp pain
Cramp pain may feel more like a muscle tightening inside your abdomen. Most of the time, this type of pain is due to gas, bloating, or menstrual issues. However, if the pain is persistent, lasts longer than 24 hours, or is accompanied by fever, it may be more serious.
Colicky pain
Colicky pain may come and go, seeming to arrive in waves. It may start and end suddenly. If severe, kidney stones or gallstones may be a cause.
Location of stomach pain
Stomach pain may be generalizedtaking up more than half of the abdomenbut it also may be stronger in some areas of the stomach. It can occur in these locations:
- Upper or lower abdomen
- Right upper and lower abdomen
- Left upper and lower abdomen
- Right and left pelvis
Sudden And Severe Pain In The Mid
If you are someone who has a peptic ulcer and takes excessive amounts of aspirin or NSAID pain relievers, this specific type of stomach pain could very well be caused by a perforated ulcer. If not treated in a timely fashion, dangerous consequences like peritonitis and septic shock can occur. At the very least, you should call Digestive Health Services, or go to the emergency room right away.
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How Do Doctors Find The Cause Of A Stomachache
To find the cause of a stomachache, doctors ask about:
- your symptoms
- illnesses you’ve had in the past
- health conditions that other family members have
Be honest with your doctor, even if a symptom seems embarrassing.
The doctor will do an exam and sometimes might order tests, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or blood test. It all depends on what the doctor thinks is causing the problem.