Types Of Abdominal Pain
There are several types of abdominal pain, which are based on how quickly your pain starts and how long it lasts:
- Acute pain starts over a few hours or days and may come with other symptoms.
- Chronic pain lasts longer — from weeks to months or more — and may come and go.
- Progressive pain gets worse over time and often comes with other symptoms.
Why Does My Stomach Hurt When I Have A Bowel Movement
The symptoms of abdominal pain when related to constipation may include: Constipation that includes abdominal pain is common. In most cases, its caused by gas buildup in the abdomen or from the need to have a bowel movement. Mild or moderate abdominal pain and constipation together isnt usually cause for concern. What are the causes?
When To Get Medical Advice
See a GP immediately if you’re experiencing severe pain, as this is a warning sign that something is wrong.
If this is not possible, call NHS 111 for advice.
You should also see a GP as soon as you can if you:
- develop symptoms of jaundice
- keep being sick
Jaundice can have a range of causes other than pancreatitis, but it’s usually a sign there’s something wrong with your digestive system.
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What Are The Less Serious Causes Of Abdominal Pain
The key to determining less serious causes of abdominal pain is the definition of “less serious.” There is little or no agreement among patients about what constitutes “less serious”abdominal pains however, doctors have a general consensus of what constitutes “less serious” abdominal pain.
If the cause of the pain is likely short-lived possibly treatable, and the patient does not have an emergent condition, does not need to be hospitalized, or should be worked up or further diagnosed by outpatient tests, then the cause of the pain are considered “less serious” by many doctors. A large number of causes of abdominal pain may fit the doctor’s definition of “less serious” abdominal pain. However, even though a cause may generally fit these subjective requirements, there can be instances where they will not. The reader is urged to examine the following section to see what constitutes “serious” causes of abdominal pain. Consequently, the following is a list of potential less serious causes of abdominal pain :
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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What Causes Sharp Pain On Left Side Of Brain
A brain tumor can cause sharp pain in the left side of the head. According to the National Brain Tumor Society , or NBTS a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring hope and providing leadership within the brain tumor community a brain tumor occupies space within the skull and can disrupt normal brain activities.
How Is The Cause Of The Abdominal Pain Diagnosed
Physical Examination
Physical examination will include a careful examination of the patient’s abdomen, heart, and lungs in order to pinpoint the source of the pain.
- The doctor will touch different parts of the abdomen to check for tenderness or other signs that indicate the source of the pain.
- The doctor may do a rectal exam to check for small amounts of blood in the stool or other problems, such as a mass or internal hemorrhoids.
- If the patient is a man, the doctor may check the penis and testicles.
- If the patient is a woman, the doctor may do a pelvic exam to check for problems in the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
- The doctor also may look at the patient’s eyes for yellow discoloration and in the mouth to be sure the patient is not dehydrated.
Laboratory Tests
Laboratory tests may or may not help to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. Combined with the information gained from the questions the patient was asked and the physical examination performed by the doctor, certain blood or urine tests may be ordered and could assist in determining the diagnosis.
Radiology Tests
Radiology studies of the patient’s abdomen can be useful, but are not always necessary or helpful.
- Occasionally, an X-ray will show air outside of the bowel, meaning that something has ruptured or perforated.
- An X-ray also can help diagnose bowel obstruction.
- Sometimes X-rays can show a kidney stone.
Ultrasound is a painless procedure useful in finding some causes of abdominal pain.
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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.
How Do Doctors Find The Cause Of A Bellyache
Your doctor will first ask you some questions, examine you, and maybe do some tests. Your doctor may suggest you take some medicine or might give you special instructions for eating to help your body heal the bellyache.
If it turns out that you have appendicitis, you will need an operation called an appendectomy .
If stress is behind your stomach problems, your doctor may recommend a specialist, such as a psychologist. These experts can help kids figure out the source of the stress and help them come up with some ideas for how to fix the problems or handle them better.
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Stomach And Duodenal Ulcers
Stomach and duodenal ulcers can often be found as a cause of mid-abdominal pain. Essentially, an ulcer is an open sore inside your digestive tract. In the case of stomach or gastric ulcers, the ulcer forms in the stomach. Duodenal ulcers form inside the upper portion of the small intestine, which is also known as the duodenum.
These open sores tend to bring on colicky pain, which comes and goes depending on various circumstances. Ulcers can be aggravated by a rise in stomach acid and certain types of foods .
Red Flags For Right Abdominal Pain
Mild that goes away and does not come back may not need treatment. However, talk to your doctor if you are experiencing severe abdominal pain or if it keeps coming back. It is never normal to have abdominal pain, so tell your doctor about your symptoms.
Certain “red flags” mean you need to seek medical care. Watch for these serious symptoms:
-
Severe or worsening pain
-
Constipation that lasts more than three days
-
Blood in your stool
-
Pain with swelling of the abdomen
-
Severe tenderness of the abdomen
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Do You Have Pain On The Left Side Of Your Breast
Breast cancer in women occurs slightly more often on the left side than the right, although it occurs equally on both sides in men. While breast pain is more likely to be due to something other than breast cancer, roughly one in six women with breast cancer have breast pain during the 90-day period prior to diagnosis.
Stomach Cramps With Bloating
Stomach cramps with bloating are often caused by trapped wind, or constipation. This is a very common problem that can be embarrassing, but is easily dealt with. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend a product, which can be bought over the counter to treat the problem. If problems persist, you should see your GP.
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Causes Of Chronic Pancreatitis
The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years.
This can cause repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis, which results in increasing damage to the organ.
In children the most common cause is cystic fibrosis.
Less common causes include:
In some cases, no cause can be identified. This is called idiopathic chronic pancreatitis.
When To Be Concerned About Pain In Your Right Side
Obviously, if the pain in your right side of your stomach is very strong you should immediately seek medical attention. If the pain is weaker, wait 48 hours to see how it develops. If the pain persists, make an appointment with your general practitioner. Please, note that if your side hurts after exercising, it is likely due to a side-ache or stitch, the colloquial terms for transient abdominal pain . To avoid this happening again take a look at our article on how to get rid of a side stitch.
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If Your Stomach Hurts Suddenly
Acute stomach pain comes on quickly and lasts for a limited amount of time, typically a few hours to a few days. It’s usually caused by external factors, like a particular food or contaminant that didn’t agree with your stomach. Even people with completely healthy digestive tracts will experience occasional stomach pain.
Abdominal Bloating And Pain Treatments
Treatments for abdominal bloating and pain will address the underlying condition.
Examples may include antibiotics for infections. If an intestinal obstruction is the cause, your doctor may encourage bowel rest by decreasing oral intake.
If theres a deficiency moving contents within the GI tract, your doctor may prescribe medications to encourage intestinal movement. Surgery may be necessary in severe instances.
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What Causes Stomach Pains When You Running
Stomach cramps while running can be unpleasant and distracting.You may feel a sharp pain in your abdomen, or the pain may be located higher typically on your right side, under your ribs and is called a side stitch. motion of running causes your stomach and other organs to collide, leading to agonizing extending of connective tissues. Fortunately, there are methods to ease and resolve the pain, along with to increase your opportunities of avoiding stomach cramps.
Serious, progressive intestinal symptoms may be signs of a more severe condition see your medical professional if pain continues.
What Are The More Serious Causes Of Abdominal Pain
Unfortunately, the more serious causes can be almost any cause, including most of the ones listed above as “less serious” causes. Consequently, the subjective requirements that most doctors consider as serious causes of abdominal pain are any causes that may generate at least one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
- Penetration of an object into the abdomen or back
- Blunt object injury to the abdomen or back
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How To Tell If Your Chest Hurts When You Sneeze
The main symptoms are: 1 sharp pain in the front of your chest 2 pain during sneezing, coughing, or deep breathes 3 tenderness when you press on the rib cartilage 4 no pain while at rest More
Sneezing wont cause chest pain in a heart attack. However, it may trigger or worsen chest pain if you have other heart conditions like angina. Angina is a kind of chest pain that happens when
Causes Of Lower Left Side Abdominal Pain
In addition to causing upper left side abdominal pain, several of the causes listed above can be the cause of lower left side abdominal pain. Below are more diseases that can cause the pain in this area.
1. Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is the most common cause of pain in the lower part of abdomen. When experiencing diverticulitis, most of the pain will occur in the lower region of the abdomen and almost always on the left side. This generally occurs after age 60. It causes a chronic pain in the colon and is caused by pouches in the intestinal walls.
2. Bowel Obstruction
When experiencing bowel obstruction, the abdominal pain is in the form of cramping or gripping and is accompanied by the abdomen distending and vomiting. There may also be loud noises from the bowels called borborygmi. If the obstruction is on the left side, there will be abdomen pain on the lower left side. Depending on whether or not the obstruction is total, you may not even be able to pass gas.
3. Constipation
In addition to pain, constipation can lead to the lack of ability to pass feces normally, a feeling of being bloated and a lack of weight loss. Whether it’s chronic or newly acquired constipation, it can cause pain on left side of abdomen.
4. Crohn’s Disease
5. Ectopic Pregnancy
6. Endometriosis
7. Hernia
8. IBS
9. Ovarian Cyst
10. Psoas Abscess
11. Rectus Sheath Haematoma
12. Sigmoid Volvulus
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If You Have Chronic Or Frequent Stomach Pain
Chronic indigestion, constipation or gas — that happens on a regular, ongoing basis — can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition. A few of the most common digestive conditions are listed below — but remember that only a health care professional can diagnose you, so make sure to consult with your provider if you’re concerned.
What To Keep In Mind With Right Side Abdominal Pain
These are just some of the potential causes of pain on the right side of the abdomen. Doctors are trained to look at five factors when diagnosing the cause of pain in the abdomen: what is the patient doing before or during the pain, where is the discomfort located, how severe it is, and medical history. Since there are so many potential options, professional medical help is the only way to know for sure what you are facing.
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Possible Causes Of Abdominal Pain
There are several causes of abdominal pain or discomfort. The following are lists of causes of abdominal pain , grouped into the area of the abdomen where patients often say their pain is mainly localized.
Upper Abdominal Pain
Upper abdominal pain –
- Angina – RLBC
- Cholangitis – RC
- Cholecystitis – RC
The above lists are examples of many causes of abdominal pain. The doctor makes use of the location, type, and intensity of pain to try to arrive at a diagnosis. For example, if an older patient has acute pain that is relatively constant, located in the left and or center of the lower abdomen with a pain score of 9 out of 10, that is sharp or tearing, the doctor would likely place a thoracic aortic aneurysm high on the list of suspected causes.
Types And Symptoms Of Right
Pain on the right-side of your abdomen may be sharp or dull and last a short time or a long time . The pain might start in one place and move to another.
Symptoms you experience with pain can be very important for you and your doctor in figuring out the potential cause of your pain. They can include , cramping, diarrhea, fever and .
Common causes of right-sided abdominal pain include:
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When To Call A Doctor
Bottom line: If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s time to call a doctor.
- Bloody diarrhea, stools or vomit
- Black stools
- A fever over 102 degrees
- Signs of severe dehydration, like feeling dizzy or a lack of tears or urine
- Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea that lasts for longer than three days
Causes Of Pain In Mid
As mentioned, numerous factors can contribute to pain in the middle of the stomach. These causes can range from indigestion, which is relatively easy to deal with, to gallstones and pancreatic disorders, which can require much more treatment and possibly even hospital stays. The following are the more common causes of pain in the mid-abdomen.
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What Does Skinny Poop Mean
While narrow or pencil-thin stool is not always a sign of constipation, it may be if your poop doesnt normally look that way. Constipation is usually caused by a lack of fiber in your diet or not enough exercise. Other causes include pregnancy, travel, use of some medications, and changes in your hormone levels.
Could I Have A Swollen Or Damaged Spleen
Occasionally, left-sided abdominal pain can be a sign that something is wrong with your spleen.
The spleen is a small, fist-sized organ located just underneath your stomach. It helps to filter your blood and create new blood cells.
Your spleen may hurt if its damaged or ruptured in an accident, or it can become swollen and painful as a result of a condition like leukemia or rheumatoid arthritis.
Other signs that your spleen has become swollen or damaged include:
- pain or tenderness behind your left ribs
- dizziness and rapid heart rate
- feeling full very quickly after eating
- frequent infections
- fatigue
If you think that your spleen may be damaged or swollen, you should go to your nearest hospital immediately. They may organise scans and tests to find the cause, and may be able to prescribe medication to treat the underlying cause.
Read more about how to tell if your stomach pain is serious.
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