Why Is My Lower Stomach Cramping

Lower Abdominal Pain Symptoms

Lower abdominal pain can feel different depending on the underlying cause. Some types of pain are spread throughout the lower abdomen. Others may feel specific and pointed.

Symptoms may differ depending on the reason for the pain. Lower abdominal pain is a symptom in and of itself. Its not a condition.

What Stomach Pain And Cramps Should I Look Out For In Pregnancy

Most stomach pain and cramps in pregnancy are nothing to worry about. But there are some symptoms you should know about as they could be a sign of something more serious.

If you feel any of the following pains, even if you’re not experiencing any of the other symptoms listed, call your midwife, doctor or hospital immediately.

Severe pain on one side of the lower stomach in early pregnancyThis pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Other symptoms may include:

• pain in the tip of your shoulder
• brown discharge

The Difference Between A Bellyache And Abdominal Pain

Most bellyaches are temporary and may be due to overindulgence in a favorite food, a simple flu bug, or another issue that resolves quickly. Some conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome , may become chronic and require changes in your diet. And a few problems that cause pain, such as pancreatitis or appendicitis, require urgent medical attention.

Its also possible that the abdominal pain youre experiencing isnt coming from your gut at all. Kidney stones, for instance, can cause pain that travels from your lower back or side to your abdomen.

Because abdominal pain can arise from so many sources, identifying the location and nature of your pain often helps Dr. Pothuri narrow down the underlying cause of your discomfort.

Regardless of whats causing it, however, when your belly pain doesnt resolve quickly, resolves and then returns, or is severe enough to wake you from sleep, its time to visit GastroDoxs.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Abdominal Bloating

Abdominal pain and bloating are considered two different symptoms. That being said, you are likely to feel both at the same time. These symptoms refer to the ache or distention felt under the gastral cavity and above your pubic bone, also called the lower and upper abdominal regions.

Its important to note that a bloated stomach is not related to gaining fat mass around the stomach or water retention. It is mainly caused by air being temporarily stuck around the abdomen.

You may experience the following signs and symptoms alongside the gassiness, fullness, and stomach pain of abdominal bloating:Signs of an allergic reaction

• A fever
• Swollen, painful lymph nodes in your throat, armpits, or groin

Pain In Your Lower Stomach And Back Heres What It Could Mean

If your stomach is churning or cramping and your lower back is aching, it’s important to know that the causes for lower back and lower stomach pain can range widely. Depending on your pain level, you may benefit from ringing your doctor’s office to figure out what’s causing it and get relief.

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How To Manage Stomach Pain

If your stomach pain is not severe or long-lasting, and if you’re not having symptoms like those mentioned above, the pain may go away on its own.

This 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, with 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.

When To Contact A Medical Professional

Get medical help right away or call your local emergency number if you:

• Are currently being treated for cancer
• Are unable to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
• Are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool
• Have chest, neck, or shoulder pain
• Have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
• Have pain in, or between, your shoulder blades with nausea
• Have tenderness in your belly, or your belly is rigid and hard to the touch
• Are pregnant or could be pregnant
• Had a recent injury to your abdomen
• Have difficulty breathing

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Warning Signs To See A Gynecologist Concerning Your Pelvic Pain

If you cannot rule out any ‘other causes’ for dyspareunia, including emotional trauma, chronic stress, sexual position, and vaginal dryness, you may need help from a gynecologist.

Considering the wide range of problems that revolve around painful intercourse, your gynecologist will be able to seek diagnosis and treatment.

If your gynecologist does not find any issues regarding your reproductive system or pain, seek advice from a vascular doctor.

Warning signs include:

• Pain is too severe to have sex
• You cannot become aroused out of fear of the pain returning
• The pain disrupts your daily activities
• Pain is almost unbearable during your menstrual cycle
• It is accompanied by other symptoms

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.

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What Can Be Expected Following Surgical Treatment For A Hernia

After surgery, you will be given instructions. These include what diet to follow, how to care for the incision site, and how to take care to avoid physical strain. Hernias may recur regardless of the repair operations. This is sometimes caused by inherent tissue weakness or protracted healing. Smoking and obesity are also major risk factors for hernia recurrence.

Why Do I Have Cramps But No Period

Pelvic pain similar to a menstrual period can happen at times when no period is due or can occur because of conditions other than the monthly cycle. Sometimes it is hard to tell the exact reason for cramps that feel like a menstrual period.

The following 12 diseases and conditions are examples of situations that can cause pain or cramps when not on your period.

Ovulation

In the middle of the menstrual cycle, or about 10-14 days before your period, ovulation occurs. This is the release of an egg from a follicle within the ovary.

• Symptoms can include
• mild cramping that may be sharp or dull,
• lasting a few minutes to hours. It typically occurs on one side of the abdomen only.

Ovarian cyst

A cyst is an enclosed tissue sac filled with fluid. The ovary is a common location for cyst development.

• A small ovarian cyst typically does not cause symptoms, but if the cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden, sharp pains or cramps on one side of the lower abdomen.
• An enlarging cyst may cause dull pain or a feeling of fullness or heaviness in the lower abdomen or back.

Ovarian cancer

This is a rare cause of pain or pressure within the abdomen or pelvis.

• Ovarian cancer may not cause any symptoms, but if the cancer is large, it can cause
• pain or pressure in the abdomen or back,
• a feeling of heaviness or fullness,
• swelling of the abdomen, and
• feeling an urgent need to urinate.

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What Is Causing Your Pain

The process involves the egg being released from the ovaries to the fallopian tubes towards the uterus.

If fertilized, the egg will attach itself to the uterine wall.

Before jumping to conclusion on the suspicion of pregnancy, there are many causes of or severe menstrual discomfort during this time.

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What Is A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is known as a minimally invasive procedure because it uses several small incisions instead of one large one. A laparoscope is a narrow tube with a camera. This surgical tool is inserted through one incision. The camera allows your doctor to see your gallbladder on a TV screen. Your gallbladder is then removed through another small incision.

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When Should My Child See A Doctor

Many children recover from abdominal pain quickly and dont need to see a doctor.

Take your child to a doctor immediately or go to your nearest hospital emergency department if they:

• are in pain that goes on for longer than 24 hours or if youre worried about them
• have pain that is severe or debilitating even though they have taken pain medicine
• are hard to wake and are unwell
• vomit for more than 24 hours, or they are unable to keep any fluids down, refusing to drink any fluids and their vomit is green
• have blood in their poo or vomit
• are having trouble doing a wee
• have pain and lumps in the groin
• were recently injured for example, falling onto the handlebars of a bike

If your child is still a baby and they have fewer than 4 wet nappies per day, as well as their abdominal pain, you should take them to a doctor immediately or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

The Link Between Your Gut Microbiome And Your Health

In addition, many of the underlying conditions that cause abdominal pain can lead to serious complications, including the possibility of structural damage to the digestive system from infection, cancer and its treatments, and inflammatory bowel disease .

To reduce the risk of complications, its important to seek medical attention for your abdominal pain if its sudden and severe, or if it includes symptoms like fever, bloody stool, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, or visible swelling.

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Lower Abdominal Pain: Lifestyle And Prevention Tips

While some forms of lower abdominal pain are out of our control, we do have the ability to take good care of our tummies and to prevent discomfort. For example, a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet and drinking plenty of water can help us avoid channel infections. It can also control constipation, which may lead to lower abdominal pain.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind:

• Wear cotton undergarments
• Avoid perfumed merchandise around the vagina, such as body washes
• Try drinking lemon juice and ginger juice to control and prevent PMS and menstrual pain.
• Take pain medications as prescribed
• Donât self-diagnose

While most people who experience lower abdominal pain have nothing to be concerned about, when symptoms donât go away or are severe, it could be a sign of something serious. If you find yourself in one of these situations, donât hesitate to seek medical attention. In many cases, the sooner proper treatment begins, the less chance there is of sustaining long-term damage or needing surgery.

Signs You Should See A Doctor About Stomach Pain

Stomach pain can be tricky for even the best doctors to diagnose, so if all youre armed with is Google, M.D., sussing out whats causing your discomfort can be hard. For starters, stomach pain is a pretty broad description. Are we talking a mild yet persistent twinge or a cramps-that-hurt-so-badly-youre-on-the-floor kind of situation? Then theres the fact that stomach pain can crop up pretty much anywhere in your abdomen, and health issues that cause problems in one part of your belly might not affect others. These seemingly little nuances all matter when it comes to narrowing down what could be behind your stomach pain.

If youre struggling with stomach pain that makes you wonder if you should see a doctor, you probably should. Nothing beats an evaluation from an expert. That said, its understandable that you might want to have some inkling of what may be going on before then. Here are some common types of stomach pain you can experience, plus the health issues that could be behind them.

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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:

• severe pain
• 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.

What Causes Mild Belly Pain In Pregnancy

There are different causes for mild achiness or pain in the abdomen during the different stages of pregnancy.

Early pregnancy

• Some women have low, period-like pain or cramps early in pregnancy. But if pain is severe or felt on one side, call your health care provider right away.

Later in pregnancy

• As your belly grows, the muscles and ligaments that support your uterus stretch. This can cause a dull ache across the belly or a sharp pain on one side. Many women feel this pain most severely when getting up from a bed, chair or bathtub or when coughing.
• Gas pains and bloating may be caused by hormones that slow your digestion, the pressure of your growing uterus, constipation and heartburn.
• You may feel irregular contractions or tightening of your uterus muscles, often called Braxton-Hicks or false labor. False labor is usually painless, but some women feel pain. False labor tends to increase in the weeks right before your due date and can be confused with true labor.

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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.

What Do Upper And Lower Abdominal Pain Signify

If the pain is coming from higher up in your stomach, it could be caused by acid reflux or an ulcer. You might also have heartburn and belching and the pain may either be made worse or relieved by food.

If you feel pain right across your stomach area or low down, its probably coming from your bowel. You may also have bloating and wind. If your stomach cramps have started recently and you also have diarrhoea, the cause is probably gastroenteritis. If you are very ill for example, with chills or a fever you may have a more serious condition, such as food poisoning.

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When Should I See My Doctor

In some cases, you should seek urgent medical attention or consult a doctor if you have abdominal pain.

If you have a sudden, severe, incapacitating pain in your abdomen, go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance.

You should also seek urgent medical attention if you have pain that:

• is severe and/or getting worse
• has lasted for several hours or more
• wakes you from sleep
• is spreading to your neck, chest or shoulders
• makes it difficult to swallow

Urgent medical attention is also required if you have abdominal pain accompanied by

• unexplained weight loss
• skin that appears yellow

If you are experiencing pain high up in your abdomen that is made worse by exercise it could be angina or a heart attack. If you, or someone near you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call triple zero immediately and ask for an ambulance.

If you are pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, check with your doctor or midwife. Abdominal pains are common in pregnancy, but should always be checked out.

If your abdominal pain does not match the situations above, but it is recurrent or persistent , or it started mild but is worsening, you should still consult a doctor.

What Causes Cramps With No Period

Lots of women get pelvic pain and cramping, but your period isn’t always to blame. Cysts, constipation, pregnancy — even cancer — can make it feel like your monthly visitor is about to stop by.

It can be tough to tell whether having cramps without a period is caused by something simple or more serious. But there are common reasons for cramping without your period.

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Causes Of Acute Stomach Pain

• Eating Too Much. Eating too much can cause an upset stomach and mild stomach pain.
• Hunger Pains. Younger children may complain of stomach pain when they are hungry.
• GI Virus . A GI virus can cause stomach cramps as well as vomiting and/or diarrhea.
• Food Poisoning. This causes sudden vomiting and/or diarrhea within hours after eating the bad food. It is caused by toxins from germs growing in foods left out too long. Most often, symptoms go away in less than 24 hours. It often can be treated at home without the need for medical care.
• Constipation. The need to pass a stool may cause cramps in the lower abdomen.
• Strep Throat. A strep throat infection causes 10% of new onset stomach pain with fever.
• Bladder Infection. Bladder infections usually present with painful urination, urgency and bad smelling urine. Sometimes the only symptom is pain in the lower abdomen.
• Appendicitis . Suspect appendicitis if pain is low on the right side and walks bent over. Other signs are the child wont hop and wants to lie still.
• Intussusception . Sudden attacks of severe pain that switch back and forth with periods of calm. Caused by one segment of bowel telescoping into a lower piece of bowel. Peak age is 6 months to 2 years.

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