About abdominal pain

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain facts

  • Abdominal pain is pain that is felt in the part of the trunk below the ribs and above the pelvis.
  • Abdominal pain comes from organs within the abdomen or organs adjacent to the abdomen.
  • Abdominal pain is caused by inflammation, distention of an organ, or by loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be caused by contraction of the intestinal muscles or hyper-sensitivity to normal intestinal activities.
  • Symptoms associated with abdominal pain may include:
    • Bloating
    • Gas (flatus, farting)
    • Indigestion
    • Pain in the upper left or right; middle; or lower left or right abdomen
    • Constipation
    • GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease)
    • Heartburn
    • Chest pain
  • The cause of abdominal pain is diagnosed on the basis of the characteristics of the pain, physical examination, and testing. Occasionally, surgery is necessary for diagnosis.
  • The diagnosis of the cause of abdominal pain is challenging because the characteristics of the pain may be atypical, tests are not always abnormal, diseases causing pain may mimic each other, and the characteristics of the pain may change over time

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is pain that is felt in the abdomen. The abdomen is an anatomical area that is bounded by the lower margin of the ribs and diaphragm above, the pelvic bone (pubic ramus) below, and the flanks on each side. Although abdominal pain can arise from the tissues of the abdominal wall that surround the abdominal cavity (such as the skin and abdominal wall muscles), the term abdominal pain generally is used to describe pain originating from organs within the abdominal cavity. Organs of the abdomen include the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas.

Technically, the lowermost portion of the area described previously, is the pelvis, which contains the urinary bladder and rectum, as well as the prostate gland in men, and the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries in women. Often, it can be difficult to know if lower abdominal pain is coming from the lower abdomen or pelvis.

Occasionally, pain may be felt in the abdomen even though it is arising from organs that are close to, but not within, the abdominal cavity. For example, conditions of the lower lungs, the kidneys, and the uterus or ovaries can cause abdominal pain. On the other hand, it also is possible for pain from organs within the abdomen to be felt outside of the abdomen. For example, the pain of pancreatic inflammation may be felt in the back. These latter types of pain are called "referred" pain because the pain does not originate in the location that it is felt. Rather, the cause of the pain is located away from where it is felt (i.e., it is referred to a different area).

What are the symptoms for abdominal pain?

Cramp-like pain symptom was found in the abdominal pain condition

Everyone experiences Abdominal Pain from time to time. Other terms used to describe Abdominal Pain are stomachache, tummy ache, gut ache and bellyache. Abdominal Pain can be mild or severe. It may be continuous or come and go. Abdominal Pain can be short-lived (acute) or occur over weeks, months or years (chronic).

Call your doctor right away if you have Abdominal Pain so severe that you can't move without causing more pain, or you can't sit still or find a comfortable position.

Seek immediate medical help if Pain is accompanied by other worrisome signs and symptoms, including:

  • Severe pain
  • Fever
  • Bloody stools
  • Persistent Nausea and vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Skin that appears yellow
  • Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
  • Swelling of the abdomen

What are the causes for abdominal pain?

Possible medical causes of Abdominal Pain: Zinc Recurrent hereditary polyserositis Tetrodotoxin Vibrio parahaemolyticus Valproic acid Dientamoeba fragilis Cryptosporidiosis Pancreatitis, acute Phlegmonous gastritis Zafirlukast Ezetimibe Breech presentation Indomethacin Ileus Entacapone Testicular torsion Pneumonia Chandipura virus Spinal cord injury, acute Gastric ulcer Premenstrual syndrome Urinary tract infection Copper salts Cholelithiasis Cholangiocarcinoma Acute intermittent porphyria Lymphogranuloma venereum Gall bladder rupture Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction Small bowel lymphoma Haematometra Braxton Hick's contraction Mesenteric adenitis Sexual abuse Pyrimethamine Anisakiasis Uterine rupture Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome Thallium Colonic diverticulitis Tabes dorsalis Chester porphyria Acute angle-closure glaucoma Lipoprotein lipase deficiency Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis Osteitis pubis Lassa fever Polyarteritis nodosa Miscarriage Salmonella Bacillary dysentery Subdiaphragmatic abscess Typhoid fever Fructose intolerance Superior mesenteric artery occlusion Colchicine Dicrocoelium dendriticum fluke Polycystic kidney disease, adult (autosomal dominant) Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis Degos' disease Angioedema (acquired) Liver abscess Intususception of intestine Carbon tetrachloride Dubin-Johnson syndrome Hepatitis A Mittelschmerz Oesophagostomiasis Collagenous colitis Familial hypertriglyceridaemia Fabry's disease Papillary necrosis Chilaiditi's syndrome Nutcracker syndrome of left renal vein Proguanil Gastroduodenal ulcers Iliac artery aneurysm Whipple's disease Femoral hernia Eosinophilic gastroenteritis Metagonimiasis Entamoeba histolytica Renal vein thrombosis Down syndrome Ciprofloxacin Perihepatitis Labour (normal) Henoch-Schönlein purpura Cystitis, infective Myoneurogastrointestinal encephalopathy syndrome Variegate porphyria Muckle-Wells syndrome Sickle cell crisis (abdominal / sequestration) Haematocolpos Methysergide Ovarian torsion Diabetic ketoacidosis Churg-Strauss syndrome Hypercalcaemia Campylobacter jejuni Colorectal cancer Digoxin IgA nephropathy Dysmenorrhoea Alosetron Curling's ulcers Bowel strangulation Intestinal volvulus Aortic aneurysm, abdominal Opisthorchiasis Toxocariasis Arsenic trioxide Paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria Lead Apolipoprotein C-II deficiency Ondansetron Mesenteric venous thrombosis Norfloxacin Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy Mallory-Weiss syndrome Pramlintide Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever syndrome Cushing's ulcers Pelvic inflammatory disease Pyelonephritis, acute Bornholm disease Gastrointestinal perforation Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome Renal infarction Cholecystitis Mumps Quinidine Large bowel obstruction Clonorchiasis Organophosphates Endometriosis Colitis cystica profunda Colonic pseudoobstruction Water hemlock poisoning Melarsoprol Infectious mononucleosis Hematosalpinx Ascariasis Zollinger-Ellison syndrome Splenic rupture Peritoneal adhesions Appendicitis Pancreatic pseudocyst Cisapride Gastroesophageal reflux Obturator hernia Zotepine Inguinal hernia Cholangitis Porphobilinogen synthase deficiency Ovarian cyst Splenosis Crohn's disease Malaria (malignant tertian) Echinococcus granulosus Acipimox Duodenal ulcer Fasciola hepatica Ovarian cancer Gastric volvulus Varicella-zoster virus Cystitis Poison hemlock Alpha heavy chain disease C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency Ectopic pregnancy Gemeprost Uterine fibroid red degeneration Splenic infarction Urine retention Meckel diverticulitis Liver cancer, primary Laparotomy Tegafur Wandering spleen Placental abruption Paragonimiasis Hepatic vein thrombosis Prednisolone Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria Choledocholithiasis Ischaemic heart disease Arsenicals Constipation Epstein-Barr virus Sickle cell crisis (thrombotic) Ergotamine Pancreatitis, chronic Oesophagitis Coproporphyria, hereditary Small bowel obstruction Migraine Carbon monoxide toxicity Toxic megacolon Simple renal cyst Glomerulonephritis Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis Lactase deficiency Quinine Chloroquine Iron compounds Renal oncocytoma Gallbladder empyema Carcinoid tumours and carcinoid syndrome Ethanol Haemochromatosis Yersinia enterocolitica Functional disorders Viral haemorrhagic fever Aspirin Rivastigmine Angiomyolipoma Gastroenteritis Retroperitoneal haemorrhage Bethanechol Cushing's syndrome Teniasis Primary sclerosing cholangitis Primaquine Diabetes mellitus type 2 Choledochal cyst Nephrolithiasis Ulcerative colitis Misoprostol Embolism Nephroblastoma Peritonitis Angiostrongyliasis Irritable bowel syndrome Hibernian fever, familial Intestinal ischaemia Sulphasalazine Malakoplakia Heterophyiasis Stomach cancer Sickle cell disease Pancreatic cancer Ancylostoma caninum Rofecoxib Typhlitis Source: Diseases Database

What are the treatments for abdominal pain?

How abdominal pain is treated is highly dependent on the diagnosis. Medications that reduce inflammation may help with stomach pains resulting from ulcers.

But other conditions, like kidney stones, may require more intensive treatment like shock wave lithotripsy. Inflammation of the gall bladder might require gall bladder surgery.

Your doctor might prescribe a pain-modifying drug, like amitriptyline or trazodone, to address the pain. These may help change the way the brain processes pain signals.

If you and your doctor have determined that your abdominal pain is not the result of a serious medical condition, there are a number of home health remedies that may provide relief. Here’s a brief list:

  • bitters and soda
  • ginger
  • chamomile tea
  • BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast)
  • peppermint
  • apple cider vinegar
  • heating pad
  • warm bath

What are the risk factors for abdominal pain?

Acute: 

  1. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
  2. Appendicitis
  3. Cholangitis (bile duct inflammation)
  4. Cholecystitis
  5. Cystitis (bladder inflammation)
  6. Diabetic ketoacidosis
  7. Diverticulitis
  8. Duodenitis (inflammation in the first part of the small intestine)
  9. Ectopic pregnancy (in which the fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube)
  10. Fecal impaction (hardened stool that can't be eliminated)
  11. Heart attack, etc.

Chronic:

  1. Angina (reduced blood flow to the heart)
  2. Celiac disease
  3. Endometriosis
  4. Functional dyspepsia
  5. Gallstones
  6. Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
  7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  8. Hiatal hernia
  9. Inguinal hernia, etc.

Progressive:

  1. Cancer
  2. Crohn's disease
  3. Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
  4. Gallbladder cancer
  5. Hepatitis
  6. Kidney cancer
  7. Lead poisoning, etc.

Is there a cure/medications for abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain can be felt in any part below the ribs to the pelvis. It is also termed stomach pain or tummy pain. Individuals can get relief from abdominal pain by taking certain pills.

Treatment

  • Yes, abdominal pain is curable. If it is a gastric pain, medicines having simethicone such as Mylanta or Gas-X can help get rid of it.
  • For esophageal reflux diseases and heartburn, antacid such as Zantac 75 is recommended by physicians.
  • A laxative or mild stool softener can help you get rid of constipation pain.
  • For diarrhea cramping, medicines having bismuth subsalicylate such as Pepto-Bismol and loperamide such as Imodium might help you get rid of the abdominal pain.
  • For other types of pain where the exact cause remains undiagnosed, acetaminophen such as Aspirin, Panadol, Anacin, and Tylenol might be helpful.
  • It is recommended to stay away from non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These can enhance stomach irritability.


Symptoms
Sharp pain in the abdomen,Vomiting,Cramp-like pain,Twisting in stomach
Conditions
Ulcers,Gall stones,Appendicitis,Infection,Pregnancy issues,Urination,Bowel problems
Drugs
Mylanta,Gas-X,Zantac 75,Pepto-Bismol,Imodium,Anacin,Tylenol

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