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11 Common Causes of Burning Above Belly Button: Understanding Navel Pain

What are the main reasons for experiencing burning sensations above the belly button. How can you differentiate between benign and serious causes of navel pain. When should you seek medical attention for persistent belly button discomfort.

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Indigestion: A Frequent Culprit of Belly Button Pain

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia or upset stomach, is a common cause of discomfort in the upper abdomen that can radiate to the belly button area. This condition affects a significant portion of the population, with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reporting that one in four Americans have experienced indigestion.

What are the symptoms of indigestion?

  • Burning sensation in the upper abdomen
  • Discomfort or pain near the belly button
  • Bloating and fullness
  • Nausea

How is indigestion treated? Over-the-counter antacids and acid blockers are often effective in managing indigestion symptoms. For persistent cases, prescription acid suppressive therapies may be recommended by a healthcare professional.

Functional Dyspepsia: When Belly Button Pain Persists

Functional dyspepsia is a condition characterized by recurring pain in the upper part of the stomach that can extend to the belly button region. Unlike indigestion, functional dyspepsia has no known cause and tends to come and go over time.

How prevalent is functional dyspepsia? Among those who consult a doctor for indigestion-like symptoms, approximately 75% are diagnosed with functional dyspepsia.

What treatment options are available for functional dyspepsia? Similar to indigestion, over-the-counter antacids and acid blockers can provide relief. In cases where these medications prove ineffective, prescription acid suppressive therapies may be recommended.

Pregnancy-Related Belly Button Pain: What Expectant Mothers Should Know

Pregnancy can cause various discomforts, including belly button pain. While mild discomfort is generally not a cause for concern, pregnant women experiencing significant and persistent pain should consult their healthcare provider.

Can pregnancy cause umbilical hernias? In rare cases, pregnant women may develop umbilical hernias, particularly those carrying multiples or those who are severely obese. Symptoms of an umbilical hernia during pregnancy include:

  • A visible bulge near the belly button
  • Swelling around the navel area
  • Pain in and around the belly button
  • Nausea and vomiting

Constipation: A Common yet Uncomfortable Cause of Navel Pain

Constipation is a widespread condition that can lead to discomfort in the abdominal area, including the belly button. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases defines constipation as having three or fewer bowel movements in a one-week period.

How can constipation be managed? Short-term constipation can often be treated with stool softeners and by increasing fiber intake. However, if constipation persists for two months or longer, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

Post-Surgical Belly Button Pain: What to Watch For

Pain in the belly button area following abdominal surgery is not uncommon and typically resolves as the body heals. Pain medications can be prescribed to manage discomfort during the recovery process.

When should post-surgical belly button pain be a concern? If severe pain and swelling persist, especially when accompanied by the following symptoms, it’s crucial to seek medical attention:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Redness or warmth around the incision site
  • Drainage from the incision

These symptoms may indicate a post-surgical infection that requires prompt treatment.

Urinary Tract Infections: An Overlooked Cause of Abdominal Discomfort

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and belly button area. While more common in women, UTIs can affect individuals of all ages and genders.

How are UTIs diagnosed and treated? UTIs are typically diagnosed through a urine test and treated with a course of antibiotics. Prompt treatment is essential to prevent the infection from spreading to the kidneys.

Preventing UTIs

  1. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
  2. Urinate frequently, especially after sexual activity
  3. Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom
  4. Avoid using harsh soaps or douches in the genital area

Bacterial Stomach Infections: When Gut Health Goes Awry

Bacterial infections in the stomach can lead to persistent belly button pain and discomfort throughout the abdomen. These infections can develop over time, causing painful sores in the stomach lining and small intestine.

Why are bacterial stomach infections concerning? In some cases, long-term bacterial infections in the stomach can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

How are bacterial stomach infections treated? Antibiotics are the primary treatment for bacterial stomach infections. As the medication takes effect, symptoms such as belly button pain and abdominal discomfort should begin to subside.

Gastroenteritis: When the “Stomach Flu” Strikes

Gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as the “stomach flu,” can cause significant discomfort in the abdominal region, including the belly button area. This condition is typically caused by consuming contaminated food or drink, or through direct contact with an infected individual.

What are the primary symptoms of gastroenteritis?

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Fever
  • Headache

When should you seek medical attention for gastroenteritis? While most cases of gastroenteritis resolve on their own, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Signs of dehydration
  • Blood in stools
  • Inability to keep liquids down
  • Symptoms lasting longer than three days

Gallstones: A Painful Cause of Belly Button Discomfort

Gallbladder attacks resulting from gallstones can cause intense pain that often begins in the upper abdomen and radiates to the belly button area. This condition can be particularly painful and may require medical intervention.

How are gallstones diagnosed? Gallstones are typically diagnosed through imaging tests such as ultrasounds or CT scans.

What treatment options are available for gallstones? Treatment for gallstones may include:

  • Medications to dissolve small gallstones
  • Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy)
  • Lithotripsy for breaking up larger gallstones

Preventing Gallstones

While not all gallstones can be prevented, certain lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk:

  1. Maintain a healthy weight
  2. Eat a balanced diet rich in fiber
  3. Exercise regularly
  4. Avoid rapid weight loss

Understanding the Significance of Belly Button Pain

Belly button pain can range from a mild annoyance to a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. While many causes of navel discomfort are benign and easily treatable, it’s essential to be aware of potential red flags that may indicate a need for medical attention.

When should you be concerned about belly button pain? Seek medical advice if you experience:

  • Severe or persistent pain
  • Pain accompanied by fever or chills
  • Visible swelling or redness around the navel
  • Pain that interferes with daily activities
  • Unexplained weight loss

Diagnostic Approaches for Belly Button Pain

Healthcare providers may use various diagnostic tools to determine the cause of belly button pain, including:

  1. Physical examination
  2. Blood tests
  3. Imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI)
  4. Endoscopy
  5. Stool samples

By identifying the underlying cause, healthcare professionals can recommend appropriate treatment options to alleviate discomfort and address any potential health concerns.

Holistic Approaches to Managing Belly Button Pain

While medical treatments are often necessary for addressing the root cause of belly button pain, there are several holistic approaches that may complement conventional therapies and provide relief:

Dietary Modifications

Certain dietary changes may help alleviate belly button pain, particularly when it’s related to digestive issues:

  • Increase fiber intake to promote regular bowel movements
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
  • Avoid trigger foods that may exacerbate symptoms (e.g., spicy or fatty foods)
  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals to reduce digestive stress

Stress Management Techniques

Stress can exacerbate various digestive issues and contribute to belly button pain. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine may help:

  1. Practice mindfulness meditation
  2. Engage in regular physical exercise
  3. Try deep breathing exercises
  4. Consider yoga or tai chi for mind-body balance

Herbal Remedies

Some herbal remedies may offer relief from belly button pain, particularly when it’s related to digestive discomfort:

  • Peppermint tea for soothing digestive upset
  • Ginger for its anti-inflammatory properties
  • Chamomile to calm digestive spasms
  • Fennel seeds to reduce bloating and gas

It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating herbal remedies, especially if you’re taking medications or have underlying health conditions.

The Role of Posture in Alleviating Belly Button Pain

Poor posture can contribute to abdominal discomfort, including pain around the belly button area. Improving your posture may help alleviate symptoms and promote overall well-being.

Tips for Maintaining Good Posture

  1. Be mindful of your sitting position, especially when working at a desk
  2. Use ergonomic chairs and supports to maintain proper spinal alignment
  3. Take regular breaks to stand and stretch throughout the day
  4. Strengthen core muscles through targeted exercises
  5. Practice proper lifting techniques to avoid straining abdominal muscles

By incorporating these posture-improving habits, you may experience a reduction in belly button pain and improved overall comfort.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care for Belly Button Pain

While many causes of belly button pain are not life-threatening, there are instances where immediate medical attention is necessary. Being aware of these situations can help ensure prompt treatment and prevent potential complications.

Seek emergency care if you experience belly button pain accompanied by:

  • Severe, sudden abdominal pain
  • High fever (above 101°F or 38.3°C)
  • Persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
  • Signs of shock (pale, clammy skin; rapid breathing; confusion)
  • Severe abdominal swelling or bloating
  • Blood in vomit or stools

These symptoms may indicate serious conditions such as appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, or other medical emergencies that require immediate intervention.

The Importance of Regular Check-ups in Preventing Belly Button Pain

Regular medical check-ups play a crucial role in maintaining overall health and can help prevent or identify potential causes of belly button pain early on. By staying proactive about your health, you can address issues before they become more serious or cause significant discomfort.

Benefits of Regular Health Screenings

  1. Early detection of digestive disorders
  2. Monitoring of chronic conditions that may contribute to abdominal pain
  3. Opportunity to discuss any new or concerning symptoms with a healthcare provider
  4. Personalized advice on maintaining digestive health
  5. Timely updates to treatment plans or medications as needed

By prioritizing regular check-ups, you can take a proactive approach to your health and potentially prevent or minimize instances of belly button pain and other abdominal discomforts.

Innovative Treatments on the Horizon for Chronic Belly Button Pain

As medical research continues to advance, new treatments for chronic belly button pain and related conditions are being developed. While many of these approaches are still in the experimental stages, they offer hope for individuals who have not found relief through conventional methods.

Emerging Treatment Options

  • Targeted nerve stimulation therapy
  • Microbiome-based treatments for digestive disorders
  • Advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques
  • Personalized medicine approaches based on genetic profiles
  • Novel pharmacological compounds for pain management

While these innovative treatments may not be widely available yet, they represent the ongoing efforts of medical researchers to improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic belly button pain and related conditions.

Conclusion: Navigating the Complexities of Belly Button Pain

Belly button pain can arise from a variety of causes, ranging from simple indigestion to more serious underlying conditions. By understanding the potential reasons for this discomfort and recognizing when to seek medical attention, individuals can take proactive steps towards managing their health and well-being.

Remember that while many cases of belly button pain are benign and easily treatable, persistent or severe pain should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional. By staying informed and attentive to your body’s signals, you can ensure timely intervention and appropriate care for any abdominal discomfort you may experience.

As medical knowledge and treatments continue to advance, the outlook for managing and treating belly button pain continues to improve. By combining conventional medical approaches with holistic wellness strategies, individuals can work towards achieving optimal digestive health and overall well-being.

11 reasons for belly button pain

There are many reasons someone may experience belly button pain. Some causes are related to serious and potentially fatal conditions, while others are simple, resolvable stomach issues.

Anyone experiencing belly button pain should talk to their doctor who can best determine whether or not the pain is serious. Many minor conditions can cause pain in the navel area and even radiate to other areas of the body, including the pelvis, legs, and chest.

Common causes include indigestion, constipation, and pregnancy. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Fast facts on belly button pain:

  • Pregnancy can cause women to have belly button pain.
  • Some temporary conditions can cause belly pain.
  • Anyone who has abdominal surgery can experience belly button pain.
  • Constipation can cause belly button pain, but it is usually not a serious condition.

Indigestion is also called dyspepsia or upset stomach. It causes pain, burning, or discomfort in the upper abdomen, radiating to the belly button area.

Indigestion can be treated with over-the-counter antacids and acid blockers.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 1 in 4 people in America have experienced indigestion. Further, of those who see a doctor for indigestion, 3 in 4 people are diagnosed with functional dyspepsia.

Functional dyspepsia causes pain in the upper part of the stomach that radiates to the belly button. It is an ailment that comes and goes but has no known cause.

Much like indigestion, functional dyspepsia can be treated with over-the-counter antacids and acid blockers. Prescription acid suppressive therapies may help when these medications do not.

Mild belly button pain is no cause for concern, but women who are experiencing any significant and ongoing discomfort and pain should report it to a doctor.

An umbilical hernia during pregnancy is another possible reason for belly button pain in pregnancy. However, these types of hernias are rare and affect women who are pregnant with multiples or who are severely obese and pregnant.

Symptoms of an umbilical hernia include:

  • a bulge near the belly button
  • swelling around the belly button
  • pain in, around, and near the belly button
  • nausea and vomiting

Constipation is a widespread condition that is defined as a person having 3 or fewer bowel movements in a 1-week period, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Almost everyone gets constipated from time to time, and constipation that lasts a short time is not serious. Occasional constipation is treated with stool softeners and by adding processed or synthetic fibers to the diet.

Anyone who experiences constipation for 2 or more months, however, should see a doctor.

Other potential causes of belly button pain include pain after surgery, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacterial infections, and gastroenteritis.

Pain after surgery

Most of the time, the pain caused by surgery will resolve as the body heals. Pain medications can help, depending on the severity of pain.

Any severe pain and swelling that includes the following should be cause for further investigation:

People experiencing any of these symptoms should visit their doctor, as these are signs of an infection.

Urinary tract infections

UTIs are more common in women than in men, but anyone, including children, can get a UTI. UTIs can cause pain in the abdomen and belly button.

UTIs are caused by bacteria and are treated with antibiotics.

Bacterial stomach infections

Bad gut bacteria can enter the body and live in the digestive tract for many years. With time, bacteria can cause painful sores in the stomach lining and small intestine. Sometimes, these infections put people at risk for stomach cancers.

Infections can cause belly button pain and pain throughout the abdomen.

Bacterial stomach infections can be treated with antibiotics. Once antibiotics start working, belly button and abdomen pain and other symptoms will usually resolve.

Gastroenteritis

Commonly known as stomach flu, gastroenteritis is caused by consuming contaminated food or drink or having direct contact with an infected person. Belly button pain, stomach, and cramping are classic symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis typically gets better on its own. Anyone who experiences dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, has blood in stools, cannot keep liquids down, or has symptoms lasting longer than 3 days should contact a doctor.

Some conditions that cause belly button pain are particularly painful, but most are treatable and curable. Even those conditions that cannot be cured are still treatable, and pain can be managed.

Gallstones

Gallbladder attacks resulting from gallstones are very painful, and intense pain is usually the first indicator of a problem. Pain tends to start in the abdomen and travel to the belly button.

The only way to treat gallstone pain is to have surgery to remove the gallbladder. Once the gallbladder is removed, the pain will resolve.

Appendicitis

Share on PinterestAn inflamed appendix that can result in surgery, may be a cause of severe belly button pain.

Appendicitis is a very painful condition causing an inflamed appendix. One review in the Annals of Surgery reported there were almost 400,000 diagnoses of appendicitis in North America in 2015.

Appendicitis can be serious and even result in death.

Untreated appendicitis can cause peritonitis, which occurs if the appendix ruptures and the infection spreads in the abdomen.

Peritonitis is a dangerous and potentially fatal inflammation of the stomach lining that covers the stomach’s organs.

Appendix pain usually starts around the belly button and radiates throughout the abdomen. Pain worsens with any movement, including walking and coughing.

In addition to pain, appendicitis causes the following additional symptoms:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • appetite loss
  • constipation or diarrhea
  • fever
  • abdominal bloating or swelling
  • inability to pass gas

Anyone who suspects they may have appendicitis because they have severe belly button and abdominal pain or any of the symptoms noted above, should seek immediate medical attention.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a medical condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed.

In pancreatitis, digestive enzymes start moving to the pancreas before they are released into the small intestine and attack the pancreas. Belly button pain is a classic symptom of an inflamed pancreas.

Pancreatitis is often a chronic condition, and belly button pain is never fully resolved. Treatment can help manage chronic pancreatitis.

Small intestine disorders

Small intestine disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, can cause intense pain in and around the belly button. These types of conditions are chronic and painful, but they are treatable.

Belly button pain has more than one possible cause. The following circumstances of belly button pain may require immediate medical attention and should not be put on hold:

  • severe pain that affects and prevents daily activity
  • pain that causes waking at night or stops someone in their tracks
  • pain accompanied by severe vomiting
  • pain with bloody stools
  • pain resulting from an injury

Most of the time, belly button pain is not serious, but in some cases, it can be. Determining the cause of belly pain can help a person to manage it with appropriate treatments.

Therefore, anyone experiencing very painful or unusual belly button pain should bring it to the attention of their doctor.

Burning sensation in lower abdomen: Causes and treatments

People who experience a “burning sensation” in the lower abdomen may have a condition of the urological, gynecological, or digestive system.

Causes of a burning sensation in the lower abdomen may include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), kidney stones, certain gynecological conditions, and cancer.

People should note that a burning sensation in the lower abdomen is not common. It is more common in the upper abdomen, where the pain is usually associated with GERD or PUD.

A burning sensation in the lower abdomen often comes with urination, which means that it may be a urinary tract infection (UTI). However, a UTI may not present with any abdominal pain. For females, there are multiple gynecological conditions associated with lower abdominal pain that might feel similar to burning.

There are other conditions that could be associated with a burning sensation in the lower abdomen. People should talk with a doctor about their symptoms.

Keep reading to learn more about the possible causes of a burning sensation in the lower abdomen, including any associated symptoms and how to treat them.

A burning sensation in the abdomen may be a symptom of GERD, which is a chronic condition affecting the digestive system. It is one of the most common digestive conditions in the United States.

Doctors can identify certain risk factors for developing GERD. For example, some people have motor anomalies that affect the movements of the esophagus. This can affect the ability of the esophagus to clear its contents.

Another possible risk factor is dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, which can allow acidic stomach contents to rise up through the esophagus.

Symptoms

Aside from a burning sensation in the abdomen, people with GERD may experience:

  • heartburn
  • regurgitation
  • chest pain
  • dental erosions
  • chronic cough
  • laryngitis
  • asthma

Treatment

Doctors may recommend several strategies to treat GERD, including certain lifestyle changes, medications, surgery, and endoluminal therapy.

They may first recommend the following self-care strategies:

  • losing weight (for people with overweight or obesity)
  • not eating 3 hours before lying down
  • elevating the head end of the bed
  • stopping smoking (or not starting)
  • not wearing tight clothing that puts pressure on the abdomen

It may also help to avoid the following potential trigger items, though the research into the effectiveness of avoiding them is limited:

  • chocolate
  • caffeine
  • spicy foods
  • citrus fruits
  • mint
  • fatty foods
  • carbonated beverages

Instead, a doctor may simply advise a person to avoid foods and beverages that they know worsen their symptoms.

Some medications that can help treat GERD include histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

For people with severe symptoms that do not respond to the above self-care strategies or medications, surgery or endoluminal therapy may be necessary.

People with PUD may also experience a burning sensation in the abdomen.

Doctors will diagnose PUD when the inner lining of the stomach, small intestine, or lower esophagus becomes compromised by stomach acid secretions or pepsin. This is an enzyme that breaks down protein.

Doctors have identified several factors that may cause PUD, including:

  • Helicobacter pylori infection
  • use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen
  • use of other medications, such as corticosteroids, bisphosphonates, potassium chloride, steroids, or fluorouracil

Smoking may also play a role in intestinal ulcers, while alcohol consumption can irritate the stomach and promote gastric acid release into the stomach.

Symptoms

People with PUD experience upper abdominal pain, right below the ribs, about 15–30 minutes after eating a meal. If the person has an ulcer in the small intestine, the pain may only begin 2–3 hours after a meal.

Some other signs and symptoms of PUD include:

  • bloating
  • abdominal fullness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • weight loss or weight gain
  • vomiting blood
  • blood in the stool

The following warning signs require immediate emergency care and a consultation with a gastroenterologist:

  • unintentional weight loss
  • progressive difficulty swallowing
  • bleeding in the digestive tract
  • iron deficiency anemia
  • recurrent vomiting
  • a family history of upper gastrointestinal tumors

Treatment

Doctors will treat PUD with medications or surgery. The options for medication therapy include the same drugs often recommended for GERD. PPIs are the preferred treatment because their action is superior to that of histamine receptor antagonists.

If a person tests positive for H. pylori infection, they may require antibiotics. The treatment for H. pylori infection includes two antibiotics and a PPI. People whose conditions do not respond to this protocol may require a quadruple therapy with bismuth and different antibiotics.

If possible, some doctors may recommend that people stop taking medications that contribute to PUD. However, people should not stop taking any medications without first seeking the advice of a doctor.

People with refractory disease that does not respond to medication may require surgery.

People develop kidney stones when a crystal, usually comprising calcium, travels from the kidney through the urinary tract. Kidney stones do not always cause problems and health complications, but some can get stuck and lead to medical issues.

Some risk factors for kidney stones include:

  • a personal history of kidney stones
  • a family history of kidney stones
  • increased absorption of oxalate through the intestine
  • UTIs
  • low fluid intake
  • a history of diabetes, obesity, gout, or hypertension
  • acidic urine

Symptoms

People with kidney stones may not experience any symptoms. The most common symptom of kidney stones is a sharp pain radiating to the groin when the stone begins traveling down the ureter. People may describe this pain as dull, colicky, sharp, or severe.

Some individuals may feel nauseous or vomit because of the pain. Blood in the urine is also common. Some people may also report a burning sensation when urinating.

Treatment

Doctors may need to prescribe pain relief medications, since passing a kidney stone is often very painful. People may also take NSAIDs to help with pain. Increasing fluid intake is also important.

Tamsulosin is a drug that helps people pass kidney stones; it reduces the stimulation of the smooth muscle in the urethra.

If a doctor finds a kidney stone that is 6 millimeters or larger, they may need to intervene to manually remove it from the urinary tract.

UTIs are bacterial infections of the urinary bladder. Doctors categorize UTIs as either complicated or uncomplicated. An uncomplicated UTI occurs in people who are otherwise healthy and not pregnant.

The most common bacteria that cause UTIs include:

  • Escherichia coli
  • Proteus mirabilis
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Staphylococcus saprophyticus

Symptoms

People with a UTI may experience:

  • painful urination or a burning sensation while urinating
  • frequent urination
  • pain or tenderness below the belly button
  • blood in the urine

People who are very young or old may experience subtle or unusual symptoms. For example, older adults with a UTI may present with confusion or an altered mental state.

The symptoms of a complicated UTI are usually similar to those of an uncomplicated UTI.

Treatment

Doctors treat UTIs with antibiotics. To select the most appropriate antibiotic to treat the infection, the doctor will consider the person’s risk factors for infection with a pathogen that is resistant to multiple drugs.

People with a low risk may receive a first-line therapy such as:

  • nitrofurantoin
  • trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
  • fosfomycin
  • pivmecillinam

Learn more about UTIs here.

Different gynecological conditions can cause pain in the lower abdomen that might feel like a burning sensation. These conditions may include:

  • a ruptured cyst
  • painful menstruation
  • endometriosis
  • pelvic inflammatory disease

During ovulation, a fluid filled sac, or cyst, may form on an ovary. Most are benign, but they can sometimes rupture and require intervention.

Painful menstruation, or dysmenorrhea, refers to pain during menstruation without a disease of the pelvis. Sometimes, other conditions can cause painful periods.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition of the female reproductive system wherein the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in other parts of the abdomen.

Symptoms

The following table lists some of the symptoms associated with ruptured cysts, painful menstruation, and endometriosis.

Treatment

Depending on the diagnosis of a burning sensation in the lower abdomen with a gynecological cause, a doctor will select the most appropriate treatment.

The following table lists some treatment options for causes of a burning sensation in the lower abdomen.

Certain cancers of the digestive, urological, and gynecological tracts may present with pain in the lower abdomen.

Depending on the type of cancer, people may experience different symptoms. However, the condition may also go unnoticed.

Although cancer is more common in older adults, anyone with troubling symptoms should arrange an evaluation by a doctor.

Symptoms

The following table lists some warning signs and symptoms of urological, digestive, and gynecological cancers.

Treatment

Different types of cancer require different treatments. These may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery aims to remove the cancer tissue, whereas chemotherapy and radiation therapy use medications or high energy rays to kill cancer cells.

Doctors may select a treatment based on the cancer’s location and stage. Sometimes, people may require a combination of treatments.

People with digestive cancers may also receive targeted therapies and immunotherapy.

People who experience a burning sensation in the lower abdomen may have a digestive, gynecological, or urological condition.

By investigating the other associated symptoms and the person’s medical history, doctors can diagnose a burning sensation in the lower abdomen and choose the most appropriate treatment option for it.

A doctor may also consider some other abdominal conditions, especially in older adults. These may include cancers of the gastrointestinal, gynecological, or urological systems.

Be sure to contact a doctor for a complete evaluation to determine the correct diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment.

Could It Be the Cause of Your Bad Bellyache? – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Do you ever find yourself doubled over in pain? Sometimes it’s mild — and other times, it’s an all-consuming, will-this-ever-end, curled-up-on-the-floor kind of pain.  

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Gastritis can be a total downer — not just because of the stomach pains, but also because of how it crimps your lifestyle, causing you to live with the constant fear of when it might happen next.

It’s time to get to the bottom of what’s causing this pain.

What causes gastritis? 

Gastritis is the term used to describe inflammation or irritation of the stomach lining. According to gastroenterologist Christine Lee, MD, the irritation can be the result of wide variety of causes such as infections, medications like aspirin or NSAIDs, stomach (gastric) cancer, or toxic substances including excessive alcohol, ingesting poison or chemicals, or excess stomach acid buildup.

“Take a skinned knee: The surface lining is damaged and the body increases blood flow to the area to help the healing process,” says Dr. Lee. “Then, neutrophils and lymphocytes (types of white blood cells) come in to help fight off bacteria and start the repair process. The result is that the area gets inflamed (swollen or appearing bruised before healing). This inflammatory process can bear down on nerve endings and cause different levels of pain.”

That same process occurs in the stomach lining and — just like a skinned knee — it can “ache” or “hurt” in varying intensities.

But why does gastritis pain hurt so bad?

Doctors can’t explain why the pain is excruciatingly intense for some people and mildly nagging for others. The short answer is that people perceive pain at different intensities.

Dr. Lee says gastritis pain usually occurs in the mid-upper stomach region, just below the breastbone and above the belly button. People describe gastritis pain in different ways, but these descriptions are common:

  • Nagging discomfort.
  • Dull or burning pain.
  • Intense stabbing pain.

The pain quality varies widely. It can come and go in some. In others, it may be constant with waxing and waning intensities — with or without specific triggers (like it may be worse before or after eating). Sometimes, the pain will come and hang around. Other times, it comes and goes with periods of little-to-no discomfort.

Dr. Lee also says most people intuitively know when the symptoms warrant a trip to the ER. She recommends calling 911 or going to the emergency room if you experience alarming signs such as:

  • Chest pains, shortness of breath, weakness or inability to tolerate any foods or liquids by mouth.
  • High-grade fever.
  • Vomiting or bowel movements with blood.
  • Rapid change or severe escalation of your pain.

Gastritis. It’s a pain in the … stomach lining

If you’ve had periods of awful stomach pain, make an appointment with your primary physician or a gastroenterologist — a digestive specialist.

Gastroenterologists will try to get to the bottom of why you are in so much pain and rule out other concerns like peptic ulcer disease, gallstones, pancreatitis, celiac disease or abnormal cell growth. They’ll ask you when, where, and how severe the pain is on a scale of 1 to 10, and anything that makes your symptoms better or worse.

Common causes for gastritis include:

  • Stress.
  • Medications, like nonsteroidal pain relievers.
  • Alcohol.
  • Infections, intentional or accidental ingestions of toxins or poisons, or abnormal cell growth.

Sometimes, conservative measures — like avoiding triggers or staying upright for two to three hours after eating — can make a huge difference. You may need extra testing to figure out what will bring relief. Common gastritis treatments include medications or working with a dietitian to figure out the right eating plan for you.

Be honest: How dangerous is stomach inflammation?

Dr. Lee says only a small percentage progress into serious complications from chronic gastritis. These include different types of gastric cancers, peptic ulcer diseases that cause intestinal perforation, which can then lead to sepsis and possibly death.

In the majority of gastritis cases, with the right combination of treatments and lifestyle modifications, resolve themselves without any severe consequences.

“My best advice is to pay attention to your body. If you’ve been living with on-again, off-again pain for more than couple of weeks, or you’re experiencing unexplained weight loss, bleeding, or any new symptoms that fail to improve or resolve completely, it’s probably time to see a doctor,” says Dr. Lee. 

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms so you get the right type of evaluation. This will make sure you receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

An Abdominal Burning Sensation Could be a Stomach Ulcer

A stomach ulcer, sometimes referred to as a gastric ulcer, occurs when the acids in the stomach slowly eat away at the lining of the stomach resulting in sores. They can be very painful in some cases, and at other times some people will have no symptoms at all.

There are two main causes of stomach ulcers. One is taking too many pain relievers over a long period of time. This slowly destroys the mucosa lining found in the stomach. The other main cause of a stomach ulcer is caused by a bacteria called Heliobacter pylori ( H. pylori) . This bacteria increases the amount of acid in the stomach which eats away at the stomach lining. Other causes of stomach ulcers are smoking, alcoholic beverages, stress, and spicy food.

Symptoms of a stomach ulcer include:

  • Burping
  • Feeling bloated
  • Nausea
  • Blood in stool
  • Vomiting
  • Heartburn
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Change in appetite

Having an empty stomach may increase the symptoms.

A stomach ulcer may be accompanied by complications. These can include internal bleeding and infection.

Diagnosing a stomach ulcer is done by taking a thorough medical history and then drawing blood, breathing into a special device, and stool samples.

Treating a stomach ulcer depends on what is causing it. If it is a pain medication issue, then you may have to cut back or reduce the dosage. If it is H. pylori related an antibiotic may be prescribed and then medication to reduce the production of excess stomach acids. Some people get relief by taking antacids or medications that protect the lining of the stomach. Reducing stress may help the symptoms as can eating a healthy diet full of fruits, nuts, and whole grains, eating aged cheese, yogurt, and taking probiotics.

If you are experiencing pain in your abdomen, speak to your physician about possible causes. You can also schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center by calling 718-670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

10 stomach pains and abdominal pains you should never ignore

When it comes to stomach pain, finding the cause of your tummy trouble can be harder than solving an advanced Sudoku. Use this symptom decoder to help decipher what’s up with your gut.

1. Acid Reflux

What it is: Acid flowing backward from the stomach up into the throat.

What it feels like: Pain or burning below your breastbone that’s usually worse after you eat or when you lie down, said Dr. David Peura, former chairman of the National Heartburn Alliance.

Fix it: If you feel the burn only a few times a year, treat it with antacids like Tums. If you get it a couple of times a week, you could have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A doctor can determine whether a medication to reduce acid production will help you.

Related

2. Appendicitis

What it is: Inflammation of the appendix, a narrow fingerlike pouch attached to the colon. Over 5% of people will have trouble with it sometime in their lives.

What it feels like: A dull discomfort around your belly button that moves to your lower right abdomen. It becomes extremely painful as time passes — and walking makes the pain worse.

Fix it: Go to the emergency room immediately! You need surgery to remove your appendix. If you wait too long, it can rupture and be life threatening.

3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What it is: A malfunction of the nerves that control the intestines, studies suggest that about 12% of the population has IBS.

What it feels like: Nausea, bloating, diarrhea or constipation and cramps in the lower part of your abdomen. These symptoms tend to lessen when you move your bowels, said Dr. Lauren Gerson, a former assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Fix it: Visit the doctor, who will probably prescribe an antispasmodic drug to regulate your impulse to go and relieve the general discomfort as well.

4. Gallstones

What they are: Pea- to golf ball-size nuggets in the gallbladder, a sac connected to the liver and small intestine. Made of hardened cholesterol and bile (a fluid that helps digest fat), they’re caused by a high-fat diet or a gallbladder that doesn’t empty properly. Gallstones are very common and women are more likely to experience them than men.

What they feel like: A sharp pain in your upper middle abdomen that moves to your right side, under your rib cage. The pain can worsen after eating.

Fix it: If the pain doesn’t go away in a few hours or you’re running a fever or vomiting, go to the doctor. She can diagnose gallstones via CT scan or ultrasound. You may need surgery to remove the gallbladder.

5. Stomach Ulcer

What it is: A sore on the stomach lining.

What it feels like: Burning pain in your stomach that comes and goes but feels worse when you’re hungry.

Fix it: If you’re taking nonsteroidal drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, stop immediately, Peura said —these medications eat away at the stomach lining. See your doctor; you may need antibiotics to kill ulcer-causing bacteria, or even surgery.

6. Lactose Intolerance

What it is: Discomfort after consuming milk products due to a deficit in the enzyme that digests lactose, the sugar found in dairy products.

What if feels like: Nausea, cramps, bloating, gas and/or diarrhea 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose.

Fix it: Drink less milk, or have it with other foods to slow the digestion process. Try experimenting with an assortment of dairy products. Hard cheeses such as Swiss or cheddar have small amounts of lactose and generally don’t cause symptoms. Important note for the lactose intolerant: because dairy products are some of the most common sources of calcium, make sure you’re getting enough of that essential mineral elsewhere in your diet.

7. Crohn’s Disease

What it is: The most common of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn’s usually affects the end of the small intestine and the colon.

What it feels like: Persistent abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and sometimes fever. You might find blood in your stools.

Fix it: Crohn’s is most common in people under age 30. Though treatable, there is no cure. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medicines and steroids, which you might have to take for a few years or for a lifetime.

8. Colitis

What it is: A common type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects only the colon and rectum. A young person’s disease, most cases are diagnosed by age 30.

What it feels like: Belly pain or cramps, bloody diarrhea, an urgent need to have a bowel movement, weight loss, nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Fix it: If mild, treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medications. In severe cases, you might have to take anti-inflammatory medicines or steroids.

9. Celiac Disease

What it is: A digestive disease that damages the small intestine due to an intolerance to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Often misdiagnosed as IBS, celiac disease is now considered one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders.

What it feels like: Cramping, bloating and diarrhea. More serious symptoms include anemia, osteoporosis and even infertility.

Fix it: Avoid that pizza — the remedy for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Fortunately, there are plenty of great gluten-free products available these days.

What it is: A deficit or an overabundance of the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. Too much can kick your metabolism into high gear; too little can make it sluggish.

What it feels like: A hyperactive thyroid can cause diarrhea; a sluggish thyroid can cause constipation. Other symptoms vary widely for both hyper- and hypothyroidism, but can include weight loss or weight gain, a racing heartbeat or low energy, nervousness or depression, hair loss and more.

Fix it: Your doctor will probably prescribe a hormonal drug to regulate your thyroid. Occasionally surgery is necessary in severe cases.

— This article first appeared on Women’s Health

Appendicitis – Boulder Medical Center

DESCRIPTION

Appendicitis is a swelling or inflammation of the appendix and is one of the most common causes for emergency abdominal surgery. The function of the appendix is unknown but there are no long term consequences of removing the appendix.  Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency, prompt diagnosis and surgery for removal are very important.  If left untreated, an inflamed appendix eventually will burst, or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity.

In the United States, one in 15 people will get appendicitis.  Although it can occur at any age, appendicitis is rare under age 2 and most common between ages 10 and 30.

Symptoms

Appendicitis is sometimes referred to as the “Great Masquerader” because the symptoms and location of pain can vary greatly.  It can be difficult to diagnose appendicitis in young children, the elderly, and women of childbearing age.

The most common symptom of appendicitis is a dull pain near or around the belly button.  The pain may be mild at first and become sharper as it moves to the lower right abdomen. Loss of appetite and nausea or vomiting occur soon after the pain begins.  There may be fever, abdominal swelling and bloating.  It may be difficult to pass gas. As the swelling in the appendix increases, the pain tends to move into your right lower abdomen. It focuses right above the appendix at a place called McBurney’s point. This pain may occur 12 to 24 hours after the illness starts. Other symptoms may include pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back or rectum.  Pain can vary from dull to sharp.  Constipation or diarrhea with gas and cramping are also symptoms that can occur.

Common Symptoms

  • Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Fever of 99-102 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Inability to pass gas
  • Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back, or rectum
  • Painful urination
  • Vomiting that precedes the abdominal pain
  • Severe cramps
  • Constipation or diarrhea with gas

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in the United States. It usually occurs when the appendix becomes blocked by feces, a foreign object, or rarely, a tumor.  There is no known prevention of appendicitis.

WORK-UP/TESTS

If you have appendicitis, your pain will increase when the doctor gently presses on your lower right belly area. If you have peritonitis, touching the belly area may cause a spasm of the muscles. A rectal exam may find tenderness on the right side of your rectum.

Doctors can usually diagnose appendicitis by:

  • Your description of the symptoms
  • The physical exam

Lab tests

  • Complete blood count may show elevated white blood count
  • Liver function tests
  • Kidney function

Diagnostic studies

TREATMENT

The treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the appendix as soon as possible.  The tests used to diagnose appendicitis are not perfect, sometimes the operation will show that your appendix is normal.  If this occurs, the surgeon will remove your appendix and explore the rest of your abdomen to look for other causes of your pain.

If a CT scan shows that you have an abscess (a walled off pocket of infection) from a ruptured appendix, you may be treated for infection with intravenous antibiotics before surgery. You will have your appendix removed after the infection and swelling have gone away.

EXPECTATIONS (PROGNOSIS)

If your appendix is removed before it ruptures, you will likely recover quickly after surgery.   If your appendix ruptures before surgery, your recovery may take longer.  People with compromised immune systems like diabetes may have a longer recovery process or more complications.

Complications

  • Abnormal connections between abdominal organs or between these organs and the skin surface (fistula)
  • Abscess
  • Blockage of the intestine
  • Infection inside the abdomen (peritonitis)
  • Infection of the surgical wound
  • An infection can spread to bloodstream
  • Death

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider if you have abdominal pain in the lower-right portion of your belly, or any other symptoms of appendicitis.

Also call your doctor for:

  • Severe, sudden or sharp pain
  • Fever along with pain
  • Vomiting blood or bloody diarrhea
  • Abdomen is hard and tender to touch
  • Inability to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
  • Chest, neck, or shoulder pain
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Nausea and a lack of appetite with your pain
  • Yellowing of your eyes or skin
  • Bloating for more than 2 days
  • Diarrhea for more than 5 days, or your infant or child has had diarrhea for 2 days or vomiting for 12 hours (call right away if a baby younger than 3 months has diarrhea or vomiting)
  • Abdominal pain lasting more than 1 week
  • Burning with urination or frequent urination
  • Worsened pain when taking antacids or eating something

Susan Puckett, PA-C, ENT and Internal Medicine

Symptoms & Causes of Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers)

In this section:

What are the symptoms of a peptic ulcer?

A dull or burning pain in your stomach is the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer. You may feel the pain anywhere between your belly button and breastbone. The pain most often

  • happens when your stomach is empty—such as between meals or during the night
  • stops briefly if you eat or if you take antacids
  • lasts for minutes to hours
  • comes and goes for several days, weeks, or months

Less common symptoms may include

  • bloating
  • burping
  • feeling sick to your stomach
  • poor appetite
  • vomiting
  • weight loss

Even if your symptoms are mild, you may have a peptic ulcer. You should see your doctor to talk about your symptoms. Without treatment, your peptic ulcer can get worse.

A dull or burning pain in your stomach is the most common symptom of peptic ulcers.

What causes a peptic ulcer?

Causes of peptic ulcers include

Sometimes peptic ulcers are caused by both NSAIDs and H. pylori.

How do NSAIDs cause a peptic ulcer?

To understand how NSAIDs cause peptic ulcer disease, it is important to understand how NSAIDs work. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, or swelling.

Everyone has two enzymes that produce chemicals in your body’s cells that promote pain, inflammation, and fever. NSAIDs work by blocking or reducing the amount of these enzymes that your body makes. However, one of the enzymes also produces another type of chemical that protects the stomach lining from stomach acid and helps control bleeding. When NSAIDs block or reduce the amount of this enzyme in your body, they also increase your chance of developing a peptic ulcer.

How do

H. pylori cause a peptic ulcer and peptic ulcer disease?

H. pylori are spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause peptic ulcer disease by damaging the mucous coating that protects the lining of the stomach and duodenum. Once H. pylori have damaged the mucous coating, powerful stomach acid can get through to the sensitive lining. Together, the stomach acid and H. pylori irritate the lining of the stomach or duodenum and cause a peptic ulcer.

How do tumors from ZES cause peptic ulcers?

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disorder that happens when one or more tumors form in your pancreas and duodenum. The tumors release large amounts of gastrin, a hormone that causes your stomach to produce large amounts of acid. The extra acid causes peptic ulcers to form in your duodenum and in the upper intestine.

When should you call or see a doctor?

You should call or see your doctor right away if you

  • feel weak or faint
  • have difficulty breathing
  • have red blood in your vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • have red blood in your stool or black stools
  • have sudden, sharp stomach pain that doesn’t go away

These symptoms could be signs that a peptic ulcer has caused a more serious problem.

Call your doctor if the pain gets worse.90,000 causes, symptoms, treatment, what to do in case of acute pain

If a person says: “I have abdominal pains,” it is important to understand: problems in any organs of the abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space, small pelvis can be hidden behind pain in the abdomen.

If a person says: “I have abdominal pains”, then it is important to understand: problems in any organs of the abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space, small pelvis can be hidden behind pain in the abdomen. The intestines (ileum, lean, large, sigmoid, colon, transverse intestine), appendix, stomach, liver, duodenum, spleen, ureters, kidneys, mesenteric (mesenteric) vessels of the intestine can give painful sensations to the abdomen.Therefore, pathologies can be gastroenterological, surgical, gynecological, urological in nature.

Types of pain

Abdominal pain is very different:

  • Acute and chronic . Acute pains come on suddenly, chronic pains develop gradually, their intensity increases step by step – sometimes over several weeks. In this case, a special type is formed by chronically recurrent abdominal pain. They can suddenly make themselves felt, and then also suddenly pass and resume after a certain period of time.
  • Tonic and clonic . With tonic pains, the muscles are strongly tense, and hard areas appear on the abdomen, an uncontrolled muscle contraction is observed. Tonic pains are accompanied by quite rhythmic spastic spasms.
  • Burning (cutting) and aching – reminiscent of hunger.

Localization of pain can be the abdominal cavity, hypochondrium, zones above or below them.

Symptoms

Symptoms may vary in a person who complains of abdominal pain.Most often it manifests itself in the form of spasms, colic.

  • Colic – attacks, primarily stabbing (hence the name) pain. With colitis, a person has colitis in both sides, with appendicitis or inflammation of the ovaries – in the lower abdomen, with poisoning, the localization of colic can be in different parts of the abdomen and most often an additional symptom (vomiting, diarrhea) appears.
  • Spasms – pains that are accompanied by involuntary muscle contraction. In this case, the skin turns pale.Pain can cause a person to faint. If spasms are in inflammatory bowel diseases, stomach, they are accompanied by fever. Gynecological problems are indicated by spasms accompanied by bleeding.,
  • Anginal pain – an unpleasant sensation with a strong burning sensation.
  • Sharp pain in the area above the navel is a common occurrence in appendicitis.
  • A feeling of “fullness” in the lower back may indicate problems with the colon
  • Cyclical pain (that intensifies, then subside) – characteristic symptoms in diseases of the bladder, intestines.
  • Pain with severe flatulence indicates that the colon is not working properly.
  • Pain sensations against the background of itching of the anus – symptoms of rectal lesions.
  • Unpleasant sensations in the abdomen , which intensify at rest and disappear with movement, are the result of circulatory problems.

Causes

What are the causes of abdominal pain, abnormalities in the abdominal organs and retroperitoneal space?

The cause of colic can be appendicitis, inflammation of the ovaries (in these cases, colic in the lower abdomen), poisoning, colitis.With colitis, a person has colitis in both sides. If the colic is cramping and at the same time is localized in the abdomen and in the lower back, the pain is more intense, the cause is most often in urolithiasis, kidney injury or pyelonephritis. Colic in the navel can be a response to irritants of the sensitive mesenteric plexuses of the intestine.

Among the common causes of paroxysmal spasms – intestinal obstruction, gastroduodenitis. And for spasms during urination in women, endometriosis of the uterus is most often.

If abdominal pains are accompanied by increased gas production, frequent urge to defecate, then the cause will most often be associated with diseases of the colon.

Ate abdominal pain – anginal, and at the same time the patient is worried about an expressive burning sensation – the cause is most often gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa) or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). If pain and burning are accompanied by strong tension of the muscles of the abdominal wall, and the person complains that he is pressing in the chest, the reason may be associated with heart pathologies: in particular, such pains are typical for 60% of patients with myocardial infarction.

The cause of abdominal pain accompanied by low-grade fever (for a long time the temperature is kept at the level of 37.1-37.5 ° C ) most often are inflammatory bowel diseases.

Diseases

Most often, diseases of the intestines, stomach, pancreas, problems with the gallbladder, as well as the resulting hernia are behind pain in the abdomen.

Bowel diseases

  • Ulcerative colitis – diffuse inflammation.The rectal mucosa is affected. In the initial forms of ulcerative colitis, inflammation affects only the proximal part (the entrance to the intestine), with neglected – the problems concern the entire colon. With the progression, exacerbation of the disease, the patient feels a sharp deterioration in well-being, the intoxication of the body begins, the pulse quickens, and in most cases blood appears in the feces. If the disease is not treated, then the body can poison itself, peritonitis can develop – damage to the abdominal cavity that poses a threat to life.
  • Enterite . The small intestine becomes inflamed. At first, the disease is “disguised” as a departure, and is often an accompaniment to this problem. If the disease is started to heal out of time, then the functions of the small intestine are impaired. Food begins to be poorly absorbed by the intestinal walls. Digestion processes are disrupted.
  • Crohn’s disease . One or several parts of the intestine can become inflamed. But at the same time, almost always the whole inflammation affects the junction of the colon and small intestine.One of the most unpleasant moments is that inflammation affects the entire thickness of the wall, and a complication of the disease is intestinal obstruction syndrome, the treatment of which requires a set of measures related to the simulation of motility and the restoration of bowel function.
  • Dysbacteriosis – violation of intestinal microflora. In the intestine, the number of beneficial bacteria decreases, and pathogenic microflora develops. As a result, gas formation occurs, a person cannot digest food, and stool is disturbed.Very often, the development of dysbiosis is a consequence of incorrect antibiotic therapy or a reaction to stress.

Diseases of the pancreas

  • Pancreatitis . The most common disease affecting the pancreas is pancreatitis. With inflammation of the pancreas, a person feels severe discomfort in the upper abdomen, it becomes difficult for the body to digest proteins and fats. Often in everyday life in this case they say: “There are not enough enzymes.” And it really reflects the real picture.In the affected pancreas, the production of lipase, chymotrypsin, trypsin is significantly reduced.
  • Cystic fibrosis is a disease that disrupts the functioning of the pancreas and respiratory organs. It is a non-inflammatory pathology. The reason is hereditary factors. A complication of the disease can be the formation of a duodenal ulcer.

Diseases of the stomach

One of the most common diseases that affect people of all ages, are accompanied by abdominal pain – this is the pathology of the stomach, especially its mucous membrane.Leaders – gastritis, ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease.

  • Gastritis . It is an inflammation of the stomach lining. The whole stomach or some parts of it can become inflamed. With gastritis, pain with burning, cramps prevail. The patient is worried about discomfort after eating, a feeling of a full stomach, or, on the contrary, “suction” and a constant feeling of hunger. Companions of the disease in the acute stage vomiting and nausea.
  • Stomach ulcer .Pain occurs against the background of characteristic ulcerative lesions of the gastric mucosa. Expressed dyspeptic symptoms: heaviness in the stomach, a feeling of oversaturation of the stomach, cramps in the epigastric region.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (popularly referred to as “reflux”). The disease is associated with a weakening of the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. The result of this relaxation is pain, accompanied by heartburn. Very often gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs in patients who have already experienced gastritis or stomach ulcers.

Hernias

Often abdominal pains are caused by abdominal hernias. They can be umbilical, inguinal, diaphragmatic. Umbilical hernias are more often formed during pregnancy or in the postpartum period, inguinal hernias are caused by excessive exertion, diaphragmatic hernias are defects of the abdominal wall that form as a reaction to improper bowel function, improperly selected corset, and lifting weights. The insidiousness of diaphragmatic hernias lies in the fact that at the initial stage of the disease, a person believes that he has a typical gastritis – with heartburn and belching, but traditional therapy does not give treatment, and ultrasound shows that the reason is not in inflammation of the stomach, but in the presence of a hernia. In a toga, to combat pathology, it is not required to remove inflammation, eliminate spasms, but surgical treatment, which is aimed at strengthening the abdominal wall.

Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts

A special group is made up of diseases associated with the gallbladder and bile duct.

  • Cholangitis . Inflammation of the bile ducts. The pain is unbearable. Mostly in the right side. It is complicated by the fact that it requires not only a quick relief of the attack of the pains themselves, but also the normalization of blood pressure.
  • Cholecystitis . Sharp pains on the background of the intake of fatty foods. Often the pain itself is followed by vomiting with an admixture of bile. Flatulence (flatulence) and vomiting may be troubling.
  • Cholelithiasis – formation of solid structures in the bile – stones. Pain in the disease is paroxysmal. Especially if the stones move along the gallbladder and ducts.

Contraindications

An incorrect diagnosis is fraught with the fact that the treatment will not only be useless, but will provoke serious complications.Indeed, many medications, physiotherapeutic techniques that are effective for some diseases accompanied by abdominal pain are strict contraindications for other diseases with similar symptoms.

For example, if a number of medications prescribed for pancreatitis are prescribed to patients with hepatic colic, the response may be unpredictable. And the treatment of a number of stomach diseases with an antibiotic can cause serious dysbiosis.

And the absolute contraindications in case of pain in the abdomen, stomach is self-medication – especially an independent decision to take an anesthetic or antispasmodic.If, for example, such drugs are used by a person who has an inflamed appendix, then relief will follow for a while. But this will not be help, but false help to oneself. It is not uncommon for patients who did not get to the surgeon to remove appendicitis in a timely manner, necrosis of the tissues of neighboring organs began.

In no case, without a diagnosis, one should not even grasp at seemingly “harmless” means to combat high acidity. What appears to be just the release of excess hydrochloric acid and inflammation of the stomach may be a symptom of a completely different disease, such as a heart attack.

Also, in case of abdominal pain with an unexplained diagnosis, a heating pad with hot water should not be applied. In a number of pathologies, heat only accelerates the inflammatory process, activates bleeding.

Examinations

Effective examination of a patient who is worried about abdominal pain consists of interviewing, palpating the abdomen, laboratory, functional diagnostics.

The smallest details are important for the doctor to make a diagnosis. For example, even an elementary assessment of feces can clarify a lot with pain in the abdomen.

  • Hard lumps (“sheep” feces) are a frequent companion of colitis, lengthening of the sigmoid colon, stomach ulcers.
  • Watery stools often accompany poisoning, infectious diseases.
  • In case of parasitic disease (the presence of worms in the intestines), dysbiosis, the particles of feces are usually very loose.

Oral interrogation of the patient is also important for the choice of the instrument and diagnostic technology. The doctor asks the patient how long the pain lasts, whether there are seizures, what exactly causes the pain – physical movements, going to the toilet, eating, taking a certain position.

Diagnostics

Especially for identifying the cause of the disease and finding methods of treatment for abdominal pathologies, the following types of research are valuable:

  • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity . One of the most prompt measures in diagnosing diseases of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis, identifying the cause of abdominal pain is ultrasound diagnostics. With the help of ultrasound, it is possible to identify pathologies of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, uterus, ovaries. Many people ask the question: is the stomach and intestines visible on ultrasound. It is impossible to examine the stomach with the help of ultrasound, the intestines – partially. If the equipment is with good resolution, for example, volumetric formations in this area are visible.
  • FGDS (gastroscopy, probing, swallowing “intestines)” is a diagnostic method that allows you to get an objective picture of the state of the stomach, duodenum, esophagus. If necessary, you can immediately conduct an express test for Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter pylori) (which is the cause of ulcers), make cytology and biopsy – to exclude the oncological nature of the disease, determine the “acidity”.
  • Roentgen. A long-standing, but still practiced method of diagnosis. It can be used as an emergency measure for examining the stomach if, for some reason, EGD cannot be done. In addition, X-ray is informative in identifying diseases accompanied by symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Depending on the nature of the patient’s pain and complaints, a traditional X-ray or X-ray with contrast enhancement (irrigoscopy) can be used.
  • MRI – a progressive diagnostic method for abdominal injuries, enlarged liver, uninformative picture of the abdominal cavity during ultrasound (for example, due to severe flatulence).
  • Colonoscopy. One of the most accurate methods for examining the intestines. It is carried out using a fibrocolonoscope. With the help of the device, you can examine everything – even the most difficult areas, including the inner surface of the colon.
  • Cholescintigraphy . Isotope research. It is carried out with the use of a radio pharmacological preparation. Informative for problems with the gallbladder and bile ducts.
  • Blood, urine and canal tests .In the analysis of blood, a special emphasis is placed on ESR (inflammation can be determined by the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation), biochemical parameters, and feces are examined for occult blood in many types of examinations for abdominal pain.

What to do?

So, the main thing with pain in the abdomen is not to self-medicate, not to delay the visit to the doctor and diagnostics.

At the same time, in some cases, it is important not just to sign up for the clinic, but to immediately call an ambulance. In what cases is an ambulance required?

  • The abdominal pain is very intense.
  • Cold sweat comes in.
  • Severe vomiting of blood begins.

If the pain is not acute, there is no blood in the vomit, the temperature is different from that of a healthy person, but there is no fever, consultation with a therapist, gastroenterologist and diagnostics are recommended.

Timely diagnosis is a guarantee that the most gentle methods will be used to fight the disease. Even when it comes to surgery.

  • Laparoscopy is used to remove gallstones and appendicitis (if the situation is not running).
  • For the treatment of g astroesophageal reflux disease laparoscopic funduplication is used.
  • Surgical hernioplasty is used to effectively solve hernia problems and strengthen the abdominal wall.

If there are no indications for surgical treatment, the therapeutic effect for many diseases of the intestine and stomach provides an integrated approach based on diet therapy, physiotherapy and drug therapy – antibiotics, antiparasitic agents, corticosteroids, prokinetics to improve intestinal motility.

Where to go?

Extensive experience in carrying out laparoscopic operations, hernioplasty in Minsk – at the doctors of the 5th clinical hospital.

In addition to receiving patients who are citizens of Belarus, the 5th city hospital in Minsk also accepts foreign citizens (on a paid basis). Each of them can undergo complex diagnostics and treatment on the basis of the surgical, therapeutic department.

The hospital has its own clinical diagnostic laboratory, X-ray department, RCT and MRI rooms.The physiotherapy department has all the conditions for carrying out rehabilitation programs.

Prevention

Doctors of the 5th hospital will not only select the best diagnostic and treatment option for each patient, but will also advise on preventing relapse.

Diet occupies a special place among measures for the prevention of intestinal and stomach diseases. In nutrition, it is important to learn how to maintain balance. You can not overeat, you should chew food carefully and slowly.Sufficient amounts of water, tea or mate should be consumed; coffee is not recommended in this case. At the same time, when choosing a diet, experienced doctors take into account all factors:

  • functional state of the intestines, liver, pancreas
  • secretory function of the stomach,
  • intestinal motility,
  • the presence of other concomitant diseases.

Beyond your diet, it is important to rethink how you store and handle food. Do not leave food open in the sun.Avoid damp food storage areas. Otherwise, they may start to mold, rot. Eliminate contact between raw food and food that has been cooked.

Exercise therapy is also of great importance in the complex of preventive measures. Instructors-methodologists select their own loads and exercises for each patient.

Laparoscopic fundoplication in Minsk – prices

Gastroesophageal reflux patients confuse with different diseases: from gastritis to asthma.

But there are no results from self-medication: the patient suffers from spasms, heartburn, stomach contents are thrown back into the esophagus, there is a burning sensation in the mouth, bitterness, an extremely unpleasant odor appears.

In the initial stages of the disease, special medication can help. But with severe gastroesophageal reflux, they resort to surgical intervention. It helps not only to relieve symptoms, but to overcome the main causes of the problem: weakness of the esophageal-gastric sphincter muscles and high intra-abdominal pressure

At the same time, the most effective and safe surgical intervention for such a problem is laparoscopic fundoplication. You can join the usual rhythm of life within a few weeks after the operation, and only a few subtle scars remain in front of the abdominal wall

What problems does aparoscopic fundoplication solve with l ?

  • The muscles of the esophageal-gastric sphincter become stronger, the tone increases.
  • The esophagus is cleared of excess hydrochloric acid.
  • Painful heartburn goes away.
  • Difficulty swallowing stops.

Pay attention! Often, the operation is combined with the correction of the hiatal hernia (suturing the hernial orifice). Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication is practiced in our hospital, just like laparoscopic fundoplication.

Why the 5th Hospital?

Doctors of the 5th hospital have extensive experience in conducting laparoscopic operations.Anesthesiologists carefully select the option of anesthesia that is optimal for a particular patient, surgeons are fluent in the technique of working with a laparoscope and the formation of endosurgical sutures.

During the recovery period, patients are provided with comprehensive medical supervision and medical support.

Treatment in the clinic is available to both citizens of Belarus and patients from other countries. Foreign citizens can receive fundoplication services on a paid basis. 90,000 what is, indications, contraindications, preparation for the procedure

Colonoscopy or rectosigmocolonoscopy is a highly informative instrumental method for diagnosing intestinal diseases.

Colonoscopy is performed using endoscopic equipment (video systems) and allows you to study in detail the internal state of the entire large intestine. The doctor can assess the condition of the colon, blind and rectum along their entire length, visually diagnose neoplasms, internal hemorrhoids, polyps, diverticula (protrusions) and erosion.

Colonoscopy is a key way to diagnose ulcerative colitis, cancer, proctitis, sigmoiditis, intestinal diverticulosis, intestinal obstruction.

Various diagnostic options are available in the 5th hospital in Minsk:

  1. Rectosigmocolonoscopy without anesthesia with biopsy.
  2. Rectosigmocolonoscopy under intravenous anesthesia with biopsy.

The doctor makes the decision about which type of examination is optimal for a particular patient, taking into account the symptoms, the results of analyzes of a particular patient.

Rectosigmocolonoscopy under intravenous anesthesia is often used when the manipulation is not only diagnostic, but also therapeutic.With intestinal polyps, rectosigmocolonoscopy with anesthesia can not only examine the polyps, but also remove them immediately.

  • defecation (a constant feeling that you need to go to the toilet for a long time).
  • Inflammation of the sigmoid colon. Pathology is accompanied by rumbling, bloating, the presence of impurities in the fecal masses.
  • Chronic constipation.
  • Constant foreign body sensation in the anus.
  • Prolonged diarrhea in the absence of signs of intoxication.
  • Rapid weight loss.

For prophylactic purposes, colonoscopy is also recommended for everyone over 55 years old, with burdened heredity (proctitis, sigmoiditis, oncopathology and close relatives), as well as for people who have previously undergone bowel surgery.

Contraindications

Colonoscopy refers to minimally invasive (non-invasive) procedures. Meanwhile, a number of cases are contraindications to its implementation:

  • Thrombosis of hemorrhoids, accompanied by the formation of blood clots in the plexuses, vessels of the rectum,
  • Pronounced anal fissures,
  • Just underwent surgery in the gastrointestinal tract. Rectosigmocolonoscopy is important not only as a diagnostic, but also as a control procedure, but if the patient underwent gastric resection, colon surgery, at least half a month should elapse between the operation and the colonoscope diagnosis.
  • Exacerbation of Corona disease: severe frequent stools, persistent abdominal pain, protein disorders, progressive anemia, fever, chills.
  • Shock condition, accompanied by extremely low blood pressure (upper – systolic – below 70 mm Hg)
  • Peritonitis is a purulent-inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity.
  • Heart failure in the stage of decompensation, acute ischemia of the heart and myocardial infarction.
  • Perforation (perforation – the formation of through holes) in the intestinal wall and the release of blood into the abdominal cavity.

Preparation for colonoscopy

Preparation for colonoscopy is based on four components:

  1. Delivery of analyzes and functional diagnostics.
  2. Compliance with a slag-free diet.
  3. Colon cleansing.
  4. Correction of medication intake.

Delivery of tests and functional diagnostics

Directly colonoscopy is preceded by the following diagnostic measures:

  • General analysis of blood and urine.
  • Hemostasiogram.
  • ECG.
  • Isoserological research (group and Rh factor) and biochemical blood tests (according to indications).
  • Chest X-ray.

It is important to consult a therapist, endoscopist, and anesthesiologist (if the procedure will be performed under anesthesia).

Slag-free diet

3 days before rectosigmocolonoscopy, it is important to exclude any products that can cause fermentation, gas formation.Legumes, lettuce leaves, fatty meat, milk, black bread, any fresh fruit, chocolate are especially undesirable in food.

Moreover, oatmeal, millet and pearl barley should be excluded from the diet for a few days. Instead, vegetable broths, boiled chicken, low-fat fish, white bread (better – yeast-free), cottage cheese, kefir are welcomed in the diet.

Colon cleansing

Colon cleansing can be carried out by means of an enema or with the help of special medications.

It is possible to qualitatively cleanse the intestines using an enema if you have a volume enema (not a syringe, but an Esmarch cup) and an assistant (the best option is a medical worker). Putting an enema on your own is problematic. Someone has to fix the clamp, directly install the enema, remove air from it. The procedure is performed on the left side with the right leg tucked into the stomach.

The tip of the Esmarch mug is inserted into the anus to a depth of at least 7 cm. About 1.5 liters of room temperature are poured into the intestines.To ensure the proper result, enemas are recommended to be performed two nights in a row before the procedure. An alternative to enema is bowel cleansing with the help of special medications that contain the polymer e macrogol. Fortrans is best known. But this is just one of the possible names for drugs that contain macrogol. The preparations are presented in the form of powders, from which solutions must be prepared.

Depending on the weight of a person, whether he has a tendency to constipation, preparation of the solution may require 2 to 4 liters of water.The solution for cleansing the intestines is drunk on the eve of the procedure in portions for an hour and a half. If for some reason a person cannot drink such a volume of liquid in 1.5 hours, the doctor may recommend a two-stage purification scheme. In this case, for example, 3 liters of solution should be drunk in the evening, and 1 in the morning. At the same time, at least 3 hours should elapse between the last dose of macrogol and the colonoscopy procedure itself.

In order for the cleansing process to be as effective as possible, it is recommended to perform vigorous movements while taking solutions containing macrogol.It can be bends, exercises with a hoop, squats. Which variant of cleansing is preferable – with the help of an enema or medications, the doctor decides, taking into account each specific situation. Medications with a macrologist cleanse the intestines in the best quality, but nevertheless, these drugs are contraindicated in severe dehydration (dehydration), intestinal obstruction and an increased amount of magnesium in the blood.

Correction of drug intake

  • If the patient has chronic diseases: for example, endocrine heart disease, he constantly takes other drugs, then on the day of the colonoscopy it is important to remember: it is important to stop taking drugs at least 2 hours before the rectosigmocolonoscopy.
  • When taking coumadin or other anticoagulant drugs that prevent blood clotting, it is advisable to stop them a week before the procedure. This is because if a colonoscopy is performed with a biopsy — for microscopic examination of a small piece of tissue, bleeding may occur while taking such drugs.
  • Three days before the colonoscopy, it is worth refraining from iron supplements (mainly, these are most medicines for anemia).

How is the procedure going?

  • A thin probe is used for diagnostics, at the end of which there is a video camera.
  • The probe is inserted through the anus.
  • The patient lies on his left side, knees bent.
  • The doctor inserts the colonoscope through the anus and into the rectum while delivering air through the system. This is important for widening the bowel lumen. The enlarged image is displayed on the monitor. Gradually advancing and turning the endoscope, the doctor examines the inner surface of the rectum and all parts of the colon.
  • If neoplasms are visible on the screen, then biopsy tests are immediately taken to deny / confirm oncological diseases.

Important! After the diagnosis, you need to fully start the digestive system. A few days after the colonoscopy, it is recommended to refrain from fatty foods, and give preference to boiled beef or chicken, steamed vegetables, low-fat kefir.

How painful is the procedure?

Depending on the indications, the diagnosis can be carried out without anesthesia and with it Rectosigmocolonoscopy under intravenous anesthesia significantly reduces the discomfort.

If anesthesia is not indicated, the patient should know: a flexible endoscopic tube is used during the procedure. It allows you to make the procedure quite bearable. There are no painful sensations that patients experienced when examining the intestines with a traditional metal instrument.

In addition, a lot depends on the equipment used and the qualifications of the doctors. In the 5th hospital in Minsk, equipment with thin endoscopic tubes is used for rectosigmocolonoscopy, and the doctors’ efforts are aimed not only at providing high-quality diagnostics, but also performing all the manipulations as delicately as possible.

Complications

Some patients are afraid of undergoing examination, because they heard that complications are possible:

  • Perforation of the intestinal wall. One of the most serious complications during the examination. This complication is associated with mechanical damage to the intestine by the apparatus or barotrauma due to insufflation (blowing) air into the intestine. Usually, the complication is the result of a violation of the colonoscopy technique. In the 5th City Clinical Hospital of Minsk, only doctors who have undergone detailed training in working with the equipment are allowed to perform the procedure, and knowledge of safety precautions is one of the main factors for admission during the procedure. Endocopists follow the protocol of the procedure flawlessly.
  • Chemical colitis. Some patients develop colitis after colonoscopy. This situation occurs if glutaraldehyde is poorly washed off from the endoscope during disinfection of the equipment. In the 5th hospital in Minsk, disinfection is carried out strictly according to the instructions. Residues of glutaraldehyde on the instrument are excluded when it is introduced into the intestine.
  • Transient bacteremia (introduction of infection into the bloodstream from the intestinal lumen) Bacteremia is possible in patients with previous bacterial endocarditis.For this reason, such patients may be prescribed additional therapy before the procedure.

Thus, reducing risks and preventing complications is directly related to the qualifications of doctors. And this is one of the determining factors when choosing a medical institution in which diagnostics are carried out.

Results

Positive indicators in the study is the following picture:

  • Intestinal mucosa smooth, glossy . Color – pale pink. There are no growths, bumps and protrusions.
  • On the walls of the lower rectum fine granularity formed by lymphatic follicles.
  • There are no accumulations of dying tissues or pus in the mucus.
  • Uniform vascular pattern throughout the entire intestine.

If there is one or more deviations from this picture, there is a high probability of intestinal pathologies. Thickening of the folds may, for example, indicate diverticular disease, red and rough mucosa – ulcerative colitis.But self-diagnosis and diagnosis solely on colonoscopy data is unacceptable. Consultation of doctors (therapist, proctologist, gastroenterologist) is required.

Important! Adequate preparation is an indicator of the quality of colonoscopy results. 90% of errors in the interpretation of results during colonoscopy are the result of poor-quality bowel cleansing.

Alternative research methods

Other diagnostic manipulations are also called as alternative methods of bowel examination. Let’s figure out how informative they are.

  • Sigmoscopy or sigmoidoscopy – examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon. It is carried out with a rectomanoscope. Unlike colonoscopy, the doctor cannot see areas such as the descending, transverse and ascending colon, as well as the cecum, through a sigmoidoscopy. As an alternative to colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy can be considered only in situations where the problem area is at a depth of no more than 25-30 cm from the anus.
  • Double contrast irrigoscopy. X-ray examination option. Provides good information content when large polyps are detected, but allows the doctor to objectively assess the nature of small neoplasms.
  • Fecal occult blood test (FOBT). This method is often referred to as an alternative to colonosopia. The method is really informative (including it allows you to reveal hidden gastrointestinal bleeding), but more often it is not an alternative, but an addition to colonoscopy.
  • Cologuard non-invasive test. DNA channel analysis (for DNA mutations). When this test appeared, it became possible to detect cancer at an early stage. But due to the fact that the test results are often false-positive, the test must be combined with the results of colonoscopy or a series of repeated tests must be performed.

Cost

The cost of diagnostics in our hospital is influenced by a number of factors:

  • Type of video endoscopic system (with or without chromoscopy function).The use of a video endoscopic system with a chromoscopy function is very informative for suspected benign and malignant intestinal neoplasias.
  • Peculiarities of preparation for the procedure (in a hospital or at home, diagnostic tests with preparation at home – with Fortrans or de-forject drugs).
  • Peculiarities of the manipulation (with or without anesthesia).

The price list contains prices for rectosigmocolonoscopy for foreign citizens and residents of the Republic of Belarus.

Acute intestinal obstruction: causes, symptoms, treatment

Violation of the passage of contents through the intestine or adhesions leads to such an unpleasant problem as intestinal obstruction.

Causes

Acute intestinal obstruction is an independent functional disorder, a consequence of other pathologies or injuries. The problem can lead to:

  • peritonitis,
  • poisoning with salts of heavy metals,
  • neoplasms,
  • surges in intra-abdominal pressure,
  • gall stones,
  • infectious diseases,
  • a sharp decrease in body weight,
  • vascular thrombosis,
  • 90,015 disorders of the stomach.

Acute obstruction: classification

  • If hemodynamics, innervation (connection of internal organs with the central nervous system) is impaired, then they speak of mechanical intestinal obstruction.
  • Intestinal obstruction associated with compression of the intestinal lumen and compression of blood vessels is called strangulation.
  • If the cause is adhesions, the patient is diagnosed with acute adhesive intestinal obstruction.
  • The result of paralysis, paresis is the so-called paralytic intestinal obstruction.

Intestinal obstruction can be decompensated (there is no stool, there are pronounced signs of detoxification, anemia), subcompensated (persistent constipation, the colon is significantly enlarged, stool – with the help of an enema, a large amount of laxative) and compensated (irregular stool, an effective solution to the problem of constipation with laxatives).

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction

Symptoms affect both the gastrointestinal tract itself and other organs and systems of the body:

  • Cramping abdominal pain (pain is not “tied” to food intake).
  • Constipation.
  • Increased gas production, bloating.
  • Vomiting (often, but not always – with colonic obstruction may be absent).
  • Rapid pulse.
  • Pallor of the skin.
  • Without medical diagnosis, a person may decide that the problem is an exacerbation of chronic colitis, an infectious disease and even heart problems.

Diagnostics

The main diagnostic methods are auscultation and abdominal percussion.In addition, colonoscopy and fluoroscopy – always with a contrast agent – can provide important information for the diagnosis.

Laboratory diagnostics is also important, especially a general and detailed biochemical blood test, including, it is especially important to determine the level of chlorides, leukocytes and nitrogen.

Also, the patient is prescribed a urine test. If casts, protein and blood elements appear in the urine, the disease progresses.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at restoring intestinal patency, simulating motility, fighting spasmodic and gas formation, restoring electrolytes in the body.

At the initial stages, therapeutic methods are used, with the progression of the disease, severe obstruction, volvulus and closure of the lumen, surgical intervention is required.

With volvulus, nodule formation, an operation is performed to eliminate the node. If there are no signs of peritonitis, but the disease progresses strongly, colostomy and hemicolonectomy are performed. If peritonitis develops, surgeons perform a transverseostomy.

Prevention

A significant problem is relapse of the disease.To prevent them, it is important to remember about prevention. What it includes:

  1. Fractional nutrition and exclusion of foods that cause gas in the intestines.
  2. Systematic delivery of a biochemical blood test, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and colonoscopy.
  3. Injury avoidance.

If signs of intestinal obstruction reappear, it is important to see a doctor right away. It is also important to deal with adhesion prevention for everyone who has a tendency to form adhesions.These people are a special risk group.

You can undergo intestinal diagnostics and receive high-quality surgical treatment for intestinal obstruction in the 5th Clinical Hospital of Minsk. Attentive and experienced doctors work here to help you overcome the disease.

How to determine if abdominal pain

Gallstones: pain in the navel area

If the pain in the abdomen is concentrated in its central part, and is also accompanied by a dull pain radiating to the shoulder area, and intensifies after eating fatty foods, you may be dealing with gallstones.The high-risk group includes women over 40 years of age with children. The fact is that fluctuations in estrogen during pregnancy can provoke the formation of stones.

Ulcer: burning pain in the abdomen that gets better after eating

Other symptoms of peptic ulcer disease are bloating, loss of appetite, belching, weight loss. But one of the main signs is that a dull pain seems to pass after eating, but then invariably returns. The cause of the development of this disease can be the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, as well as constant stress and frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.Do not hesitate to see a doctor – it can be quite serious!

Diverticulitis: sudden pain in the left lower abdomen

One of the most common intestinal diseases in the elderly is diverticulitis, an inflammation of the small masses lining the walls of the large intestine. If measures are not taken in time, this can lead to intestinal perforation and peritonitis. Symptoms of the disease are nausea, fever, pain in the left lower abdomen, bloating and constipation.Be sure to see a doctor!

Appendicitis: Acute pain in the lower right abdomen

With appendicitis, the pain increases with movement and whenever the patient coughs, sneezes or takes a deep breath. It is important to remember that this disease is not always accompanied by high fever – on the contrary, sometimes it is lowered. It is important to urgently call a doctor to prevent rupture of the appendix and the development of peritonitis.

Abdominal pain

General information .Abdominal pains range from dull or burning to sharp and shooting. Abdominal pain occurs with various diseases and conditions.

Pain that appears near the navel and moves to the lower right abdominal cavity may indicate appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix (process of the intestine). Most serious cases will require surgery to remove the appendix. With advanced appendicitis, the appendix may burst. If you experience severe pain or tenderness in the right lower abdomen, abdominal pain when walking, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite, or fever, you should see your doctor immediately.

Pain in the lower left peritoneum may be a symptom of diverticulitis. Diverticulitis occurs when small, spherical capsules called diverticula form in the walls of the colon, which subsequently become infected and inflamed. Other symptoms of diverticulitis include fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, seizures, and constipation. Treatment for diverticulitis usually involves clearing the colon of infections and inflammation. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics and / or pain relievers, a liquid diet, and bed rest for several days.In some cases, treatment for diverticulitis requires a hospital stay. If complications arise, surgery may be necessary. The best way to prevent diverticulitis is a diet rich in fiber. Dietary fiber promotes proper digestion and relieves pressure in the colon. Gradually increase the amount of fiber in your daily diet and drink plenty of fluids. Timely bowel movements can also help prevent diverticulitis. The accumulation of waste products from the digestive system causes an increase in pressure in the colon.

Acute pain in the right hypochondrium , which increases after eating, indicates the presence of a lesion of the gallbladder. Diseases of the gallbladder include stones and inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). If complications arise, gallbladder damage may have other symptoms, along with peritoneal pain. These include: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), severe fever, and chills. Sometimes people with gallstones experience no symptoms at all.If pain occurs regularly in the right hypochondrium, you should consult a doctor. Gallbladder pain attacks can be managed in a number of ways, from simply waiting (observing symptoms for a while, not receiving any treatment) to taking medications and even surgery. You can also reduce the symptoms of gallbladder disease by reducing the amount of fat in your diet.

Abdominal pain, relieved after a bowel movement and accompanied by diarrhea or constipation, may indicate irritable bowel syndrome, a common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, the cause of which has not yet been established.When irritable bowel syndrome occurs, the walls of the intestines are compressed sometimes too much, sometimes too weakly, sometimes too slowly, and sometimes, on the contrary, too quickly. Symptoms of this disease include: bloating, increased gas production, slimy stools, a constant desire to empty the intestines.

This syndrome cannot be dealt with with surgery or drugs. However, worsening of the condition can be prevented by drinking plenty of water, increasing the amount of fiber in the diet, reducing the amount of caffeine consumed, and increasing exercise.

Acute burning pain in the upper and middle parts of the abdomen (between the sternum and the navel) may indicate the presence of an ulcer. An ulcer is a wound that forms in the tissues of the stomach or upper intestine. There are many causes of ulcers. Smoking, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may play a role. An ulcer can also form if the stomach cannot protect itself from strong stomach acid. Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that lives in the stomach, can also cause ulcers.Stress and spicy foods cannot cause ulcers. Heartburn alone cannot indicate this disease. Severe pain like heartburn can also be caused by a less serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease.

In women, abdominal pain may indicate problems with the reproductive system. Pelvic pain that occurs every month before menstruation can indicate endometriosis, a condition in which tissue particles from the uterus move through the fallopian tubes and enter the ovaries, pelvis, bladder, and other organs.Soreness in the lower abdomen may indicate pelvic inflammation (infection of the tissues of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries). In women of childbearing age, an ectopic pregnancy can also cause sharp, sharp or stabbing pain in the peritoneum, accompanied by vaginal bleeding, an irregular menstrual cycle, and pain radiating to the shoulders. Ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids can also cause abdominal pain in women.

Other cases of abdominal pain include: urinary tract infections, food poisoning and allergies, hernia, kidney stones, and lactose intolerance.

Causes of abdominal pain In most cases, abdominal pain is caused by quite common causes, such as emotional distress, overeating or the flu. However, similar pain symptoms can be caused by more serious diseases. Only a doctor can clearly determine the cause of pain.

Symptoms

If you experience mild pain, appearing sporadically for less than 4 weeks, you can try to cope with the problem on your own.

It is recommended to consult a doctor for pain that occurs sporadically for more than 4 weeks.

Urgent medical attention is required for the following conditions:

– pain accompanied by fever, jaundice, dark urine, severe nausea or vomiting, light pasty stools;

– sharp sharp stabbing pain in the abdominal cavity, accompanied by vaginal bleeding, irregular menstrual cycle, pain radiating in the shoulders;

– severe persistent pain in the peritoneum after injury;

– unexpected very severe pain lasting more than 2 hours

Urgent hospitalization is required if the following symptoms appear :

– abdominal pain accompanied by unexpected bright red rectal bleeding or vomiting with blood or a substance similar to coffee grounds;

– dizziness, delirium, rapid pulse, cold clammy skin.

What can you do for stomach pain

Mild pain not associated with ulcer disease, diverticulitis, or gallbladder disease can be treated at home. Give your body enough time to rest. To relieve pain, take simple pain relievers or antispasmodics (drotaverine, paracetamol). Do not use acetylsalicylic acid or other anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine.

Do not use laxatives or give enemas.

What a doctor can do 90 720

To determine the cause of the pain, the doctor may ask you the following questions: “Describe the pain you feel” (spastic, sharp or dull), Is it persistent or intermittent? Where do you feel pain? Where did it appear? How long does it take? When does the pain start? (During your period? Does the pain get worse after eating?) More testing is likely to be needed.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the abdominal pain.

Head. surgical department Padashulya I.N.

90,000 Stomach pain

As you know, pain in the abdominal cavity can cause diseases of the organs that are located in it. Unlike, for example, a heart attack, in this case, pain does not require urgent measures, although here the correct diagnosis is no less important. If your life after the first heart attack will never be the same, then if the surgeon removes your gallbladder or inflamed appendix, thereby he will destroy the disease itself.And men who experience abdominal pain, as a rule, are very much afraid of appendicitis, ulcers. Though they are better off worrying about gallstones or diverticula, as ulcers and appendicitis are not so common these days.

Also, unlike chest pain, acute abdominal pain almost never requires an immediate response, even with a perforated ulcer, a short delay for a couple of hours is not at all fatal. However, if they are late for a couple of days, usually patients either die, or the doctors are sued.But fortunately, abdominal pain in many cases is symptoms of very minor disorders. And in order to better understand them, you can use the following tips.

First of all, you need to determine exactly where you are hurting. So the navel serves as the border between the lower and upper parts of your digestive tract (although the large intestine goes higher, but there, serious pain is usually located just below). And the small intestine, coiled in loops, is located in the center of your belly, behind your navel.He usually rarely suffers from serious illness. The most common sources of abdominal pain can be:

  • The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine, about 25 cm long. Food enters it directly from the stomach and here ulcers usually occur more often than in the stomach, however, pain in the duodenum is indistinguishable from stomach pain.
  • Stomach – located above the horizontal line, which under the arch of the ribs of the chest passes through the navel (the so-called epigastric region).Back in school, they explained to us that the stomach digests and mixes food, and its main function is to store and accumulate it. However, a person deprived of a stomach can also normally digest food, only if consumed in large quantities, then unpleasant sensations may appear.
  • The liver is the largest organ located in the abdominal cavity. The liver is located in its upper right part. It should be noted that it is quite rare that liver disease is a source of acute abdominal pain.
  • The gallbladder is a small sac located in the lower right side of the ribcage. So oily bile continuously enters the gallbladder from the liver, where it accumulates and concentrates. And after eating, the gallbladder feeds it into the duodenum in order to improve the absorption of food fats. In the gallbladder, pain can occur for completely different reasons. The most common cause is stones, formed from hardening bile. This is due to the appearance of cholesterol in bile, which precipitates first at high concentrations, as well as when bile is dehydrated.However, the stones are completely harmless as long as they lie motionless in the gallbladder. And problems can begin when they move, a blockage of the bile duct that leads to the small intestine. And the pain that can occur when the stone is pushed through the duct can last up to several hours.
  • Large intestine. Most often, pain in it occurs somewhere in the left lower abdomen (cramps, diverticulitis, diarrhea, constipation), and sometimes even in the right lower abdomen (appendicitis). However, the most serious diseases in the colon can rarely cause pain above the navel.But we must not forget about the pain in the upper left abdomen, which occurs with the syndrome of congestion in the splenic flexure of gases. Also, the large intestine on the right under the liver has a different 90 ° turn, but with a much smoother radius, and therefore pain from gas is not often noted here.
  • Pancreas – located in the abdominal cavity rather deep behind the duodenum, stomach. It produces a certain secret, which contains many enzymes, which then enters the small intestine through a separate duct.With inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), pain usually occurs in the epigastric region, which can be felt on the left.

After you determine the nature of your pain (aching pain, burning, pain from gas), try very hard to somehow abstract from it. In some textbooks, the pain of an ulcer is described as a burning sensation, and the pain from a blockage of the duct with a stone is like colic, which increase to a maximum and immediately subside. And pains from gases are usually compared there with a kind of movement of a large ball along the insides.All these descriptions sometimes may not correspond to your sensations, since the nerves that transmit pain signals from the internal organs, unlike the nerve endings of the skin, are too primitive. Sometimes your life depends on many subtle sensations, but signals inside your body can only serve as a rough warning. A burn of the stomach with acid can cause both aching, dull, gnawing, sharp pain, and not cause any pain at all.

When exactly do you feel pain?

The pain that woke you up in the middle of the night deserves special attention.Usually, pain in the night in the stomach area can signal an ulcer, since after midnight the stomach is usually empty, and the secretion of acid increases after about 2 hours. Such pains sometimes appear with almost any dysfunction of the stomach, as well as with various indigestion and dyspepsia.

You can think about the relationship of pain to your food. Often, ulcers feel “hungry pains” because the food neutralizes the acid, but they usually disappear immediately after eating, but not always. And pain from gas usually occurs after eating in 1-2 hours, but not because of the fact that their food secretes, when it enters the stomach, but precisely because during the digestion of food, the intestines are intensively contracted, thereby compressing the gases already present there …

Symptoms associated with pain

Fever can sometimes accompany infections. Also, with catarrh of the stomach, diverticula, appendicitis, the temperature may rise. However, with stones in the gallbladder, gases, ulcers, this is not observed. And the absence, presence, even a slight rise in temperature cannot accurately indicate the severity of the violation.

Vomiting can begin when the outlet from the stomach is blocked, and even with a chronic ulcer. And blocking the exit from the stomach sometimes requires surgical intervention.Often, vomiting is accompanied by severe pain with stones in the gallbladder, exacerbation of ulcers, but generally vomiting is not a specific signal of some kind of malfunction in your digestive tract. The same applies to diarrhea.

Risk level

A small hernia (diverticulum) often occurs on the large intestine in middle-aged and older people, since after prolonged consumption of food, which is poor in coarse fibers, its walls weaken, the weakest parts of the colon sag, thereby bulging outward with sacs-diverticula.Usually, dozens of diverticula can be found in older people, which absolutely do not bother them, but until they start bleeding a little or rupture the wall of the colon. A breakthrough (perforation), as a rule, provokes a very painful infection (diverticulitis), which is usually treated with antibiotics, a liquid diet, but sometimes this violation may require surgical intervention.

If you constantly ate large amounts of coarse fiber food and did not suffer from constipation, it means that your colon experienced little stress, and your risk of diverticulitis is quite small.

It should be noted that appendicitis at any age is dangerous, but usually this disease is typical for people of adolescence or early adulthood. And pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, which is accompanied by nausea, a slight fever, a general painful condition, can usually indicate appendicitis.

Also, severe pain in the same area, while the general state of health is normal, usually associated with irritation of the intestines, gas.