Burning sensation in lower abdomen: Causes and treatments

A burning sensation in the lower abdomen may stem from a urological, digestive or reproductive problem, such as kidney stones, ulcers, or endometriosis.

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.

Burning sensation in lower abdomen: Causes and treatments

A burning sensation in the lower abdomen may stem from a urological, digestive or reproductive problem, such as kidney stones, ulcers, or endometriosis.

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.

Burning in the abdomen causes

Symptoms: pain in the abdomen, in the stomach, epigastric pain, burning in the abdomen, pain and burning in the stomach, bloating, frequent stools, frequent urge to stool, indigestion, diarrhea, diarrhea, abdominal distention, flatulence, gas in the intestines, heartburn, belching after eating, food intolerance, heaviness after eating .

Causes of burning in the abdomen

Burning in the abdomen can signal problems in the intestines. The cause may be errors in diet, digestive disorders, mechanical (stenosis, adhesions, tumors) and functional disorders of motor function. Burning of the abdomen can also be of a psychogenic nature and occur as a result of violations of the autonomic innervation and blood supply to the intestine.

Stomach burning: case reports

Male, 47 years old, worker.

From the anamnesis it is known that the first symptoms of this disease appeared in him 17 years ago, a year after the patient was in a car accident (concussion of the 2nd degree of severity). Began pain in the abdomen after eating.

The local therapist referred me for gastroscopy (conclusion: superficial catarrhal gastritis). Drug therapy (enveloping, enzymes, diet) was prescribed. However, no improvement was observed within six months. Repeat gastroscopy showed normal gastric mucosa. The diagnosis of “gastritis” was removed, another was made – intestinal dysbacteriosis, probiotics were prescribed.

Over the next years, the condition gradually worsened, heartburn appeared, frequent (up to eight times a day) stools, a burning sensation in the abdomen after eating, which were replaced by severe pain, flatulence (“the stomach swells like a drum”).

In January 2010, a man turned to the Clinical Center of Autonomic Neurology with complaints of burning in the abdomen, severe flatulence, indigestion, insomnia, anxiety, severe weight loss (due to intolerance to many foods, he followed a strict diet, ate once a day).

All symptoms of the disease disappeared two months after the first course of therapy. A second course was conducted at the request of the patient to “fix the positive results.” So far, he feels completely healthy.

Female, 30 years old, housewife.

She turned to us for help two years after the onset of the disease, in 2008.

Complaints of a burning sensation in the lower part of the sternum and epigastric region, “as if it were hot there.” These sensations appeared to her sporadically (several times a day) and lasted from 10 to 30 minutes.

Constant general weakness, chills, nausea, trembling in the body. In order to get rid of the discomfort, she had to lie down for at least 15 minutes. After resting, the discomfort disappeared.

These symptoms testified to the “interest of the solar plexus nodes”, which was confirmed by a computer thermal imaging study.

A woman underwent a complex of physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at normalizing the functioning of the solar plexus. So far, she has no health complaints.

Male, 30 years old, driver.

At the time of contacting the Center for Autonomic Neurology, the patient was not working due to existing complaints. The main complaint was frequent urge to defecate, sudden and very painful bowel spasms. Loose stools were observed at least ten to fifteen times a day …

A driver by profession, the patient had to change jobs frequently because he could not perform his duties. “Every half hour I ran and looked for any doorway.” For the same reason, he could not stand long trips by public transport.

Despite a strict diet and even weeks of fasting, the symptoms did not go away. And any meal caused a strong “abdominal seething” and colic.

The patient underwent two courses of therapy at the Clinical Center for Autonomic Neurology. Positive dynamics was noted already in the second week after the course. And after six months, all the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders disappeared completely.

Other symptoms of VSD

Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing

Strong heartbeat, rapid pulse

Trembling in the body, shaking hands

Sweating, perspiration, heavy sweat

Heaviness in the head, headache

Muscle tone, muscle spasm neck

Urinary incontinence

Feeling of fear, anxiety

Discomfort in the intestines, diarrhea

Blurred vision

Pre-syncope

Sleep disorder, insomnia, drowsiness

Subfebrile temperature

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Weather sensitivity

Myths and truth about VSD

— Put yourself in the place of a doctor. The patient’s tests are fine. All kinds of examinations from ultrasound to MRI show the norm. And the patient comes to you every week and complains that he feels bad, has nothing to breathe, his heart is pounding, sweat is pouring down, that he constantly calls an ambulance, etc. You cannot call such a person healthy, but he does not have a specific disease. This is – VVD – a diagnosis for all occasions, as I call it …

Read the interview

VVD in faces

This page contains excerpts from the case histories of patients on the main complaints with which people turn to us for help. This is done with the aim of showing how different and “complex” the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia can be. And how closely sometimes it is “soldered” with violations in the work of organs and systems. How it “masquerades” as “heart”, “lung”, “stomach”, “gynecological” and even “psychiatric” problems that people have to live with for years…

Learn more

Why does the stomach burn? Causes, symptoms, treatment

Burning in the abdomen in diseases of the stomach

The most common condition in which there are burning pains in the upper abdomen and in the chest is gastroesophageal reflux, when gastric juice containing hydrochloric acid is thrown into the esophagus. This can occur with diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, chalazia cardia (insufficient closure of the muscle sphincter, which is located in the lower part of the esophagus), hiatal hernia.

Our expert in this field:

Ryabov Konstantin Yurievich

Surgeon, oncologist, endoscopist

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In addition to burning pain, this condition is characterized by heartburn – a burning sensation in the abdomen, in the chest. Symptoms usually worsen after eating, while bending forward, in the supine position.

According to statistics, the backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus occurs at least once a week in every fifth adult.

Sometimes “heartburn” is actually a manifestation of coronary heart disease. This condition will be more serious than gastroesophageal reflux. And in some cases, “stomach pain” may even be a manifestation of an atypical form of myocardial infarction. Therefore, you should consult a doctor in any case. And if the burning sensation is strong and does not go away for a long time, the state of health has deteriorated greatly – it is better to call an ambulance.

Burning in the upper abdomen is also characteristic of stomach ulcers. Sometimes burning pain begins to bother immediately after eating, sometimes after a couple of hours, and sometimes on an empty stomach (hungry pains are also characteristic of duodenal ulcers).

Rarer causes of burning pain and heartburn associated with diseases of the stomach and esophagus:

• Cancer of the esophagus. Occurs very rarely. Smokers and people who drink a lot of alcohol are at increased risk.
• Gastroparesis. One of the possible complications of diabetes mellitus, when a constant increase in blood sugar leads to damage to the nerves that provide contraction of the stomach wall.
• Dangerous condition – dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm with rupture. The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, the blood pressure in it is the highest. In some people (most often in men over 50 years old, suffering from arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis), the inner layer of its wall may rupture, as a result, it exfoliates from the outer one, blood flows between them. One of the possible manifestations of such a condition is severe burning pain around the navel, which occurs suddenly and radiates to the lower back. The patient needs emergency medical help, if aortic dissection is suspected, an ambulance should be called immediately.

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Burning pain in the lower abdomen

Burning in the lower abdomen usually first of all suggests an infection of the genitourinary system. The correctness of this assumption is confirmed by the following symptoms:

• pain and burning during urination;
• fever;
• frequent trips to the toilet;
• blood impurities and other changes in the urine.