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 pain in abdomen: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Burning pain in the abdomen may have several causes, including a peptic ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, people feel pain differently, and the symptoms may indicate a more severe condition. Therefore, a person must consult a healthcare professional for proper assessment and treatment.

The abdomen extends from below a person’s chest to the groin. It contains many different organs, including the stomach, pancreas, and gastrointestinal system.

A burning sensation may be present in the upper abdomen and esophagus due to acid reflux or when someone urinates due to kidney stones or an infection. Other conditions may also cause a burning pain at different times, such as while eating or having sex.

This article explores burning pain in the abdomen, its possible causes, symptoms, and treatments. It also explains when to contact a doctor.

GERD occurs when the stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, the tube that carries liquids and food from the mouth to the stomach.

There may be several causes of GERD, including impaired function of the esophageal sphincter or a hiatal hernia.

The condition is common, affecting up to 27.8% or more people in the United States.

Symptoms

One of the typical symptoms of GERD is heartburn. This causes a burning sensation that may radiate into the neck to the abdomen. GERD also causes regurgitation of stomach acid — acid reflux.

Other symptoms include:

• difficulty swallowing
• painful swallowing
• burping
• pain or discomfort below the ribs
• nausea

Treatment

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends the following lifestyle modifications for managing GERD:

• avoiding spicy and fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine, citrus, and carbonated drinks
• losing weight, if necessary
• quitting smoking, if applicable
• elevating the head during sleep

However, experts note that diet modification is controversial, and guidelines suggest doctors do not routinely recommend this.

Doctors may prescribe medication to people who do not respond to lifestyle modifications. This may include:

• proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• h3 blockers
• antacids

Doctors may recommend surgery for severe cases of GERD that do not respond to the above treatments.

Peptic ulcers are sores on the lining of the stomach or duodenum. People sometimes call them duodenal ulcers or peptic ulcer disease. Helicobacter pylori bacteria are the most common cause of peptic ulcers, which affect up to 6% of people in the U.S.

Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, may also cause ulcers to develop. Older adults and those who smoke are more at risk.

Symptoms

The NIDDK advises that the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is abdominal pain that may be burning or dull. The pain may come and go or worsen at night or when the stomach is empty or full. Other common symptoms include:

• feeling full too soon while eating a meal
• feeling uncomfortably full after eating a meal
• nausea and vomiting
• bloating
• burping

However, the NIDDK notes some people have no symptoms until an ulcer leads to complications, such as bleeding or a blockage in the stomach.

Treatment

Doctors look at the cause of a peptic ulcer and may treat it with medications. Treatments may include:

• PPIs or h3 blockers
• antibiotics or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) to treat H.pylori infection
• avoiding NSAIDs
• quitting smoking

Doctors may suggest a gastrointestinal tract endoscopy to obtain a biopsy or, in rare cases, surgery to treat peptic ulcers that do not heal.

Chronic pancreatitis is when inflammation permanently damages the pancreas and stops it from working correctly. The pancreas is a small organ behind the stomach that helps people digest food.

The condition is different from acute pancreatitis, which is a short-term condition.

Symptoms

According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), chronic pancreatitis causes a burning or shooting pain in the abdomen that comes and goes but may last for hours or days.

Depending on how long the condition has lasted, people may experience the following symptoms:

• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• greasy, foul-smelling stools
• fatty stools (steatorrhea)
• diarrhea
• weight loss

With advanced disease, people may also experience jaundice or symptoms of diabetes. If cysts develop as a complication, someone may have bloating, indigestion, or dull tummy pain.

Treatment

The damage to the pancreas is permanent, but healthcare professionals can help a person manage symptoms. Doctors may advise:

• stopping drinking alcohol
• quitting smoking
• pain-relieving medication
• surgery

Sometimes, people may feel a burning sensation in the lower abdominal or genital area when they urinate. This may be as a result of kidney stones or a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as cystitis.

Endometriosis can cause pain in the abdomen, and people may experience a burning pain during or after sex.

There may be several reasons someone can have burning pain in the abdomen, and a healthcare professional needs to assess symptoms to diagnose the cause.

People may feel or describe pain differently, so a healthcare professional must assess and diagnose conditions using a person’s symptoms and clinical investigations.

Someone with abdominal pain or burning sensations must discuss these symptoms with a healthcare professional.

Acute abdominal pain can also indicate severe conditions such as appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease complications, or cancer.

A person should attend the emergency room if they experience sudden onset, severe abdominal pain.

Burning pain in the abdomen may be due to a peptic ulcer or GERD. Chronic pancreatitis also causes long-term abdominal symptoms, including burning pain.

Someone may feel burning pain lower in the abdomen or when urinating due to kidney stones or a UTI. Additionally, endometriosis or other gynecological conditions may cause burning pain.

A person must discuss their symptoms with a doctor, who may want to perform tests. Depending on the cause of abdominal burning pain, treatments may include lifestyle modifications, medication, or surgery.

People must attend the emergency room if abdominal pain comes on suddenly and is severe.

Causes of pain in the lower abdomen – symptoms, diagnosis, treatment at NCC No. 2 (Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
Weak, moderate or severe pain in the lower abdomen in women, the causes of which may be different, is a very common complaint from numerous patients, both very young and elderly. In some cases, these are, albeit unpleasant, but variants of the norm that do not indicate any pathologies. But, often they are one of the symptoms of a large list of diseases. First of all, gynecological health is under suspicion, although pain can also occur for reasons of a different nature. In any case, you need the help of specialists who will identify the source of the disease state.

Types of pain in the lower abdomen

The nature of pain can be different:

• pull;
• stabbing;
• aching;
• cramping;
• expanding;
• blunt;
• cutting;
• herpes;
• burning, as if burning from the inside.

Unpleasant sensations can begin abruptly and intensely, grow gradually, disturb on the right, left or in the middle, radiate to the lower back and other areas. It can last for several minutes or days, stop periodically or disturb constantly.

The causes of pain in the lower abdomen in women can be divided into several main categories:

In choosing specific research methods, making a correct diagnosis, it is of great importance to clarify the nature, duration, and intensity of pain. By studying the symptoms, doctors can suggest a specific disease and outline the necessary direction in the examination of the patient.

Lower abdominal pain in women: physiological causes

In this case, pain is associated with physiological changes occurring in the body. They can occur at different stages of the menstrual cycle, early pregnancy, be observed during hormonal changes (including during menopause).

Shortly after fertilization, a woman may feel a pulling pain. This is due to the introduction of the egg into the endometrium of the uterus, the integrity of which is violated. As the fetus grows, the internal organs move, which sometimes provokes severe discomfort.

Many girls experience severe pain during ovulation in the lower abdomen, the causes of which are hidden in the hormonal changes that occur due to the rupture of the follicle and the release of the egg. Often they are accompanied by other symptoms:

• breast hypersensitivity;
• nausea;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• sudden changes in emotional state;
• puffiness;
• bloating.

Before menstruation, pain is also a frequent companion of many women. If the patient is examined, she does not have any pathologies and unpleasant sensations do not interfere with her usual way of life, then such manifestations fit into the normal range. When the pain is intense and provokes a serious deterioration in the general condition, dysmenorrhea (algomenorrhea) is usually diagnosed.

Pathologies of the reproductive system

There are many causes of pain associated with gynecological problems. Among the most common:

• Endometritis. It is characterized by inflammation of the endometrium, which can be acute or chronic. Often accompanied by a violation of the menstrual cycle, spotting, uterine bleeding, pulling pains.
• Adnexitis. Inflammation of the uterine appendages is one of the most common diseases in gynecological practice. In addition to pain (may be in one side or spread to the entire lower abdomen), patients experience signs of intoxication and fever. The disease is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.
• Endometriosis. In this disease, the cells of the uterus grow and are outside of it. Accompanied by pain during urination, defecation, sexual intercourse and just with sudden movements, heavy bleeding during menstruation. Regardless of the cycle, brownish discharge is noted.
• Uterine fibroids, which are usually characterized by dull pain in the pelvic region. Cysts, other benign, as well as malignant formations can cause discomfort of varying intensity, spasms.
• Spikes. May be the result of inflammation in the genital organs, varicose and other diseases. Complications during pregnancy. These include spontaneous abortion, placental abruption and other pathologies. In such cases, the pain is sudden and sharp, accompanied by the release of blood from the genitals.

Separately, it is worth focusing on sexual infections – mycoplasmosis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and other diseases. They affect the reproductive organs, causing pain, copious vaginal discharge of a pathogenic nature, burning, itching and are fraught with complications if left untreated.

Pain on the right and left

In some cases, patients complain of pain in a specific localization. There may be pain in the lower abdomen in a woman on the right due to a right-sided lesion of the uterine appendages of an inflammatory nature (adnexitis, salpingo-oophoritis), spasm of the ileum, and tumor formations. Also in this place is the caecum, which has a vermiform process – the appendix. In case of its inflammation, appendicitis develops and the patient needs emergency care.

The most common causes of pain in the left lower abdomen in women are secondary inflammation of the appendages, spasm of the sigmoid colon, a tumor process, and ulcerative colitis. Sometimes the problem can be associated with disorders in the joints of the spine and their tissues, herniated disc, sciatica.

Disorders in the functioning of the organs of the urinary system

Cystitis is one of the most common causes of aching pain in women. The bladder can become inflamed after a banal hypothermia. Cramping during urination, false and frequent urges are a characteristic symptomatology of this disease. Other frequently diagnosed pathologies of the urinary system include pyelonephritis and urethritis, in which case discomfort is disturbed not only in the lower abdomen, but also in the back (especially in the lumbar region).

With pain that is dull in nature and occurs in the area above the pubis, bladder polyps can be assumed.

Problems in the work of the digestive organs

It can also hurt in the lower abdomen due to problems with the intestines, existing diseases of different parts of the digestive system:

• Poisoning of low-quality food contaminated with bacteria. For example, with shigellosis, echirichiosis and other infections, the pain is paroxysmal and pronounced.
• Inguinal hernias, spigelian and white lines. When they are infringed, acute pain occurs in the abdominal cavity.
• Pancreatitis. With inflammation of the pancreas, the left side of the lower abdomen and chest hurts, jaundice may occur.
• Intestinal colic. It is characterized by spasm of the large or small intestine. Able to be the result of helminthic invasion, food poisoning, severe stress.
• Cholecystitis. When the outflow of bile is disturbed, the risk of developing inflammation of the gallbladder is high. In this case, the pain spreads to the right side, shoulder or shoulder blade.

If the pain is accompanied by diarrhea or constipation, discoloration of the feces, the appearance of blood or mucus in the stool, bloating, nausea, vomiting, frequent urge to empty the bowels, chills or fever, the cause of such symptoms may be a disorder of the digestive function, diseases of the organs GIT.

Other causes of pain

There are many other problems that can cause pain in the lower abdomen. These include:

• injuries of the abdominal cavity and genital organs;
• prolapse of the vagina and uterus;
• varicose veins of the small pelvis;
• torsion of tumor pedicle, etc.

Also, women who tend to react sharply to stressful situations, often worry and experience anxiety, suffer from pain of a psychogenic nature much more often than others.

The multidisciplinary medical center NCC No. 2 (CCH RAS) has experienced and highly qualified specialists who regularly undergo training in leading world clinics, modern medical and diagnostic resources, and equipment from well-known manufacturers. All this makes it possible to provide comprehensive medical care to patients with problems of varying degrees of complexity.

Pain in the abdomen on the left. What is the reason?

Surgery

Such pain can be caused by diseases of various kinds. In some cases, this is not dangerous at all. In especially severe cases, such pain requires urgent surgical intervention. In such cases, it is impossible to do without an accurate diagnosis, so you should immediately consult a doctor. There are certain symptoms in which this should be done immediately.

Your stomach doesn’t hurt on its own. Pain is usually a symptom of another disease. It is important to determine what kind of pain you are experiencing – sharp or dull, and in which place in the abdomen it is localized. These factors have a significant impact on the correct diagnosis.

If you have problems with the spleen, the pain is localized at the top of the abdomen on the left. This happens when the spleen changes its size in the direction of increase for certain reasons. This phenomenon can be caused by an infectious disease – mononucleosis or even typhoid fever. If a sharp pain in this place becomes unbearable, and the stomach begins to turn blue, then you have a ruptured spleen. This may be due to trauma, or due to the fact that her capsule is greatly stretched. A ruptured spleen is a serious danger to both health and life, so you need to see a doctor urgently.

If the upper left quadrant hurts in the abdomen, this may indicate an inflammatory process in the pancreas. In such cases, a sharp pain radiates to the back, and the person feels sick, sometimes even vomits.

In the presence of gastritis or gastric ulcer, abdominal pain is localized at the top and left. In addition to pain symptoms, a person may experience heartburn or belching, and other unpleasant symptoms may appear.

If the stomach hurts below on the left side, this may indicate inflammation of the intestine. In such cases, along with pain, flatulence and diarrhea begin, the stomach may swell. And in the case when diverticulitis is connected to the inflammation, the temperature rises sharply and nausea begins, turning into vomiting.

Pain in the abdomen on the left side can be caused by urolithiasis or unilateral pyelonephritis. In such cases, the pain becomes acute, the person experiences frequent urge to urinate.

With gynecological diseases, for example, with inflammation of the appendages or an ovarian cyst, and even more so with an ectopic pregnancy, the stomach can also get sick.