Abdominal Pain is any pain occurring between the chest and pelvic regions. It can be of various types and can hit you out of the blue. A number of major organs are located within the abdominal space, and inflammation or infection of any of these can be the reason for abdominal pain. These organs include:
∙ The intestines (Large and small)
∙ Kidneys
∙ Appendix
∙ Spleen
∙ Stomach
∙ Gall Bladder
∙ Liver
∙ Pancreas
Causes of Pain
A number of reasons may lie behind the abdominal pain, but the major ones are:
∙ Infection – Viral/ Bacterial/ Parasitic
∙ Inflammations of the organs
∙ Rupture of the organs
∙ Obstruction or blockage of the tubes and vessels
∙ Abnormal growths within the cavity/ fasciae
∙ Intestinal Disorders
∙ The spread of infection from throat, intestines, etc into the digestive tract
∙ Menstrual Cramps causing lower abdominal pain
Abdominal pain differs in type, intensity, and location, in accordance with the reason that led to it. A major gradation is that of Acute Pain and Chronic Pain. Acute pain is sudden, intense, whereas Chronic Pain comes in bouts over a period of time and stays for a longer duration. Acute pain is short-lived, whereas chronic pain is intermittent, episodic, and stays over weeks or even years. If divided into types based on the kind of pain the person experiences, the common types of abdominal pain are –
- Localized Pain
- Referred Pain
- Cramps
- Colicky Pain
- Spasmodic Pain
- Localized Pain
Isolated tenderness and pain in part of the abdomen is a kind of localized pain that is dull, and generally without any accompanying physical abnormalities. A thorough check-up and laboratory findings help detect the problem in such cases.
Examples – Hepatomegaly
Hepatomegaly is the condition of having an enlarged liver, swollen beyond its normal size. It is not a disease in itself, but rather a sign of an underlying cause, such as liver disease or congestive heart failure.
When to seek Medical Care:
∙ Pain in the upper right side of the stomach
∙ Nausea, fatigue, muscle ache
∙ Loss of weight and appetite
∙ Jaundice
- Referred Pain
When the afflicted organ lies elsewhere, yet the immediate pain will be somewhere else, it is known as Referred Pain. Often the abdominal pain you experience may not be due to the immediately underlying organs but to a separate organ altogether.
Example – Appendicitis is the inflammation of the Appendix– a vestigial part of the large intestine located in the lower right abdomen. Rovsing’s Sign is the sort of pain caused by appendicitis, where the pain is felt in the upper abdomen or epigastrium. The muscles near the appendix, a pouch projecting from the colon, eventually gets stretched and causes incredible pain, which starts around the navel and moves upwards. When to seek Medical Care:
∙ Dull or sharp pain in the right lower and mid-abdomen
∙ Chills, fever, loss of appetite
∙ Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
∙ Abdominal pain migration
- Cramps
The strain caused by stretching of muscles is known as cramps. A cramp comes and goes, and often subsides completely without any treatment. It often accompanies diarrhea, dysentery constipation, bloating, flatulence, menses, etc.
Example – Dysentery
Bloody Diarrhea due to inflammation of the intestines is known as Dysentery.
When to seek Medical Care:
∙ Blood in the stool with difficult defecation
∙ Indigestion, nausea, vomiting
∙ Dehydration, with fever
∙ Weight loss with intense cramps
- Colicky Pain
Muscular contractions of hollow tubes like the colon/ gall bladder, ureter, etc. try to relieve obstruction of these organs by forcing out contents. This process gives rise to colicky pain – one which comes and goes. It is sharp, localized, that arises abruptly and in spasm like waves.
Example – Renal Colic
Renal Colic occurs when the ureter or a part of the urinary tract gets obstructed with stones. This gives rise to sharp pain in waves.
When to seek Medical Care:
∙ Constant one-sided pain in the back or side
∙ Fever, body aches, fatigue
∙ Increased urinary frequency
∙ Painful urination
- Spasmodic Pain
It is a muscle cramp accompanied by a sudden burst in pain. A powerful involuntary contraction of the abdominal muscles as a result of strain gives rise to such a pain. Usually caused due to dehydration, fatigue, or overuse of alcohol or drug. Spasms range from mild twitches to severe pain. The spastic muscle feels hard to touch and is visibly contorted. The twitching of the muscles can often be seen and palpated.
Example – Dysmenorrhoea
When menstruation happens along with cramps and pelvic pain – it is known as dysmenorrhoea. It is a mixture of abnormal menstrual signs like heavy flow, excessive clots, etc. There may be uterine fibroids or endometriosis to blame.
When to seek Medical Care:
∙ If you have not had cramps before, and are over 25 years of age.
∙ Severe cramping, more than usual
∙ Heavy bleeding
∙ An erratic menstrual bleeding pattern
