Question 1

Is it advisable to take over-the-counter pain relief medicines?

Accepted Answer

While it may seem like a good idea, it isn’t. Often, it doesn’t take long for people to get pain relief medicines over-the-counter only to realise that their pain is getting worse. When you take medicines such as ibuprofen during abdominal pain, there is a chance that your stomach might feel increasingly irritated. This can worsen the pain and make it go from mild to severe in a short period. Avoid taking over-the-counter medicines and contact your doctor instead. He is best equipped to help you feel relief.

Question 2

What are some of the treatments available for abdominal pain?

Accepted Answer

Many treatments will give you stomach pain relief. The treatment depends on the cause of the abdomen pain. For people with GERD, doctors may prescribe histamine blockers and PPIs to block acid production and give you relief from pain. Antacids can be given for heartburn or burning pain in the abdomen. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics for infection and severe stomach pain. People who experience pain due to constipation can be prescribed with laxatives. Motility agents are treatment options that are used for people with gastroparesis.

In some cases, surgery might be required for effective treatment of abdominal pain. This is usually necessary when you are suffering from chronic problems such as appendicitis, aneurysms, or cholecystitis. There are two types of surgeries that your doctor can recommend. You can have open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, depending on the cause of your abdominal pain.

Question 3

I am a woman and experience pain every now and then around the reproductive organs. What can be the cause, and should I be worried?

Accepted Answer

Any pain in your abdomen should not be ignored. Women may experience pain or heaviness in the lower abdomen for many reasons. You may be experiencing pain because of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, menstruation, pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, or endometriosis. Since you can better describe the frequency and intensity of the pain in your lower abdomen, it is best to consult your doctor so that he can diagnose the problem and treat you before further complications arise.

Question 4

Is it necessary for me to consult my doctor when I have frequent pain, even if it is not severe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is important. Although the abdominal pain might not seem severe in the beginning, it can become chronic if you don’t get yourself treated in time. Not all conditions show symptoms. So, if you are feeling discomfort, and even if it is a little bit, there is no harm in getting yourself checked by your doctor to ensure you are not suffering from a serious condition. Many conditions show zero symptoms until they reach the final stage. Therefore, you shouldn’t take any chances regarding your health and well-being. If anything in your body seems amiss, consult your doctor instead of waiting.

Question 5

Is there any way to tell what may be causing abdomen pain?

Accepted Answer

While it is recommended to consult your doctor, there are some ways to tell what the cause of abdominal pain may be. If you are having pain in no particular area, it may be caused by a urinary tract infection, Crohn’s disease, the flu, appendicitis, or irritable bowel syndrome. Pain in the lower abdomen can be caused by intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, constipation, and ectopic pregnancy. Upper abdominal pain may be caused due to gastritis, ulcer disease, pancreatitis, gallstones, or hepatitis and rarely heart attack and pneumonia.

If you are experiencing pain in the centre of the abdomen, it may be due to an injury, appendicitis, uraemia, or gastroenteritis. An infection in the kidney, cancer and hernia can cause pain in the lower abdomen. Left upper abdominal pain may be caused by cancer, enlarged spleen, heart attack, or kidney infection. Right lower abdomen pain is caused by flu, hernia, cancer, or appendicitis. Pain in the right side of the upper abdomen may be due to pneumonia, hepatitis, cholecystitis, or an injury.

The above are just general guidelines. If you feel any pain in the abdomen region, it is highly recommended that you contact your doctor. If you are having severe pain, it is best to call emergency services right away without any delay.

Question 6

How do you know when abdominal pain is serious?

Accepted Answer

You should see your primary healthcare physician if there is mild pain in the abdomen lasting more than a couple of days or if you have severe stomach pain and other symptoms. Seek help immediately if you have the following symptoms.

A sharp, sudden and severe abdominal pain
Pain in the chest, neck or shoulder
High fever
Difficult breathing
Stiff or hard abdomen
Consistent nausea or vomiting
Blood vomits
Bloody diarrhoea
Black or tarry stools

Question 7

What does it mean when you push on your stomach, and it hurts?

Accepted Answer

If you feel pain when pressure is applied to an area of your abdomen, it might be due to abdominal tenderness. If you continue feeling the pain even after the pressure is removed, it is a sign of rebound tenderness or Blumberg.

Abdominal tenderness is usually a sign of inflammation or other acute problems with one or more organs around the tender area. Tenderness could also result due to twisted or blocked organs. Some common causes of abdominal tenderness are –

Appendicitis or swelling of the appendix
Abdominal abscess caused by a burst intestine, appendix or ovary, inflammatory bowel disease, or infection
Meckel’s diverticulum
Diverticulitis or inflammation of the inner lining of the intestines
In women specifically, the following can lead to abdominal tenderness –
Inguinal hernia
Twisted fallopian tube
Ruptured ovarian cyst
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Pelvic inflammatory disease

Question 8

What are the symptoms of gas pain?

Accepted Answer

Pain due to gas may feel like knots inside the stomach or abdomen. Individuals also describe that they feel the gas moving through their intestines. You may also feel the pain up in your chest. Some of the common symptoms include –

Pressure in the abdomen
Bloating and distention
Burping
Flatulence

Pain due to gas can last a few minutes to a few hours. It generally doesn’t need any treatment, but if the pain has lasted for more than twenty-four hours, it could be the sign of a serious issue. In such a case, it is recommended to visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Question 9

What does the pain of pancreatitis feel like?

Accepted Answer

Acute pancreatitis may cause pain that starts in the upper abdomen and lasts for a few days. You may feel severe or constant pain in the abdomen which could also reach to the back and other areas. The pain may be mild in the beginning but becomes more intense when food is eaten. Individuals with acute pancreatitis tend to look very sick.

Some of the symptoms to watch out for are –

Swollen and tender abdomen
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Rapid pulse
Dehydration, low blood pressure, heart, lungs or kidney failure may also result in severe cases. Death may occur if there’s bleeding in the pancreas.

Question 10

What are the treatment options for appendicitis?

Accepted Answer

Appendicitis can be treated by surgically removing the appendix by a procedure called an appendectomy. It can be performed as an outpatient operation. To treat any remaining infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Generally, an appendectomy can be of the following types.

Open surgery: In open surgery, an incision is made in the lower right abdomen to operate on the appendix. This is performed when the appendix has burst and the area around it needs to be treated for an infection.

Laparoscopy: This procedure involves making a few small incisions on the body. The surgeon administers a tube called a cannula through one of the incisions to have a better look at the appendix. A laparoscope may be inserted through another incision to guide the surgeon and operate on the appendix. Laparoscopy procedures have lower risks than open surgery and allow the patient to recover faster.

Abdominal Pain and Gastric Problems