Abdominal Pain can be caused by an exhausting list of disorders and it is extremely difficult to diagnosis at first glance which one is causing the problem. Most physicians take into consideration a variety of factors when they diagnosis the underlying disorder that is causing the abdominal pain. Abdominal pain can range from minor conditions to severe life threatening emergencies. This list is just a few of the many causes of abdominal pain.
1. Appendicitis – Appendicitis is an inflamed appendix and an appendix is a pouch that is attached to the large intestine. Pain is generally felt around your belly button or down towards the lower right quadrant of the belly. It usually worsens over time and is sharp and severe if left untreated. The person will usually feel nauseated and start running a fever. An appendectomy is performed to remove appendix.
2. Crohn’s disease – Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bowels and gastrointestinal tract. It can cause pain everywhere from in the mouth to around the anus (rectum). Crohn’s disease is a condition that must be treated by a physician to get any relief from the symptoms. This disease if left untreated can be debilitating to the sufferer.
3. Food Poisoning – Food poisoning is a condition resulting from eating organisms or toxins in contaminated food. Most food poisonings are from eating food tainted with Staphylococcus or E coli. Most symptoms start within 2 to 6 hours of eating the food and in most cases the severity depends on the amount of food that was eaten and the bacteria that was ingested.
4. Gallstones – Gallstones are small, firm, pebble looking deposits that form within the gallbladder. They most always are small however some grow quite large and surgery is necessary for removal of the gallbladder.
5. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) – Irritable bowel syndrome causes diarrhea, cramping, and abdominal pain. Medications are given that can relieve and treat symptoms of IBS, giving some relief to sufferers with this condition.
6. Kidney stones – Kidney stones are masses made up of tiny crystals. The stones can be in the kidneys or in the ureters at the same time. The stones are extremely painful to pass. Pain maybe felt in the belly or in the back and groin. Most likely someone with kidney stones will see blood in the urine, have some nausea and possible fever, vomiting or chills.
7. Twisted bowel – Twisted bowel is when there is an abnormal shape given in the bowel which could be caused by diet, or other health problems. Some symptoms include vomiting, pain in the stomach area, severe constipation, and bloody stools. If left untreated this may cause a severe bowel obstruction and could eventually lead to bowel necrosis which can be a deadly for the person who has the obstruction.
8. Abdominal aortic aneurysm – An abdominal aortic aneurysm is when the large blood vessel suppling blood to the abdomen and lower extremities balloons outwards. If that aneurysm expands rapidly, tears open and ruptures, symptoms suddenly become life threatening.
9. Diverticulitis – Diverticulitis is inflammation of a pouch that is abnormal in the intestinal wall. These pouches are usually located in the large colon. The fact that there are abnormal pouches in the first place is called diverticulosis and is a condition.
10. Ectopic Pregnancy – An ectopic pregnancy is where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Therefore the baby cannot survive and surgery must be performed to protect the mother.
11. GERD (acid reflux) – GERD is gastroesophageal reflux disease which is a condition where liquid or food backs up into the the esophagus from the stomach. Which causes severe heartburn and in some cases hoarseness. Acid reflux is a very painful condition due to the irritation of the lining of the esophagus however it can be successfully treated.
12. Heart attack – A heart attack happens when the blood vessels to the heart are blocked off preventing enough oxygen from reaching the heart. Therefore the heart begins to die or becomes severely damaged. Myocardial Infarction” is the fancy medical terminology way of saying heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack include many things some of which are indigestion, abdominal pain, heaviness in the chest, nausea and vomiting only to name a few. If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek immediate emergency treatment.
13. Ulcer (gastrointestinal bleeding) – Erosion in the lining of the stomach or an area called the duodenum causes an ulcer or a sore. The ulcer can than further be irritated to the point where it bleeds causing more problems. Sometimes large bleeding can be life threatening, as erosion of a major vessel may be involved or a perforation. Both conditions require immediate surgical intervention.
14. Constipation – Constipation is probably the most commonly given abdominal pain complaints. In some extreme cases a bowel obstruction may be the culprit for the constipation which causes severe abdominal pain and a distended abdomen. In most cases bowel obstructions require surgical intervention.
15. Endometriosis – Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that lines the uterus grows in other parts of the abdomen causing pain, irregular bleeding and sometimes infertility. This condition is very painful and treating this condition involves careful monitoring of the disease along with pain medications. Some treatments may involve stopping the menstrual cycle.
16. Fibroid tumors – Fibroid tumors are almost always benign tumors that are usually found in uterus (womb) however they can be found elsewhere in the abdomen on other organs. They can cause no symptoms or they can cause severe symptoms one of which is abdominal pain. Fibroid tumors usually do not require treatment unless they are severe and then there are surgical options available.
References for this article include: Web MD, Medicinenet.com and Abdopain.com
