Abdominal Pain

Your abdomen extends from below your chest to your groin. Some people call it the stomach, but your abdomen contains many other important organs. Pain in the abdomen can come from any one of them. The pain may start somewhere else, such as your chest. Severe pain doesn't always mean a serious problem. Nor does mild pain mean a problem is not serious.

Call your healthcare provider if mild pain lasts a week or more or if you have pain with other symptoms. Get medical help immediately if

You have abdominal pain that is sudden and sharp
You also have pain in your chest, neck or shoulder
You're vomiting blood or have blood in your stool
Your abdomen is stiff, hard and tender to touch
You can't move your bowels, especially if you're also vomiting

Abdominal Pain on Wikipedia

'''Abdominal pain''' can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. Making a definitive diagnosis of the cause of a person's abdominal pain can be quite difficult, because so many diseases can result in this symptom.

Introduction

Abdominal pain is traditionally described by its chronicity (acute or chronic), its progression over time, its nature (sharp, dull, colic), its distribution (by various methods, such as abdominal quadrant (left upper quadrant, left lower quadrant, right upper quadrant, right lower quadrant) or other methods that divide the abdomen into nine sections), and by characterization of the factors that make it worse, or alleviate it.

Approaches

Due to the many organ systems in the abdomen, abdominal pain is a concern of general practitioners/family physicians, surgery, internal medicines, emergency medicine doctors, pediatrics, gastroenterology, urology and gynecology. Occasionally, patients with rare causes can see a number of specialists before being diagnosed adequately (e.g. chronic functional abdominal pain).

Types and mechanisms

#The pain associated with inflammation of the parietal peritoneum is steady and aching, and worsened by changes in the tension of peritoneum caused by pressure or positional change, and is often accompanied by tension of the abdominal muscles contracting to relieve such tension. #The pain associated with obstruction of the hollow viscera is often intermittent or "colic" #The pain associated with abdominal vascular disturbances (thrombosis or embolism) can be sudden or gradual in onset, and can be severe or mild. Pain associated with the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm may radiate to the back, flank, or genitals. #Pain that is felt in the abdomen may be "referred" from elsewhere (e.g., a disease process ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Colic Cure - A relief formula to relieve the abdominal pain associated with this digestive condition.

Motionfitness - Product source for back pain, abdominal training, core fitness, inversion therapy and exercise.

Bellysling - Offering an abdominal support band designed by a Canadian nurse to ease pregnancy pains.

Chronic Abdominal Pain in Childhood: Diagnosis and Management April 1, 1999 - American Academy of Family Physicians - This site contains the full text of a clinical study compiled by the John Hopkins University School of Medicine and published in the April 1, 1999, issue of American Family Physician.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Low Back Pain - Diagnosis information from a chiropractic point of view.

UCLA Center for Neurovisceral Science and Women's Health - Information about IBS, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, GERD and other GI disorders. Also includes information about clinical trials

eMedicine Health - Abdominal Pain in Children - Consumer health resource center providing an overview of a tummy ache and its causes, symptoms and treatment.

eMedicine - Diverticulitis - Article by Dr. Ahmed Sherif offers a clinical report on diverticulitis, a condition that often leads to abdominal pain and constipation. Learn common symptoms and research treatment options.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis Message Boards - Help for IBS and IBD diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea. Moderated boards address diet, recipes, stress, hypnotherapy, yoga, drugs, and surgery.

Answers and Articles about Pelvic and Abdominal Pain - frequently asked questions about pelvic and abdominal pain and causes such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis and other reproductive and general medical conditions.

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