Abdominal Pain Explained

As we age, there are many health complications that may set in due to natural degeneration of bodily systems and organs. Within the elderly population, many adults suffer from complications associated with general bodily aches and pains.
Of the many complications that are common among the elderly, the pain associated with abdominal issues is quite common. In fact, many seniors will seek out emergency medical attention for acute abdominal pain with physicians often struggling to diagnose the complication.
Statistics have shown that when an elderly adult experiences abdominal pain, the complication may be more likely to result in death than had it occurred in a person of the younger population. In fact, these acute abdominal pain complaints, among the elderly population, often require surgical repair or hospital admission to resolve.
What are the common causes of acute abdominal pain in the elderly population? A complication such as cholecystitis is quite common. With right-sided abdominal pain, seniors who experience this complication often require surgical intervention and repair. With fever, dehydration and vomiting a significant concern, complications associated with cholecystitis should not be ignored.
In addition to cholescystitis, the elderly often suffer from appendicitis. Easier to diagnose, many senior adults suffer from complications associated with appendicitis simply due to the delay in obtaining medical treatment. Because appendicitis pain is progressive and often affects the bowel, it can be mistaken for a gastrointestinal complication until such time as the appendix ruptures, resulting in significant pain complications.
Pancreatitis is also a common complication of the elderly population, resulting in acute abdominal pain. Again, with nausea, vomiting and dehydration a significant concern, many in the elder population require immediate medical attention so as to prevent more permanent health complications.
With the chronic use of NSAIDs or the development of a bacterial infection, the complication of acute abdominal pain may be associated with a peptic ulcer complication. While not as urgent as appendicitis or pancreatitis, a peptic ulcer can also significantly reduce the quality of life, resulting in an inability to consume regular amounts of foods. For this reason, any complication associated with symptoms of abdominal pain and heartburn should be diagnosed immediately as well.
As with any complication that arises later in life, it is important to seek medical attention early. Since there are many abdominal complications that can arise in the aging population, physicians often require more time as they work through an expanded array of diagnoses that may be part of the health complication. With early intervention, complications associated with acute abdominal pain, linked to appendicitis, pancreatitis and even cholescystitis, can be resolved with surgery and medical treatment without long term health complications.

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Most people get stomach aches from time to time, but acute abdominal pain is another animal entirely. Since my diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, which has steadily increased in severity over the last decade, I have come to redefine the words “chronicpain”. When you deal with acute abdominal pain on a near-daily basis, you have to think of ways to ease the pain and to continue with your day-to-day activities.
Diagnosis
Of course, coping with acute abdominal pain is often the worst when you don’t understand what’s causing your illness. If you haven’t been diagnosed with a disease or disorder, but experience chronic pain in the stomach or bowels, you might be exacerbating the symptoms by avoiding a trip to the doctor. I found that, after living with ulcerative colitis for more than ten years without a proper diagnosis, knowing what caused the cramps and other symptoms helped alleviate them, at least to a degree. It won’t get rid of the pain entirely, but it will help you figure out a strategy.
You would deal with acute abdominal pain caused by an ulcer, for example, differently than you would if it was caused by Crohn’s disease or by an inflammation of the bowel lining. Furthermore, a physician can give you tips and advice for coping with the symptoms of your particular condition if you’ve been given an actual diagnosis.
Position
As with any type of chronic discomfort, acute abdominal pain ebbs and flows. There are times when you feel as if you can’t stand up, and there are times when it is just a dull, constant reminder of the damage to your gastrointestinal system. The trick is to take advantage of the times when the pain is less intense so that you can get through the periods of acute pain. A lot of this can be accomplished by position.
For example, I have an easier time coping with acute abdominal pain when I am standing, versus sitting or lying down. I have spent many a night pacing through the rooms of my house, focusing on just about anything but the pain in my gut. When a spasm of pain doesn’t want to go away, experiment with different body positions to figure out which one is easiest on the pain. The fetal position works for some, while sitting upright in a comfortable chair works for others.
Temperature
You might also find coping with acute abdominal pain easier if you try variations of hot and cold compresses. A heating pad, for instance, can help sooth rapidly contracting muscles in your stomach and ease the pain of various gastrointestinal disorders. Some people respond better to cold, or to alternating between hot and cold, depending on their condition. An ice pack wrapped in a thick, plush towel often works wonders.
You will also find that the temperature of your surroundings can help you cope with acute abdominal pain. When I’m in the middle of an ulcerative colitis flare-up, I turn the thermostat down about fifteen degrees until the worst of the pain passes. A hot environment exacerbates my pain and makes me even more uncomfortable, and this might be true for you, as well. There is plenty to be said for contact comfort, and you can’t huddle under a pile of blankets if the temperature in your home is 92 degrees.
Medication
Drugs are something of a Catch-22 when it comes to coping with acute abdominal pain. You want to put something in your body to take the edge off, but some medications will actually make the pain worse. For example, people with sensitive stomachs often don’t respond well to Tylenol, and many people have strong negative reactions to acetaminophen. Your particular body chemistry will determine which medications you can take, but it helps to know how you’ll react before you’d dealing with severe pain.
You can also talk to your doctor about prescriptions for acute abdominal pain. He or she might be able to provide you with a pain-killer that won’t upset your stomach, or that must be taken with food or water to work effectively. Make sure you understand the potential side-effects of all medications, and discontinue use if the pain seems to intensify.
Relaxation
One of the major causes of acute abdominal pain is the contraction of muscles. As your bowels work to take care of whatever problem might be afflicting your stomach, the contractions of muscles moving at a steady pace can cause nearly unbearable pain. As difficult as this might sound, you must learn to relax if you want to ease the pain.
I’ve heard from some of the ulcerative colitis sufferers at my monthly support group meetings that abdominal massage is sometimes effective, but it wouldn’t work for me. The last thing I want is someone touching the area that is causing me intense pain, but other types of massage do help. My wife took a course in deep-tissue massage for this very purpose, and often works on my shoulders and back when I’m in the middle of acute abdominal pain.
If you’re suffering from diarrhea, which is often another symptom of stomach and intestinal problems that accompanies acute abdominal pain, you must also learn to relax on the toilet. This might seem like too much information, and no one really wants to talk about it, but twisting yourself into knots while trying to go to the bathroom will only increase the pain.

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Acute abdominal pain indicates abdominal pain with sudden onset.
Many conditions can cause acute abdominal pain including flu, gastritis, ulcerative colitis, kidney stones and gallstones to name just a few.
The very first thing that one has to ascertain when coping with acute abdominal pain is what condition happens to be the cause. In most cases, obviously, the cause is mild such as food poisoning, flu or just plain stomach upset; it is important that if the acute abdominal pain doesn’t clear up after a couple of days, then you need to see a doctor to rule out severe problems.
Dealing with acute (sudden) abdominal pain, as with anything else, begins with good proactive hygiene. Be careful about diet, care for your stomach and colon with fluids and bulk and, avoid places that can harbor germs. Also, avoid restaurants that get bad city ratings. Food poisoning can be a terrible thing.
Once a case of acute abdominal pain occurs, the best thing to do is to rest. Don’t add additional food to your stomach even if you feel you can eat. Whether or not you run a fever is a good indication as to whether or not you have the flu or a virus (there is a difference) although a flu germ can be treated with an antibiotic and is more severe.
The final judge as to what you can do after acute abdominal pain strikes you is you. Sometimes the pain is not great and you can fight through the day. At other times, as I indicated, it is necessary to disengage from activities and it is best to push fluids.
Acute abdominal pain can also be caused from indigestion. Things such as spicy foods can cause pain and irritation as well as bloating and gas which can cause pain itself.
The topic of acute abdominal pain is such a broad topic it is almost impossible to do it justice. So many illnesses can cause acute abdominal pain such as those already listed. Probably the best barometer as to the severity of your acute abdominal pain is the length of the condition as to whether or not there is a temperature involved.
Most acute abdominal pain is self-limiting and will go away on its own without any treatment.
There is saying that no one knows there individual body better than that particular person. Nowhere is that more true than with acute abdominal pain. What has occurred in the past and the knowledge of ones regular body function play a major role in coping and understanding any given episode of acute abdominal pain.

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Pain is a warning sign. Yet with right side abdominal pain it is often a confusing one. While a severe, sudden case of lower right abdominal pain is a well-known symptom of appendicitis, in reality, abdominal pain has several causes, from mild to serious. Further, it is sometimes difficult to diagnosis.
Symptoms with right side abdominal pain
Patient provided information helps the doctor diagnose the cause of the right side abdominal pain and, if possible, reduces unnecessary tests.
Symptoms to track along with right side abdominal pain include: fever, appetite changes, pain fluctuation, vomiting, nausea, bloating, changes in bowel habits, relationship to the menstrual cycle, and if the pain is affected by food, pressure or bodily position.
Right side abdominal pain causes and emergencies
Often confounding to both the patient and the doctor is that serious health conditions may cause little to no abdominal discomfort and benign health conditions may induce moderate to a severe right side abdominal pain.
Serious causes of right side abdominal pain are not limited to:
Appendicitis: Lower right side abdominal pain may be present or occur elsewhere in the abdomen. Appendicitis pain is often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, appetite and bowel changes, yet this is not predictable. Given the life-threatening potential of a ruptured appendix, this potential emergency needs to be ruled out expediently, especially in children.
Hernia complications: Abdominal hernia operations are common even though the hernia itself is not painful. Chiefly, this is due to prevent an emergency known as a strangulated hernia. Depending on the location, this may cause right side abdominal pain. With it the pain steadily increases, the area is painful to the touch and often involves nausea and/or vomiting.
Food poisoning: Most food-borne illness in modern society resolves spontaneously within several hours. Some types of food poisoning, not limited to E.coli, Salmonella and Botulism, require emergency care. Serious health threats include significant dehydration or when neurological, respiratory and/or cardiac symptoms occur along with abdominal pain.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Seen more commonly in men with risk factors for heart disease, if a tear occurs in the walls of the abdominal aorta, abdominal pain may be present. Emergency care saves lives and reduces the risk of a ruptured aneurysm.
Women and right side abdominal pain
Ectopic pregnancy: Pregnant women with sudden pain in the abdomen and/or the pelvis should seek medical care immediately. If a pregnancy is unknown, but possible, the doctor should be called for further instructions.
Ovarian Cysts (Ruptured, Other): While many ovarian cysts are not serious, some grow quite large. If ruptured, the life threatening infection known as peritonitis may occur.
The pain of an intact ovarian cyst may be quite severe and in some cases surgical removal is needed. An emergency room doctor may discover the condition though a gynecological consult is often necessary.
Chronic right side abdominal pain
Sometimes in-depth testing from a gastroenterologist provides answers to more complicated cases of right side abdominal pain. Serious illness such as Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis, and colon cancer may be ruled out. However, often less serious health conditions can explain abdominal pain.
Intermittent lower right side abdominal pain, bloating and bowel changes are a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS can be under- or over-diagnosed, however. Women, for example, may have a gynecological disorder such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease instead of, or along with, IBS.
Less common, but sometimes overlooked, is Giardia¯a parasitic infection that attacks the small intestines. The cramps may involve mild to moderate right side abdominal pain and is accompanied by diarrhea and sometimes fatigue. Proper hand washing prevents many cases and the infection plagues immune suppressed individuals.
Giardia is also seen in higher frequency in children in daycare settings and in outdoor enthusiasts exposed to contaminated water.
Right side abdominal pain from other organs
Less commonly regarded health conditions involving a right side abdominal pain, or referred pain, is not limited to urinary tract infections, disease involving the pancreas, liver, heart or gallbladder, and kidney stones.
What to do about right side abdominal pain
Few individuals wish to visit the doctor for pain they can manage. Yet, clearly, right side abdominal pain has many potential causes. Call the doctor for advice if concerns arise, the condition worsens or does not improve within a couple of days.
For more information on abdominal pain, consult the National Library of Medicine to include when to call 911, or see the associated abdominal health resources.

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There are different types of stomach ache that arise due to different factors. Some of the causes include acidity of the stomach, gas, problems with the appendix, and even stomach cancer. If you suffer from persistent stomach ache, accompanied by vomiting and fever then you should go and see a doctor as soon as possible. However, if the pain is just occasional, then perhaps you ought to be thinking about ways to prevent it, rather than requiring a cure. Stomach ache affects everybody at some time or another, affecting men, women and children. The prevention of stomach ache in children and adults needs to be considered separately.
Stomach ache in children
Most children have irregular bowel patterns. The consistency and size of the child’s stool should always be checked. This will help to determine whether the child has a constipation problem or not. It is also important to make sure that the child does not have irregular eating habits. Overeating is a common reason for abdominal discomfort.
The child should be taught to eat slowly, chewing his food properly, and to stop when his or her stomach is full. Swallowing air, known as aerophagia, can also be a major cause of abdominal pain, and may also lead to a swelling of the abdominal area, as well as frequent belching. Limiting carbonated beverages and chewing gum may be helpful in preventing flatus or belching in your child. Many children tend to swallow air if they are frightened or anxious, so sometimes abdominal pain can be a sign that the child has been upset in some way.
Stomach ache in adults
Developing regular bowel patterns is extremely important in the prevention of stomach ache caused by constipation. Overeating is also a major cause of stomach ache and discomfort. It is important to get into the habit of eating slowly, and to stop eating once the stomach is full. It is better to eat several small meals per day, as opposed to one big one. It is also important to ensure that these meals are well-balanced and high in fiber.
Drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and limit foods that produce gas. Foods which have a tendency to produce a lot of gas are:
- Legumes, such as peas and dried beans
- Dairy products, such as milk, cheese and ice cream
- Vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes and onions
- Fruits, such as apricots, bananas and raisins
- Pastries and bread
- Fatty foods, such as fried chicken
- Carbonated drinks, such as champagne
If you suffer from periodic stomach ache, it is important to take preventative measures to ensure that this problem does not ruin your day. If you know what triggers your stomach ache, you will be able to avoid the causes, and thus prevent the problem. Sitting straight while eating will also ease the pressure on the stomach and will prevent an ache from developing afterwards.
Some people have a very strong stomach, which means that they can eat just about anything they like, and not get stomach ache, while some people suffer from it even if they have only eaten something a little more spicy than usual.
People suffering from frequent stomach pain would be well-advised to track what they eat and drink for a full three weeks. By doing this, they may be able to identify the things that are giving them the stomach ache.

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