8 Types of Abdominal Pain

Stomach pain is a common problem, and everyone has it. It is classified into types which helps doctors to determine the cause. Here we describe the 8 types of abdominal pain.

Types of Abdominal Pain

Your stomach is home to many organs, making it challenging to know where pain arises. Physicians divide the stomach into four parts to localize the pain. There are four types of pain based on where you feel the pain.

• Upper abdominal pain
• Lower abdominal pain
• Right-sided abdominal pain
• Left-sided abdominal pain

This classification will help your doctor to determine the cause of the pain. And recommend the diagnostic test or treatment. However, abdominal pain is also classified into four other types based on the nature of the pain.

• General pain
• Colicky pain
• Localized pain
• Referred pain

Stomach pain can be caused by many causes. It is essential to get proper diagnosis and treatment. If you are experiencing persistent or severe stomach pain, seek medical attention immediately.

1. Upper abdominal pain.

You may feel pain in the upper area of the stomach and the chest, neck, or shoulders. The upper abdominal pain may be caused by digestive issues, such as:

• Indigestion
• Gas and gas pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Food poisoning

Other causes include gastritis, peptic ulcer, liver, gallbladder disease, and pancreatitis.

Symptoms:

You may have pain with symptoms like:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating and gas
• Loss of appetite
• Acid reflux
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fever
• Weight loss

Pain and symptoms can usually manage by changes to diet, eating habits, and lifestyle. Avoiding caffeine, spicy foods, and alcohol may also help reduce the symptoms. Sometimes people with heart attacks describe upper abdominal pain or heartburn as a warning sign. But heart attack victims may experience breathlessness, sweating, nausea, burning, or chest pain. A person experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical.

When to see the doctor?

See the doctor if you experience persistent or severe stomach pain not relieved by over-the-counter medications or home remedies. Your doctor does a physical exam and recommends diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your stomach pain. While treatment depends on the condition that causes pain and may include medications, lifestyle changes, or surgery.

2. Lower abdominal pain.

This type of pain is felt in the lower part of the stomach. It is mostly related to gastrointestinal disease but is also associated with your ureters, ovaries, or uterus. Lower abdominal pain causes include:

• Gastrointestinal disorders (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and constipation).
• Urinary tract infections
• Hernia
• Kidney stones
• Menstrual cramps
• Ovarian cysts
• Appendicitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease

Symptoms:

You may feel the pain with symptoms like:

• Bloating
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Backache
• Burning or pain during urination
• Frequent urination
• Cloudy urine
• Unusual discharge
• Painful sex

The stomach pain with the above symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers or antacids.

When to see the doctor?

You should seek medical attention if symptoms do not improve within three days. Or the stomach pain is severe and persists. Your doctor will determine the cause by physical examination, blood test, ultrasound, or other diagnostic tests. After knowing the underlying cause, the doctor develops a treatment plan which may include medication or surgery if required.

3. Right-sided abdominal pain.

The right-sided abdominal pain is usually related to gallstones and appendicitis. The gallstone pain originates in the upper right of the stomach and spreads to the right shoulder. While the appendicitis pain begins at the lower right side of the stomach and moves lower. The appendicitis pain is persistent and severe.

Symptoms:

You may have sharp or stabbing pain in the lower right stomach with symptoms like

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Shivers and sweats
• Loss of appetite
• Bloating and gas
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Pain or discomfort during urination

When to see the doctor?

Seek immediate medical help if you have constant and severe right-sided abdominal pain. The underlying cause may require urgent medical treatment or surgery. Get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan as soon as possible. The treatment plan may include surgery and medications.

4. Left-sided abdominal pain.

The left-sided abdominal pain is associated

with kidney stones or infection, diverticulitis, ovarian cyst, and ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms:

You may have sharp pain in the left lower abdomen with symptoms like:

• Pain in the back or the genitals
• Fever
• Shivers and chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain or discomfort during urination
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in the menstruation cycle

When to see the doctor?

If you have the above symptoms with constant and severe stomach pain, urgently seek medical help. Also, see the doctor if you are pregnant and have pain in the left side of the stomach. Your doctor will treat and relieve the symptoms and determine the cause of your stomach pain. The treatment depends on the cause and may include medications or surgery.

5. Generalized pain.

Generalized pain is a type of abdominal pain that is felt throughout the stomach. It is usually caused by a problem with the digestive system. This type of pain may be felt as dull or achy. You may feel the fullness or discomfort in the stomach. This pain can be caused by the conditions, such as:

• Indigestion
• Gastroenteritis
• Constipation
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Symptoms:

Generalized pain is often difficult to localize. You have the symptoms like:

• Bloating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation

When to see the doctor?

See the doctor if you have persistent or severe pain which can not go away for several hours. Your doctor can help determine the cause of your pain and treat it to relieve your symptoms.

The treatment depends on the cause of your pain, which may include medications, lifestyle changes, or surgery.

6. Colicky pain.

This type of stomach pain is characterized by crampy, intermittent pain that comes and goes in waves. You may feel sudden pain for several minutes, and then it goes on its own. Colicky pain is caused by spasms or contractions in the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. It can be caused by various conditions, including:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Gallstones
• Kidney stones
• Intestinal obstruction.

You may feel better after passing gas or having a bowel movement. However the pain

maybe worse by eating or drinking certain foods.

Symptoms:

You feel severe pain with symptoms like:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Changes in bowel habits.

When to see the doctor?

Rush to the doctor if you are experiencing colicky abdominal pain. Your doctor can determine the underlying cause and recommend medications to relieve pain. Sometimes surgery is required to treat the underlying cause of the pain.

7. Localized pain.

This type of pain is felt in a specific area of the stomach. For example, pain in the right lower abdomen may be caused by appendicitis. While pain in the upper part of the stomach may be caused by gastritis or an ulcer. Because your stomach is home to many organs, like:

• Liver
• Pancreas
• Gallbladder
• Spleen
• Small intestine
• Large intestine

Localized pain is associated with inflammation or irritation of an organ or structure in the abdominal cavity. Other possible causes of localized abdominal pain include:

• Hernias
• muscle strains or sprains
• Abdominal trauma.

Symptoms:

The symptoms may vary from person to person and depend on the underlying cause of the pain. You may feel like:

• Sharp, stabbing, or intense pain in a specific abdomen area.
• Pain that is worsened by movement or touch.
• Swelling or tenderness in the affected area.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation.
• Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly.
• Fever or chills.

When to see the doctor?

See the doctor if you have persistent or severe pain. Your doctor may perform a physical examination and recommend diagnostic tests to help identify the cause of your pain. The treatment may include medications, dietary changes, or surgery, depending on the underlying cause.

7. Referred pain.

Referred pain is a type of pain that is felt in a different area of the body from where the problem is located. It occurs because the nerves that supply the affected organ or tissue also supply other body areas. And the brain may interpret the signals from these nerves as coming from a different location than the affected organ. For example:

• Gallbladder pain may be referred to the right shoulder or upper back.
• Pain from a heart attack may be referred to the left arm or jaw.
• Pain from a urinary tract infection may be referred to the lower back or groin area.

Referred pain can be confusing because it may not be felt in the same area as the underlying problem. This makes it more challenging to diagnose the underlying condition. However, healthcare providers are trained to recognize the referred pain patterns associated with different conditions.

Symptoms:

You may feel a dull, burning sensation or pain. But symptoms may vary depending on the underlying cause, such as:

• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits.

When to see the doctor?

See the doctor if you have persistent or severe pain that does not go away for several hours. The doctor will perform a physical examination and recommend diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the pain. Treatment includes medication, lifestyle changes, or surgery if required.