Are you experiencing abdominal pain below your belly button, this is the sign of lower abdominal pain that is caused by a sore stomach. Stomach soreness is the result of prolonged constipation or Crohn’s disease, unhealthy diet or even stress. You can treat it by treating the underlying cause.
Healthcare providers try to identify the cause by dividing the abdomen into different parts because symptoms of each part are different. Similarly treatment also depends on the symptoms. In medical success, ;ower abdominal pain is also known as abdominal bloating that is characterized as the fullness feeling in your stomach. This also causes your stomach to appear larger. The pain causes discomfort in lower abdominal areas, pelvis and even bladder.
What’s More?
Abdominal pain doesn’t affect the abdomen only, it affects many organs at the same time. Similarly, it also occurs due to several causes and many factors contribute to lower abdominal pain.
According to studies, the lower abdomen is the part that falls under your belly button and it usually involves all organs that lie between your pubic bone and belly button.but during pain, it is hard to tell which part has been affected more.
Although pain in the lower abdomen is a common problem that affects a large number of people worldwide. But when its mild discomfort turns to severe pain, you may need prompt medical care.
Understanding Pain in Lower Abdomen
When you understand the type, symptoms and exact location of lower abdominal pain, you can easily identify the cause and determine the best treatment option.
The article will provide you complete guidance about the causes, types, diagnostic approaches and treatment options of lower abdominal pain.
How to Find out The Location of Pain in Lower Women?
Finding the exact location of abdominal pain is the first thing doctors do, when you go to get medical help for reducing pain. According to medical science, your abdomen can be divided into:
Lower Right Quadrant: Right portion of intestine, right uterus, appendix and right ovary and fallopian tube (in females only) are located on this side.
Lower Left Quadrant: Left sections of intestine, left ureter, sigmoid colon, and left ovary and fallopian tube (in female only) are located in this part of abdomen.
Central Lower Abdomen: This portion includes some portions of small and large intestines, bladder and uterus (in women) are located here.
Lower abdominal pain occurs in one of these parts but sometimes threads in all parts at a time. The pain may be acute or chronic. This means it can occur suddenly or last more than a few months. Characteristic symptoms include sharp or dull stabbing and cramping.
Causes of Abdominal Pain
The abdomen is divided into three major portions, causes are also discussed through this division.
Causes of Lower Right Abdominal Pain
In this portion, abdominal pain usually caused by:
Appendicitis
It is the most concerning cause of lower right abdominal pain. It is considered a medical emergency because an infected and inflamed appendix causes progressive pain that migrates to the lower parts of the abdomen.
Its common symptoms include:
- Abdominal swelling.
- Loss of appetite.
- Sharp pain that gets worse with coughing, pressing of abdomen and movement.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Inability to pass gas.
- Low-grade fever.
Untreated appendicitis can cause rupturing of the appendix leading to life-threatening infection in the abdominal cavity.
Ovarian Cysts (In Women)
fluid-filled sacs appear inside the ovaries are called ovarian cysts. Though most ovarian cysts are not harmful and can disappear without treatment. But the cysts larger in size can rupture if left untreated.
Common symptoms include:
- Irregular menstrual periods.
- Dull or sharp pelvic pain.
- Sudden, severe pain on rupturing of cyst.
- Pain during intercourse.
- Heaviness or boating in the abdomen.
Ectopic Pregnancy
A pregnancy characterized by the attachment of fertilized eggs outside the uterus, most often in the fallopian tube, is called ectopic pregnancy. When it occurs at the right side, it causes pain in the lower abdomen. This serious condition needs immediate medical care.
Its warning signs include:
- Fainting and dizziness.
- Sharp, stabbing abdominal pain.
- Rectal pressure.
- Shoulder pain from internal bleeding.
- Vaginal bleeding.
Kidney Stones
Severe abdominal pain is experienced when kidney stones are formed in the right kidney and travel through the right ureter. This pain radiates from the back to the front of the abdomen.
Warning signs include:
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Blood in urine.
- Fever if infection is present.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Painful urination.
Other Conditions Affecting the Lower Right Abdomen
Hernia: Weak abdominal walls allow tissue in the abdomen to protrude that causes severe pain.
Muscle Strain: Injury or stiffness in abdominal muscles also cause pain in the lower abdomen.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The junction of colon and small intestine is usually affected by Crohn’s disease, which is another caste of lower abdominal pain.
Urinary Tract Infection: Certain infections cause pain in the lower abdomen especially when the right ureter and bladder is involved.
Causes of Lower Left Abdominal Pain
In this portion, lower abdominal pain is caused by:
Diverticulitis
The most serious and frequent cause of pain in the lower abdomen is diverticulitis in adults over 40. The condition is characterized by the appearance of inflamed and infected pouches in the colon wall. This part of the colon is called sigmoid colon that is located in the left lower abdomen.
Common symptoms include:
- Abdominal tenderness.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Bloating.
- Constant pain in the lower left abdomen.
- Chills and fever.
- Changes in bowel habits.
Mild cases can be treated with dietary changes and antibiotics but chronic cases need surgery.
Constipation
Constipation is the main cause of significant discomfort in the lower left abdomen. This part is specialized in accumulating stool in descending and sigmoid colon.
Although it is not dangerous, persistent constipation also affects quality of life.
Prominent indicators include:
- Abdominal bloating and cramping.
- Infrequent bowel movements.
- Feeling of incomplete evacuation.
- Hard dry stool.
- Straining during bowel movements.
Ovarian Issues (In Women)
Cysts develop in the left ovary, similar to the right one. Sometimes it is affected by ectopic pregnancy. These factors contribute to pain in the left lower abdomen.
Infections and Kidney Stones
Infections or kidney stones in the left kidney cause lower left abdominal pain with similar symptoms as in the right side kidney.
Additional Causes of Lower Left Abdominal Pain
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: In females, infection in female reproductive organs causes fever, abdominal discharge and lower left abdominal pain.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Changes in bowel habits, cramping and bloating due to this chronic condition often cause pain in the lower left abdomen.
Endometriosis: Tissues identify uterine lining start to grow outside the uterus and cause pelvic pain that often affects the left side of abdomen.
Causes of Central Lower Abdominal Pain
Pain in this portion of abdomen is usually caused by:
Bladder Issues
Bladder Stones: mineral deposits in the bladder cause pain in abdomen and urinary tract.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Bacterial infection in bladder causes central abdominal pain along with frequent urination and burning during urination.
Interstitial Cystitis: This is a chronic inflammation of the bladder that often leads to pelvic and abdominal pain.
Reproductive System Conditions
Periostatitis: Prostate gland inflammation in men, causes discomfort in lower abdomen and pelvic region.
Menstrual Cramps: Menstruation and uterine contractions leads to central lower abdominal pain.
Uterine Fibroids: When the uterus starts being benign in it, pelvic pi and pressure is experienced.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Celiac Disease: Gluten allergic reactions also cause digestive issues and pain in the central lower abdomen.
Gastroenteritis: Bacterial and viral infections cause vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and pain in the lower abdomen.
Lactose Intolerance: Allergic reactions against lactose cause diarrhea, cramping and abdominal bloating.
Lower Abdominal Pain by Age Group
Age is is another important factor that influences causes of abdominal pain. Identifying age-related causes of pain in the lower abdomen can help you get timely medical care.
Lower Abdominal Pain in Children
Viral or bacterial infections and gastrointestinal conditions often cause lower abdominal pain in children.
More causes include:
Intussusception: A serious painful condition in infants and toddlers causing intermittent pain and vomiting.
Constipation: The most frequent cause of abdominal pain in children leading to blotting and hard stool.
Urinary Tract Infection: It is common in little hours and causes fever and pain with frequent urination.
Gastroenteritis: Bacterial or viral infections causing vomiting, cramps and diarrhea.
If your child feels any of these symptoms along with lethargy and abdominal swelling, take them for medical evaluation immediately.
Lower Abdominal Pain in Adults
In adults, symptoms are worse and often occur after a malfunction in the digestive, urinary or reproductive system.
More causes include:
- Muscle strains.
- Hernias.
- Urinary infections or kidney stones.
- Appendicitis.
- Gynecological conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts or endometriosis.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Diverticulitis.
You need immediate medical attention, if going in the lower abdomen lasts for more than three days, gets worse over time or is associated with fever or weight loss.
Lower Abdominal Pain in Older Adults
In older adults, this pain always causes more loss. So, it should be taken more seriously in older adults when they complain about pain in the lower abdomen.
Its causes include:
- Urinary tract infections.
- Diverticulitis.
- A life-threatening condition causing severe abdominal and back pain, known as Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.
- Colorectal cancer.
- Bowel obstruction.
Treatment fr Lower Abdominal Pain
Mulder pain in the lower abdomen is usually treated with over-the-counter analgesics and NSAIDs. If they don’t work properly, you may get prescription first acetaminophen, and pain relievers including opioids and steroids. I have severe p[sin, doctors also give pin killers through IV. They usually try to determine the cause of symptoms by asking some questions. They also want to know when the pain started and after how long it worsened. They also ask you if you ever before experienced the same pain.
It is difficult to give a complete list of treatment options for the condition that causes abdominal bloating and lower abdominal pain through this single article. However, some typical examples are being noted:
- Doctors use intravenous fluid to remove intestinal blockage to release bowel. This often helps reduce abdominal pain but sometimes surgery is necessary.
- A ruptured appendix is always treated with surgical procedure.
- Some over-the-counter medications are also considered effective to reduce the pain.
- If the cause of pain is menstruation, at-home tips can also relieve the symptoms.
Home Treatments
If the cause is resistant digestion or menstruation, it can be resolved at home easily. Some things available at home can help you relieve the pain. For example:
- Increasing the liquid intake reduces constipation.
- Taking OTC medications lessens the abdominal pain .
- Exercising helps release trapped gas in the stomach.
- Taking OTC acid-reduced medications get relief from reflux and heart burn.
How to Prevent Lower Abdominal Pain and Abdominal Bloating?
Certain foods and drinks contribute a lot in causing these conditions. Avoiding such foods and drinks can help with recent conditions. Common foods that you shield avoid to prevent abdominal bloating and pain include:
- Lentils.
- Turnips.
- beans.
- Beer.
- Brussels.
- Dairy products if you’re lactose intolerant.
- Cabbage.
- High-fat foods.
- Chewing gun.
- Hard candy.
- Carbonated beverages.
If you are used to smoking or huge consumption of alcohol,abdominal pain and bloating will hit you early. So, avoid both and add more fiber in your diet by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Conclusion
Lower abdominal pain is cinnamon and often doesn’t cause serious harm. But when it gets worse it damages your body organs and systems to a greater extent. Severe pain in the lower abdomen is often caused by digestive or menstruation issues. An unhealthy diet and less physical activity can be the cause of the condition.
Whatever the cause, when you identify the one, talk to your doctor immediately. Your doctor can check out precisely what type of cause has affected your lower abdomen and attitude of treatment can help you reduce the pain. Treating the underlying health condition that is causing pain in your lower abdomen also helps treat pain.
