About this topic
Pain can be an unpleasant feeling that happens in any part of the body. It can be mild or very bad. Pain can cause upset stomach and throwing up. When you are in pain you may not feel hungry. You may feel nervous. Pain may be a warning sign that something is wrong inside the body. The pain may be from many different health conditions. Acute pain happens over a short period of time. This may be a few hours or a few days. ‚
Abdominal or belly pain is pain between your chest and hips. Sometimes, it is a sign of a problem that is not very serious. Viruses or germs are a common cause. Overeating, gas pains, and food poisoning can all cause belly pain. Problems with too hard or too loose stools can also cause belly pain. Sometimes, belly pain is a sign of a very bad health problem, like appendicitis. How bad the pain is does not reflect how bad the problem may be. Some serious problems can cause very little pain. ‚
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Keep a diary of the pain. Write down:
- How often the pain happens
- If anything brings it on
- What the pain feels like, such as throbbing, pricking, dull ache, cramping, burning, stabbing, sharp, or off and on, coming in waves
- Where the pain is located and if it is widespread, spreading throughout more than half of your belly or in one area of your belly
- If the pain spreads and to what other part of your body
- How you feel after taking drugs for pain
- Any side effects from the pain drugs
- Any other problems you get with the pain, like nausea, throwing up, and loose stools
- Share this information with your doctor on your follow-up visits.
- Be active. It is OK to rest until your belly pain is better.
- If you have loose stools, ask the doctor if you need special fluids.
- The doctor may tell you to use heat or cold to help with pain. If so:
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Use for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury or workout.
- Heat may be used later but not right away. Do not use heat with sharp pain or after an acute injury. Heat can make swelling worse. If your doctor tells you to use heat, put a heating pad on your painful part for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Never go to sleep with a heating pad on as this can cause burns.
- Stress may make you feel more pain. Find ways to manage stress and keep yourself calm.
- Your doctor may suggest a soft diet until your stomach or bowel is better and ready for regular food.
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. This may help prevent loss of body fluids.
- You may try other methods of relieving pain such as massage, relaxation, breathing exercises, yoga, image therapy, or music therapy.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The drugs that your doctor will give depend on what causes the pain. The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Lower muscle spasms or contractions
- Lower acid levels in your belly
- Relax bowel muscles
- Fight an infection
- Control hormones
- Lower stress or anxiety
Take your drugs as directed by your doctor. Talk to you doctor about side effects of the drugs. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
- Physical activities may be limited if you are in pain. Ask your doctor about the right amount of activities for you.
- Regular exercise is good unless the pain is too much.
What changes to diet are needed?
- Eating smaller meals more often may help. Ask your doctor about eating foods that are high in fiber.
- Avoid eating greasy foods.
- Avoid foods that may cause gas.
- Eliminate foods that are proven to cause allergies or problems for you, like lactose or gluten. Your doctor will advise you about this.
What problems could happen?
- Trouble dealing with ongoing pain
- Less appetite
- Not able to do regular activities
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Treat the underlying condition that causes belly pain.
- Ask your doctor for ways to prevent conditions that cause belly pain.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine.
- Blood in the urine, stool, or throw up
- Black or tarry stools
- Very bad back, side, chest, or belly pain
- Very bad dizziness or passing out
- Trouble breathing
- Upset stomach or throwing up
- Skin looks yellow
- Pain gets worse or comes more often
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my pain.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have very bad back, side, chest, or belly pain; more pain; or the pain comes more often.
Where can I learn more?
The American College of Gastroenterology ‚
http://patients.gi.org/topics/abdominal-pain/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚