Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly. Almost everyone has pain in the abdomen at some point. Most of the time, it is not serious. How bad your pain is does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing the pain.
For example, you might have very bad abdominal pain if you have gas or stomach cramps due to viral gastroenteritis.
However, potentially fatal conditions, such as colon cancer or early appendicitis, may only cause mild pain or no pain.
Other ways to describe pain in your abdomen include:
- Generalized pain — This means that you feel it in more than half of your belly. This type of pain is more typical for a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas. If the pain becomes more severe, it may be caused by a blockage of the intestines.
- Localized pain — This is pain found in only one area of your belly. It is more likely to be a sign of a problem in an organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach.
- Cramp-like pain — This type of pain is not serious most of the time. It is likely to be due to gas and bloating, and is often followed by diarrhea. More worrisome signs include pain that occurs more often, lasts more than 24 hours, or occurs with a fever or rectal bleeding.
- Colicky pain — This type of pain comes in waves. It very often starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe. Kidney stones and gallstones are common causes of this type of belly pain.
Causes
Many different conditions can cause abdominal pain. The key is to know when you need to get medical care right away. Sometimes, you may only need to contact a health care provider if your symptoms continue.
Less serious causes of abdominal pain include:
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Food allergies or intolerance (such as lactose intolerance)
- Food poisoning
- Stomach flu
Other possible causes include:
- Appendicitis
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (bulging and weakening of the major artery in the body)
- Bowel blockage or obstruction
- Cancer of the stomach, colon (large bowel), and other organs
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) with or without gallstones
- Decreased blood supply to the intestines (ischemic bowel)
- Diverticulitis (inflammation and infection of the colon)
- Endometriosis
- Heartburn, indigestion, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
- Hernia in which the intestine is stuck or twisted
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Kidney stones
- Muscle strain
- Pancreatitis (swelling or infection of the pancreas)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
- Severe menstrual cramps
- Tubal (ectopic) pregnancy
- Ulcers
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Home Care
You can try the following home care steps to ease mild abdominal pain:
- Sip water or other clear fluids. You may have sports drinks in small amounts. People with diabetes must check their blood sugar often and adjust their medicines as needed.
- Avoid solid food for the first few hours.
- If you have been vomiting, wait 6 hours, and then eat small amounts of mild foods such as rice, applesauce, or crackers. Avoid dairy products.
- If the pain is high up in your abdomen and occurs after meals, antacids may help, especially if you feel heartburn or indigestion. Avoid citrus, high-fat foods, fried or greasy foods, tomato products, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
- DO NOT take any medicine without talking to your provider.
These additional steps may help prevent some types of abdominal pain:
- Drink plenty of water each day.
- Eat small meals more frequently.
- Exercise regularly.
- Limit foods that produce gas.
- Make sure that your meals are well-balanced and high in fiber. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Get medical help right away or the local emergency number if you:
- Are currently being treated for cancer
- Are unable to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
- Are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool (especially if bright red, maroon or dark, tarry black)
- Have chest, neck, or shoulder pain
- Have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
- Have pain in, or between, your shoulder blades with nausea
- Have tenderness in your belly, or your belly is rigid and hard to the touch
- Are pregnant or could be pregnant
- Had a recent injury to your abdomen
- Have difficulty breathing
Contact your provider if you have:
- Abdominal discomfort that lasts 1 week or longer
- Abdominal pain that does not improve in 24 to 48 hours, or becomes more severe and frequent and occurs with nausea and vomiting
- Bloating that persists for more than 2 days
- Burning sensation when you urinate or frequent urination
- Diarrhea for more than 5 days
- Fever, over 100°F (37.7°C) for adults or 100.4°F (38°C) for children, with pain
- Prolonged poor appetite
- Prolonged vaginal bleeding
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unable to keep down any foods or liquids
Acupuncture Relieves Stomach Pains, Nausea & Abdominal Distress
Acupuncture is a 3,000-year old healing technique from Traditional Oriental Medicine that uses long, thin needles to stimulate specific points along the body to promote natural self-healing. In addition to relieving chronic back, neck, headache and migraine pain, acupuncture is also beneficial for relieving abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, including nausea related to morning sickness and chemotherapy treatments.
Acupuncture may also be beneficial for acid reflux or heartburn, a common digestive complaint affecting nearly one in two American adults. A 2007 study published in the journal “Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics” found that acupuncture is a viable treatment option for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), the chronic form of acid reflux. The study found that acupuncture stimulates gastrointestinal motility and inhibits acid secretion in the stomach. Research has also found that acupuncture may be more effective for managing acid reflux than medication than proton-pump inhibitor drugs, the conventional prescription medication used to treat this condition.
If you experience recurring nausea due to pregnancy, chemotherapy treatments or other health issues is affecting your quality of life, acupuncture may be able to help. More than three-dozen randomized controlled studies have been published showing that acupuncture point stimulation can treat or prevent nausea and vomiting. Stimulating specific pressure points, including a point located below the distal wrist crease on a patient’s arm, is beneficial for relieving symptoms of nausea, including in women who are pregnant or individuals receiving chemotherapy treatments.
Treatment for Abdominal Pain in Tokyo
Abdominal pain and discomfort can have a serious impact on your quality of life. Whether you struggle with nausea, acid reflux, or intense gastrointestinal distress, acupuncture treatments may be able to relieve this pain and reduce or eliminate your dependence on medication. Our acupuncturist Dr. Sunny Pham is one of Tokyo’s most experienced acupuncturists, she understands the challenges you are facing and is here to help. With fully customized treatment programs, compassionate and supportive care, and a commitment to evidence-based treatment protocols, you can rest assured that you are receiving the highest quality acupuncture treatments.
For more information on the benefits of acupuncture for abdominal pain relief, including whether you may be a good candidate for treatment, schedule a consultation with Fuji Wellness in Tokyo today.
- Address: 132-0031 Matsushima 1-chome, 21-14, Tokyo, Japan
- Contact: Click here
