Abdominal pain: information & doctors

Leading Medicine Guide Editors
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Leading Medicine Guide Editors

Abdominal pain is not a disease, but a symptom of various illnesses and psychological problems. Abdominal pain is perceived as pain in the actual abdominal organs, the female reproductive organs and pain radiating from the lungs, heart and kidneys. Mild abdominal pain can be treated by yourself, severe abdominal pain must be clarified by a doctor immediately.

Here you will find further information and selected doctors for abdominal pain.

ICD codes for this diseases: R10

Recommended specialists

Article overview

How can abdominal pain be differentiated?

Somatic pain tends to be

  • "bright",
  • burning,
  • cutting,
  • evenly intense and
  • localizable.

Somatic pain often occurs with

is present.

With somatic pain

  • the abdominal wall is often tense,
  • touching the abdomen is painful and
  • movements intensify the pain.

Visceral pain, on the other hand, tends to be

  • dull,
  • drilling,
  • cramp-like,
  • rather diffuse and
  • and cannot be assigned to a specific location.

Visceral pain often occurs with

occur.

The affected person wants to lie down and adopt a resting posture (legs slightly drawn up).

Visceral pain, on the other hand, is aggravated by rest. Walking around and massaging abdominal movements are therefore perceived as more helpful.

Visceral pain activates the autonomic nervous system. This is why pain is accompanied by vegetative, i.e. non-controllable symptoms such as

  • Nausea,
  • sweating,
  • restlessness or
  • vomiting.
Bauchschmerzen
Abdominal pain can have many different causes © Andrey Popov | AdobeStock

    What illnesses can be behind abdominal pain?

    Abdominal pain is often caused by gastrointestinal infections and emotional problems. Unfamiliar or intolerable foods can also lead to the pain. If abdominal pain occurs when taking medication, the doctor should be informed.

    Not only the pain of the actual abdominal organs such as

    are felt in the abdomen, but also radiation pain

    Pain above the diaphragm (the natural boundary between the abdomen and chest) can be caused, for example, by

    heartburn.

    Pain in the upper and middle abdomen can also originate from the spine or back muscles.

    Pain on the side of the abdomen is often caused by the kidneys. Pain in the middle and lower abdomen can be caused by intestinal, ovarian or uterine problems oran aorticaneurysm.

    What to do if you have abdominal pain?

    Mild abdominal pain can be treated by the patient themselves with pain-relieving measures.

    The following measures can help with harmless abdominal pain:

    • Diet day with light food (e.g. rusks) and stomach-soothing tea (fennel, camomile, lemon balm, peppermint),
    • a hot water bottle on the stomach,
    • bed rest or even exercise,
    • herbal enzymes,
    • easily digestible or particularly spicy food.

    A doctor should be consulted to clarify the cause,

    • if there is no improvement,
    • in the case of acute and severe abdominal pain (with cramps and colic) and
    • severe accompanying symptoms (e.g. severe nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, cold sweaty skin, increased heart rate, dizziness).

    The doctor should also be consulted in the event of recurrent abdominal pain.

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