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“My stomach is paining me” or "my belle is biting me" - as a typical Nigerian would say, is a frequent medical complaint, and paracetamol has been everyone’s go-to. But what do you do when Paracetamol or Panadol isn’t acting as the usual knight in shining armor?
While not all lower abdominal pain results from underlying conditions like menstrual cramps, constipation, or gas, other issues require swift medical attention. Lower abdominal pain can be acute or chronic, i.e., it may come suddenly and go away or last for as long as six months.
In this regard, we'll be highlighting a few conditions that cause lower abdominal pains and their symptoms. We hope this read helps you differentiate between a condition that is paracetamol-worthy and one that needs you to see a doctor ASAP.
Not all lower abdominal pain feels the same. You may feel some all over your abdomen while others may be more pointed or specific. It all depends on the underlying reason or condition.
It is also good to note that symptoms vary depending on the cause of the pain. Lower abdomen pain is just a symptom on its own and not a medical condition.
Appendicitis is a critical medical condition that needs attention. It occurs when the appendix, situated on the right side of the lower abdomen, becomes infected and inflamed.
If you have appendicitis, you’ll experience most of the following
Other symptoms you may experience asides from pain:
When appendicitis is left untreated (usually removed by a surgical process called appendectomy), the appendix bursts open and spills its contents into the abdomen. The contents then spread infection throughout the body, leading to sepsis - a life-threatening medical complication.
Trapped gas is when a bubble of gas remains in the body. Gas enters the body when you swallow air or eat foods that have substances that can make you gassy - beans, starch, vegetables, and milk.
If you are lactose intolerant or have digestive disorders, you are more likely to have trapped gas.
The symptoms do not usually come suddenly and may include:
Note: The abdominal pain caused by trapped gas varies depending on where it is located. Gas in the left side of the abdomen radiates to the chest, and you may feel it's a heart attack. Meanwhile, gas in the right side of the abdomen may feel similar to appendicitis or gallstones.
If you have trapped gas, you can visit a healthcare facility or practice simple home remedies.
IBS is a condition that affects the large intestine and changes the consistency of bowel movements. Asides from other symptoms, it is mainly characterized by lower abdominal pain and affects about 6-18% of people globally.
Like appendicitis, Colitis is an inflammatory condition that causes swelling in the large intestine or colon. This condition is usually accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.
If you have colitis, you’ll experience most of the following
Urine retention is a health condition where a person finds it difficult to pass urine (chronic) or empty the bladder (acute). Chronic urine retention occurs mainly in males and may be asymptomatic.
If you are unable to urinate, you’ll most likely feel severe pain in your abdomen. However, the prominent sign of urinary retention is difficulty in passing urine.
Kidney Infection is a type of Urinary Tract Infection caused by bacteria or fungi. It starts as an infection in the bladder and subtly spreads to the kidney through the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine to and from the kidney to the bladder.
If you have a kidney infection, you’re most likely to experience the following:
A kidney infection requires immediate medical attention. An infection can cause long-term kidney damage if not managed properly. Otherwise, the bacteria can enter the blood circulation and cause severe conditions.
Ectopic pregnancy, also known as extrauterine or tubal pregnancy, describes a situation where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus – mostly the fallopian tube.
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you will notice the normal signs of pregnancy - nausea, a missed period, tender breasts - but severe symptoms come up in the long run.
In some cases, ectopic can be life-threatening so if you suspect you have an ectopic pregnancy, seek medical attention immediately.
Related: What is Ectopic Pregnancy? Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.
Cystitis is an infection or inflammation of the urinary bladder or any region in the urinary system. It is typically caused by a bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) but could also be due to other reasons.
Females are more likely to have cystitis, but it can happen to anyone.
In severe cases, the infection spreads to the kidney and causes a kidney infection. If you think you have a kidney infection or cystitis, seek immediate help from medical professionals.
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for menstrual cramps. It is that pain that comes with your period. For some people, it is mild discomfort, while for others, it is severe pain. If you are thinking, “how did menstrual cramps make the list?” I’ll tell you why.
Dysmenorrhea can be primary or secondary.
Primary Dysmenorrhea is the normal recurrent period of pain that you feel. Usually occurring during or before the period, it is not caused by any other disease or condition.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is an advanced menstrual pain that occurs as a result of a disorder or infection in your female reproductive organs.
If you are familiar with any of these scenarios, you may have secondary dysmenorrhea.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is mostly associated with other gynecological conditions like endometriosis, fibroid, and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.
Menstrual cramps are always perceived as ‘normal’ but watch out for new, severe, or prolonged symptoms and seek medical help.
Lower abdominal pain can occur as a result of various underlying issues. For mild cases like trapped gas, you may treat with
However, when you experience lower abdominal pain with other strange or new symptoms, seek medical attention for proper diagnosis, treatment, and drug prescription.
For cases like Colitis and IBS, there’s no medical cure. You can only manage the symptoms by combining lifestyle changes and prescription medication.
Sometimes, stomach ache isn’t so much trouble. It might just be what you ate the night before.
But when you start seeing severe symptoms like blood in your stool or urine, cloudy urine, lightheadedness, high fever accompanying lower abdominal pain, see a healthcare provider and fast.
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