Abdominal pain

Pain of the individual abdominal organs is projected by the body onto certain areas of skin, so that an assignment may be possible. Pain of the pancreas is perceived in a belt shape on the back below the shoulder blades and in the middle of the upper abdomen. While the stomach causes pain in the left upper abdomen, it is the right upper abdomen for the liver and gall bladder.

In the case of the gallbladder, pain may also be experienced in the right shoulder. The small and large intestine lead to pain in the middle abdomen. In the case of appendicitis, pain in the right lower abdomen is characteristic.

Besides the places where pain is perceived, pain qualities can also be distinguished. On the one hand there are colicky pains where one can hardly lie still. They occur in waves.

The pain can be compared with a muscle cramp that does not want to come loose. The cause is usually gallstones or kidney stones, which obstruct the bile duct or the ureter. In the case of inflammation in the abdominal cavity, e.g. appendicitis or gall bladder inflammation, the pain tends to be dull and increases with vibration.

For this reason the affected person usually lies still. The statement that the abdomen is burning is a description of a certain type of pain. Burning is usually a rather continuous form of pain and thus indicates inflammatory processes rather than an acute injury or stone disease.

Inflammation can affect all organs and surrounding tissue. Common inflammations are appendicitis and diverticulitis. Less common, but much more dangerous, are peritonitis and pancreatitis.

Bladder infections and inflammation of the renal pelvis can also cause burning pains in the abdominal area. An important differential diagnosis for burning pain in the upper abdomen is acute posterior wall infarction. This is a heart attack whose pain radiates more into the abdominal area than into the left arm. Acute, severe pain in the abdominal area should always be clarified by a doctor, as the causes range from simple gastroenteritis to life-threatening peritonitis.

What does air in the abdomen mean?

In a healthy person, there is no air in the abdominal cavity except in a hollow organ such as the intestine. Air outside hollow organs is called free air. This air can remain in the abdomen for several days after surgery and then has no disease value.

Otherwise, free air is an indication of a perforation of hollow organs. The contents of the hollow organs are released into the abdominal cavity through an opening, i.e. air, digestive juices, chyme or bowel movements. This leads to a dangerous inflammation in the abdominal cavity and severe pain.

There can be many causes for a perforation. Blunt abdominal trauma in accidents or stabbing injuries can cause such injuries. But acute or chronic inflammatory processes and tumours can also lead to perforations.

Free air in the abdomen is usually diagnosed by X-ray. However, free air is not detectable in X-rays for every perforation. The exact cause must be determined in further examinations. As a rule, the cause must be treated as soon as possible.