Abdominal Pain: Therapy

ConstipationFor abdominal pain (abdominal pain) of organic cause, see under the corresponding underlying disease.

Caution. Elderly patients discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of “unexplained abdominal pain” develop a malignancy (cancer) in 10% of cases in the following 12 months. In most cases, this is colorectal carcinoma (colon cancer). Typical symptoms include weight loss, occult (“invisible”) blood in the stool, and altered stool habits, e.g., change in stool consistency (alternation of constipation/constipation and diarrhea/diarrhea = paradoxical diarrhea).

General measures

  • Avoidance of psychosocial stress:
    • Bullying
    • Mental conflicts
    • Stress

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
    • A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
  • Observance of the following special dietary recommendations:
  • Selection of appropriate foods based on the nutritional analysis.
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Psychotherapy

If functional chronic abdominal pain is present, psychological therapy approaches are indicated:

  • Behavioral procedures, e.g., creating activity plans to restore functioning in daily life.
  • Relaxation procedures, e.g. autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR); these procedures serve to reduce pain-induced tension and build up a relaxed state
  • Cognitive procedures, e.g., cognitive restructuring, distraction technique; this procedure has the goal that the patient learns a positive point of view in dealing with his pain
  • Psychoeducation – knowledge transfer about the cause / causes of abdominal pain and learning coping strategies; this serves to promote the patient’s own responsible cooperation.
  • Detailed information on psychosomatics (including stress management) can be obtained from us.