Abdominal pain when lying down according to location
Abdominal pain is a very general symptom which can be an indication of a variety of different diseases. In order to find out which disease is the cause of the complaints, a medical diagnosis is essential. The exact location where abdominal pain occurs when lying down is often helpful in the search for the correct diagnosis.
For this reason, the doctor-patient conversation is usually followed by a physical examination. Here the doctor can usually determine whether the abdominal pain can be triggered by certain tests and where the symptoms are particularly severe. The most common cause of abdominal pain, which occurs on both the left and right side and changes sides frequently during the course of the day, is flatulence.
Depending on where the gases in the intestine are stuck, the complaints occur and disappear the moment an intestinal passage is reached. Nevertheless, flatulence with abdominal pain can also occur on only one side. Other diseases are associated with a specific localisation of the abdominal pain.
In addition to a division into left and right, the abdomen should also be divided into upper, middle and lower abdomen. For example, abdominal pain caused by diseases of the stomach is typically located in the upper abdomen on the left side. Appendicitis, which is also characteristically accompanied by very severe symptoms, typically begins in the middle of the abdomen at the level of the navel and shifts the pain to the right lower abdomen as the disease progresses.
However, it should be noted that although the location of the abdominal pain and whether it is more severe when lying down or in a different position may help in the search for a diagnosis, it is rarely sufficient to define the disease causing the symptoms. A further diagnosis is usually necessary and useful after the physical examination. Temporary diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are also the most likely cause of abdominal pain on the left side.
Diseases of the spleen or diseases of the left kidney can also be responsible for the pain. A common disease of the intestine that is noticeable on the left side is diverticulitis of the colon, which can lead to severe inflammation and dangerous progressions. Liver diseases, stomach diseases and pancreas diseases can also manifest themselves on the left side and cause pain here.
Pain in the upper abdomen first makes you think of the stomach, which is located below the costal arch and can often be plagued by pain if you eat the wrong food, get infected or have heartburn. It can also be caused by diseases of other organs such as the spleen, liver, pancreas or even the heart. Pain in the gallbladder, swelling of the liver or spleen injuries can trigger non-specific upper abdominal pain, as these organs are all located in the upper abdomen.
In the event of a heart attack or other acute disease of the heart or the aorta, the pain can radiate to different parts of the body, for example to the jaw, the back, the left arm or the upper abdomen. Acute pain in the upper abdomen can therefore also indicate a heart attack in an emergency. Pain in the lower abdomen can be typical of various organ diseases.
In addition to the intestinal parts located here, the sexual organs must also be taken into consideration in women. The so-called sigmoid diverticulitis or appendicitis are accompanied by typical side-accentuated pain in the lower abdomen. Intestinal constrictions, for example in the form of an inguinal hernia, can also lead to lower abdominal pain.
In women, the period can cause pain in the lower abdomen when lying down. Furthermore, diseases of the ovaries, diseases of the fallopian tubes and diseases of the uterus should also be considered. An ectopic pregnancy, for example, can be a life-threatening condition that manifests itself with lower abdominal pain.
