Localization of the intestinal cramps

In the majority of the triggering diseases, intestinal cramps occur simultaneously or with a slight delay in different areas of the abdomen. They can be side-bound or wandering – it is not unusual for the main pain to be felt in a different place after minutes or hours. The side is mainly relevant when the pain is very severe.

Left-sided cramps can then be an indication of a kidney stone that cannot pass through the urinary tract because of its size. Often the pain migrates downwards over time because the kidney stone is slowly transported towards the bladder. Kidney stones can lead to kidney weakness if left untreated and should be presented to a doctor immediately if suspected.

Severe cramps on the right side of the abdomen occur in a variety of diseases. In most cases, they are not limited to the right side but also occur in other parts of the abdomen. Exceptions are gall and kidney stone diseases.

These can manifest themselves as severe, cramp-like pain on the right side. Gallstones occur more frequently in middle-aged women and cause cramps mainly in the upper right abdominal area. They can also lead to irregularities in the stool and yellowing of the skin.

If left untreated, they can lead to liver failure and can be life-threatening – which is why a doctor should be consulted at an early stage if gallstones are suspected. By palpating and tapping the abdomen, the doctor can determine whether there is more air in the intestine and whether a particular area causes the patient particularly severe pain. If the patient suffers from other symptoms, such as diarrhoea, a stool sample can be examined for infectious pathogens.

Subsequently, for example, an ultrasound examination of the abdomen can reveal any changes. If this is not sufficient and the doctor suspects a more serious cause for the complaints, further diagnostic procedures can be chosen. These include computer tomography (CT), for example.

The CT can be performed with or without a contrast medium. The patient is pushed into a kind of tube that takes many sectional images of the abdomen. Colon cancer and constricting processes of the intestine can be made clearly visible with this method.

Alternatively, a gastrointestinal endoscopy can be performed (gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy). In this procedure, a tube is inserted through the patient’s mouth and oesophagus, through the stomach and into the intestine. The doctor can assess the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract on a monitor, see bleeding or even discover growths of the mucous membrane.

In colonoscopy, the tube with the camera is inserted through the anus, so that in this case the mucosa of the colon can be assessed. This also serves to prevent cancer. Finally, an MRI of the abdomen can also be performed, in which the patient’s intestinal walls and abdominal organs can also be examined. Especially if contrast medium is injected into the small intestine beforehand, the special Sellink technique can reveal many pathologies in the soft tissue.