Pain in the navel

Introduction

Pain in the region of the navel can have various causes. Besides mostly harmless causes, such as growth pain or psychological causes, an umbilical hernia or appendicitis can also be behind the pain.

Causes

Pain in the region of the navel can have many different causes. In general, gastrointestinal complaints can manifest themselves in the region of the navel. These include, for example, inflammation of the lining of the stomach or an incorrect/unbalanced diet.

In this case, alcohol and nicotine should be avoided in any case, as both are considered to promote cramping. Other causes can be a pinched nerve in the region of the navel or increased stress. In addition, inflammation in a navel piercing can also be responsible.

In women gynecological causes are also possible. In rare cases the pain can also be caused by a chronic disease, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). If the pain persists over a long period of time and cannot be managed with simple home remedies, a doctor should be consulted for diagnostic clarification.

If the pain is accompanied by red spots on the navel, other causes may also be possible. Pain above the navel can have different causes. Anatomically, there are different structures above the navel that can cause pain.

On the one hand, there may be a gap in the abdominal wall above the navel through which intestines can bulge outwards. This clinical picture is medically called hernia. Above the navel is also the stomach area.

An inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach or a stomach ulcer can cause pain in this area. The pancreas can also cause pain in the upper abdomen in the event of inflammation. In the case of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), these are typically described as belt-shaped and thus move around the upper abdomen on both sides towards the back.

Last but not least, diseases of the liver, gall bladder and spleen can cause pain above the navel. Therefore, if the symptoms persist, a medical clarification is advisable, as this is the only way to exclude serious causes of pain. Various clinical pictures can be responsible for pain below the navel.

Often the causes are harmless and the pain subsides by itself within a short time. However, there can also be serious causes behind the pain. In the area below the navel there are various organs that can cause pain.

For one thing, changes in the intestinal area can be the cause, for example colitis, appendicitis or also masses of space in the intestinal area as in intestinal tumors. In women, pain below the navel is often caused by diseases within the internal genital organs. Uterine inflammation, uterine tumors, ovarian inflammation or tumors and ectopic pregnancies can be the cause.

If the pain is localized clearly below the navel, it can also be a bladder infection. This is typically accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating and a painful pressure over the bladder. Since there are many different clinical pictures that can explain pain below the navel, a medical examination is recommended in case of persistent and/or very severe pain.

Pain to the right or left of the navel can have various causes. Often the reasons are in the area of the intestine. Due to gas formation in the intestine, abdominal pain can occur at times, which subsides again when the air escapes.

A minor injury in the abdominal muscle can also cause pain. However, other causes can also be behind it. Pain to the left of the navel can indicate an inflammatory disease of the colon.

In older people, sigmoid diverticulitis is a typical clinical picture. In this case, small protuberances form in the intestinal wall in which stool is deposited. As a consequence, these bulges can become inflamed, which then manifests itself as left-sided abdominal pain.

However, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can also cause such abdominal pain.However, this usually causes other symptoms such as severe diarrhea and mucus and blood loss. On the right side of the navel, the most typical clinical picture that could explain the symptoms is appendicitis. Often the symptoms begin with pain in the upper abdomen/abdominal area and then shift over time to the right lower abdomen.

A strong pain in pressure at this point is typical for the disease. Appendicitis must be treated by a physician, otherwise serious complications may occur. Persistent pain should therefore be taken as a reason for a visit to the doctor.

A navel inflammation can be very painful. Minor injuries in the area of the navel can cause germs to enter the skin and cause an infection with an inflammatory reaction. This often becomes visible by a reddened, overheated and possibly swollen skin in the navel area.

Weeping wounds can also occur. Pain also occurs. Good hygienic wound care of the navel is essential to contain the inflammation.

Antibiotic treatment may be necessary. In many cases, however, disinfection of the wound area and cleaning of the navel is sufficient. Sterile dressings are applied, which must be changed regularly.

In this way the umbilical inflammation can heal well in most cases. In addition to childhood, pregnancy is also a typical phase in which pain in the region of the navel can occur. These pains occur mainly in the first third of the pregnancy and are a sign that the child and accordingly the abdomen of the pregnant woman is growing.

As the baby grows, the abdominal wall is stretched further and further and with it the abdominal wall also the navel. During this growth, the depression of the navel often disappears and the navel emerges. This type of pain is harmless pain that is normal during pregnancy, but it does not have to occur in every pregnant woman.

If, however, the pain is accompanied by a protrusion in the region of the navel other than the navel itself, this indicates an umbilical hernia, which is at increased risk during pregnancy because the abdominal wall is weakened by the stretching (for more details, see further down on this page). If strong pulling pain in the region of the navel occurs during urination, this may be a bladder infection. In this case, a doctor should be consulted for clarification, who will arrange for a urine examination for further diagnosis.

In the case of a bladder infection, the pain becomes increasingly severe, especially towards the end of urination. Frequently, affected persons have to urinate much more frequently than usual, with only a small amount of urine being passed. Women in particular are often affected by cystitis because their urethra is shorter and therefore pathogens can more easily enter the bladder.

Pain in the navel during bowel movements can indicate an umbilical hernia. In the case of an umbilical hernia, a gap is formed in the abdominal wall, through which fatty and connective tissue protrude in the case of smaller hernias, and intestinal loops in the case of larger hernias. These so-called hernial sacs are usually visible or palpable as bulges in the region of the navel.

Especially when the pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, the hernial sacs protrude. This is the case when coughing, sneezing, laughing, but also when defecating, since the pressure in the abdominal cavity is increased by the pressing. Therefore, the pain can occur especially in these situations.

A medical clarification is recommended in this case, as the hernial orifice may have to be closed surgically to avoid complications. In the worst case, the intestine may otherwise become trapped with subsequent intestinal obstruction or the trapped intestinal area may die. Pain at the belly button can be caused by a belly button piercing.

With piercing a ring or metal pin is led through the skin at the bellybutton to be left there as a piece of jewelry. The piercing itself can be quite painful because of the sensitivity of the skin. But also after the piercing the piercing can cause pain for a longer time, until the wound area has healed sufficiently.

With insufficient disinfection and bad care of the navel piercing it can come to inflammation of the piercing in the navel, which can be very painful.Sometimes it is necessary to remove the piercing. By getting stuck at the piercing the skin can also tear or in the worst case tear out the piercing completely. Such bigger injuries must be possibly medically treated or even sutured, so that infections and unattractive scar formation don?t occur.

Also an umbilical hernia can cause pain at the navel. An umbilical hernia is a protrusion of intestine through a weak point in the abdominal wall in the area of the navel. This hole in the abdominal wall can either be congenital or, for example, be caused by a weakness of the connective tissue.

The so-called hernial sac, which bulges out, is surrounded by peritoneum and contains intestine and fatty tissue. Apart from the pain that can, but need not, occur in the context of an umbilical hernia, a small to larger skin protrusion that can be seen from the outside is characteristic, so that the diagnosis is relatively easy to make. At rest, there is usually no pain, but if there is increased pressure in the area of the abdomen, a stabbing symptomatology in the area of the navel can occur.

This can occur, for example, in connection with heavy pressing during bowel movements. However, if the pain is more severe and at the same time a reddish to brownish discoloration of the protruding hernia occurs, a doctor should be consulted in an emergency, as the hernial sac may have become trapped. In technical terms, this is called incarceration of the umbilical hernia.

It is sometimes accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Due to the incarceration, the intestinal tissue can no longer be supplied with blood containing oxygen and nutrients, so that the tissue threatens to die. In the further course of the disease, blood poisoning or an even more dangerous peritonitis can occur.

Especially in children, pain in the region of the navel can occur during growth. This pain occurs mainly between the ages of three and five years. Sometimes the pain is so severe that the children cry out and curl up in a relieving position.

This pain is caused by the fact that the child’s abdomen grows in different directions: width, length and forward. This results in a stretching of the scar tissue of the navel, which can be painful. Often the growth-related bellybutton pain in children is linked to food intake.

The pain often occurs about half an hour after a meal because the abdomen spreads particularly forwards during this period. The pain correlates with the amount of food eaten: the more food is eaten, the stronger the pain. If the children move around a lot after eating, the symptoms improve or disappear altogether, because in this case the food they have eaten is better distributed.

Another cause can be a so-called navel colic in the child. This usually occurs between four and twelve years of age. Girls are more frequently affected.

The characteristic of colic is that the pain occurs in intervals, i.e. a phase of severe pain is replaced by a painless phase. Even if the umbilical colic manifests itself with severe pain, so that the parents are often very worried, the colic is not caused by an organic disease. The cause is psychological, triggered, for example, by stressful situations such as exams or general excessive demands.

T was accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting, but a pediatrician should always be consulted for clarification. Appendicitis is also a common disease in children and adolescents. In this case, the pain is only in the initial phase in the region of the navel, while in the further course of the disease, after a few hours, it moves to the right lower abdomen.

Very severe pain is typical for appendicitis, so that the child adopts a bent, relieving position. Also characteristic is the defensive tension and touch sensitivity of the child’s abdomen. Even light touches, such as stroking, can lead to severe pain, as well as reactively to a hardening of the abdomen.

In addition to the pain symptoms, accompanying symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, increased sweating and a raised pulse rate can also occur. However, these complaints do not necessarily have to be present.If you notice these symptoms, the child should be taken directly to the pediatrician or hospital. In the case of appendicitis, the child’s appendix is usually removed prophylactically to prevent possible complications.

In addition, children may also have an inflammation of the navel as a cause. This manifests itself by a reddened, swollen and overheated umbilical skin. In some cases, a festering wound can also occur, which is accompanied by an unpleasant odor.

Inflammation of the baby’s belly button usually occurs if the belly button is not properly nursed/cleaned after birth, but can also be traumatic. Inflammation of the navel usually occurs during the first week of life, but years later an infection can also lead to an inflammation of the navel in the child. An incarceration is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate surgery.

According to the underlying cause of an umbilical hernia, the name “umbilical hernia” is a little misleading. Since the tissue of the abdominal wall is not yet fully developed in the period after birth, an umbilical hernia often occurs immediately after birth in the infant. Premature babies are more often affected than “punctually born” infants.

About 1/5 of all infants develop an umbilical hernia after birth. But umbilical hernia can occur not only in newborns, but also in adults in whom there is increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. This is the case, for example, with overweight people, heavy sports, lifting heavy objects, severe coughing and an existing pregnancy.

Another cause can be a congenital weakness of the connective tissue, which can more easily lead to the development of a hernial orifice. In most cases an umbilical hernia in infants recedes of its own accord after one to two years due to the increasing strengthening of the abdominal muscles. In adults, an umbilical hernia does not recede on its own and even if there are no accompanying symptoms, an umbilical hernia is surgically repositioned to prevent further complications such as hernial incarceration.