Pain in the upper abdomen means pain of various causes, which are indicated in the upper half of the abdomen.
Pain Localization
In medicine, the abdomen is divided into four quadrants, with a vertical and a horizontal line running through the navel region. The upper abdomen is thus divided into the right and left upper abdomen. In addition, the stomach area (epigastrium), in the middle upper abdomen, is often considered separately.
́Zudem some patients also describe pain in the diaphragm. It should be noted that it is not always possible to determine the cause of the upper abdominal pain with certainty from the location of the pain, since in some diseases the pain radiates and each patient perceives pain differently. Abdominal pain can be somatic or visceral.
While somatic pain is felt as strong and sharp and can be localized precisely, visceral pain is dull and pressing and can hardly be localized. The form of the pain often allows conclusions to be drawn about the cause of the upper abdominal pain. Abdominal pain can be colicky or persistent.
Colics lead to pain that increases and decreases continuously, which is particularly the case when a hollow organ is displaced (e.g. gallstones, intestinal obstruction). Pain can be mild to very severe. Often the strength of the pain is indicated on a scale of 0 – 10 (= visual analogue scale), where 0 means having no pain and 10 means having the strongest imaginable pain.
In addition, upper abdominal pain can occur at night. The therapy depends on the triggering cause. Certain diseases can cause pain that can occur anywhere in the abdomen, including the upper abdomen.
These include: Gastrointestinal infections with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea Intestinal obstruction (ileus): An intestinal obstruction is caused either by adhesions in the abdominal cavity (e.g. scarring after operations), by an obstruction in the intestinal lumen (e.g. intestinal cancer) or by reduced intestinal activity (e.g.
in the context of intestinal inflammation or after intestinal surgery) Perforation: A hole or tear in the wall of a hollow organ (e.g. in the stomach), usually as a result of a prolonged untreated inflammation or ulcer. Intestinal infarction: This is a circulatory disorder of the intestine, possibly even resulting in the death of parts of the intestine if the blood supply cannot be restored in time Poisoning (e.g. with lead) Endometriosis: Occurrence of endometrium outside the uterus This mucous membrane changes during the female cycle and therefore causes pain. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis occur most frequently.
- Gastrointestinal infections with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Intestinal obstruction (ileus): An intestinal obstruction is caused either by adhesions in the abdominal cavity (e.g. scarring after surgery), by an obstruction in the intestinal lumen (e.g. intestinal cancer) or by reduced intestinal activity (e.g.
in the context of intestinal inflammation or after intestinal surgery)
- Perforation: A hole or tear in the wall of a hollow organ (e.g. in the stomach), usually as a result of a long untreated inflammation or ulcer.
- Intestinal infarction: This is a circulatory disorder of the intestine, possibly even resulting in the death of parts of the intestine if the blood circulation cannot be restored in time
- Poisoning (e.g. with lead)
- Endometriosis: Occurrence of endometrium outside the uterus. This mucous membrane changes during the female cycle and therefore causes pain.
- Chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis occur most frequently.
The following diseases can occur in both the right and left upper abdomen: Kidney stones, inflammation of the renal pelvis Pneumonia, inflammation of the pleura (especially if the inflammation is located in the lower lung areas)
- Kidney stones, inflammation of renal pelvis
- Pneumonia, pneumothorax (especially if the inflammation is located in the lower lung areas)
- Abscess (cavity of pus) in the area of the diaphragm
The typical diseases that lead to right-sided upper abdominal pain are Gall bladder inflammation, gallstone disease Small intestine ulcer: Ulcer in the small intestine (usually in the duodenum) with defects in the mucosa of the intestine z.Liver diseases: e.g.
inflammation (hepatitis), thrombosis (blood clot) or swelling due to blood congestion (e.g. heart disease) Pancreatic diseases in the area of the head of the pancreas
- Gall bladder inflammation, gallstone disease
- Small intestinal ulcer: Ulcer in the small intestine (usually in the duodenum) with defects in the intestinal mucosa, e.g. due to acidosis or infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori
- Liver diseases: e.g. inflammation (hepatitis), thrombosis (blood clot) or swelling due to blood congestion (e.g. heart disease)
- Pancreatic diseases in the area of the head of the pancreas
- Diverticulitis: Disease of the large intestine with protrusions of the intestine where inflammation develops
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