Introduction
The appendix, or more precisely the appendix, is a short, thin section of the large intestine that is not necessary for the transport of food. If it becomes inflamed, the stomach suffers severe pain, which increases relatively quickly. Such an appendicitis can be an emergency situation and in most cases must be treated surgically. The pain is therefore a serious warning of the body. Depending on the position of the appendix, the pain can occur in different places.
What pain does appendicitis cause?
Pain can be classified according to different aspects. One aspect is the duration of the pain and the beginning. This is often relatively sudden in appendicitis.
Furthermore, one can classify the type of pain. These include permanent pain, colic pain and increasing pain. With an appendicitis, as with most inflammations, increasing pain is in the foreground.
In the case of an appendicitis, there is often a short peak of pain, then a pause and then relatively quickly even more pain due to peritonitis. The intensity of the pain is also a classification type. Affected patients report very strong pain, while patients with other intestinal diseases usually report weaker pain.
The last important point for the classification of pain is the localization. In appendicitis, the pain usually starts around the navel and moves to the right lower abdomen a short time later. An exact determination of the pain quality by the examining doctor can already contain a lot of information.
Duration of pain in appendicitis
Appendicitis is usually an acute clinical picture. The pain occurs relatively suddenly and quickly gets worse. In many cases, patients go to hospital the same day and can be treated. The pain does not subside by itself and continues to increase until treatment is initiated. A typical symptom of appendicitis is wandering pain, which is initially localized around the navel and after a few hours migrates to the right lower abdomen.
Where exactly is the pain in appendicitis?
In most people the appendix is located in the right lower abdomen. However, the pain often starts around the navel and moves to the right lower abdomen only after a few hours. The pain around the navel is often misinterpreted as stomach pain and can be accompanied by vomiting.
However, the position of the appendix can vary greatly. Some people have the appendix located somewhat higher and therefore the pain is also higher. In rare cases, the appendix can even be located on the left side of the body, which can cause a completely different pain pattern.
With certain movements and pressure on the abdomen, pain can be triggered or intensified. Especially in pregnant women the position of the appendix can be changed. In this case the appendix is moved to the right upper abdomen. Children usually report abdominal pain in the entire abdomen. Regardless of the location of the pain, however, a hospital should be consulted in case of sudden severe pain, as otherwise appendicitis can become dangerous.
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