Pressure pain is one of the most common types of pain. Behind a pressure pain in the area of the chest or abdomen can be many things from a life-threatening disease to a harmless bruise. Depending on where in the abdomen or where in the chest the pain is localized, conclusions can be drawn about the underlying condition.
What does pressure soreness feel like?
Pressure pain refers to both pressing pain and pain that can be triggered by pressure, such as pressing into the abdominal wall with your hand.
Life-threatening pressure pain in the chest
Sudden chest pain is in the worst case an expression of a heart attack, which is why the emergency services must be called immediately. Typical of a heart attack are radiating pains in the left or right shoulder, jaw, back or upper abdomen. They are often felt as oppressive, as a tightness behind the breastbone or like a weight bearing down on the chest. Another life-threatening, though rare, cause is a tear in the aorta (“main artery“). The pain is described as “crushing” and often radiates between the shoulder blades. If the tear extends into the abdominal aorta, the pain travels from the chest or back to the abdomen.
The thoracic spine as the source of pain
But not behind every pressure pain in the chest is a life-threatening clinical picture. Very often, diseases of the thoracic spine, such as muscle tension and signs of wear and tear, are also the trigger. If the chest pain has occurred gradually and worsens with movement, there could be an orthopedic problem.
Chest pain in women
Especially in connection with menstruation, many women suffer from pain in the breasts in the sense of feelings of tension and heaviness in the period before the period. Predominantly breastfeeding women can also suffer from a painful inflammation of the breast (“mastitis“): the breasts are swollen and red, the nipples are very sensitive to touch, fever and general weakness are added.
Breast pain in men
Men can also be affected by inflammation of the nipples caused by bacteria, sometimes developing into larger enamel deposits (“abscess“). If there is prolonged pain of the breast tissue and visible changes in the nipple, if any, breast cancer must also be considered – in women and in men.
Pressure pain in the upper abdomen
The upper abdomen is where the stomach is located. Pressure pain that occurs in connection with food intake and is not infrequently accompanied by nausea, flatulence or vomiting often has its cause in an inflammation of the gastric mucosa (“gastritis“) or a gastric ulcer (“gastric ulcer”). If the pain improves after eating, it is typically a duodenal ulcer (“duodenal ulcer“).
Acid regurgitation after eating
Also common is oppressive upper abdominal pain associated with heartburn (“reflux“), which is a regurgitation of stomach acid. The discomfort occurs mainly after eating and worsens when lying down, as stomach acid runs back into the esophagus.
Girdling upper abdominal pain
Behind the stomach and small intestine sits the pancreas (“pancreas”) in the upper abdomen. This can become inflamed, which then causes severe, belt-shaped pain radiating into the back. Triggers of an inflammation of the pancreas can be, among other things, excessive alcohol consumption or a duct obstruction caused by a gallstone.
Pain in the right upper abdomen caused by the gallbladder
In the right upper abdomen, below the costal arch, is the gallbladder. Cramping pain in the right upper abdomen, typically radiating to the right shoulder, and sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness, may indicate biliary colic due to gallstones. Palpation of the abdomen may classically elicit tenderness in the right upper to mid abdomen. Gallstones in the gallbladder also sometimes block the downstream bile ducts. If the outflow of bile is disturbed for a long time, a yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes (“jaundice“), a discoloration of the stool or an intense yellowing of the urine may be observed. If fever or chills occur in addition to the pressure pain in the right upper abdomen, an inflammation of the gallbladder (“cholecystitis”) may be present.This is often the result of gallstone disease.
Kidney pain in the right upper abdomen
Comparable to biliary colic, renal colic may feel like a blockage of the ureter by a kidney stone. The pain tends to be localized in the back, the flank, and occurs in waves. Tapping and pressure on the flank intensifies the pain. Similar pressure pain is caused by inflammation of the renal pelvis (“pyelonephritis“), which mainly affects women in the context of an ascending infection after cystitis. The kidneys are severely palpitated, there is fatigue and a general feeling of illness. The third relevant organ in the right upper abdomen is the liver, which can cause sudden tenderness when inflamed (“hepatitis“).
Lateral pressure pain
If the pressure pain is more lateral to the chest or upper abdomen, worsens with deep breathing, and is movement-dependent, it is probably “intercostal neuralgia“: a pain syndrome that occurs between the ribs on the chest wall.
Pain in the right lower abdomen
Children in particular are often affected by appendicitis (“appendicitis”). The appendix becomes inflamed and may be at risk of rupturing. The pain, which is aggravated by palpating the abdomen and pressing on the abdominal wall, often begins in the umbilical region and then moves to the lower right abdomen, worsens with movement, and is accompanied by fever and loss of appetite.
Diseases typical of women in the right lower abdomen
In women or young girls, pressure pain in the right lower abdomen must also always be thought of a disease of the genital organs, for example:
- An inflammation of the fallopian tubes or ovaries.
- Ovarian cysts
- An extrauterine or regular pregnancy
Pain in the left lower abdomen
Pressure pain in the left lower abdomen very often indicates “sigmoid diverticulitis“. In this disease of the colon, protrusions of the intestinal wall (“diverticula”), which can become inflamed and are most often located in the intestinal segment of the left lower abdomen (“sigmoid colon”), are the trigger. The pain is accompanied by stool irregularities in the sense of alternating diarrhea and constipation as well as flatulence. Also, in the case of pressure pain in the left lower abdomen, the above-mentioned female diseases, caused by the left-sided reproductive organs, must also be considered.
Pain in the middle abdomen
If pressure pain in the middle of the abdomen is accompanied by a general feeling of illness, aching limbs, fever and faintness, and diarrhea, it is probably a gastrointestinal infection (“gastroenteritis“), often caused by viruses. A life-threatening clinical picture, which manifests itself by very sudden, severe pain in the mid-abdomen, below the belly button or also other abdominal sections, is mesenteric ischemia, the acute occlusion of a blood vessel supplying the intestine. Clinical examination by the physician may elicit a severe pain on pressure, and often a board-hard abdomen is also noted. Typically, the pain subsides after some time for a few hours, during which time, however, the intestine already begins to die. Another life-threatening condition in the abdomen – as described at the beginning – is a tear in the main artery, the aorta, which extends into the pelvis. Signs include sudden severe abdominal and or back pain and a hard abdomen on palpation.
Abdominal pain associated with constipation
A comparatively harmless cause of pressing pain in the abdomen is constipation when there is a prolonged absence of bowel movements. More dangerous than constipation is intestinal obstruction (“ileus”), which leads to nausea and vomiting in addition to the pressing pain in the abdomen.
Abdominal pressure pain caused by tumors
Less commonly, abdominal pressure pain is caused by tumors of the above organs. typical are:
- An accompanying weight loss
- Heavy night sweats and
- Fever episodes
The pain rarely occurs suddenly, but slowly brews.
