Symptoms of pancreatic disease

Introduction

The symptoms of pancreatic disease can vary depending on the cause. Characteristically, however, there is belt-shaped pain in the upper abdomen, a disturbed digestion of food and, if the pancreas is severely damaged, diabetes mellitus.

Pain

Pain originating in the pancreas is usually described as belt-like pain in the upper abdomen or at the level of the navel. These belt-like pains are typical and often radiate into the flanks, especially in cases of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Acute pancreatitis is almost always accompanied by severe pain in the upper abdomen, but often begins with very severe pain in the chest area, so that a heart attack should be excluded from the pain picture.

The pain then shifts to the upper abdomen. In the case of chronic inflammation of the pancreas, the pain initially lies mainly in the depth of the upper abdomen. This pain is often recurrent and lasts for several days.

In the late stages of the disease, the pain often subsides and may even be completely painless. You can read more information on this topic here: Symptoms of pancreatitis, pancreatic hypofunction In the early stages of pancreatic cancer there is no pain. This only sets in at a later stage, when the tumour has become so large that it constricts the surrounding tissue.

The perceived pain then depends on which tissue the tumour is pressing on. This can also manifest itself in the form of back pain. You can read more information on this topic here: Signs of pancreatic cancerBack pain is not uncommon in the context of pancreatic disease.

This can occur, for example, when the pancreas is inflamed. Patients with acute pancreatitis often complain of sudden onset of severe pain, which is localised in the upper abdomen and spreads in a belt-like manner to both sides, often radiating into the back. The back pain is often described by those affected as an increasingly severe, permanent pain.

An inflammation of the pancreas can be accompanied by additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and fever. Acute pancreatitis should be treated by a doctor as soon as possible, usually a hospital stay is necessary. Back pain is also not uncommon in cases of chronic inflammation of the pancreas.

As with the acute form, it is often an upper abdominal pain radiating into the back. In contrast to the acute form, however, these are usually not so severe, but rather recurrent and dull. Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite can also occur here.

In the case of advanced, chronic inflammation, the pain can also be completely absent. Another symptom of chronic pancreatitis is the frequent occurrence of so-called fatty stools, as the pancreas no longer produces enough enzymes to help digest food. Another cause of back pain in the context of pancreatic disease can be a tumour (cancer) in the area of the pancreas.

Such a pancreatic carcinoma often develops over a long period of time without symptoms. Back pain occurs here, for example, if the tumour has already formed metastases in the bones. You can read more information on this topic here: Back pain with pancreatic cancer