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Causes of pain in the navel

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Discomfort, stiffness of movement, as well as a possible serious illness portends pain in the navel. It is very important to contact a competent specialist in time for an accurate diagnosis. After all, the causes of pain in the navel can be difficult to determine.

The most common factors that cause pain in the navel: 

  • bacterial, viral, parasitic infection of the intestine; 
  • chronic enteritis in the acute stage (aching / sharp pains after a meal); 
  • umbilical hernia - there is a seal in the area of the navel, the disease proceeds against the background of nausea, vomiting, constipation and gas formation are often noted; 
  • intestinal ulcer; 
  • appendix inflammation - pain initially appears in the navel, then shifts to the right. Accompanied by fever and nausea; 
  • infection of the urinary tract - pain occurs when urinating, then become permanent; 
  • pregnancy.

Pain in the navel is often marked with gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, appendicitis in the early stages of pain, sigmoid diverticulitis, often in people over 50 years of age.

Pain in the navel occurs with umbilical hernia, small intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, abdominal aorta. In addition, it must be remembered that young children with abdominal pain often point to the umbilical region, although the actual localization of pain may be different.

In differential diagnosis, mesenteric lymphadenitis, thrombosis, or mesenteric vascular embolism is often forgotten. Severe clinical picture is observed in small bowel obstruction or gangrene of the small intestine.

Chronic pain in the navel is usually associated with intestinal emptying disorders (constipation, diarrhea, or their alternation).

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Causes of pain in the navel

To identify the source of pain in the navel can only a doctor after a thorough examination. Soreness of the umbilical zone can be caused by the pathology of any organ of the peritoneum.

Various localization of pain, which often do not coincide with the anatomical location of the affected organ. It should also take into account the duration and nature of the symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

Inversion of the intestines, abdominal migraine, diverticulitis are likely causes of pain in the navel. Inversion of the small intestine occurs in the presence of adhesive processes or adhesions in the peritoneal zone, as a result of increased peristalsis. Frequent occurrence in infants (especially in boys) is accompanied by vomiting, delayed stool, pain in the navel. The onset of the disease is preceded by cramping pain that develops into unbearable seizures.

Schoolchildren are prone to abdominal migraine. A rare disease in the clinical picture has cramps in the abdominal muscles, pain in the navel area. Very often, children can not accurately describe their feelings, as the symptoms are vague. Pallor of the skin, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, diarrhea are noted. Attacks appear spontaneously without reference to food intake, and last several minutes or several days. To diagnose recommend contacting a neurologist.

The protrusion of the intestinal wall or diverticulitis - causes pain in the navel and a consequence of constipation, in which there is excessive pressure in the intestines. The disease can not manifest itself for a long time. The process of inflammation in addition to pain leads to an increase in temperature.

Causes of pain around the navel

Intestinal colic is characterized by paroxysmal pain arising from pathological changes in the intestine. Causes of pain in the navel due to colic are often caused by stretching of the intestinal loop, irritation of the nerve fibers. Colic, most often, is the result of a disease of internal organs. Along with a violation of intestinal motility, patients observe bloating, spasms, and defecation with mucus. Allergic reactions, nervous feelings, gastritis contribute to the development of the disease.

The causes of pain around the navel are cancer of the small intestine, perforation of gastric ulcer and 12p intestine. Early enteric tumors are diagnosed randomly (during surgery, X-ray examination to detect other diseases). The course of the disease is detected colicky pains around the navel, abdominal distention, a violation of the chair. Next, join the common symptoms - anemia, vomiting, anorexia. Often there is a violation of the liver, pancreas.

When perforation (violation of the integrity) of the stomach and intestine 12p, the pain syndrome is described by dagger, intolerable sensations. As a result of ingestion of the contents of the digestive organs in the peritoneal region, peritonitis develops with symptoms inherent in inflammation: temperature, pain in the navel, chills. It is possible to suspect perforation on the black color of feces due to blood entering the digestive system. If anxiety symptoms are found, call a physician.

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Causes of pain to the left of the navel

The navel helps to divide the abdominal cavity into segments. Having drawn horizontal and vertical lines crossing the navel, we get two zones on top and two on the bottom.

At the top to the left of the navel are the spleen, intestinal loops, stomach, partially pancreas and diaphragm. Anatomically, the spleen is close to the surface of the wall of the peritoneum, and the pancreas lies deeper (it can be said on the spinal column). The spleen performs an important task in the body - removes spent red blood cells in the blood by destroying their structure. The elements enter the bone marrow and form new blood cells. Causes of pain in the navel lie in the process of stretching the spleen capsule. Diseases of the organ (for example, mononucleosis) are terrible for the possibility of rupture even with a slight load during a medical examination. An enlarged spleen can rupture on its own, which will become clear from the bluish color of the skin around the navel.

Accumulations of gas in the colon can also be a factor causing soreness to the left of the navel. If the pain is associated with the disease, then other symptoms are sure to appear - stool disorders, mucus or blood in the stools, fever. The presence of bright red blood indicates a problem of the lower part of the colon (due to hemorrhoids). An alarm is considered to be the presence of a black stool that reflects gastric or bleeding in the small intestine.

Diseases of the stomach, such as gastritis and functional dyspepsia, causes pain in the navel of the aching, not sharp type with nausea / vomiting.

The pancreas, whose functions are suppressed by diseases or toxins, brings a sharp pain along with nausea, vomiting, and temperature. At risk are smokers, alcohol lovers, diabetics, abusing steroid and diuretic drugs.

Oddly enough, viral diseases of the lungs (pleurisy, pneumonia) can cause pain in the umbilical zone if the diaphragm is irritated.

Causes of pain to the left of the navel below are often caused by irritation of the intestine due to stressful circumstances. In addition to irritable bowel syndrome, unpleasant symptoms appear due to the development of a tumor or inflammatory bowel process, diverticulitis or a banal intolerance to any food product (for example, dairy products).

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Causes of pain to the right of the navel

On the right above the navel are the liver, gallbladder, part of the intestine, pancreas and diaphragm.

Infections, chemical agents, heart failure - these are the causes of pain to the right of the navel when the liver swells. Problems are noted in the presence of parasites. Any type of hepatitis causes constant, aching pain from within.

Liver dysfunction, gallbladder stones, pain perpetrators to the right of the navel. Pathological changes in the gallbladder develop asymptomatic, but the attack is characterized by acute pain with nausea. Relief does not come even after vomiting.

Biliary colic due to the movement of stones in the ducts is characterized by undulating painful attacks. When the bile duct is blocked, jaundice appears.

Acute pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, colitis or intestinal deserticulitis, pulmonary infections are causes of pain in the navel on the right. It should be noted that shingles for five days manifests itself only soreness in the right side. Doctors can go the wrong way, suspecting a problem in the gallbladder, pancreas. Only the appearance of the rash helps to correctly diagnose the disease.

Pathologies of the kidneys respond with pain from the front right and are projected into the back area.

Inflammation of the appendix begins with pain in the navel itself, followed by a shift to the right. If the source of pain can be indicated with one finger, and the pain itself is protracted, you should immediately contact a specialist.

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Causes of pain above the navel

Above the navel lies the pyloric part of the stomach and partly 12p intestine. The development processes of the ulcers of these organs explain the causes of pain in the navel. An ulcer can be compared to an open wound that occurs when cells die off due to various reasons. The lesion begins in the intestinal / stomach mucosa, deepening and expanding in such a way that it affects muscle structures and blood vessels. The disease often does not reveal itself. This condition is very dangerous due to internal bleeding. When the liquid stool is black (melena), you should immediately go to the doctor.

Often, an ulcer causes perforation of a hollow organ. So the formed hole in the stomach / intestines, pouring their contents into the peritoneum, can be fatal.

An ulcer is described as a sharp, sharp pain, often with a pulsation. The initial stages of the development of the disease are described by discomfort and slight burning sensation. Gradually, the symptoms increase and become permanent.

So, the causes of pain above the navel: 

  • stomach ulcers - captures the mucous membrane, often vessels, muscles. The goal of therapeutic treatment is to stop bleeding and prevent perforation, as well as eliminate the cause of pain in the navel; 
  • 12p ulcer intestine; 
  • stomach cancer - a malignant neoplasm requires surgery, chemo and radiation therapy; 
  • gastritis - often precedes peptic ulcer. Inflammatory disease of the gastric mucosa is eliminated by finding the cause.

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Causes of pain below the navel

The pain of the lower part of the peritoneum causes diseases of the colon or problems of the female genital tract. Causes of pain in the navel from below in men are associated with diseases of the rectum.

Hormone-dependent cells of the layer inside the uterus with the onset of menstruation can germinate out, leading to endometriosis. More often the inborn illness proceeds at a temperature, vaginal discharge. The process can lead to the formation of tumors and infertility.

The ischemic condition of the intestines is also marked by unpleasant symptoms below the navel. Thanks to the intestines, food is digested. The body is supplied with a large number of blood vessels for the fastest enrichment of blood with nutrients. The intestine has another important role - pushing food through the digestive tube. The vessels supplying blood to the intestines branch off from the aortic peritoneum. The lack of oxygen may be due to thrombosis of the artery that carries blood to the intestinal tube. The process is accompanied by acute sharp pain, paralysis of intestinal peristalsis. The condition requires medical intervention.

Causes of pain below the navel can be triggered by atherosclerosis of these vessels. When the disease is marked whining type spastic pain, atonic constipation. As a rule, chronic and sluggish disease needs constant monitoring and rather long-term treatment.

Causes of pain in the navel of the lower abdominal zone: 

  • cystitis is an inflammatory bladder disease; 
  • endometriosis - the growth of the inner uterine layer in the outer tissue; 
  • pelvic inflammation; 
  • uterine fibroids - a benign tumor requiring surgical treatment; 
  • cancer of the uterus - requires a complex of medical measures (surgical, chemo and radiation therapy); 
  • ovarian cancer; 
  • bowel irritation - an improvement in the blood supply to the organ is required; 
  • aortic aneurysm peritoneum - bulging of the aortic wall, which is dangerous possibility of rupture.

The causes of pain in the navel are varied and do not always indicate a particular painful organ. You should not wait for the pain to disappear by itself, because with many serious diseases the bill goes to the clock. Only timely treatment for medical help will help avoid life-threatening conditions.

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