Intestinal pain

All gastrointestinal diseases, with rare exceptions, are accompanied by pain. However, intestinal pain has some differences from stomach pain. Knowing these differences allows you to establish the correct diagnosis in time, and in severe cases, provide correct, adequate pre-hospital care.

The main thing to remember is the following: intestinal pain is never associated with food intake (except for inflammation of the transverse colon), it intensifies before the act of defecation (may occur during and after defecation), and passes immediately after it or after the intestines are freed from gases during flatulence. That's basically all the differences.

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Diseases that cause intestinal pain

All intestinal problems arise due to a violation of its peristalsis, that is, movement. In a normal state, the intestinal walls are in constant motion, due to which the food lump moves, mixes and is excreted from the body. In cases where movement is impaired, the food lump stops in one place, which causes obstruction. The intestines are not emptied, digestion does not occur, intestinal pain occurs with the subsequent development of the inflammatory process. In addition to intestinal obstruction, pain in the intestinal area can occur with the following diseases:

• inflammatory bowel diseases. In some diseases, the pain is stabbing, short-term and paroxysmal. Others are accompanied by persistent, constant aching pains, which tend to intensify during sudden movements, coughing fits. Pains of this kind are quite persistent, have an exhausting effect on a person;
• intestinal obstruction and inflammation of the sigmoid colon cause acute pain in the left side localized in the lower abdomen;
• appendicitis, cancerous tumors and inflammation of the intestine (typhlitis) cause pain in the right side - the nature of the pain ranges from minor and aching to acute and paroxysmal;
• enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine), colitis and colon cancer are accompanied by pain, mainly localized in the navel area;
• cancer and inflammation of the rectum - intestinal pain in the perineum area. The pain intensifies at the time of or immediately after bowel movement (defecation);
• inflammation of the rectum and sigmoid colon causes severe pain before defecation;
• Sharp, acute pain during defecation occurs with hemorrhoidal exacerbations, cancer, and inflammation of the rectum.

Constant and paroxysmal pain in the intestinal area often alternates with radiating pain:

• with dysentery, the pain radiates to the sacral region;
• intestinal colic radiates into the chest (to the heart area), causing suspicion of angina pectoris;
• appendicitis - pain radiating to the right leg.

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Diagnosis of intestinal pain

In case of any painful symptoms in the abdominal area, with any of their localization, first of all, you should consult a doctor. The fact is that inflammation of the abdominal organs is dangerous due to its complications and even minor intestinal pain can be the first sign of appendicitis. If you do not pay attention to it in time, you can provoke a rupture of the appendix, the outpouring of its contents into the abdominal cavity with subsequent inflammation - peritonitis. The result can be fatal. Therefore, sharp paroxysmal pain, constant and aching, spasms in one of the sides are an indicator of intestinal disorders. To detect problematic areas, it is necessary to do an X-ray of the abdominal organs with a contrast agent and a general blood test. Additionally, an ultrasound of the abdominal organs is prescribed.

There are a number of indicators that, upon external examination of the patient, indicate the development of intestinal problems:

• dry tongue coated with a white coating;
• When examining the abdomen, uneven swelling is detected;
• when palpating the abdomen, intestinal pain increases;
• in some cases, intestinal peristalsis (movement of the intestines) is visible to the naked eye, as well as strong and frequent rumbling;
• in advanced conditions, no sound or motor manifestations from the intestines are observed;
• the symptom of “irritated peritoneum” is clearly expressed - with a light touch to the anterior abdominal wall, pain occurs that “spreads” over the entire area of the abdomen.

For intestinal problems, you should consult a gastroenterologist, proctologist or oncologist, depending on the results of diagnostic tests.

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Treatment of intestinal pain

Intestinal problems can arise for various reasons. In cases where pathology or inflammation has a minor degree of development, the following are indicated:

• a correct, balanced diet, selected taking into account individual characteristics;
• drug therapy, including taking enzymes, anti-inflammatory drugs and antispasmodics;
• giving up all bad habits and maintaining a proper daily routine.

In severe cases, it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. In addition, there are diseases in which surgical intervention is the only way to solve the problem. Such diseases include, for example, appendicitis.

How to prevent intestinal pain?

A healthy lifestyle, proper, balanced nutrition, avoiding frequent stress will help avoid many health problems. To prevent problems in the body from becoming surprises, once a year, and after 40 years and twice a year, a full examination of all organs and systems should be carried out. Intestinal pain, in some cases, can be the result of helminthic invasions, in cases where helminths multiply at high speed, gather into a lump and create a blockage in the intestine. To avoid such situations, every 6 months you need to drink antihelminthic drugs, for example, "Decaris".