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Appendicitis pain
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025

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Appendicitis is an inflammation of the vermiform appendix. The death rate from the disease is 0.1% for an unperforated (undiacized) appendix and about 3% after perforation. It is worth noting that the fatality rate among those hospitalized in the first day of exacerbation is 7-10 times lower than among patients admitted for treatment later. These facts indicate that if the disease is detected in a timely manner, the chances of staying alive are much higher. To identify the problem, it is necessary to understand the nature of pain in appendicitis.
Symptoms appendicitis pain
The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. At the initial stage of the disease, pain is felt throughout the entire abdominal area, especially in the upper part; the patient is unable to specifically indicate the source of pain, i.e. the pain is not clearly localized. Not clearly localized pain is a characteristic phenomenon for a problem located in the small intestine or colon, as well as in the appendix.
Usually patients seek help after a severe pain attack lasting four to six hours. It is also difficult for the patient to indicate the exact location of the pain with appendicitis, but in the first hours some of its localization is observed in the epigastric zone, that is, under the spoon. Then the pain begins to localize in the right iliac region, is constant and usually moderately expressed.
The pain during appendicitis can change in intensity, but does not stop even for a short period of time. If the pain has increased sharply and significantly, this is a very bad sign, which may indicate perforation (rupture) of the appendix. Sharp pain, accompanied by anxiety, may indicate a form of acute appendicitis, with the formation of a closed purulent cavity in the appendix. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the pain during appendicitis worsens during walking and movement. Usually the patient's gait is very careful with hands located on the right iliac region, by these characteristic signs it is possible to identify pain during appendicitis, even if the person does not report it.
The abatement of pain during appendicitis does not indicate that things are getting better, it is usually caused by progressive gangrene of the appendix and the death of nerve endings. Pain during acute appendicitis in the second half of pregnancy has certain characteristics: it is less pronounced and localized higher, due to the displacement of the appendix.
Patients are characterized by loss of appetite and nausea, as well as a single vomiting in the first hours of the disease. Also often observed is constipation, which is sometimes taken as the cause of the disease and can mislead the patient, his relatives, and sometimes even inexperienced health workers, which leads to unnecessary and dangerous measures on their part aimed at cleansing the intestines.
Examination of the abdomen by palpation reveals resistance of the muscles and localized pain in the iliac region. Even during gentle tapping, patients report severe pain in the right iliac region due to shaking of the inflamed peritoneum. There are no objective symptoms specific only to acute appendicitis. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion, a consultation with an experienced specialist is necessary.
Additional symptoms of appendicitis
- Rovsing's symptom - when pressing hard on the left iliac region, pain is felt in the right region due to the movement of gas masses through the large intestine.
- Sitkovsky's symptom - exacerbation of pain when lying on the left side, due to the displacement of the cecum with the appendix and tension of the peritoneum.
- Bartomier-Michelson symptom - increased pain during palpation while lying on the left side.
- Voskresensky's symptom - increased pain is noted in the right iliac region, when moving the arm, through a stretched shirt, from the area under the pit of the stomach to the right iliac region.
- Obraztsov's symptom - pain increases when raising the right leg while lying on the back.
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Treatment appendicitis pain
Appendicitis is a disease that requires immediate surgical intervention, in which case it is absolutely not dangerous and does not have any consequences. If it is not diagnosed at an early stage, it can lead to disastrous consequences. Therefore, if you or your loved ones experience the above-described symptoms of pain during appendicitis, immediately seek help from a highly qualified specialist.
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