Sharp pains in the abdominal region: below, in the sides on the right and left, in attacks

Abdominal pain: this symptom is familiar to everyone – both adults and babies. Sharp abdominal pain can be caused by a variety of factors. These can be injuries, inflammatory processes, spasms, digestive disorders, poisoning, etc.

Sharp abdominal pain is one symptom, but it can manifest itself in different ways and accompany a variety of diseases. The clinical picture can be supplemented by other symptoms, and the intensity of pain is not the same.

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Causes sharp abdominal pain

Most often, doctors associate sharp pain inside the abdomen with the following pathologies:

• Diseases of the digestive tract - among such diseases we can highlight gastritis and duodenitis, ulcers, colitis and enterocolitis, helminthiasis and intoxication, gastrointestinal tumors.
• Diseases of the urinary system – and, in particular, the kidneys: pyelonephritis, kidney stones, cystitis, etc.
• Appendicitis is perhaps the most frequently diagnosed cause of severe abdominal pain.
• Diseases of the hepatobiliary system, which is represented by the liver and biliary system.
• Intoxication – both acute and chronic poisoning.
• Diseases of the genital area (men most often suffer from diseases of the prostate gland, and women from inflammatory reactions in the uterus and appendages).

Of course, this is not the entire list of reasons that can cause painful discomfort in the abdomen. The exact reason can be announced by the doctor after diagnostics.

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Risk factors

Risk factors may include:

• poor nutrition (eating dry food, overly spicy foods, overly hot drinks, overeating, eating foods that don’t go well together);
• consumption of poor quality or spoiled food;
• vascular blood flow disorders in the abdominal area;
• pathologies of the respiratory system;
• diseases of the digestive tract;
• endocrine diseases (eg diabetes);
• diseases of the urinary system;
• bearing a baby, the beginning of the menstrual cycle;
• diseases of the reproductive system;
• trauma, external and internal injuries of the abdomen.

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Pathogenesis

Abdominal pain is a consequence of irritation of receptors - free ends of spinal nerves, which are located in the parietal peritoneum, muscles, skin. It is generally accepted that irritation of nerves is explained by all sorts of chemical agents that are formed during tissue damage, metabolic failures (for example, during hypoxia, allergies, disruption of lactic acid, oxalic acid metabolism, etc.). Sharp pains occur after irritation of the impulse-conducting direction. Directly painful sensation is transformed into the central nervous system.

Painful sensations in pathologies of the abdominal organs may appear against the background of impaired blood flow, spasm of smooth muscle fibers, deformation of hollow organs, and an inflammatory process.

A medical specialist should always pay attention to the physiological characteristics of the appearance, aggravation and transmission of painful stimuli.

Since the sensation of sharp pain is transformed into the central nervous system, its severity depends on the characteristics of the higher parts of the human nervous system, his emotional state, and the general atmosphere.

A peculiar adaptation of the body to pain sensations can lead to a decrease in their intensity. It is very important to correctly describe the nature of sharp pains, because not in all cases the pain is caused by the organ near which the pain is felt.

The transformation of impulses that come from the affected organ and their connection with impulses that are directed along the nerve fibers of the skin leads to the development of hypersensitivity of the skin - so-called hyperalgesia areas appear. Tension of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall is formed by a similar principle: the muscular protector is triggered, which indicates the spread of the pathological process to the peritoneum.

Pain can radiate, especially if the organ is severely damaged. As a result, discomfort is felt in an area remote from the affected organ.

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Epidemiology

Sharp abdominal pain is a common symptom that can be found in people of any gender and age. However, according to statistics, patients aged 20-45 most often seek medical help for this symptom – more often women than men.

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Symptoms

Abdominal pain may vary in intensity and may also have some differences, such as location. Pain may be:

• encircling;
• suprapubic;
• above or below the navel;
• radiating to the back or groin area;
• left-handed or right-handed.

The pain can be cutting, dull, or pulsating in nature.

The syndrome may be accompanied by other pathological signs, such as:

• high temperature;
• migraine, dizziness;
• digestive disorders (diarrhea, constipation, nausea);
• change in appetite;
• change in color of feces or urine;
• increase in abdominal volume;
• increased frequency of urination, difficulty in defecation;
• pale skin;
• feeling of apathy and fatigue;
• heartburn, belching;
• tachycardia, increased sweating;
• abdominal muscle tension.

If a patient, regardless of age category, exhibits the symptoms described above, then you must immediately contact a doctor and not self-medicate.

Abdominal pain syndrome can be caused by many factors, including inflammatory reactions, injuries, or even tumors. Moreover, the lesion is not necessarily located in the abdominal cavity: the “culprit” of the pain can be a disease of the respiratory organs, urinary organs, or spinal column.

• An acute attack of appendicitis is probably the most common underlying cause of sharp abdominal pain. The disease manifests itself unexpectedly, with a sharp pain in the abdomen in the navel area, or without clear localization. Over time, the pain only increases and shifts to the lower right sector of the abdomen. Sharp pain in the right side of the abdomen is accompanied by an increase in temperature (no more than 38 ° C), increased heart rate, signs of intoxication. Such signs include dry mouth, a feeling of fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite. When palpating the abdomen, the patient notes severe pain on the right.

If sharp abdominal pain and temperature with appendicitis suddenly disappear, this may indicate the onset of the gangrenous stage of the inflammatory process: at this stage, necrosis of the nerve endings of the appendix occurs. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, such a complication can end in perforation of the appendix and a diffuse inflammatory process - peritonitis.

• Acute intestinal obstruction may be caused by spasm, paresis or mechanical obstruction – for example, a blockage of stones, intestinal parasites, or simply a foreign body may form inside the intestine. Spasms occur due to adhesive disease, heavy physical exertion, and poor nutrition. What are the signs of obstruction? These are attacks of sharp pain in the abdomen, with varying intensity of sensations. With complete blockage of the intestinal lumen, sharp pain in the abdomen and loss of consciousness appear: the pain is so strong that the patient screams and asks for help, and with pain shock, loses consciousness. Complete blockage can occur with torsion, strangulation – that is, with the so-called intestinal strangulation. If the patient is not provided with timely assistance, the pain may subside for a while (which is associated with the necrosis of nerve endings), after which severe widespread peritonitis will develop. Peritonitis is characterized by sudden sharp abdominal pain and bloating, accumulation of gases, vomiting, and the abdomen becoming "like a board." This condition becomes life-threatening for the patient.
• The strangulation of a hernia is characterized by such symptoms as sharp pain in the abdomen when moving in the area of the hernial sac. The condition may be aggravated by nausea, vomiting, gas formation and tachycardia. In the area of the hernial sac, a sharply painful compaction can be felt that cannot be reduced. If the patient is not helped, necrosis processes will begin in the hernial sac, after which peritonitis will develop.
• Ulcer perforation is a complication of such a common disease as peptic ulcer. Sharp, cutting, stabbing pain in the abdomen – the so-called “dagger” pain – is the main sign of perforation. The pain is constant and intense, so the patient cannot get up or even breathe normally. It happens that sharp pain in the abdomen radiates to the back – to the subscapular, vertebral or subclavian region. In this case, the abdominal muscles are tense, the abdomen becomes flat or retracted (it cannot be felt). This condition is considered critical and requires emergency medical care.
• Exacerbation of gastritis is a very common pathology caused not only by the presence of Helicobacter in the digestive system, but also by nutritional errors, stress, and long-term use of various medications. During an exacerbation of gastritis, there is periodic sharp pain in the abdomen, in the epigastric region (in the area of the stomach projection). The pain is usually accompanied by dyspepsia, unpleasant belching, and heartburn.
• Exacerbation of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer also has its own characteristic signs: sharp pains in the abdomen after eating (after 10-30 minutes), vomiting, sour belching, heartburn may be observed. Localization of pain is in the stomach area, less often - closer to the right side of the abdominal cavity. Many patients experience sharp pain in the abdomen at night or after a long break in eating. The pain intensifies with physical activity and weakens at rest. In addition to the abdominal area, discomfort can spread to the chest or lower back. Vomiting and nausea are possible, but appetite in patients is rarely impaired.
• Acute enterocolitis develops as a result of inflammatory and dystrophic changes in the intestinal mucosa. The clinical symptoms of this pathology are: aching or sharp pain in the middle of the abdomen, a feeling of pressure, heaviness, rumbling. Appetite may decrease. Exacerbation of chronic enterocolitis is also characterized by dry skin, deterioration of the nails, and bleeding gums. Pain can be felt when palpating the abdomen along the intestines.
• During an attack of hepatic colic - with cholecystitis or gallstones, there is a sharp pain in the sides of the abdomen, mainly on the right, but it can radiate to the right subclavian region, to the right subscapular region, to the right forearm and neck. The pain intensifies when lying on the left side of the body, or when inhaling. Additional symptoms include yellowing of the sclera and skin, nausea and vomiting attacks that do not bring relief. Many patients experience a rise in temperature.
• Acute pancreatitis is a disease of the pancreas that often develops when consuming predominantly fatty, fried or spicy foods, as well as when drinking alcoholic beverages. Symptoms include sharp pains in the left side of the abdomen or in its upper segment, as well as flatulence, debilitating vomiting, and diarrhea. There may be simultaneous sharp pains in the abdomen and lower back: the painful sensations are long-lasting and excruciating - patients themselves say that the pain is "drilling", squeezing. Periodically, the patient feels better, but not for long: after a while, the sharp girdle pain in the abdomen resumes with renewed vigor.
• An attack of renal colic has a sudden onset: a sharp pain in the lower back appears, radiating to the abdomen and perineum, urination is impaired, blood may be found in the urine. The condition gradually worsens, nausea with vomiting occurs, gas formation increases. Painful symptoms can last for several hours. In some patients, pain appears against the background of an increase in temperature. The attack can end as abruptly as it began.
• With pleurisy or pneumonia, there may be a sharp pain in the upper abdomen. To differentiate such diseases, you need to pay attention to other important signs: a strong increase in temperature, difficulty breathing, when listening - weak breathing in the diseased pulmonary lobe, lagging of part of the chest during respiratory movements. Sharp pain in the abdomen when sneezing, coughing can also indicate diseases of the respiratory system. For a more accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to do a chest X-ray.
• Infectious bowel diseases are almost always accompanied by acute pain. For example, acute dysentery is accompanied by sharp abdominal pain and diarrhea, and the diarrhea is very severe, with particularly frequent urges (up to two dozen times a day). In the absence of feces in the intestine, defecation occurs with mucus with elements of blood.

Salmonellosis is characterized by sharp abdominal pain and chills. The pain is vague, without any particular localization – throughout the entire abdominal area. A typical symptom of salmonellosis is diarrhea, in which the feces have a dark green tint, like a “muddy swamp.”

If the intestinal infection has a viral etiology, then there is a sharp spasmodic pain in the abdomen and vomiting. The stool is infrequent, but plentiful.

• Pain in diseases of the female reproductive organs is a concern with any inflammatory processes - in the uterus, appendages. Sharp pain in the abdomen below is characteristic of acute endometritis: the disease occurs against the background of severe intoxication, with a pronounced feeling of weakness, with an increase in temperature, loss of appetite, dizziness. Vaginal discharge with pus and streaks of blood, with a foul odor are often observed. Sharp pain in the abdomen on the left or right is a typical sign of inflammation of the uterine appendages (ovaries). Painful sensations can spread to the lumbar and sacral area, to the groin. Signs of general intoxication are also characteristic.
• Sharp pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by bloody discharge, is typical for an ectopic pregnancy or ovarian rupture. In such cases, the pain is sudden, one-sided or two-sided. Blood pressure drops rapidly, the heart rate increases, and the skin becomes pale. If no help is provided, the patient may lose consciousness, so calling an ambulance is a must.
• A man may feel sharp pain in the abdomen with acute prostatitis or urethritis. These diseases are often the result of other infectious pathologies, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol abuse, unstable sex life, etc. A man may feel pain in the lower abdomen, in the groin, sacrum, in the anal area. Additional symptoms may include urinary disorders, high temperature, a feeling of fatigue, drowsiness. If digestive disorders are added, a sharp pain in the abdomen may appear when standing up: such pain is strong, pulsating, radiating to the anus.
• Pregnancy and abdominal pain are almost inseparable concepts. Sharp abdominal pain in women is often provoked by natural stretching of the uterine ligaments: such pains are similar to weak contractions and pass on their own, they are not intense, moderate, reminiscent of discomfort during menstruation. But not always sharp abdominal pain during pregnancy is physiological in nature: often this is almost the only symptom that indicates the threat of miscarriage. Sharp abdominal pain and dizziness, discharge from the genital tract, sudden weakness - these are unpleasant signs, upon the appearance of which the pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor.
• Early toxicosis of pregnancy can also manifest itself with such symptoms as sharp abdominal pain and nausea (especially in the morning), loss of appetite, vomiting. However, for an accurate diagnosis, it is better to consult a doctor.
• Vaginal candidiasis, inflammation of the cervix, vaginitis or colpitis can cause sharp abdominal pain after sex. Such pain is often combined with painful discharge from the genital tract. To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist and take a smear from the cervical canal and vagina, since the cause of pain after sex can also be adhesive disease or chronic inflammatory diseases of the genital area.
• Endometriosis is another female disease characterized by excessive growth of endothelium in places where it should not be. In many cases, endometriosis is the "culprit" of women experiencing sharp abdominal pain during and before menstruation. The endothelium is able to penetrate into the underlying layers of the uterine wall, forming a kind of bursa: the manifestation of such a pathology is intense and painful menstruation.
• Excessive physical activity, such as too intense a workout, can cause a sharp pain in the abdominal muscles to appear 12 to 24 hours later. This symptom does not always indicate a muscle injury: for most athletes, the pain indicates that the muscle fibers are recovering from the load. Perhaps you did not warm up enough or overtrained. If you ate immediately before training, you may experience not only cramps and abdominal pain, but also nausea and vomiting.
• Heart diseases - pericarditis, ischemic heart disease, acute infarction - can be expressed in such a symptom as sharp pain in the heart and abdomen. Most often, it hurts under the pit of the stomach (in the projection area of the stomach), or in the hypochondrium on the right (in the projection area of the liver). At the same time, it can also hurt behind the sternum, under the shoulder blade, in the middle part of the spinal column.
• Sharp abdominal pain after childbirth can be caused by natural reasons - for example, gradual reduction and contraction of the uterus under the influence of oxytocin, or other pathological reasons. Among such reasons are placental remnants in the uterine cavity, endometritis (inflammation in the uterus), postpartum salpingitis. It is recommended to consult a gynecologist about the need for further treatment.
• Sharp abdominal pain in a child always requires a doctor's consultation - such a symptom should never be ignored. With sharp pain, the child, as a rule, tries to lie down, often even in an uncomfortable position. If the baby gets up, then he does it carefully, slowly. Unpleasant painful sensations can be associated with many reasons - these can be inflammatory processes, poisoning, helminthic invasions, dyskinesia, etc. Any episode of sharp abdominal pain in a child should be a reason for an urgent visit to a pediatrician. It is better to call a doctor at home, and in severe cases (for example, with vomiting, severe diarrhea or fever) - call "emergency care": it is important to determine the root cause of the malaise as quickly as possible and eliminate it.

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Diagnostics sharp abdominal pain

Determining the exact cause of sudden abdominal pain without diagnostics can be very difficult. Therefore, a properly organized examination is very important in order to prescribe adequate and effective treatment in the future.

The patient should tell the doctor in detail and describe the nature and severity of pain, the frequency of its occurrence, assess the likelihood of its relationship with food intake or other factors. The patient should also provide the doctor with information about all chronic diseases in the body, about the characteristics of his lifestyle and diet. No less important information is the nature of fecal discharge, frequency of urination and the presence of nausea or vomiting.

Next, the doctor will palpate the abdomen, examine it, and then proceed to additional diagnostics.

• Tests that a doctor may prescribe for severe abdominal pain:
  • blood test (complete blood count, biochemistry);
  • urine analysis;
  • coprogram;
  • gynecological smears (for women);
  • urethral smears (for men).
• Instrumental diagnostics often includes:
  • instrumental rectal examination;
  • examination by a gynecologist for women and a proctologist for men;
  • ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs and abdominal cavity;
  • gastroduodenoscopy;
  • fibrogastroscopy;
  • computed tomography;
  • X-ray examination;
  • colonoscopy, irrigoscopy.
• Consultations with other specialized specialists include additional examinations and opinions from a gastroenterologist, proctologist, gynecologist, surgeon, endocrinologist, cardiologist, urologist, therapist, etc.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics is carried out between the following pathologies:

• diseases of the digestive system, poisoning, salmonellosis, botulism, dysentery;
• kidney disease, cystitis;
• appendicitis;
• hepatitis, cholecystitis, stones in the gallbladder or ducts;
• diseases of the reproductive organs;
• intestinal obstruction, tumors;
• trauma and internal organ damage.

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Treatment sharp abdominal pain

Treatment measures are prescribed only after determining the causes of the sharp pain in the abdomen, because there can be quite a lot of these causes, as well as ways to eliminate them.

• Diseases associated with digestive system disorders are treated with medication, strict adherence to diet and a healthy lifestyle. In more complex cases, surgery may be required - for example, in case of ulcer perforation, polyps or calculous cholecystitis.
• Kidney diseases can also be treated with medication or surgery. Kidney stones are most often removed using lipotripsy, a method of remote crushing.
• Reproductive diseases also require medication. In case of cysts or ectopic pregnancy, surgery is performed.
• Oncological diseases and intestinal obstruction also most often require surgical treatment.

It happens that sharp abdominal pains are associated with a danger to the patient's life. In such situations, painkillers and some other medications are not only unnecessary, but can also do a "disservice" - after the drug takes effect, the doctor will not be able to see the real clinical picture. Therefore, no matter how bad it is, it is advisable to call an ambulance and wait for the arrival of a medical specialist who will assess the extent of the problem and administer the necessary medications.

What to do if you have sharp abdominal pain?

If you experience sharp abdominal pain, it is better to call "emergency assistance". What can the patient or his family members do before the doctor arrives?

1. The patient should go to bed and calm down.
2. If the patient has taken any medications (for example, antispasmodics or analgesics), then it is imperative to inform the doctor about this. If possible, do not take any medications before the doctor arrives.
3. You should not drink or eat anything, take laxatives or do enemas.
4. You should not warm your stomach with a heating pad; it is better, on the contrary, to apply a cold compress or ice.

Medicines

The most accessible medications used for severe abdominal pain are:

Name of the drug	Dosage and method of administration	Side effects	Special instructions
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Ibuprofen	Take 300 mg 4-5 times a day.	Nausea, diarrhea, tinnitus, increased blood pressure, swelling.	Ibuprofen is used for inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs, adnexitis, and dysmenorrhea.
Nimesulide	Take one tablet (100 mg) twice daily.	Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness.	Nimesulide is used for soft tissue injuries and inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
Ketonal (ketoprofen)	Take 1-2 capsules up to three times a day.	Allergy, headache, nausea.	Ketoprofen is prescribed for any type of pain syndrome.
Antispasmodics and analgesics
Drotaverine	Take 0.04-0.08 g up to three times a day.	Dizziness, decreased blood pressure.	Drotaverine is prescribed for spasms, hepatic and renal colic, cholecystitis, colitis, dysmenorrhea, and flatulence.
Papaverine	Administer intramuscularly 0.5-2 ml of 2% solution for pain.	Drowsiness, thirst, blurred vision.	Papaverine is used to relieve smooth muscle spasms.
Combispasm	Take 1-2 tablets 1-4 times a day.	Allergies, dry mouth, visual impairment, tachycardia, constipation.	Combispasm based on paracetamol and dicyclomine is used to eliminate painful symptoms in renal colic and dysmenorrhea.
Enzyme and other preparations for the correction of digestive disorders
Ranitidine	Take 150 mg in the morning and at night, or only 300 mg at night, for 2-4 months.	Nausea, allergies, diarrhea.	Ranitidine is prescribed for gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
Pancreatin	Take 1-2 tablets after each meal.	Allergy.	Pancreatin is taken for dyspepsia and flatulence.
Maalox	Take the suspension 15 ml (one packet) one hour after eating, or immediately when pain occurs.	Constipation, thirst.	Maalox is taken for gastritis, duodenitis, and stomach ulcers.
Omez	Take 20 mg daily, half an hour before breakfast.	Headache, constipation, nausea.	Omez is used for stomach ulcers and peptic ulcers.
Imodium (loperamide)	Take one capsule after each bowel movement. The first dose may consist of two capsules.	Rare: fatigue, drowsiness.	Loperamide is taken for acute digestive disorders (diarrhea).
Espumisan	Take 2 capsules of the drug up to 4 times a day.	Rare: allergy.	Espumisan is taken for discomfort associated with increased gas formation in the intestines.

If the patient does not know the cause of the pain syndrome, then one should not try to eliminate it with medication: it is necessary to first consult a medical specialist.

Physiotherapy treatment

If sharp pain in the abdomen is associated with inflammatory processes in the internal organs, then physiotherapy is often used in addition to drug treatment: in chronic diseases, physiotherapy procedures help reduce pain severity, correct enzyme secretion, peristalsis and the evacuation function of the stomach. In addition, such procedures have a positive effect on the restoration of mucous tissues.

The choice of physiotherapy treatment methods is influenced by the cause that caused the sharp pain in the abdomen.

Important note: physiotherapy, regardless of the method, is carried out at the stage of attenuation of the acute or chronic inflammatory process. Such treatment is not prescribed for bleeding and tumors.

• Mineral waters of hydrocarbonate-chloride composition are used in combination with magnetic therapy to correct secretion in the stomach.
• High-frequency magnetic therapy is used to eliminate inflammation and tissue swelling, and to reduce muscle tone.
• Aerotherapy and electrosleep therapy are used to tone the sympathetic-adrenal action, for trophic stimulation and activation of blood microcirculation.
• Electrical stimulation and transcranial electroanalgesia help reduce pain sensitivity and increase stress resistance.
• Cryotherapy has an analgesic and anti-edematous effect, and initiates tissue restoration and trophism.
• UHF therapy is a transcutaneous effect of a high-frequency electromagnetic field. UHF is the only physiotherapeutic method that can be used at the stage of exacerbation of the inflammatory process.
• Ultrasound therapy is a method of exposure to elastic oscillatory waves at a frequency of 15 to 20 kHz. The procedure accelerates recovery and metabolic processes in tissues, stimulates immunity, increasing the body's resistance to diseases.
• Peloidotherapy involves applying mud masses to the abdominal area. Most often, silt mud or peat mixtures are used, the use of which allows normalizing peristalsis and secretion of the digestive organs.
• Electrophoresis (with novocaine, atropine or papaverine) has a pronounced antispasmodic and vasoactivating effect.
• Warm paraffin treatment results in local vasodilation, acceleration of microcirculation and metabolism. In addition, the resorption of scar tissue, healing of wounds and tissues damaged by inflammation are potentiated.

As a complex effect, sedative and immunostimulating procedures can be used - for example, soothing baths (pine, mint, sage, salt), CMV therapy, thymus magnetic therapy, climatotherapy.

Folk remedies

The use of folk remedies is possible only in cases where sharp pain in the abdomen is not associated with dangerous and serious diseases. Such treatment involves the use of available and effective means.

As a remedy for painful discomfort caused by indigestion, you can use a decoction of caraway seeds: boil two tablespoons of seeds in one liter of water for 3-4 minutes. Take a quarter of a glass of the decoction during the day.

If the pain syndrome is caused by overeating, you can cure it with mint tea with lemon juice and ginger root. This tea stimulates gastric secretion and improves digestion processes.

A decoction of rice cereal will help with colic and flatulence. Boil the rice until half-cooked, drain the decoction and drink 150 ml throughout the day, 5-6 times. This decoction is also successfully used to eliminate diarrhea - rice mucus perfectly envelops the digestive tract and restores inflamed tissue.

If the sharp pain is accompanied by heartburn, you can make tea based on dandelion rhizome and plantain leaves. Drink the tea at the first pain sensations and until complete recovery.

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Herbal treatment

Treatment with natural remedies – herbal preparations, herbs – can help with sharp abdominal pain. There are a huge number of recipes that can solve such a problem as abdominal pain syndrome.

• Pour 200 ml of boiling water over one tablespoon of gooseberry leaves and let it brew for 15 minutes. Take the infusion every three hours, 50 ml at a time (if necessary, you can sweeten it with honey).
• You can prepare an infusion as in the previous recipe, replacing the gooseberry leaves with currant leaves.
• Chamomile is considered an excellent remedy for painful discomfort in the abdomen - a tea is prepared from it and drunk warm throughout the day, little by little.
• A pharmacy calendula tincture will help to overcome pain. Take 50 drops of the preparation with a small amount of water, three times a day.
• Boil dandelion flowers with sugar until syrup is formed. Take one tablespoon of the syrup, previously dissolved in 100 ml of boiled water, 4 times a day.
• A decoction is prepared from the herbs St. John's wort, centaury and immortelle (take equal parts of the plants, pour 3 tbsp of the mixture into 200 ml of boiling water). You can consume no more than 300 ml of such a decoction per day.

If herbal remedies do not give a noticeable result, or if the painful condition worsens, then you need to immediately consult a doctor. To cure sharp pain in the abdomen, you need to accurately determine the cause of this symptom, and for this, high-quality medical diagnostics are necessary.

Homeopathy

Many patients turn to homeopathy for various problems in the body. Their choice is not accidental: homeopathic preparations are harmless, practically non-allergenic, they can be used to treat even children and pregnant women.

In case of severe abdominal pain, a number of medications can be used, depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Self-medication is also unacceptable when using homeopathy: a doctor's advice is required.

• Arnica – eliminates pain and discomfort and vomiting associated with gastritis.
• Gastricumel, Nux vomica gommacord – are equivalent in action to antispasmodics.
• Antimonium - relieves pain and other signs of inflammation.
• Chamomilla – eliminates increased gas formation, normalizes the balance of microflora, eliminates the consequences of overeating.
• Calcarea carbonica – helps with pain associated with lactose intolerance.
• Arsenicum album – helps with salmonellosis, hepatitis.
• Sepia - has antispasmodic properties.
• Magnesium phosphoricum is used for colic, cramping and spastic pain.

To relieve severe abdominal pain, a homeopath may prescribe medications such as Nux vomica or Asafoetide, as well as other remedies according to individual indications.

Surgical treatment

It is important to note that many patients with severe abdominal pain require surgical treatment. But before prescribing surgery, the doctor must rule out a number of non-surgical causes. For example, severe pain can be caused by myocardial infarction, lower lobe pneumonia, gastroenteritis, colitis, etc. Abdominal pain can be accompanied by kidney disease, cysts of the reproductive organs, salmonella and shigella infections.

Diseases that require surgical intervention are:

• peritonitis (result of organ perforation);
• inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis);
• acute infectious pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis;
• calculous cholecystitis, acute obstructive cholecystitis;
• diverticulitis;
• intestinal obstruction;
• mesenteric ischemia;
• aortic aneurysm, ruptured aneurysm;
• ectopic pregnancy, appendage cyst, endometriosis, ovarian torsion, uterine rupture;
• oncological diseases.

Operations are most often performed using laparoscopic access - this method can be used simultaneously for both diagnostics and treatment of various surgical pathologies.

Complications and consequences

In case of sharp pain in the abdomen, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor - gastroenterologist, surgeon, gynecologist, depending on the cause of the sharp pain. To correctly determine the cause, the patient will be offered to undergo a number of diagnostic procedures.

The further prognosis will depend on how serious the underlying cause is. Sometimes, diet, bed rest, and physical therapy will be enough to eliminate the pain. In severe cases, medication or even surgical treatment may be necessary.

The most dangerous complications can be strangulated hernia, internal bleeding, peritonitis - all of these conditions pose a direct threat not only to the health, but also to the life of the patient.

Any sharp pain in the abdomen is a reason to immediately seek medical help. After all, the patient himself cannot know for sure what processes caused the pain. Only a doctor, based on the results of diagnostics, will be able to identify the disease, thereby preserving the patient's health.

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Prevention

Since there can be many reasons for the occurrence of sharp abdominal pain, preventive measures should be as varied as possible and include:

• A complete balanced diet, with limited fried foods, hot spices, fat and processed foods. You can't overeat or gorge yourself at night.
• Daily routine and nutrition (it is necessary to maintain approximately equal intervals of time between meals; go to bed at approximately the same time).
• Maintaining water and electrolyte balance (consuming sufficient amounts of water while limiting salt intake).
• Sufficient physical activity, morning exercises.

If not only sharp pains but also any discomfort in the abdomen appear, it is better to visit a doctor immediately and undergo a preventive examination. You should not postpone a visit to the doctor: early diagnosis allows you to make further treatment more effective, as well as avoid complications and unpleasant consequences.

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Forecast

If the patient visited the doctor in a timely manner, then the treatment of sharp abdominal pain usually leads to a positive result. In old age, patients tolerate pain somewhat more severely, so the treatment may be delayed.

Sharp abdominal pain caused by nutritional deficiencies usually resolves quickly, but more complex causes may require long-term, complex treatment, and even surgery.

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