Abdominal pain refers to any pain felt in the region that spans from the chest to the pelvis. Because the abdominal cavity contains so many vital organs, such as the stomach, intestines, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix, liver, kidneys and spleen, the cause of abdominal pain may be difficult to diagnose. Severe abdominal pain, which can radiate to the back, does not always signify a serious condition, as described by MedLine Plus. While mild conditions such as gastritis may cause severe abdominal pain, serious conditions such as cancer may produce only mild pain. It is therefore important to note the intensity, the pattern and the location of the pain to aid doctors in diagnosis.
Pancreatitis
The pancreas, a large gland found behind the stomach near the small intestine, secretes digestive juices into the small intestine that aid in digestion. The pancreas also functions to produce insulin--a hormone necessary to regulate glucose metabolism, or the conversion of glucose into energy. Pancreatitis describes an inflammation of the pancreas in which the digestive enzymes are activated before they exit the pancreas, resulting in damage to the cells inside the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis comes on suddenly, while chronic pancreatitis develops over time.
Acute pancreatitis, a condition which affects approximately 210,000 people in the United States each year, often occurs as a result of gallstones, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Acute pancreatitis causes sudden and severe upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back. This severe pain may last for several days causing additional symptoms of nausea, vomiting, fever and a rapid pulse.
Gallstones
Gallstones, hardened deposits of digestive fluid, form in the gallbladder, which is a small, pear-shaped organ located below the liver in the right part of the abdomen. The gallbladder functions to store bile produced and secreted by the liver. Bile contains water, cholesterol, fat, bile salts, proteins and bilirubin--a waste product produced from the breakdown of red blood cells. An excess of cholesterol or bilirubin can cause the formation of gallstones.
Gallstones that leave the gallbladder and enter the ducts can cause a blockage interfering with the flow of bile. A blocked duct can result in symptoms including sudden severe pain in the upper right portion or center of the abdomen, back pain between the shoulder blades and right shoulder pain.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are one of the most common urinary tract disorders, causing approximately a half a million people in the United States to visit the emergency room each year, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The kidneys function to remove water and waste materials from the blood, producing urine to eliminate these substances from the body. Kidney stones form when substances in the urine, such as calcium, phosphate or oxalate, crystallize into a small hard mass.
Very small kidney stones pass without causing any symptoms. Larger kidney stones, however, can block a ureter and interfere with the flow of urine. In this case the patient experiences a sharp cramping pain the lower abdominal region and in the lower back, usually on the side where the stone is located. Intense pain can cause additional symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.
