Pain in the middle or upper abdomen that radiates to your back may be a symptom of gallbladder disease. Although gallbladder attacks can occur after eating a fatty meal, pain usually occurs several hours after eating, usually at night when lying down. In most cases, a person is unable to get comfortable. MayoClinic.com reports that gallstones, hardened deposits of digestive fluid or bile, are common among Americans.
Symptoms
While some people who suffer from gallstones may need gallbladder removal surgery, other individuals often experience no symptoms. A person normally has symptoms when a gallstone gets caught in a duct and causes a blockage. If this happens, symptoms may include sudden pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen that quickly gets worse. Pain can also occur in the center of the abdomen just below the breastbone, or in the back between the shoulder blades. The pain can last for a few minutes or for several hours.
Causes
While researchers don't know for certain what causes gallstones, too much cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile could be contributing factors, notes MayoClinic.com. The body produces chemicals in the bile that are supposed to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by the liver. But sometimes there is too much cholesterol in the bile. Similarly, biliary tract infections can occur when the liver produces too much of the chemical bilirubin. Gallstones can also form when the gallbladder does not empty often enough.
Risk Factors
Things that can increase a person's risk of gallstones include age, gender, ethnicity, family history and lifestyle habits. Women, individuals over age 60 and Native Americans are affected more frequently. People who are overweight or those who eat a low-fiber, high-fat and high-cholesterol diet are at higher risk as well. Having diabetes or losing a lot of weight quickly also increases the risk of forming gallstones.
Complications
Gallstones can trigger symptoms of pancreatitis, a swelling or inflammation of the pancreas. Jaundice and high fever with chills can be signs of a serious gallbladder complication that could lead to pancreatitis when a gallstone blocks a pancreatic duct. Severe abdominal pain that spreads to your back, nausea and vomiting are other signs of pancreatitis. The American Academy of Family Physicians points out that while pancreatitis can damage the pancreas, treatment is available to help control the pain.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may order blood tests to diagnose gallstones. Evidence of obstruction, jaundice, infection or pancreatitis often turns up in lab work. Other common diagnostic tools used to look for gallstones include abdominal ultrasound or computerized tomography -- CT -- of the gallbladder. Magnetic resonance imaging -- MRI -- or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography -- ERCP -- also are used to locate gallstones. If gallstones are found during the ECRP procedure, they can be removed.
Treatment
Surgery is generally recommended for people who suffer recurring gallstones. When the gallbladder is removed, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine instead of being stored in the gallbladder. Although this does not inhibit a person's ability to digest food, an individual may then suffer from diarrhea. Some people for whom surgery would be too risky may be prescribed medications to help dissolve gallstones. However, it can take months or even years to dissolve gallstones this way.
Warning
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse warns that the symptoms of gallstones can mimic those of other health conditions and diseases. These include, but are not limited to, appendicitis, heart attack, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers and hiatal hernia. For this reason, you need to see a doctor for a correct diagnosis.
