Stomach pain, also known as abdominal pain, is problem that hospitals are seeing more and more. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1999 and 2008, the number of patients that went to the ER for non-injury abdominal pain increased nearly 32 percent. In the journal "Emergency Medicine," Dr. Michael White writes that it's difficult to pinpoint the source of distress in the stomach, making diagnosing problems daunting.
Background
Pain can originate from any one of the many organs in the abdomen, including the kidneys, spleen, appendix and those related to digestion like the pancreas and intestines. According to MedlinePlus, abdominal pain does not even necessarily originate in the belly. A generalized infection, flu and strep throat can affect many parts of the body at once. Complicating matters further is that pain is not indicative of the severity of the problem. A minor problem like gas can cause severe stomach pain, while potentially life-threatening illnesses like colon cancer and early stages of appendicitis are generally pain-free.
Conditions
Scleroderma is a rare, chronic disorder characterized by degeneration and scarring in the skin, joints, organs and lower end of the esophagus, which causes difficulty swallowing. A 2009 study in the journal "Rheumatology" by Alastair Forbes, found that one of the most frequent complications of scleroderma is internal dysfunction. Fifty to 90 percent of patients, according to the study, experience distressing symptoms in the small intestine, colon and other areas of the gastrointestinal tract. In fewer than 10 percent of scleroderma cases, according to Stephanie Kaye-Barrett, M.D., patients experience partial obstruction and malabsorption in the intestines.
Misconceptions
Pain in the abdomen while swallowing is a symptom that can throw off even experienced doctors. According to Frank Jackson, M.D., a retired gastroenterologist in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, patients and doctors often confuse a hiatus hernia, peptic ulcers and heart attack. While a hiatus hernia, a common condition that occurs where the stomach meets the esophagus, is typically to blame for upper abdominal pain triggered by swallowing, ignoring the possibility that another condition could be to blame could result in a fatal error on the part of the physician and patient. A hiatus hernia can cause pain and indigestion in the stomach, but the pain is not typically severe. A peptic ulcer or heart attack can, however, cause acute pain in the upper abdomen while swallowing. Dr. Jackson explains that patients, and doctors as well, can talk themselves into believing a dangerous heart condition is just a hernia.
Tests
Because these symptoms point to very different possible causes, your doctor may have to run a variety of tests. An upper GI barium X-ray, used to diagnose a hernia or ulcer, requires you to ingest a liquid that when X-rayed defines the areas your doctor needs to examine on a machine where your organs appear in motion. Your doctor may also examine your stomach while you are sedated. To diagnose scleroderma, your doctor can test your blood, examine your skin and test certain organs.
Warnings
Until you and your doctor understand what is causing your symptoms, Dr. Jackson suggests minimizing your pain by avoiding nicotine, caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods, peppermint, alcohol and spearmint. Losing weight can help decrease pressure in your abdomen. You can take medications that help weaken the muscle strength of your lower esophagus. Elevating your head during sleep will help keep acid out of your esophagus. If your belly becomes rigid and tender to the touch, contact your doctor immediately, advises MedlinePlus.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Department Visits for Chest Pain and Abdominal Pain United States 1999 to 2008
- Emergency Medicine: Troubleshooting Acute Abdominal Pain
- PubMed.gov: Gastrointestinal Complications the most frequent Internal Complications of Systematic Sclerosis
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Systemic Sclerosis
- UpToDate: Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Systemic Sclerosis
- MedlinePlus: Abdominal Pain
