Archive for the 'Pain Management' Category

Aug 16, 2011 Posted Under: Pain Management

The Main Causes Of Abdominal Pain

Causes of Abdominal Pain

There are a variety of different conditions than can be the root cause of abdominal pain, all of which need to be ruled out before an accurate, clinical diagnosis can be made.

First of all it is important to ascertain whether the abdominal pain is above or below the navel. If the pain is above the navel, it could be due to any of the following condition:

  • Gastric ulcer (an ulcer in the stomach lining)
  • Peritonitis (an inflaming of the inner lining of the abdomen)
  • Gastro oesophageal reflux (heart burn)
  • Lower pleuritis (inflammation of the outer coverings of the lung)
  • Gall stones causing an inflammation of the gall bladder Duodenal ulcer (inflammation in the small intestine connected to the stomach)
  • Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas which can cause a severe pain in the back)
  • Musculoskeletal sprain

If you have very noticeable and uncomfortable abdominal pain above the navel, either one of these conditions could be the cause.

Abdominal pain below the navel is perhaps the most common. Like above the navel pain, there are a lot of conditions that could be causing pain below the navel – each of which need to be taken into account before an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Common causes of abdominal pain below the navel include:

  • Appendicitis (this begins with growing pain in the navel before becoming more acute and moving to the right side)
  • Ischemic colitis (a problem affecting the blood supply to the intestine)
  • Urethral stones (stones in the tubes connecting the kidneys and the urinary bladder)
  • Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder)
  • Kidney stones
  • Uretheral stones (stones in the tube connecting the urinary bladder and penis)
  • Urethritis (inflammation of the tube connecting the urinary bladder and the penis)
  • Diverticulosis (the linings of the small intestine develop sac like out pouching due to weakening of the muscles covering the intestines)
  • Diverticulitis (inflammation of these sacs like out pouching)
  • Volvulus (twisting of the intestines which can cut off blood supply)
  • Kidney inflammation (Pylonephritis)
  • Salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes)
  • Ectopic pregnancy (where the baby develops in a site other than the uterus)

The above are the most common causes of abdominal pain both above and below the navel. The sheer number of possible causes means abdominal pain can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is usually done with the help of blood tests, endoscopy, X rays and MRI and CT scans.

For further assistance and information regarding abdominal pain and any of the conditions noted above, visit The Online Doctor for a free online consultation.

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Jun 20, 2011 Posted Under: Pain Management

What Foods Can Treat Intestinal Pain?

If you are suffering with intestinal pain, then you want to know what foods out there will help calm your pains.

2 Most Common Cases That Can Cause This Type of Pain…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Celiac disorders are two of the most common cases that cause intestinal pain. These two conditions are can be triggered by, and largely affected with, the food intake of an individual.

The type of food, and how much was consumed will play a great role on how severe the intestinal pain will be.

There are specific foods or ingredients that are responsible for these disorders, staying away from these types of foods would significantly increase your chance of not having to suffer these symptoms.

Quick Break Down Of These Two Conditions…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a medical condition wherein the muscles of the large intestines go into overdrive or slower than normal alternatively thereby causing so much pain in the abdomen. Constipation and diarrhea could come in an alternating phase as well as large formation of gas and stomach muscle cramps can occur.

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Celiac disorders on the other hand have something to do with the absorption of minerals in the small intestines. Certain food ingredients, primarily gluten, causes damages to the villi of the small intestines thereby damaging the capacity of the small intestines to absorb nutrients from the food thereby increasing the chances of malnutrition aside from giving painful episodes of abdominal disorders.

So What Foods Will Help Ease Intestinal Pain?

In general, food plays a major role on the severity of the two disorders. Knowing which food to take and which foods to avoid will give you enough chances to prevent or overcome its effects. Bear in mind that the food intake greatly affects the severity of the pain.

Here is a list of several foods that can treat or diminish the effects of these disorders:

  • Water/non-carbonated water – water has many known benefits for the body, and one of which is to help alleviate the pain of stomach disorders. They can flush out toxins and food particles that might have been ingested and causing the pain.
  • Cooked peas and carrots
  • Cereals without coloring
  • Eggs
  • Steamed rice
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Broiled fish
  • Gluten-free foods
  • Peanut butter
  • Melons and peaches

These are some of the foods that a person with abdominal pains can safely eat without the risk of further escalating the pain that they are already experiencing. What might work for some people may not work for you. So make sure to see what foods you like and don’t like, then begin your shopping for these foods and be on your way to no having pain in your stomach anymore.

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Mar 07, 2011 Posted Under: Pain Management

An Overview Of Scoliosis

About 2% of people are affected with scoliosis which is a deformation of the spine which causes the normally straight spine to curve. It frequently occurs in families but often times its cause is unknown.

It frequently develops before puberty and goes unnoticed because it typically causes no pain in the adolescent. In adults, it is either caused by worsening of an adolescent curve or possibly from degenerative diseases of the spine like kyphosis, osteoporosis, or degenerative disc disease. With all of the baggy clothes most teenagers are wearing these days it’s no big surprise that scoliosis is often missed.

Pain is the biggest problem with adult scoliosis. Scoliosis can limit normal spinal movement and also bring on pain and even cause difficulty with breathing in severe cases due to abnormal rib cage pressure from the curve or severe kyphosis pressing on the lungs and not allowing normal lung expansion. This happens in extreme cases but can also press on one’s stomach and prevent the ability to eat properly.

Signs of scoliosis include uneven shoulder height, protrusion of shoulder blades, uneven waist, or elevated hips. Most people with scoliosis statistically never need treatment. Early detection is key, as medical observation is essential during growth to watch it for rapid exacerbation. Spinal bracing may prohibit the severe worsening.

In cases of significant exacerbation, surgery can repair the abnormal curve somewhat and stabilize it in addition to achieving pain relief. In kids, this is more for cosmetic reasons as scoliosis is not usually painful. In adults, it is just as much for pain relief due to the arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis being experienced. If an adolescent achieves skeletal maturity with a curve over 40 degrees, chances are that curve will continue to progress into adulthood at a rate of 1 degree per year. One degree per year doesn’t sound like much but think about that over 30 years. Then the curve is at 70 degrees and counting, and the patient wishes he or she had done something about it much sooner.

Non-operative treatments for the pain of scoliosis include physical therapy, chiropractic, facet injections, epidural injections, spinal decompression therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and pain medications. Keep in mind that none of these options will reverse scoliosis, but simply manage symptoms. In adults, the surgery is an elective procedure, and entails significant risks so all attempts at non-operative treatment should be attempted prior to undergoing surgery.

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