Abdominal pain can be caused by various conditions, ranging from mild to severe. When accompanied by back pain, it can be a sign of common ailments like gallstones, kidney infections, or appendicitis, or something more serious. Patients should provide detailed information to help doctors diagnose the cause.
Suffering from abdominal pain can be the result of numerous diseases or conditions ranging from mild to severe. A doctor usually needs more information about abdominal pain to make a diagnosis because abdominal pain can be indicated by varying degrees of discomfort and can range from anywhere below the chest to the groin. When abdominal and back pain occur together, it can be a sign of some common ailments such as gallstones, kidney infections, appendicitis, or it could be a sign of something more serious.
Pain that begins in the abdomen can radiate to the back, especially if the source of the discomfort or pain is coming from the side. For example, appendicitis, which is inflammation of the appendix caused by irritation or infection, is usually characterized by pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The appendix is located on the lower right side of the body. The pain can extend to the right lower back when the appendix is inflamed, causing pain in the abdomen and back simultaneously. Other symptoms of appendicitis include fever, constipation, swelling and tenderness in the lower right abdomen.
Gallstones are another possible cause of abdominal and back pain. The gallbladder is located in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. Gallstones form in the gallbladder and can block the bile ducts, causing pain and discomfort both in the abdomen and right side of the back up to the shoulder. The pain and discomfort associated with gallstones typically appear suddenly and abruptly and get progressively worse.
Similar to gallstones, kidney stones are small lumps of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys. They don’t cause pain if they stay in the kidney or are small enough to pass through the urinary tract unnoticed, but larger stones that exit the kidney can cause severe pain. Both abdominal and back pain, as well as pain in the groin and when urinating, are symptoms of kidney stones. Nausea or vomiting and blood in the urine are also possible indications of kidney stones.
In addition to these common ailments, which require a physical exam and visual inspection by a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, there are many other possible causes of simultaneous back pain and abdominal pain. Ectopic pregnancy, abdominal aneurysm, some cancers, and many other chronic and acute conditions can cause similar symptoms.
To help a physician better determine the cause of abdominal and back pain, patients should be aware of when and where the pain started, how the pain would be described—sharp, stabbing, dull, stationary, etc. – and to what extent it has gotten worse or better. Also be aware and prepared to describe other symptoms, such as fever, nausea, vomiting, stool changes, appetite, weight loss and any other relevant information, as well as medical history. The more information a doctor has, the better he can quickly form a diagnostic opinion. Sudden and severe pain as well as chronic or worsening symptoms should be addressed right away.
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