Pain syndrome is an alarming signal sent by our own body when something is wrong with it. No need to try to drown it out with analgesics as soon as possible. Fight causes that can be very difficult. In this vein, we will analyze the cramping abdominal pains - their possible causes, danger and diagnosis.
Significance of the symptom
Let's start with the main thing. What are cramping abdominal pains? Strong contractions of the smooth muscle of a number of hollow organs that are located in the lower part of the peritoneum, small pelvis. This is the uterus (in women), the intestinal tract, bladder, ureters, and so on. Their smooth muscle is constantly contracting, promoting content. However, in the normal state, this process is painless. We somehow do not feel intestinal motility, contraction of the muscles of the bladder and so on.
Hence, cramping pains will be quite a disturbing symptom. He can say a lot:
- Violation of the promotion of contents within a hollow organ.
- Functional dysfunctions in the body.
- The acute stage of the disease, which requires immediate medical attention.
Note that this symptom is also quite subjective. The reason is that people will each have their own degree of sensitivity.
Probable reasons
When can cramping abdominal pain occur? There are many likely reasons:
- The consequences of abortion.
- Ectopic pregnancy.
- Menstruation in a woman.
- The origin of the myomatous node.
- Mechanical obstruction of the intestinal tract.
- Inversion of the sigmoid colon.
- Intestinal invagination.
- Inversion of the cecum.
- Obstruction of the rectum, sigmoid colon.
- Intestinal failure.
- Injury of a hernia - inguinal or femoral.
- Dysentery.
- Renal colic.
The most common causes of cramping abdominal pain will be discussed in more detail below.
Renal colic
The syndrome develops due to increased peristalsis of the ureter, which is trying to get rid of an obstruction that impedes the outflow of urine. The most common cause of cramping lower abdominal pain here is a developing urolithiasis. There may be some kind of inflammatory process with a clot of pus, an oncological disease.
Cramping pains on the left or on the right are felt, they “give” to the genitals, to the inner femoral surface, painful sensations in the region of the kidneys self-diagnose.
You should consult a specialist as soon as possible - delay is fraught with dropsy of the kidney, the development of a secondary infection, purulent pyelonephritis.
Dysentery
The pains are associated with spastic contractions of the affected parts of the intestinal tract - the rectum, sigmoid colon.
There is fever, cramping abdominal pain (pulling, mainly on the left side), excruciating urges to defecate, loose stools with a frequency of up to 20 times a day, mucopurulent discharge with streaks of blood from the anus.
Hernia
A hernia is an abnormal penetration of organs (most often intestinal loops) through the abdominal wall under the skin. Their infringement sometimes becomes deadly - the result is a mechanical acute strangulation obstruction. In other words, circulatory disturbance in the squeezed section of the intestine.
The most common inguinal and abdominal hernias. If you are diagnosed with this pathology, then immediately seek help from specialists in case of cramping pain. Need urgent hospitalization and subsequent surgical treatment.
Acute intestinal obstruction
The intensity, dynamics of the development of pain will depend on the form of intestinal obstruction, the affected intestine.
How to recognize her? Acute cramping abdominal pains, periodic constipation will just speak of developing intestinal obstruction. Some patients note the appearance / intensification of pain during extension of the body, with a shift of the skin fold.
Obstruction of the rectum, sigmoid colon
This is called a sharp narrowing of the intestinal lumens. The latter reacts to this with increased peristalsis, which is felt by the patient as a cramping pain. The symptom increases with palpation of the affected area.
First of all, obstructive intestinal obstruction is caused by cancer of the rectum or sigmoid colon. First, tape-shaped feces, constipation, pulling pains in the abdomen are noted. The second stage is the delay of feces, gases. As well as bouts of pain, contractions. The last stage is vomiting, intolerable pain, delayed feces, a sharp deterioration in well-being. There is only one way of treatment - surgical, removal of the affected area.
Coprolites - fecal stones can also cause obturation. The symptomatology here is similar to that observed with a cancerous tumor. The treatment in this case is conservative.
Intestinal invagination
This is the introduction of the overlying intestinal zone into the lumen of the underlying. Most often, pathology is observed in children, men. Cramping pain in this case will occur with the introduction of the final part of the small intestine into the large.
The reasons are different - helminthic invasion, ingestion of rough food, the exit of gallstones, the ingress of a foreign body. The intensity of the pain will depend on the degree of infringement of the mesentery. If it is strong, then the patient quickly develops peritonitis, early necrosis of the invaginate. A person can die without medical care during the day.
During contractions, pain is unbearable, but enlightenment is possible between them. After 6-12 hours from the manifestation of this syndrome, spotting from the anus is possible.
Spontaneous abortion
Cramping pain in women can be an alarming sign of self-abortion, miscarriage. They will be preceded by a pulling pain syndrome, which is given to the lower back or sacrum.
An increase in the intensity of pain, contractions, spotting from the vagina indicates the onset of detachment of the ovum. And this is the reason for the emergency hospitalization of a woman! Note that modern medical devices and equipment even at this stage can save a child’s life.
For a woman, this condition is dangerous due to the development of massive blood loss. The particles of the ovum remaining in the uterus can also cause blood poisoning, peritonitis, endometritis.
Ectopic pregnancy
Cramping pains also indicate the beginning of a tubal abortion in an ectopic pregnancy. Such an outcome is a foregone conclusion - it ends either in the expulsion of the ovum or in the rupture of the fallopian tube. The last case is a one-time catastrophe. The tube abortion itself can last for hours, or even days.
Painful cramping syndrome is accompanied by spotting. This is the difficulty - the woman takes them for the beginning of the next menstruation. The danger of the situation is that the contraction of the smooth muscle of the organ at any time can lead to rupture of the fallopian tube. And this is a massive internal life-threatening bleeding.
Cramping pains in the lower abdomen should be given special care to women who have already survived an ectopic pregnancy, with diagnosed tubal infertility, who have a history of chronic or acute diseases of the uterine appendages taking progestogen contraceptives.
With menstruation
Watery stools, cramping pains most often indicate intestinal problems. But often the symptom is experienced by women during menstruation. What can he talk about? Cramping pains in this case are called algodismenorea. It is divided into two types:
- Primary, functional. Surprisingly, its nature has not yet been discovered by researchers. As a reason, hereditary metabolic dysfunctions are distinguished, which cause an increased synthesis of substances that increase muscular uterine excitability, and sensitivity of nerve receptors to pain. As a rule, a symptom is characteristic of young girls in the first 1-2 years of menstruation, women of asthenic physique. Cramping pains can be so severe that the patient faints. However, they do not have any pathology under them. But primary algodismenorea should not be taken for granted - pain can also hide problems that are not related to the reproductive system.
- Secondary The reason is organic genital pathology. A side effect is scanty menstruation or even its absence. Here, cramping pain can cause adhesions in the uterine cavity, a violation of the normal location of the female genital organ, and congenital malformations of the system.
In addition, such a pain syndrome sometimes indicates the development of the myomatous node. It is caused by increased contraction of the muscle membrane, which is so eager to expel the tumor.
Which doctor should I contact?
Since the causes of cramping abdominal pain are many, it is impossible to give precise advice on which doctor should be consulted. However, we will provide some recommendations for navigation:
- Call the ambulance. Severe cramping pains are accompanied by a breakdown, fever, vomiting, secretion of blood from the genital tract, headaches, fainting, a change in the shape of the peritoneum, and a sharp decrease in blood pressure.
- Appeal to the female gynecologist. With menstruation, migratory pain, their sudden appearance after stress, hypothermia, physical activity. Acute cramping pains are combined with increased fatigue, pain during urination, an irregular monthly cycle, fever, vaginal discharge - blood, mucus, pus, etc. Pain is provoked by sexual intercourse, intensifies during menstruation, "gives" in the groin, sacrum, tailbone.
- Appeal to the gastroenterologist. Pain in the lower abdomen and in the navel, combined with bloating, diarrhea, constipation, frequent bowel movements, flatulence.
- Address to the surgeon, proctologist. Cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea, frequent urge to defecate, pain in the area of the anus and rectum opening, which intensifies during bowel movement.
- Appeal to the urologist. The pains are “given” to the lower back and groin, frequent, painful urination, blood in urine.
- Address to the infectious disease specialist. Cramping abdominal pains, vomiting, nausea are combined with liquid or porridge-like feces, it contains impurities of blood or mucus, pain sensations intensify during bowel movements, high fever.
If you can not determine the specifics of the symptoms you are experiencing, then you need to make an appointment with a physician as soon as possible.
Diagnostics
Methods for diagnosing diseases and pathologies that are manifested by cramping pains in the lower abdomen depend on the specifics of the disease, dysfunction. Each specialist will use his methods.
With complaints of severe pain during menstruation, it is prescribed:
- bimanual examination ;
- Genital ultrasound;
- smear on the vaginal microflora;
- general analysis of urine and blood;
- biochemical examination of a blood sample;
- coagulogram (coagulation test);
- blood test for certain hormones.
If a woman turned to a gynecologist with a complaint that was not related to the menstrual cycle, then the set of examinations is as follows:
- bimanual examination;
- smear on vaginal bacteria;
- general analysis of a sample of urine and blood;
- analysis of scraping, blood for genital infections;
- analysis for viruses that are transmitted sexually;
- bacteriological culture of vaginal discharge;
- analysis for syphilis;
- hysterosalpingography;
- ultrasound examination of the pelvic systems.
Examinations that are necessary for the infectious disease specialist to diagnose the patient, the appointment of treatment:
- bacteriological culture of vomit, feces;
- blood test for antibodies to antigens of intestinal infectious diseases;
- DNA analysis of intestinal virus pathogens;
- irrigoscopy;
- colonoscopy;
- sigmoidoscopy.
Examinations prescribed by a urologist:
- general analysis of urine and blood;
- Ultrasound of the organs - the bladder and kidneys;
- CT scan;
- cystoscopy;
- scintigraphy;
- urography.
Appeal to the gastroenterologist, proctologist:
- analysis of fecal sample for helminth eggs;
- general blood analysis;
- coprological examination of feces;
- analysis of feces for dysbiosis;
- Ultrasound of the peritoneal organs;
- blood test, sowing feces on microorganisms-clostridia;
- irrigoscopy;
- colonoscopy;
- magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography;
- Calprotectin analysis.
As for the treatment, it depends on the diagnosis made by the specialist according to the results of the examination. Since the causes of cramping pains in each individual case are different, it is impossible to predict in advance what therapy can be. We do not advise you to engage in self-diagnosis, self-medication - contact a specialist, call an ambulance! Abdominal pain is an alarming signal of pathological processes that can cause serious damage to your health, or even cause death.