The lower abdomen can hurt for a variety of reasons. They can be both natural and signs of pathology. Diagnose and prescribe treatment should be a doctor. Self-medication can be hazardous to health. However, for a general introduction, it is worth considering why the lower abdomen and back hurt. This will be discussed later.
Anatomy Features
If the lower abdomen hurts, it gives aching or pulling pain to the back, this indicates contact irritation of the receptors (nerve endings) of the internal organs. There are many reasons for this. This, for example, may be trauma, inflammation, swelling, scarring or adhesions. Often the pain is concentrated in the area of the affected organ, but can spread beyond it.
It is worthwhile to understand that it is impossible to make the correct diagnosis on your own if the back hurts and pulls the lower abdomen. Experienced neurologists argue that if a similar problem arises, the whole body is involved in this process. Therefore, only a qualified, experienced doctor can make a diagnosis. You need to seek advice immediately, without delaying this process. The problem may worsen. In some situations, the count goes to the clock. Therefore, treatment should be started as soon as possible.
The lower abdomen is an area that combines the area from the pubic joint to the navel, iliac region and inguinal folds.
The anatomy of men and women in this area of the body is significantly different. Over the pubis, both sexes have a bladder. In women, the uterus is also located here, and in men - the prostate gland, vas deferens, seminal vesicles.
In the groin are the inguinal canals and part of the ureters. Women also have ovaries.
In the zone of the navel is the transverse colon, the small intestine. On the left side are the descending, sigmoid colon, and on the right - the cecum and appendix, the ascending colon.
Moreover, a similar anatomy is determined in the classical case. Sometimes organs can be located atypically. This greatly complicates the diagnostic process. The range of diseases that trigger pain in this area is huge. A doctor at the examination will certainly ask the patient about the symptoms. The pain can be slight or very strong, aching, pulling, cutting, etc. Based on the information received, the physician will be able to suggest which disease is most likely to develop in the body. A number of surveys will confirm or refute the assumption made.
Causes of pain in women
If a woman’s back and lower abdomen hurts, this may be due to the physiological characteristics of the body. Often this condition is explained by a certain phase of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. Pathological processes that can occur in women include inflammation of the genitourinary system, cystic or tumor diseases.
Often the back and lower abdomen hurts during pregnancy. Therefore, a woman should contact a gynecologist and undergo some examinations. If the cause of discomfort is this, you can not take most of the existing drugs. This can negatively affect the development of the fetus. Therefore, only by excluding pregnancy, you can begin to further search for the causes of pathology. In this case, the chest, back and lower abdomen often hurt .
In some women, such symptoms can be caused by developmental abnormalities or injuries to internal organs. So, for example, it can be a bend of the uterus, an irregular structure of the reproductive organs, etc.
The natural reasons for which the back and lower abdomen hurts in women include menstruation. In reproductive age, this phenomenon can be caused by hormonal disruptions, which are caused by malfunctioning of the adrenal glands or thyroid gland. More often, premenstrual syndrome occurs in adolescence. However, in some women, menstruation is almost always painful.
Soreness during menstruation is due to active contraction of the uterus. According to statistics, about 50% of all women experience mild cramping during menstruation. Pain can be concentrated in the abdomen and lower back. They do not cause much discomfort. If the pain is severe, you need to contact a gynecologist. This situation can speak of various disorders in the body.
Diseases of the internal organs
The reasons why the lower abdomen and back hurts can be explained by the development of the disease. In women, such symptoms can be caused by inflammatory diseases of the internal organs of the small pelvis. Such pathologies can develop in the appendages (adnexitis). Exacerbations occur due to stress, infections or surgical interventions.
If the inflammatory process is strong, the lower abdomen and back ache at the same time. Body temperature may also rise. The patient also feels a general malaise. If adnexitis is chronic, aching, concentrates in the inguinal region and can give into the vagina.
There is a huge list of inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs in women that cause such unpleasant symptoms. The most common ones are:
- Vulvit. Inflammation affects the external genitalia.
- Colpitis. The infection develops in the vagina.
- Candidiasis. Fungal disease. It occurs against a background of reduced immunity, often during pregnancy.
- Trichomoniasis Pathology of the ZPP group.
- Herpes. A viral disease that can develop, including in the genital area, urinary tract. At the initial infection, the lower abdomen hurts, gives to the back.
- Endometritis. Inflammation of the uterus, which often occurs in the first week after childbirth or due to sexually transmitted infections. In the first few days, the pain is severe. Treatment may be hormonal, but in some cases surgery is needed. Analgesics are also prescribed.
- Gonorrhea. Sexually transmitted infection. It is accompanied by inflammation and accumulation of pus in the area of the fallopian tubes, ovaries. Symptoms are usually pronounced, accompanied by severe soreness.
Treatment of the presented pathologies should be comprehensive. Otherwise, the disease becomes chronic. Treatment in this case will be long. If the patient does not contact the gynecologist on time, complications may develop, for example, infertility.
Other causes in women
If the lower back, back, and lower abdomen hurts, the cause may be a tumor disease. Depending on the degree of development of the pathology, unpleasant symptoms may intensify. The following neoplasms can cause pain in the lower abdomen, which radiates to different parts of the abdominal region:
- cyst;
- twisting the legs of a cystic disease;
- tumors of the ovaries, uterus;
- fibroma;
- myoma;
- cancer;
- rupture of the ovary due to the growth of the tumor.
Cystic neoplasms occur in most cases against the background of hormonal disruptions. In some cases, they grow to 10 cm in diameter or even more. The risk of rupture of such a cyst is great. She can also become inflamed, and her leg can twist. In this case, the lower abdomen and back pain on the left or right, if the cyst develops in the ovary. Tumors in the uterus often cause discomfort in the center of the abdomen.
Cysts can be very different. This is one of the most common diseases of this group. Follicular cysts that occur in the ovary pass independently within 2-3 menstrual cycles. But they require control by a doctor. If after 3 months such a neoplasm has not disappeared or at least has not decreased, surgical intervention is required. Laparoscopy allows you to remove a cyst quickly, without significant consequences for the body.
If the cyst bursts, which often happens when lifting weights, heavy physical exertion, shock, urgent surgical intervention is required. In this case, the pain is sharp, severe. The same symptoms are characteristic when the neck is twisted. The patient may lose consciousness, signs of internal bleeding are determined. You need to call an ambulance. It is forbidden to drink any pills before the arrival of doctors.
If you do not take timely action, it can end very sadly. Therefore, when there is a sharp pain in the lower abdomen, you need to call an ambulance. Similar symptoms can speak of other pathologies. But all of them require urgent care, which in most cases is the surgeon.
If the contents of the cyst leak from the capsule, acute peritonitis may develop. This is an extremely life-threatening situation. Cyst rupture is sometimes accompanied by discharge of a reddish or brownish color from the genital tract.
Pregnancy
Often the reason why the back hurts and pulls the lower abdomen is an early pregnancy. This is due to several physiological reasons. If the soreness is moderate, does not cause significant discomfort, this can be caused by the process of implantation of the fetal egg into the uterine wall. Because of this, this muscular organ is moderately contracted. This situation can last from a few days to several weeks. Normally, this should not be accompanied by spotting from the genital tract. Otherwise, the risk of miscarriage is great. You need to call an ambulance.
If the back, side and lower abdomen are very sore, this may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, urgent surgical treatment is required. Otherwise, it can cause internal bleeding, peritonitis and even death of the patient. The count when the first symptoms appear in this case goes to the clock. You need to act quickly.
Moderate soreness in the lower abdomen during pregnancy causes uterine growth. It is rounded, stretched. Gradually, she begins to put pressure on nearby organs, which can also cause discomfort. However, they should also be moderate. Any sharp, severe pain requires immediate medical attention.
A home test can be done to determine if pain is associated with pregnancy. In some cases, a positive result can be obtained even before the delay of menstruation. But it is better to test if menstruation has not started on time, and pulling, moderate pains are present. If the test is negative, you need to wait a few days and repeat the test. In the absence of menstruation, a doctor should be consulted within a week. With a negative pregnancy test, this situation may indicate the development of pathology. If the test is positive, you can immediately register with a gynecologist and go through all the necessary examinations.
If pain occurs in the 2-3 trimester of pregnancy, you need to urgently consult a doctor. This symptomatology may indicate an increased tone of the uterus, the threat of miscarriage or premature birth. Pregnant requires special treatment in this case. If the lower abdomen and back hurts, this indicates uterine cramps. Such a situation may arise due to physical or emotional overstrain, infectious diseases of the reproductive system and a number of other pathologies. To prevent negative consequences, timely treatment is required.
Sometimes cramping occurs due to multiple pregnancy. First of all, you need to lie down or sit down, taking a comfortable pose, calm down and begin to breathe deeply. During cramping, the baby receives less oxygen. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure its maximum inflow to the fetus. You can open the windows, and then call your gynecologist. Hospitalization and supervision by a qualified professional may be required.
Causes of soreness in men
If a man has a bad pain in the lower abdomen and back, this can also be a sign of many pathologies.
Such a symptom is less common among representatives of a strong half of humanity. Often, such manifestations are ignored, attributed to fatigue or improper daily routine. However, when these symptoms appear, a thorough diagnosis is required. Common causes of these symptoms in men are:
- Prostatitis. This is an inflammation that develops in the prostate gland. Pathology is also accompanied by difficulty urinating, inflammation of the genitals.
- Orheoepididymitis. The inflammatory process develops in the testicles and appendages, which often occurs after a genital injury. It can also be explained by surgery or sexual infections.
- Kidney disease. Inflammatory diseases in this area can give down the abdomen or concentrate on one side of it.
- Inguinal hernia. Severe aching pains appear. This raises the temperature. A person may lose consciousness. Need urgent hospitalization.
- Genital infections.
- Colitis. This is a common disease among men. If it proceeds in an acute form, the pain is severe. When the disease becomes chronic, the intensity of the discomfort noticeably decreases.
Common pathologies
There is a whole list of diseases that occurs in both men and women. These are common pathologies in which both minor and rather pronounced unpleasant symptoms appear.
One of the most common common pathologies is appendicitis. This is an inflammatory process that occurs in the vermiform appendix of the cecum. It is not thoroughly known why such a pathology develops. But there are several theories that explain it. Scientists believe that the reason for this is infectious diseases. It can also be foreign objects accidentally swallowed by a person, vasculitis, which appear systematically.
With appendicitis, the lower abdomen and back hurt, the right side. Sometimes the pain gives to the navel, to the stomach. Such a symptom is determined constantly, slowly passes into the lumbar region. Body temperature rises and vomiting may occur. The liver may hurt, in some cases, urination is impaired and defecation is difficult.
Appendicitis is only treated surgically. Moreover, the operation is carried out as soon as possible. Otherwise, peritonitis may occur. Failure to take timely action could result in death.
Also, intestinal infections can cause localized pain in the lower abdomen. These include salmonella. It can cause blood poisoning. As the disease develops, the lower back begins to ache, mucous and bloody secretions in the feces may appear.
Oncological diseases
If the lower abdomen and back hurts, this may be a sign of tumors. It can be both malignant and benign neoplasms. Soreness may be slight or rather severe. It depends on the stage of the disease, the location of the tumor.
If aching pains in the lower abdomen shoot through the lower parts of the lower back, this may be a sign of genitourinary cancer. This disease more often affects men than women. The pain can spread to neighboring organs, as well as to the spine. Therefore, at the same time, the back and lower back hurts. If the tumor grows, the pain will be given to the stomach.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
If the legs, back, lower abdomen hurt, the cause may be osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. The disease affects his joints, causing dystrophic disorders. When such a pathology occurs, acute pain can occur. If appropriate treatment is not performed, the appearance of intervertebral hernias is observed, sensitivity decreases over time, and the patient's activity decreases. At this stage of development of osteochondrosis, the pains become pulling, shooting, and practically never pass. After loading on the spine, they intensify. Treatment should be immediate.
Other diseases of the musculoskeletal system
If the lower abdomen and back hurts, other diseases of the musculoskeletal system may be the cause. Similar symptoms can cause muscle strain in the abdominal area. This happens due to the increased load on this area of the abdomen.
Also, such symptomatology is inherent in scoliosis of the lumbar, intervertebral lumbar hernia.
Diagnostics
Since the list of diseases that can cause pain in this area is long, only a qualified specialist should be involved in the diagnosis. Even with minor symptoms, you need to see a doctor. A disease diagnosed in the early stages is easier to treat. The recovery period will require more time if the pathology becomes chronic.