Appendicitis is a common disease that is an inflammation of the appendix , a small appendix. The detected disease is treated surgically and, as a rule, has no relapse. This inflammation can occur in every person, at almost any age, so it is important to know about the symptoms of the disease or at least have an idea where the appendicitis hurts so that you can seek medical help on time.
Appendix: its role in the body
The appendix is a small, 7-10 cm long, vermiform appendix located at the end of the cecum. Although it produces intestinal juice, in such a small amount that it remains invisible for digestion. For a long time, the appendix was considered a human evolutionary error, and if possible it was removed, but after a while it was found that it contains lymphoid cells that play the role of protecting the body - such are in the tonsils. Following from this, the opinion arose that the appendix is part of the body's defense system.
Later it was proved that the number of lymphoid cells in it is small, and they do not provide special assistance to the immune system. To this day, doctors believe that the harm from the appendix is greater than the benefit - if it is inflamed with untimely assistance to the human body, significant damage can be done. Late detected appendicitis can cost the patient a life, so everyone should know how appendicitis hurts, because it is he who may be a potential patient.
How does stomach ache with appendicitis?
In most cases, the appendix is localized between the right ilium and the umbilicus, in the middle, the most painful sensation arises here. However, depending on physiology, the vermiform appendix can be raised to the right hypochondrium or lowered to the lower part of the pelvis. In the first case, the pain syndrome will occur closer to the liver, in the second case, the manifestation of the disease in men can be confused with inflammation of the bladder, and in women - appendages.
When the appendix is located behind the cecum, wrapped in the ureter and kidney, the pain manifests itself in the groin, pelvic region and gives to the leg, therefore, when asked by the doctor about where it hurts, appendicitis can be detected almost immediately, which means the treatment will not force itself wait a long time. Pain in a disease occurs suddenly, and with each passing hour their intensity increases. In an acute attack of appendicitis, a sharp and unbearable pain occurs, like colic.
The pain syndrome in the patient will continue until the nerve endings die, when does it happen, the pains subside, but this is not a reason to postpone a visit to the doctor, just like that, appendicitis will not pass - the patient should be hospitalized immediately.
Causes of the disease
It may seem to patients that the disease arose spontaneously, since appendicitis hurts almost suddenly, but the following factors can provoke the development of the disease:
- Past injuries in the abdomen.
- Inflammatory processes in the digestive tract.
- Food Infectious Processes.
- Clogged lumen of the appendix with undigested food particles or feces, constipation.
- Excessive appendix mobility, often seen in children.
Only a doctor can most accurately determine why appendicitis hurts, and cope with the disease in a timely manner.
Disease development process
The development of the inflammatory process proceeds gradually - for several hours the process swells, after which pus begins to accumulate in it. In the event of a sudden occurrence in the abdominal cavity, even if the patient does not know how appendicitis hurts, you should contact an ambulance. If you stay inactive for 2-3 days, you can get a rupture of the process with subsequent discharge of purulent mass into the abdominal cavity, subsequently peritonitis may form, and there is a high risk of death of the patient.
Other symptoms of the disease
Does it hurt in the area of appendicitis? It is time to consult a doctor, in addition, the disease can be identified by other signs.
An exacerbated condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- General malaise.
- Feeling of weakness.
- Decrease in appetite.
- Nausea.
- In some cases, vomiting.
- Temperature 37.2-37.8.
- Chills.
- Yellowish or white coating on the tongue.
You can recognize the disease on your own in several simple ways, but you should be extremely careful when checking!
- Lightly press a fingertip over the ilium - usually where appendicitis hurts. To be sure, compare the sensations when tapping the left and right sides - painful sensations should not arise on the left side. Be careful! Do not carry out intensive palpation of the abdomen, otherwise you can provoke a rupture of the appendix and subsequently the development of peritonitis.
- During a disease with a loud cough, as a rule, pain in the right iliac region intensifies.
- Identify the site of pain and lightly press the palm in this place, do not take your hand away for 7-10 seconds, while the pain will slightly weaken. If at the time of the abduction of the arm it resumes, this may be a symptom of an acute state of appendicitis.
- If you lie on your left side, the pain in the abdomen decreases, if you turn to the opposite side and straighten your legs, the pain intensifies - this can also be a sign of acute appendicitis.
It is strongly not recommended to engage in intensive self-diagnosis and even more so self-medication. In any case, call an ambulance, because appendicitis hurts in different ways, and it can disguise itself as other ailments: inflammation of the female organs, kidneys, bladder, renal colic, peptic ulcer, and much more.
Other symptoms may appear during appendicitis, they occur less frequently, but if you find them, then it's time to go to the hospital.
- The temperature does not drop to 38 ° C or high - 40 ° C.
- Chills.
- Constipation, accompanied by frequent vomiting, is an occasion to see a specialist as soon as possible.
- Nausea.
- Shiver.
- Diarrhea.
- Painful false urge to defecate.
First steps in detecting a disease
As a rule, within a couple of hours, abdominal pain increases, but no matter how much appendicitis hurts, a doctor should be consulted immediately, at least to confirm or refute the presence of inflammatory processes in the body.
Actions that should not be performed before the doctor arrives:
- Try to hold out without painkillers until the doctor comes, as this can complicate the diagnosis.
- Avoid eating food and liquids.
- Avoid applying warm objects to your stomach, this can only aggravate the situation. You can use a cold compress to relieve pain.
If severe pain subsided, this may indicate a transition to a more serious condition, so do not relax, and do not let everything go by its own accord.
Treatment and recovery from illness
With established acute appendicitis, treatment is carried out by emergency surgery. Modern medicine allows surgical intervention in a more gentle way - a laparoscopic operation, during which the inflamed process is removed, bypassing a large incision in the external tissues. No less important in the treatment is the postoperative period, if all the doctor's recommendations are followed, it will be possible to avoid subsequent complications. As a rule, the recovery period is affected by the state of the appendix directly at the time of the operation - the more it was inflamed, the higher the possibility of the resumption of the inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity.
If the outcome is successful, after about a week the stitches are removed and they are discharged from the hospital, more often it concerns young people. Elderly people, diabetics, hypertensive patients and patients with other chronic diseases have their stitches removed a few days later, depending on the condition of the patient.
Preventive measures
About a month after the operation, it is not allowed to take baths or go to the bath - temperature loads interfere with wound healing - negatively affect the suture, it takes on a wide and rough outline. In the postoperative period, to avoid complications and faster recovery, you should rest more.
People suffering from some ailments may not pay much attention to the symptoms of the disease, since appendicitis manifests itself in the very place where it constantly hurts. Therefore, a masked disease is much more dangerous for those people who have:
- Oncological diseases or a course of chemotherapy.
- Diabetes.
- Obesity.
- There was an organ transplant.
- Pregnancy, especially in the 3rd trimester.
Appendicitis is also dangerous for young children and the elderly.
How to recognize appendicitis in children?
If appendicitis is suspected on which side it hurts, all parents should know to be ready. The pain in the inflammatory process is localized in the right side of the abdomen. In toddlers, sick children experience a decrease in appetite, a rejection of even their favorite foods, and restless sleep.
The whole cause may be appendicular colic - acute cramps in the abdomen, caused by contractions or spasms of the appendix. The pain can last quite a long time, alternately disappearing, then reappearing. It is quite difficult to diagnose appendicular colic, so they can cause the development of acute appendicitis.
Postoperative pain
Removing the appendix is a fairly common procedure, in most cases taking place without complications. However, if appendicitis hurts after surgery, this may indicate possible complications.
- A slight discrepancy in the internal joints due to overstrain can cause cutting pain.
- Adhesion processes, which can subsequently affect the functioning of other organs, form a pulling pain.
- Too sharp pains can indicate that the intestines are compressed, which means that medical intervention is required.
- Unpleasant sensations and pain after the removal of the appendix can occur due to improper nutrition.
In the postoperative period, it is very important to follow all the doctor’s recommendations regarding lifestyle, seam care and the necessary diet, then you will have more chances not to get on the operating table again. Be healthy!