Lower Abdominal Pain and Cramps

Abdominal pain is also referred to as abdominal cramps or bellyache. It is often experienced in the belly or stomach region. Abdominal pain or cramps are associated with various organs such as the aorta, spleen, appendix and kidneys, uterus (in case of women) as well as the organs related to digestion such as the stomach, liver, small and large intestines, pancreas and gallbladder. There are a number of health conditions that can lead to abdominal pain such as bowel obstruction, chronic constipation, appendicitis, diverticular disorders, hernia, kidney stones, pancreatitis, ulcers, menstruation (in case of women), etc. A person may experience abdominal pain in different areas of the abdomen. There are various causes of abdominal pain and cramps in the upper abdomen, lower abdomen and center of the abdomen. Let's understand about lower abdominal pain and cramps in this article.

What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain and Cramps

Lower abdominal pain is also known as pelvic pain. Lower abdominal pain and cramps can be defined as any discomfort or irritating sensation that occurs or rises in the abdominal region below the umbilicus or belly button. Pain in the lower abdomen may be caused due to various reasons such as irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis and problems related to the upper abdomen or back and blood including lymphoma, diabetes or sickle-cell disease. Pelvic pain and lower stomach cramps can be acute or chronic. Acute pelvic pain starts suddenly and lasts for a short period of time. It is mainly caused by inflammation or infection such as appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, kidney stones, vaginitis or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Chronic pelvic pain is felt constantly or intermittently for a long period. Chronic pain in the lower abdomen in women often result from menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea, adenomyosis, endometriosis or fibroid tumors. Lower abdominal pain and cramps could be in the left pelvic region or right pelvic region. It could also be in the center just below the umbilicus.

Lower Right Abdominal Pain: Lower right abdominal pain occurs to the right side of the umbilicus. It may spread to the left side or the back. It can be caused by appendicitis, bowel cancer, Crohn's disease, constipation, diverticulitis, hernia, intussusception, lymphoma, kidney stones, psoas abscess, pyelonephritis, ulcerative colitis, sickle-cell disease etc. Sometimes, women experience lower right abdominal pain due to ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ruptured ovarian cyst, twisted ovarian cyst or salpingitis. Mesenteric lymphadenitis is one of the most common causes of lower right abdominal pain in children.

Lower Left Abdominal Pain: This type of abdominal pain is felt to the left side of the umbilicus. Lower left abdominal pain is typically associated with a part of descending large bowel, part of the urinary bladder, lower pole of the left kidney, left ureter, sigmoid colon, nerves, blood vessels, left ovary and fallopian tube in women, or the muscles and skin in the lower left part of the abdomen. Some of the health conditions that can lead to lower left abdominal pain are abdominal aortic aneurysm, bowel cancer, bowel obstruction, constipation, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, food poisoning, hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney infection, ovarian cysts, rectus sheath haematoma, sigmoid volvulus, transverse colon volvulus or trapped wind in the stomach.

Causes of Pelvic Pain In Women: Almost all women experience lower stomach pain and cramps before or during menstruation. Lower abdominal pain in women is also associated with urinary disorders such as cystitis (bladder inflammation), pyelonephritis or kidney stones. Some women experience lower abdominal pain associated with female reproductive organs including the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Pain is usually experienced in the center of the lower abdomen. Pain originating from the ovaries is typically felt on one side of the abdomen. Pain originating from the uterus is experienced during menstruation. This condition is called dysmenorrhea. Pain due to conditions of female reproductive organs is related to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts. Certain problems related to the early stages of pregnancy such as ectopic pregnancy or miscarriages can also cause lower abdominal pain and cramps.

Symptoms of Lower Abdominal Pain and Cramps

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of lower abdominal pain are severe pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen. The pain may be acute or intermittent and steady. In case of acute lower abdominal pain, there may be sharp pains or cramping in the lower abdominal region. The person may experience pressure or heaviness within the pelvis. There may be pain during a bowel movement or during intercourse. Pain may worsen after standing for longer periods. Lower abdominal pain can also cause loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Abdominal Pain

Because of the large number of possible causes of lower abdominal pain, different types of tests are suggested by the doctor in order to detect the exact cause. The diagnosis is done on the basis of pelvic examination, laparoscopy and imaging tests such as abdominal X-ray, CT scan, ultrasonography, culture and sensitivity tests to detect infection and an MRI scan.

The treatment of lower abdominal pain is decided depending upon the diagnosis. The treatment options may vary from medication to treat vaginal infections or urinary tract infections to medical treatment for serious infections such as PID. Lower abdominal pain is treated with over-the-counter pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If infection is the cause of the pelvic pain, then it can be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, hormone treatment using oral contraceptives or other types of hormones is required. Antidepressants such as nortriptyline or amitriptyline have pain relieving as well as antidepressant properties. In some cases of pelvic pain, surgery is recommended. For example, endometriosis or pelvic adhesions can be removed by laparoscopic surgery. In case of chronic pain related to the uterus, hysterectomy could be a treatment option. Some other treatment options for lower abdominal pain are physical therapy, massage, heat therapy, nerve blocks, abdominal exercises, muscle relaxants and other relaxation techniques.

In some cases, lower abdominal pain and cramps are associated with psychological or social problems such as depression, personality disorders, troubled relationships, sexual abuse or family crisis. In such situations, you can take the help of counseling to cope with these problems and to relieve pelvic pain. Lower abdominal cramps are quite common in women during menstruation. The uterus contacts to expel its contents (which is usually a mixture of blood, mucus and tissues) such contractions manifest as pain of lower abdomen. Such pain can radiate towards the lower back, thighs and legs owing to the fact that a lot of nerves going to these areas pass through the abdominal region and those nerves that trace their paths close to the uterus may pick up the impulses of these contractions. Taking adequate rest and applying heat to the affected area of the abdomen using a hot water bottle usually do the trick and relieve lower abdomen cramping during menstruation.