what is the reason for chronic constipation and pain in right side beneath the lungs
Answers
Causes
As fore mentioned, the possible causes for abdominal pain are extensive. The majority of patients will have a benign or self-limiting condition but evaluation must be able to identify patients with serious disorders that require further treatment. In particular, patients with an acute abdomen must be referred for a surgical opinion. The most common cause of abdominal pain is in fact a functional disorder caused irritable bowel syndrome. This is best described as a ‘sensitive bowel’ disorder and patients will experience recurrent episodes of diarrhoea, bloating and constipation. Abdominal pain is often relieved by defecation.
Other causes of abdominal pain are listed below according to the common site of pain.
Upper abdominal pain
Biliary disease: Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder) and gall stones typically cause pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The pain can be recurrent in nature and be related to food ingestion. Patients may complain of nausea, vomiting, and anorexia in addition to the pain;
Acute pancreatitis: This often causes severe epigastric (upper, middle abdomen) pain at the outset that radiates (spreads) to the back. Vomiting and shock are typical associated features;
Peptic ulcer disease;
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease;
Pneumonia of the lower areas of the lung can cause abdominal pain by irritating the diaphragm (the muscular structure separating the chest from the abdomen). This can mimic gall bladder disease;
Heart attack may present with upper abdominal pain. If you are considered a high risk cardiac patient you may be monitored with an ECG;
Damage to the spleen: This organ is situated near the stomach and is mainly involved in filtering blood. It can be damaged by trauma or by blood clots entering its circulation, both of which cause pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Lower abdominal pain
Acute appendicitis: This is a common surgical condition in all age groups. Appendicitis typically causes vague central abdominal pain that localises to the right iliac fossa (down near the groin). Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may be associated features. Your doctor can guess this is the likely cause of pain by the site of tenderness and special signs on physical examination;
Diverticular disease: Diverticultis occurs when abnormal out-pouchings of bowl get obstructed and inflamed by faecal matter. In western countries this usually produces pain on the left side but it varies depending on your diet;
Inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis often cause episodes of abdominal pain;
Kidney stones;
Hernias: If hernias become strangulated (twisted so their blood supply is cut off) they will cause abdominal pain;
Bladder distension: This may be secondary to bladder outlet obstruction or benign prostatic hypertrophy;
Gastroenteritis or infection of the urinary tract are common causes of abdominal pain;
Pelvic disease: Lower abdominal (pelvic pain) is often associated with disorders of the female reproductive tract such as pelvic inflammatory disease (ascending infection of the womb and tubes), masses in the ovaries, ectopic pregnancy (growth of a fetus outside of the womb, often in the tubes), endometriosis (chronic condition where the lining of the uterus is present at other abnormal sites causing pain) or fibroids (benign growths in the wall of the uterus).
Diffuse abdominal pain
Bowel obstruction: Small bowel obstruction is commonly due to adhesions (scarring) from previous surgery whilst large bowel obstruction is often due to a tumour or twisting of the bowel. Nausea, vomiting, bloating and inability to pass stool or gas may be associated symptoms;
Abdominal aortic aneurysm: These are dilations and out-pouchings of the wall of the main artery running through the abdomen. These areas are weak and prone to rupture. If this occurs severe abdominal pain, back pain and shock may occur;
Peritonitis: This is generalised inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Remaining still helps to relieve this pain.