Why is My Lower Stomach Aching?

A stomach ache can be caused by many things. It usually affects the area below your belly button and pelvic bone.

The pattern of pain can also give you clues as to what's causing it. For example, sharp, lower-right abdominal pain can indicate appendicitis.

If your pain is mild, a few home remedies may help. Try placing a warm wheat bag or hot water bottle on your abdomen.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a condition that affects your bowels (rectum). It causes pain in your lower stomach. It can also cause diarrhoea or constipation, and a combination of both. You may also have bloating and excess wind. The pain usually comes and goes. It is often worse after you have eaten. It is better after you pass stools (faeces) and after exercise.

It is not clear what causes IBS. But it is thought that problems with nerves in your gut and brain affect how your digestive system works. The muscles in your gut can become oversensitive and contract more than they should. The gut can also overreact to certain foods and other things, called triggers. You may find you have more symptoms after eating fatty foods, caffeine, beans, cabbage or dairy products.

Doctors can often diagnose IBS from your symptoms. They will check that there is nothing else causing your symptoms, such as diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease. They will look at your tummy (abdomen) and your back passage (rectum). They may also take blood to see if you have low iron levels (anaemia), or to check for inflammation in your gut (gastroenteritis). They will probably refer you to a dietitian to try to identify any foods that make your symptoms worse. This is often done by following a diet that cuts out different foods which are known to make symptoms worse (known as a FODMAP diet) for a period of time.

You can ease IBS symptoms by exercising regularly, eating smaller, more frequent meals and drinking plenty of water. You should avoid foods that are known to cause your symptoms and eat more fibre from fruit, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. It is also helpful to keep a food diary to help you work out your triggers. Your GP or dietitian will help you choose the right foods for you. If you have IBS, your GP or dietitian will probably recommend that you limit your intake of foods containing fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs). This is because these are hard to digest and can make you bloated and gassy.

Diverticular disease

Diverticula are small pouches that develop in the inside walls of your intestines. They form when the lining of your intestines pushes against weak spots in your colon wall - especially as you pass food waste through your bowels each day. Diverticulosis usually occurs in your large intestine (colon), particularly near its end (your sigmoid colon).

You might not need treatment if you have mild, uncomplicated diverticulitis that goes away on its own. But you should see your GP if you think you have it. They might prescribe antibiotics and pain meds to treat an infection or reduce your symptoms. They might also suggest you take a liquid diet.

This will allow your bowels to rest while you recover. If your symptoms are severe, or you have an infection or bleeding, they might need to hospitalise you. They might drain an abscess or remove an infected section of your bowel. They might also need to give you a colostomy (where a bag is attached to your bowel for excretion).

If you have diverticulitis that comes back again and again, you may need to have surgery called a bowel resection. This involves removing the small section of your colon that is causing inflammation and pain. It might also be a good idea to have a colostomy, but this is often temporary and can be reversed after about six months.

You might be able to prevent diverticulitis by eating a healthy diet and staying fit and active. You should also avoid smoking. You should also drink plenty of fluids, but not caffeine-based drinks such as coffee and tea.

If you have diverticulitis, you should avoid solid foods and stick to a liquid diet for about a week. You should also take a lot of paracetamol to ease your pain. Other painkillers might make your stomach upset if you have diverticulitis, so speak to your pharmacist or GP for advice. A high-fibre diet might help to ease symptoms. If you are struggling to pass your stools (faeces) or have constipation, you could try taking a laxative.

Gastroenteritis

This is an infection of your stomach or intestines with viruses or bacteria, that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can affect people of all ages but is particularly common in young children and usually caused by a virus called rotavirus or norovirus, or by bacterial food poisoning. The most important complication of gastroenteritis is dehydration because of the loss of fluid through vomiting and diarrhea. If not replaced, this can lead to a lack of vital nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium and iron. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up quickly (orthostatic hypotension), reduced urine output or no urine output at all (anuria) and a very high or low blood pressure in your legs (hypotension).

If you have gastroenteritis that is not going away, see your doctor for advice. They will probably ask you to keep hydrated and give you some fluids through a tube (intravenous drip) to prevent dehydration. They will also recommend some bland foods to eat, as these are easy on your stomach and help your body to recover.

In some cases, your doctor may suggest other tests to find the cause of your gastroenteritis. These could include a stool sample or blood tests, or a scan of your abdomen. These tests might reveal an infection or signs of a bowel obstruction, such as bleeding ulcers. They might also reveal other health conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, gallstones or pancreatitis.

A sudden pain in your lower stomach is often a sign of appendicitis, which needs urgent treatment. If the pain persists, contact NextCare Urgent Care to be seen by a healthcare professional. Other medical conditions that can cause abdominal pain include biliary colic, which is felt on the upper right side of your abdomen under your ribs, and kidney stones. They may also be caused by inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome or long-term steroid use. Cancer affecting the digestive organs can also cause abdominal pain, which may steadily worsen over time. Pain from gallstones can be relieved with antacids or by having them removed surgically.

Cancer

Pain in the lower stomach is a common symptom of many different conditions. This area is home to your colon and, in women, the uterus (womb). Pain felt here may be caused by problems related to these organs or a range of health issues including bowel disease, urinary tract disorders or reproductive problems such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.

The location of the pain can help identify the cause. For example, pain in the lower left abdomen usually indicates diverticulosis or diverticulitis of the colon. This is a condition where small pouches develop in the wall of your intestines and can irritate the area. Pain in the lower right abdomen can indicate a problem with your appendix, such as inflammation (appendicitis) or, rarely, cancer.

A variety of tests are available to diagnose the underlying cause of your stomach pain. These can include blood and urine tests, X-rays, CT scans or ultrasound. If the underlying cause is identified, treatment will usually be started straight away and your pain should improve.

While not all stomach pain is serious, you should always see a healthcare professional if the pain is severe, constant or getting worse. This will ensure you get the correct diagnosis and the best care to relieve your symptoms.

The most worrisome symptoms include pain that doesn't go away, pain that gets progressively worse and abdominal pain that comes with other signs of illness such as fever or rectal bleeding. Your provider will also ask questions about the type of pain you are having, where it is located and whether it changes in intensity or moves around your belly. They will also want to know if the pain makes you feel better or worse after eating, drinking and when you are lying down.