Help me figure out why I hurt
March 30, 2011 11:02 AM Subscribe
Since late afternoon yesterday, I've had a sharp abdominal pain. YANA/MD.
There's a particularly painful spot (from my perspective looking down) about four inches from my navel toward my right hipbone, and another one about an inch and a half above and to the right. If I'm still, it doesn't hurt. Walking around, or standing up from a kneeling position on the floor (especially bad) or moving around in bed causes pain.
This is my only problem. I have no other symptoms, leading me to think I don't have appendicitis (I've scoped out some of the better health websites carefully about this). NSAIDS help with the pain; a heating pad helps a little but not a lot. And I can think of three things I might have done yesterday to have pulled or otherwise irritated a muscle.
I'm wondering what lies under the skin at that point that could be causing a problem. Does this sound like muscle pain to you or something else? Thanks.
There's a particularly painful spot (from my perspective looking down) about four inches from my navel toward my right hipbone, and another one about an inch and a half above and to the right. If I'm still, it doesn't hurt. Walking around, or standing up from a kneeling position on the floor (especially bad) or moving around in bed causes pain.
This is my only problem. I have no other symptoms, leading me to think I don't have appendicitis (I've scoped out some of the better health websites carefully about this). NSAIDS help with the pain; a heating pad helps a little but not a lot. And I can think of three things I might have done yesterday to have pulled or otherwise irritated a muscle.
I'm wondering what lies under the skin at that point that could be causing a problem. Does this sound like muscle pain to you or something else? Thanks.
Consider treating trigger points in the abdominal muscles with self applied massage.
posted by Not Supplied at 11:06 AM on March 30, 2011
posted by Not Supplied at 11:06 AM on March 30, 2011
It sounds an awful lot like a pulled muscle or something, but if it gets worse, go to the doctor.
posted by infinitywaltz at 11:08 AM on March 30, 2011
posted by infinitywaltz at 11:08 AM on March 30, 2011
Yeah, at first I thought kidney stone...
I currently have a kidney stone stuck in my ureter... but when it moves, the pain does not go away despite sitting/moving/laying down. I was told by the doctor that usually the pain is exactly like that.
When I first went to the ER they thought maybe it was something to do with my gallbladder. (the only symptom I had was a bloated abdomen and increasing burning/pain in my abdomin and side).
I'm not a doctor but I would say maybe a pulled muscle if it's only like that when you'r enot moving.
I would suggest seeing a doctor in case it's the beginning of appendicitis - you do not want to wait until it bursts and/or you're kneeling over crying in pain.
posted by KogeLiz at 11:19 AM on March 30, 2011
I currently have a kidney stone stuck in my ureter... but when it moves, the pain does not go away despite sitting/moving/laying down. I was told by the doctor that usually the pain is exactly like that.
When I first went to the ER they thought maybe it was something to do with my gallbladder. (the only symptom I had was a bloated abdomen and increasing burning/pain in my abdomin and side).
I'm not a doctor but I would say maybe a pulled muscle if it's only like that when you'r enot moving.
I would suggest seeing a doctor in case it's the beginning of appendicitis - you do not want to wait until it bursts and/or you're kneeling over crying in pain.
posted by KogeLiz at 11:19 AM on March 30, 2011
If you are female, cysts or ovarian torsion is a likely candidate.
But generally, sharp abdominal pain is not something you want to mess around with. Even if you're reasonably certain that it's not appendicitis, I'd go to the doctor pronto anyway. Because a) there are a lot of other things it could be that kind of suck, and b) sometimes even the best web sites are wrong because sometimes your own symptoms don't quite match what they've listed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:22 AM on March 30, 2011
But generally, sharp abdominal pain is not something you want to mess around with. Even if you're reasonably certain that it's not appendicitis, I'd go to the doctor pronto anyway. Because a) there are a lot of other things it could be that kind of suck, and b) sometimes even the best web sites are wrong because sometimes your own symptoms don't quite match what they've listed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:22 AM on March 30, 2011
Abdominal pain is definitively on the "Go see a doctor" list. I realize that this might not be a reasonable option if you're an American, but it's still the recommended answer.
posted by Stagger Lee at 11:23 AM on March 30, 2011
posted by Stagger Lee at 11:23 AM on March 30, 2011
You said you already did some reading, so perhaps you've already tried this trick to rule out appx, but it's worth trying. As an EMT this is a simple, straightforward trick I'd use to quickly r/o appendicitis vs other abd issues.
Press down and in, slowly, on your Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) but release quickly. If the pain is sharp/acute/rediculously worse- take yourself to the ER- it's appendicitis. If the pain is not remarkably worse, then consider the other abd issues, but attempt this test again after a bit, just to make sure : )
Good Luck!
posted by MansRiot at 11:34 AM on March 30, 2011 [4 favorites]
Press down and in, slowly, on your Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) but release quickly. If the pain is sharp/acute/rediculously worse- take yourself to the ER- it's appendicitis. If the pain is not remarkably worse, then consider the other abd issues, but attempt this test again after a bit, just to make sure : )
Good Luck!
posted by MansRiot at 11:34 AM on March 30, 2011 [4 favorites]
IANYD, but the fact that the pain is localised to a small area and goes away when you stop moving is very suggestive of muscular pain. Pain from abdominal organs tends to start out very generalised and later concentrate in one spot, by which point you're feeling pretty sick. If you don't have any other symptoms (nausea, fever, feeling awful) you're probably okay.
I've overdone it with abdominal exercises a few times it always amazes me how little movement it takes to aggravate sore abs.
posted by arrmatie at 11:35 AM on March 30, 2011
I've overdone it with abdominal exercises a few times it always amazes me how little movement it takes to aggravate sore abs.
posted by arrmatie at 11:35 AM on March 30, 2011
Abdominal pain is definitively on the "Go see a doctor" list. I realize that this might not be a reasonable option if you're an American, but it's still the recommended answer.
Eh, I don't know, abdominal pain can be about 1000 different things, some serious, some not. It's very hard to diagnose, even for doctors. For example, the test explained above for rebound pain (push in, release) is actually a pretty poor measure of appendicitis as it can be an indicator of other types of peritonitis and also doesn't show up in a large portion of appendicitis cases.
I'd say continue doing what you're doing and get help if:
a) it continues for several days
b) it grows steadily worse
c) you develop a fever or other symptoms
d) your abdomen at any point feels rigid, or the pain becomes very severe
Personally I've experienced localized gas pains so severe I thought I was going to die! Then they went away in about an hour.
posted by serazin at 11:50 AM on March 30, 2011
Eh, I don't know, abdominal pain can be about 1000 different things, some serious, some not. It's very hard to diagnose, even for doctors. For example, the test explained above for rebound pain (push in, release) is actually a pretty poor measure of appendicitis as it can be an indicator of other types of peritonitis and also doesn't show up in a large portion of appendicitis cases.
I'd say continue doing what you're doing and get help if:
a) it continues for several days
b) it grows steadily worse
c) you develop a fever or other symptoms
d) your abdomen at any point feels rigid, or the pain becomes very severe
Personally I've experienced localized gas pains so severe I thought I was going to die! Then they went away in about an hour.
posted by serazin at 11:50 AM on March 30, 2011
BTW, I wouldn't assume you don't have appendicitis. My understanding is the pain on movement thing is a pretty classic sign. And you wouldn't necessarily have any other symptoms in the early part of appendicitis.
posted by serazin at 11:51 AM on March 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by serazin at 11:51 AM on March 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Do you have insurance? This is so worth a $20, $50 or $100 co-pay. You could have a strained muscle, or you could have a kidney stone, or you could have appendicitis. Or cancer. My point is that no one on Metafilter can solve this for you and a quick trip to a doctor most likely will.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:55 AM on March 30, 2011
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:55 AM on March 30, 2011
Response by poster: FYI, I'm an uninsured American male. That's why I'm starting with Dr. AskMeFi rather than a credentialed professional. Thanks for all the input so far.
posted by bryon at 12:20 PM on March 30, 2011
posted by bryon at 12:20 PM on March 30, 2011
An ER trip is very expensive, and even paying out of pocket for a doctor's appointment is no joke, but I will say this --- I had a ruptured appendix when I was a kid. I was in the hospital for 11 days. I came out fine, but that is something that can kill you, if it bursts and you get an infection. And trust me on this --- if something like that were to happen when you were by yourself, you might be hard pressed to get it together to even call 911. It was a long time ago, but in as much as remember I was running around for a couple days with occasional, vague but ignorable pain in my right side just north of my hip before I woke up one morning running a temperature and feeling really sick and listless, and my appendix burst about three hours later.
posted by Diablevert at 12:46 PM on March 30, 2011
posted by Diablevert at 12:46 PM on March 30, 2011
When I went to the emergency room with pain in almost the exact same place and no other symptoms, I remember the doctor put the following on his "rule-out" list:
--Appendicitis
--Bowel obstruction
--Abdominal aortic rupture (!)
--Ovarian torsion and ectopic pregnancy (not relevant in your case, but for the record...)
--Kidney stone
It ended up being a kidney stone (and it also ended up being, not to freak you out, the most painful experience of my entire life. Here's hoping your situation has a happier ending!)
posted by Sifleandollie at 1:02 PM on March 30, 2011
--Appendicitis
--Bowel obstruction
--Abdominal aortic rupture (!)
--Ovarian torsion and ectopic pregnancy (not relevant in your case, but for the record...)
--Kidney stone
It ended up being a kidney stone (and it also ended up being, not to freak you out, the most painful experience of my entire life. Here's hoping your situation has a happier ending!)
posted by Sifleandollie at 1:02 PM on March 30, 2011
This is my only problem. I have no other symptoms, leading me to think I don't have appendicitis (I've scoped out some of the better health websites carefully about this).
I had EXACTLY that symptom (that is, sharp abdominal pain and nothing else) for three days, and three doctors, before I got a CAT scan and was immediately scheduled for an appendectomy. Apparently most doctors believe stomach upset is a required symptom; I could have eaten a cheeseburger on the cart going into surgery. Damned lucky the monstrous sack of infection they pulled out of me didn't break.
Screw everyone who say "wait a bit." Get to a doctor now. Appendicitis can be atypical.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:06 PM on March 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
I had EXACTLY that symptom (that is, sharp abdominal pain and nothing else) for three days, and three doctors, before I got a CAT scan and was immediately scheduled for an appendectomy. Apparently most doctors believe stomach upset is a required symptom; I could have eaten a cheeseburger on the cart going into surgery. Damned lucky the monstrous sack of infection they pulled out of me didn't break.
Screw everyone who say "wait a bit." Get to a doctor now. Appendicitis can be atypical.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:06 PM on March 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
Dude, I just dropped $5 on this to tell you to go get checked out.
Doesn't mean that you have to go to the ER or to a Doctor, if you really want waltz into a firestation and if there are paramedics there ask them to have a quick peek. They are usually super nice people.
I am a 27 year old male and literally two fridays ago I had the same symptoms. 4:30AM I was driven to the ER. By noon the next day I was being rolled out of the OR.
You hit a little close to home with your post.
posted by Actively Avoiding the Noid at 2:11 PM on March 30, 2011 [6 favorites]
Doesn't mean that you have to go to the ER or to a Doctor, if you really want waltz into a firestation and if there are paramedics there ask them to have a quick peek. They are usually super nice people.
I am a 27 year old male and literally two fridays ago I had the same symptoms. 4:30AM I was driven to the ER. By noon the next day I was being rolled out of the OR.
You hit a little close to home with your post.
posted by Actively Avoiding the Noid at 2:11 PM on March 30, 2011 [6 favorites]
BTW, please report back and let us know what happens, OK? We're a little worried about you.
posted by serazin at 3:56 PM on March 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by serazin at 3:56 PM on March 30, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ahem, let me amend my previous answer, as I was a little caught up by my memory...
Screw Ignore everyone who says "wait a bit." Get to a doctor now. Appendicitis can be atypical.
posted by IAmBroom at 4:40 PM on March 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by IAmBroom at 4:40 PM on March 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have diverticulosis (sacks forming on the wall of the large intestine), and while my abdominal pain when I have diverticulitis (an acute infection of one of the sacks) is much more severe than yours sounds, it's a possibility. If you're under 50 this isn't all that common, I'm one of the lucky ones in his 40s who got it anyway. Only way to find out is to visit a physician. But, again, my pain is pretty intense when I have a flare up.
posted by maxwelton at 12:14 AM on March 31, 2011
posted by maxwelton at 12:14 AM on March 31, 2011
Call the local emergency room. Sometimes a kind nurse will help you do some home diagnostics. If there's an Urgent Care option, it's less spendy. Good luck, I hope it's just gas.
posted by theora55 at 4:22 PM on March 31, 2011
posted by theora55 at 4:22 PM on March 31, 2011
Response by poster: The pain is slowly receding (which is much better than it going away all at once) and I'm sure it was muscle strain. I haven't ruled out going to a doctor tomorrow just to be safe, though. Thank you all for sharing your advice and your stories. I do appreciate it very much.
posted by bryon at 8:10 PM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bryon at 8:10 PM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 11:04 AM on March 30, 2011