Spasmodic pain in the abdomen. Colic in the abdomen. What to do for adults to eliminate stomach cramps. Diet as a treatment for colic in the abdomen

A large number of predisposing factors, which are usually divided into physiological and pathological, can cause pain. Depending on what served as the source of the symptom, the clinical picture will be formed. Most often, patients complain of abdominal pain and diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and fever.

To find out the cause of the occurrence, patients need a physical examination and laboratory and instrumental examinations. The tactics of therapy will directly depend on the causes of the appearance.

Etiology

There is a wide range of predisposing factors for the development of abdominal cramps, they can be both common to everyone and will differ for men, women and children.

The main group of causes of abdominal cramps:

Cramps in the lower abdomen in women may be due to:

the flow of menstruation;
premenstrual syndrome;
gynecological pathologies;
adhesive process in the appendages;
hormonal imbalance.

In addition, it is worth highlighting several factors that affect the appearance of such a symptom in female representatives only during the period of bearing a child. Thus, cramps in the lower abdomen during pregnancy occur against the background of:

stretching of muscles, veins or ligaments in the abdomen, as well as in the uterus;
an increase in the size of the uterus and fetus, which leads to a displacement of the internal organs and the appearance of a similar symptom;

It follows that such a symptom during pregnancy can be triggered by both completely natural causes and dangerous conditions. If spasms are accompanied by vaginal discharge and other symptoms, then you need to go to an obstetrician-gynecologist for help as soon as possible.

As for the male representatives, there are not so many specific reasons for the appearance of the main clinical manifestation. Cramps in the lower abdomen in men, in addition to the above sources, can cause inflammation of the prostate gland.

The expression of such an unpleasant symptom in children is not considered uncommon. In babies up to a year old, it is caused by the incomplete formation of the organs of the digestive system and is considered a completely normal sign. However, there are several other situations against which abdominal cramps appear in a child up to a year old:

insufficient production of the enzyme lactase, which is necessary for the breakdown of breast milk;
dysbacteriosis, formed due to the fact that the expectant mother during pregnancy took a large amount of antibacterial agents;
pyloric stenosis.

In children of the older age group, the stomach hurts for the following reasons:

pancreatic colic;
appendicitis;
helminthic invasion;
gastritis;
active physical activity that does not correspond to the age category of the child;
allergic reaction to food;
upset stool or diarrhea;
the course of rotavirus infection;
urinary tract infection;
prolonged exposure to stressful situations or nervous strain.

The most rare causes of abdominal cramps are:

Classification

Spasms of the abdominal muscles are usually divided into:

tonic - characterized by prolonged muscle tension;
clonic - jerky spasms. They differ from the previous variety in that muscle contractions alternate with smooth muscle relaxation.

Symptoms

In each person, abdominal muscle cramps will be accompanied by the manifestation of individual clinical signs. The first symptom, against which other symptoms will develop, is pain. It can be either periodic or permanent. The degree of intensity varies from dull and aching to sharp and cutting. In some cases, the pain can be so pronounced that the person is forced to take an uncomfortable position, often knee-elbow. Sometimes the opposite happens - it is very difficult to stay in one place, and to reduce pain, you need to move more.

In addition, severe abdominal cramps can be supplemented by the following symptoms:

nausea, which often leads to vomiting. Often in the vomit there are blood impurities;
difficult breathing;
vaginal bleeding;
rise in temperature;
irradiation of pain sensations on the entire surface of the anterior wall of the abdominal cavity, in the perineum and scrotum, on the chest, neck and shoulder;
a change in the shade of feces - they will become black;
violation of the process of defecation - abdominal cramps and diarrhea are much more common than constipation;
release of a large amount of cold sticky sweat;
urinary retention.

Diagnostics

If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, you should seek qualified help as soon as possible. There are several doctors who can identify the causes of the appearance of the main clinical sign, among them:

The establishment of the etiological factor requires an integrated approach and is based on the data of laboratory and instrumental examinations. But before their appointment, the doctor must independently carry out several manipulations:

to study the medical history and anamnesis of the patient's life - this will help to identify one or another predisposing factor;
perform a thorough physical examination, which must necessarily include palpation of the abdomen. During this procedure, the clinician pays attention to the patient's response. Women need a gynecological examination and a pregnancy test;
conduct a detailed survey aimed at obtaining a complete picture of the course of abdominal cramps. To do this, it is necessary to report the presence and the first time of onset of symptoms.

Among laboratory tests, the following have the greatest diagnostic value:

general and biochemical analysis of blood - will show a change in its composition characteristic of the course of the inflammatory process or other ailments;
general analysis of urine - to control the functioning of the urinary system;
microscopic examination of feces - will indicate the presence of eggs of worms or particles of other pathogens.

The basis of diagnostics is instrumental examinations of the patient, including:

FEGDS - endoscopic procedure for evaluating the internal surface of the digestive tract;
Ultrasound of the peritoneum;
radiography with or without contrast agent;

These are just the main diagnostic measures that are necessary to establish the causes of abdominal cramps. Each patient is individually assigned additional tests and examinations.

Treatment

The tactics of eliminating such a symptom directly depends on the cause that caused the appearance of spasms.

The general treatment regimen includes:

taking painkillers aimed at stopping pain;
intravenous infusion of medicinal solutions - to restore fluid lost due to profuse vomiting and diarrhea;
physiotherapy procedures;
the use of antiemetic and antibacterial agents;
compliance with a sparing diet;
the use of alternative medicine prescriptions - only after the approval of the attending physician.

If a person is disturbed by severe abdominal cramps, then, first of all, it is necessary to completely refuse to eat any food for several days - this is called therapeutic fasting. Often it lasts no more than three days, during which you can drink water without gas or green tea without sugar.

Diet therapy involves a complete rejection of:

fatty and spicy foods;
canned food and smoked meats;
marinades and pickles;
fresh bread and muffins;
confectionery and sweets;
spices;
mayonnaise and hot sauces;
carbonated drinks and alcohol;
strong coffee, black tea and cocoa.

Such a dietary restriction must be observed for at least three months, at which time it is allowed to eat:

lean meats and fish;
low-fat dairy products;
vegetables and fruits after they have undergone heat treatment;
vegetarian and dairy first courses;
steam omelets and soft-boiled eggs;
compotes and kissels.

A complete list of allowed and prohibited foods, an approximate menu and recommendations for cooking is provided only by the attending physician.

Good results can be achieved by folk methods that involve the use of:

cumin seeds;
lemon juice;
mint and ginger;
cardamom and coriander;
fennel seeds;
dandelion roots and leaves.

The implementation of surgery to eliminate the source of such a symptom is decided on an individual basis, but is never performed in cases of abdominal cramps during pregnancy.

Prevention

So that a person does not have problems with abdominal cramps, you need to follow the general rules, including:

adherence to dietary recommendations;
the implementation of a good rest;
avoidance of stressful situations and physical overwork;
walking, especially after meals;
taking medications only as prescribed by the clinician;
drinking large amounts of fluid per day;
control over regular bowel movements;
wearing a special bandage during pregnancy;
undergoing a complete medical examination several times a year.

Timely detection of abdominal cramps, as well as complete diagnosis and complex treatment increase the likelihood of a favorable prognosis - the complete elimination of the etiological factor and symptoms.

"Cramps in the abdomen" is observed in diseases:

Intestinal dysbacteriosis in children is a pathological process in which there is a violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora. The total number of opportunistic microorganisms increases and, at the same time, beneficial bacteria gradually die. Imbalance provokes the appearance of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, a decrease in the reactivity of the body, the progression of anemia, as well as other serious pathological conditions. In the medical literature, this disease is also referred to as intestinal dysbiosis.

Parametritis is an inflammatory process of periuterine tissue, in which venous and lymphatic vessels are localized in large numbers. In most cases, such a disease develops against the background of a complicated abortion or labor activity, the establishment of intrauterine devices with damage to the tissues of the uterus. Any surgical intervention only provokes the spread and development of infection.

Enterovirus infection is a group of acute infectious diseases that affect not only adults but also children. A characteristic feature of this disorder is that enteroviruses initially multiply in the gastrointestinal tract, but do not cause the expression of symptoms of intestinal diseases. The second place of localization of bacteria reproduction is the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs. Bacteria often spread and affect the skin, heart, spinal cord, or brain. The activity of viruses can cause both a severe deterioration in the health of the child, and cause minor ailments. The incubation period ranges from two to thirty days, but often does not exceed a week. Children or young people are often affected.

Erosion of the stomach is a violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of this organ. A characteristic feature is that its deeper tissues do not undergo a pathogenic process, and after healing, erosion does not leave any traces. Such a disease in combination with erosive damage to the duodenum occurs in fifteen percent of all recorded diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

With the help of exercise and abstinence, most people can do without medicine.

Body muscle cramps

This article will focus on this type of cramps, like muscle cramps. The most common of muscle cramps are cramps in the calf muscles - calves. An entire article is dedicated to them.

Causes of muscle cramps

Any convulsive condition is characterized by involuntary, erratic contractions of the muscles of the body or individual muscle groups. Generalized muscle cramps occur with the following diseases:

Epilepsy
Encephalitis of various etiologies
Meningitis
Injuries
Tumors
Eclampsia of pregnant women
With general infections and intoxications occurring with fever. Such convulsions are often observed in childhood.

Local convulsions are observed:

With overstrain of individual muscle groups. The reason for their occurrence is often repeated the same fast movements. Local cramps, cramps in the muscles of the arms and legs, can occur in athletes, musicians, etc. Even if this condition quickly disappears on its own, the muscle hurts after the cramps for a long time, sometimes for several hours.
hypothermia
Elderly age
Abuse of coffee and cigarettes

So, why the muscles cramp, figured out, let's talk in more detail about some types of convulsive contractions.

Leg muscle cramps

The most common type of cramp that many people experience is leg cramps associated with overexertion, wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes, and hypothermia. Medical care for cramps in the calf muscles caused by the listed reasons is not required. It is enough to eliminate the factors that provoked them. If there are frequent nocturnal cramps of the calf muscles, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. The doctor will determine exactly why there are cramps in the calf muscles, and prescribe adequate treatment. If painful muscle contractions are caused by a deficiency in the blood of potassium, magnesium, calcium, you will be prescribed drugs that make up for this deficiency. The most common drugs for the treatment of calf muscle cramps are:

Asparkam
Potassium Orotate
Panangin
Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D preparations

It should be remembered that taking medications is possible only after they are prescribed by a doctor! If you take them correctly and follow additional medical recommendations on diet and nutrition, the treatment of leg muscle cramps will quickly give positive results. It should be noted that spasms of the calf muscles are not often treated with drugs - usually it is enough to eliminate external causes.

Other seizures

Back muscle cramps

Sometimes, with an awkward turn of the body or a long stay in one position (sitting at a computer), cramps of the back muscles occur. Less commonly, they can be caused by hypothermia, a large load on the spine. First aid for such cramps is warming procedures. A heating pad or any warming ointment is well suited for this.

Abdominal muscle cramps

Abdominal cramps can occur:

In pregnant women
For various diseases of the abdominal cavity
With intestinal colic
With tumor processes localized in the abdominal cavity
In women during the menstrual period

They are quite rare, and each individual case requires a detailed diagnosis.

Thigh muscle cramp

Cramps the thigh muscles usually for the same reason as the calf muscles. Sometimes these two types of convulsions are combined, delivering unbearable pain to a person. Additional causes of hip cramps include a violation of the innervation of the femoral muscles. This condition can be caused by various diseases of the spine.

Treatment of muscle cramps

Like any other, drug treatment of muscle spasms of the body is prescribed only by a doctor! The correct implementation of medical recommendations, the organization of the correct regimen and the correction of the diet depend on you. Medicines for muscle cramps are prescribed for long courses if they are caused by a serious illness, such as epilepsy, meningitis. For prophylactic purposes, drugs for muscle cramps can be prescribed to children with hyperthermic convulsive syndrome or children with congenital encephalopathy. But no matter what convulsions you encounter, remember that a specialist consultation is necessary, because a convulsive attack can be the first symptom of a formidable disease.

How to get rid of abdominal cramps, their causes and treatment

Abdominal cramps are among the most common symptoms. This symptom is found in many people, while it does not depend on gender, occupation or age. Most often, spasm indicates the development of pathological in the body. But to be sure of this, you need to seek help from a doctor.

Causes of abdominal cramps

When the abdominal muscles reduce, a person cannot fully perform his work. The functionality of all systems deteriorates sharply, since the unpleasant process affects directly the nerve endings. Why does the stomach cramp?

The reasons are as follows:

manifestation of inflammation in the appendix;
development of obstruction in the digestive tract;
the appearance of symptoms of renal colic;
the formation or exacerbation of adhesions;
infringement of a hernia;
blockage of the biliary tract;
diseases of the gallbladder or liver;
acute poisoning of the body;
irrational eating and poor chewing of food;
irritable bowel syndrome;
chronic pancreatitis;
dysbacteriosis of the intestinal tract;
colitis;
chronic constipation;
violation of fat metabolism;
diabetes;
peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines;
cholecystitis of acute or chronic type;
problems with the urinary system.

When abdominal cramps appear, the causes in women may be hidden in the following:

the flow of menstruation;
the formation of the syndrome before menstruation;
pathological processes of the gynecological type;
adhesive process in the area of the appendages;
hormonal imbalance.

A woman's stomach can also hurt while carrying a baby. Then the reasons are:

stretching of muscle structures, veins or ligamentous apparatus in the abdomen and uterine cavity;
an increase in the size of the uterine cavity and fetus. This leads to displacement of internal organs;
false contractions. Usually this phenomenon occurs after 28 weeks. Thus, the body trains before the upcoming birth process;
the introduction of the egg into the walls of the uterine cavity. Then the spasm occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy;
cervical disease;
exfoliation of the placenta;
development of an ectopic pregnancy;
premature labor activity;
miscarriage or threatened miscarriage.

Pain of a spasmodic nature is often found in babies under one year old. The development of an adverse symptom is associated with:

with insufficient production of an enzyme in the form of lactase, which is responsible for the breakdown of breast milk;
intestinal dysbiosis. It occurs against the background of the fact that a woman at the stage of gestation used antibacterial agents;
pylostenosis.

Why does the stomach hurt with cramps in older children? The causes of the pathological process may be hidden:

If abdominal cramps are observed, the causes in men may be hidden:

in the development of prostatitis;
urethritis;
liver disease;
heart attack;
pneumonia;
groin injuries;
shingles.

If there are pains, cramps in the abdomen, you need to urgently consult a specialist. If symptoms appear in children and pregnant women, an ambulance should be called urgently and the patient should be hospitalized.

Associated symptoms

When the stomach cramps, other symptoms may also appear. One of the main symptoms is pain. It can occur both constantly and periodically. The intensity of painful sensations can also be different: aching, dull, sharp, cutting, stabbing. In some situations, the pain is so pronounced and pronounced that you have to take an uncomfortable position. In others, on the contrary, when tilted, it begins to reduce the muscle frame even more. And to remove it, you have to actively move.

In addition to pain, the patient complains of:

for nausea and vomiting. Often in the vomit there are blood impurities;
difficulty breathing;
bleeding from the vagina;
increase in temperature values;
painful sensations that can radiate to the abdominal region, perineum, groin, chest, neck and shoulder;
discoloration of feces. They may turn black;
violation of the process of emptying the intestinal tract. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea are much more common than constipation;
the release of a large amount of cold and sticky sweat;
urinary retention and cramps.

Based on the symptoms, a preliminary diagnosis can be made.

Methods for diagnosing abdominal cramps

If the stomach or muscles in the groin or abdominal region are cramping, you need to seek help from a specialist. There are several specialists who can help determine the cause of the pain. This group includes therapists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, gynecologists.

To establish the cause of pathological pain, it is necessary to undergo an examination.

It is as follows:

study of the patient's history;
physical examination, palpation of the abdomen;
identification of patient complaints and associated symptoms;
general and biochemical blood test;
passing urine for analysis;
the study of feces under a microscope;
fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
ultrasound diagnostics of the abdominal organs;
x-ray examination using contrast fluid;
electrocardiography.

These activities are mandatory. Additional diagnostic methods may be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.

Treatment of abdominal cramps

What to do for women and men who are worried about severe abdominal cramps? There are several measures that will help temporarily eliminate or alleviate the symptom.

breathe evenly, while trying to distract from the painful sensations. Relax completely. This technique will help remove pain and spasms of a mild nature;
sit in a reclining chair. Think of something pleasant;
focus on your breath. Breathe shallowly but quickly. Continue manipulation until you feel significant relief;
don't worry about spasms. Concentrate on things that do not upset you, but, on the contrary, cheer you up;
take a rest. Rest is the best medicine.

If it reduces the abdominal muscles in men and women further, then you need to call an ambulance. The doctor will look at the patient and make a preliminary diagnosis.

Medical therapy includes:

the use of painkillers that relieve pain;
taking a course of therapeutic massage;
administering injections through a vein. This will restore the balance of fluid that has been lost due to repeated vomiting and diarrhea;
implementation of physiotherapy procedures;
taking antiemetic drugs and antibiotics;
following a strict diet.

If the patient is concerned about cramps and spasm in the abdomen, then the consumption of any food should be excluded. It will take a day or two for the pain to go away.

Diet for spasms involves exclusion from the diet:

fatty and spicy foods;
canned and smoked meats;
marinades and pickles;
fresh pastries and bread;
confectionery and sweets;
spices and spices;
mayonnaise and various sauces;
carbonated and alcoholic drinks;
strong coffee, tea and cocoa.

lean meats and fish;
low-fat dairy products;
vegetable and fruit dishes that have undergone heat treatment;
vegetarian dishes;
steam omelets and soft-boiled eggs;
compotes and jelly.

What to do and eat, only the doctor will tell based on the cause of the development of spasms.

As an additional therapy, alternative methods can be used. The most popular recipes include:

infusions of cumin;
drinking lemon juice;
decoctions of mint and ginger;
fennel infusion.

You can prevent the occurrence of spasms if you follow all the recommendations on nutrition, lead an active lifestyle and give up addictions. But if the discomfort is still bothering, then there is no need to delay the visit to the doctor. Only a doctor can identify the cause and prescribe adequate treatment.

Spasms of the abdomen, intestines, muscles and ligaments of internal organs. Visceral massage.

Massage of internal organs, Old Slavonic massage, visceral chiropractic - these are the designations of one of the most mysterious, unique and less common phenomena in manual massage practice today, namely, the impact on internal organs through the stomach.

Any internal organ is interconnected with a specific part of the spine. Violations in the work of one lead to illness in the other and vice versa.

The internal organs are attached and connected by muscles and ligaments, which, just like muscles and ligaments in other parts of the body, can stretch, tighten, spasm, become a scar, ossify as a result of excessive and inadequate loads, sudden movements, injuries, intoxications. Stretching, spasmodic muscles and ligaments displace the held internal organs, nearby vessels and nerves. Pain appears, blood circulation and lymph flow are disturbed. This leads to insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients, disruption of metabolic processes, development of pathogenic microflora in all involved tissues and organs.

Neck pain can be the result of respiratory disorders. Pain in the thoracic spine is the result of diseases of the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs. Pain in the lower back and sacrum - a consequence of prostatitis, inflammation, ulcers and tumors of the intestines, kidneys, vascular and gynecological diseases.

Chronic pain in the pelvis and lower abdomen in women without a specific focus and found surgical and gynecological causes is a clear result of spasms of muscles and ligaments of internal organs.

In case of violation of the outflow of bile (and today this is a common phenomenon), the chemical balance in the body and metabolism are disturbed, which leads to intoxication. As a result - a change in pressure, increased sweating, increased heart rate, pain in the head, imbalance.

Moreover, disturbances in the work of internal organs cause pain, numbness, tingling in various, even the most distant and seemingly unrelated parts of the back.

Due to unnecessary delicacy, one of the most common violations of the work of internal organs, constipation, is hushed up and not taken seriously. As a result of constipation, nothing more than poisoning, intoxication of the body occurs - the poison is stored in the body. The situation is serious to the point of being problematic.

Constipation is a violation of the formation of a lump of undigested food residues, its normal movement in the intestines and excretion from the body.

The lump should be elongated, homogeneous structure without seals and flakes. There is no average withdrawal rate. Each organism has individual characteristics. Therefore, defecation can be once a day, and once every two days, and several times a day. At the same time, a prerequisite and indicator of the normality of this process is the absence of any discomfort before removal, during and after. However, if the delay occurs for more than two days, then it is worth considering the adoption of auxiliary measures.

First of all, you need to make sure that there are no changes in the structure of tissues, various congenital anomalies, neoplasms that can lead to constipation.

Widespread and almost universal ulcers, dyskinesia, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis, colitis, stones lead to disturbances in the work of the stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder. As a result, inadequate digestion, and this is both inadequate assimilation of food, and inadequate processing of the food bolus for disposal. (Bile, for example, stimulates intestinal motility. If bile flow is disturbed, then peristalsis becomes difficult.) But the organs work at the same time, work. Only in emergency mode, with an increased load, since their health has decreased. And this load occurs from day to day, for a long time and regularly. And the tissues of the organs are tense, contracted, spasmodic from the load.

This is intestinal spasm, which is the cause of about 90% of all cases of constipation. It simply does not allow food boluses to pass.

Another significant cause of spasms of internal organs and constipation is an unstable psyche, neurosis, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, suspiciousness, and nervous stress. In this case, the complexity of the solution is that the problem situation gives rise to fear, and it contributes to the development of the disease. It comes to the point that even if the obvious causes of the disease are eliminated, then the vicious circle of neurosis-constipation-neurosis simply does not make it possible to recover. Women with their heightened emotionality are more subject to this. They have common causes of violations of the position of the internal organs, their spasms and constipation are also childbirth, postpartum trauma, adhesions, abortion.

Temporary (2-3 days) violations of the regularity of defecation are possible as a result of nervous shocks, malnutrition, changes in the place of stay, colds. In this case, constipation goes away when the usual life activity returns to normal.

Diets. Very important. An unbalanced diet turns the intestines into a garbage dump with obstruction. Dried figs, dried apricots, prunes, fresh kiwi are cleaned very well.

Laxatives. Castor oil, pumpkin seed oil. We accept them - there is a result. We do not accept - everything starts anew.

Drugs that stimulate intestinal motility. Lactulose, Senadexin. Give temporary effectiveness. The body gets used to them, and the dose must be increased.

Hydrocolonotherapy. In chronic cases, they give only a temporary result.

Special physical gymnastics aimed at relaxing the internal organs. Very important and effective.

Pharmaceuticals. The inflammation of the organ is removed, relief occurs. But the problem situation is not solved because the cause is not eliminated.

Impact on the internal organs with the hands through the stomach.

The human body is a closed interconnected system. And it requires a comprehensive examination, the task of which is to detect a spasm and to reveal the causal relationship of the organs and tissues involved in the disease. Head, neck, spine, back, abdomen, sacrum, limbs - spasms can be everywhere.

The palm is applied to the required area on the abdomen. Fingers, slowly advancing and penetrating a little deeper, feel the internal tissues. Painful seals felt during these influences are an indicator of ill health. To eliminate his fingers, they linger on the painful place with further pressure on it for 2-3 minutes. Such approaches alternate with short-term cessation of exposures. On one site, 3-5 alternations are made. If the reason is really in spasms, then the pain becomes less after a few minutes. Procedures can be performed every day, or several times a week. After the first two procedures, as a rule, the work of problem areas and organs improves, these improvements are simply felt.

This is the essence of execution. Of course, there are subtleties, but the simplicity of the technique is accessible for development and effective in performance.

With neoplasms in the internal organs, any impact on the stomach is prohibited.

With the help of mechanical influences of the hands on the internal organs, spasms of the muscles and ligaments of the internal organs are removed through the stomach; the natural position of the internal organs and their full functionality are restored; blood circulation, lymph flow and the passage of nerve impulses in the abdomen, spine, head, thoracic region, limbs are restored; the relationship of internal organs with the spine is restored; the pain goes away; stagnation and intoxication are destroyed; the outflow of bile is restored; constipation goes away. Not only spasmodic tissues relax, but the person himself. There is a kind of energy shake-up of the whole organism, the forces for recovery are stimulated.

Reduces abdominal muscles: causes and ways to eliminate spasms

Our muscles are in constant tension, their contraction ensures the functioning of the organs. But sometimes they are reduced involuntarily, without special need. There are situations when suddenly reduces the abdominal muscles. This phenomenon is called spasm. Sometimes it delivers not only discomfort, but also severe pain. These symptoms cannot be ignored, because they may indicate diseases of the internal organs. What causes muscle contractions?

There are many reasons for spasms. It is important to determine why the stomach reduces in a particular case, only then can we talk about treatment. Often, muscle spasm can be provoked by:

frequent stress. Fright is one of the common causes of abdominal cramps;
improper nutrition. The abundance of sweets, fatty foods in the diet can lead to gallbladder dysfunction;
Unhealthy Lifestyle. Frequent consumption of alcohol in large doses, smoking lead to muscle spasms;
appendicitis. In this case, the stomach reduces due to the contraction of the process of the caecum - the appendix;
diseases of the internal organs. Renal or hepatic colic, diseases of the pancreas and stomach lead to convulsions;
the presence of blood clots in the blood vessels;
the use of certain hormonal drugs. For example, contraceptives.

All of these factors can cause abdominal cramps. Pain is always a symptom of this phenomenon. It can have a different character: be dull or sharp, cramping or prolonged. Usually the pain is localized in the navel. It is worth a little pressure on it, and the pain becomes less noticeable. Sometimes there are additional symptoms: vomiting, nausea, dizziness, flatulence, weakness.

What to do if the abdominal muscles are cramped? At such moments, in order for relief to come, you need to take the most comfortable position: bend over or lie on your stomach. There are several recommendations on how to deal with such situations. For instance:

try to relax as much as possible and take a few deep breaths and exhalations;
massage the area where the spasm is observed with light movements;
take antispasmodics. Papaverine, spazmalgon, baralgin have proven themselves well. But this is only if the spasm is not a symptom of a serious illness;
thermal procedures. You can apply a hot water bottle to the area with pain or take a warm bath. But! In no case should this be done with appendicitis.

To avoid abdominal cramps in the future, you need to review your diet, monitor timely bowel movements, drink more fluids (but avoid coffee and carbonated drinks). Sometimes it makes sense to visit a reflexologist.

Take care of your health, and stomach cramps will stop tormenting you.

intestinal colic- a symptom that can occur with various diseases and is a cramping pain in the abdomen associated with an intense contraction of the intestinal wall. Most often, colic bothers young children, but it can also occur in adults.

Features of the anatomy of the intestine. The structure of the intestinal wall. Motility.

The intestine is the longest part of the digestive system, which starts from the stomach and ends at the anus. It is a hollow tube through which food moves. In the intestine, the food bolus is digested with digestive juices, the absorption of nutrients, and the formation of feces.

Sections of the intestine:

Layers of the intestinal wall:

mucous membrane forms folds and is covered with numerous finger-like outgrowths - intestinal villi. There are no villi in the large intestine.
Muscular layer. Consists of two layers. In the inner, muscle fibers run in a circular direction, and in the outer - in the longitudinal direction. In the large intestine, the longitudinal fibers are collected into three narrow bands. Between them are protrusions - gaustra. In the rectum, the longitudinal layer of muscle fibers again becomes continuous, and the circular ones, thickening, form two sphincters in the lower part.
Serous membrane. Represented by the peritoneum - a thin film of connective tissue.

There are two nerve plexuses in the intestinal wall. One of them is located under the mucous membrane, the second - between the outer and inner muscle layers. In addition, the work of the intestine is controlled by some biologically active substances that are formed in the digestive system itself and in other organs.

Intestinal motility

As a result of contractions of the intestinal wall, the food bolus inside it is rubbed, mixed, and moves on. This is a rather complex process. There are different types of bowel contractions:

Peristaltic contractions (peristalsis) - wave-like contractions that occur as a result of the coordinated work of the longitudinal and circular muscles. They push food towards the rectum.
Antiperistalsis (retrograde peristalsis)) - contractions that resemble peristaltic, but are directed towards the stomach. They are not the norm. Most often occur in various pathologies.
pendulum contractions. They also occur as a result of the coordinated work of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the intestine. The food bolus moves in one direction or the other, gradually shifting towards the rectum.
Rhythmic segmentation. It is provided by alternate contractions of the circular muscles. They, as it were, make constrictions on the intestine and divide it into segments, thereby ensuring the mixing of the food bolus.

Causes of intestinal colic

The term "intestinal colic" is not strictly tied to any disease. This is just a designation for a special kind of abdominal pain that can occur with various diseases.

The main mechanisms of the occurrence of intestinal colic:

appendicular colic. Occurs as a result of inflammation in the appendix. The pain is localized in the right iliac region. A few hours later there is a detailed clinical picture of acute appendicitis.
rectal colic. This type of colic occurs in the rectum. It manifests itself in the form of frequent painful urge to defecate.
lead colic. One of the manifestations of lead poisoning. It is characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, tension in the abdominal muscles, fever up to 39 ° C, bleeding gums, gray plaque between the teeth and gums.
Vascular colic. Occurs when there is insufficient blood flow to the intestines. The intestine reacts to oxygen starvation with pain and spasm. Causes of vascular intestinal colic: vasospasm with increased blood pressure, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, aortic aneurysm, compression of blood vessels from the outside with adhesions, scars, tumors.

Symptoms of intestinal colic

The main symptom of intestinal colic is severe cramping pain in the abdomen.

Other symptoms depend on the cause of intestinal colic:

Cause	Symptoms
Gastritis	pain in the upper abdomen after eating or on an empty stomach; feeling of heaviness in the abdomen; weight loss.
stomach ulcer	persistent severe pain in the upper abdomen, usually on an empty stomach, at night; nausea, vomiting sour after eating; heartburn or belching sour; weight loss.
Liver disease	pain in the right hypochondrium (hepatic colic may occur); digestive disorders; nausea, vomiting with bile; yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes; "spider veins" on the skin; skin itching.
Diseases of the pancreas	pain in the upper abdomen (may spread to the left side of the body, be girdle), in the region of the heart, lower back; nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief;
Intestinal infections	may begin with nausea and vomiting; increase in body temperature; weakness, lethargy, increased fatigue, headache and dizziness; frequent loose stools; impurities of blood and mucus in the stool.
Helminthiases	itching in the anus; weakness, lethargy, pallor; weight loss despite good appetite; grinding teeth in sleep; skin rashes; fever, muscle pain.
Acute intestinal obstruction	lack of stool and gases; bloating; repeated vomiting; deterioration in general condition. Usually, after 24 hours from the onset of the first symptoms of intestinal obstruction, peritonitis develops - inflammation of the peritoneum. The patient's condition is getting worse. There is a threat to his life, requires emergency medical care.

Only a doctor can determine the cause of intestinal colic and prescribe the correct treatment.

Diagnostics

Medical examination

Usually patients with intestinal colic turn to a general practitioner or gastroenterologist. If the doctor suspects an acute surgical pathology, the patient will be referred to the surgeon for examination.

If intestinal colic is accompanied by severe pain and deterioration of the general condition, you need to call the ambulance team.

The doctor may ask the following questions:

How long has the pain been bothering you?
After what did it come about? What could have provoked her?
Are there other complaints?
How many times have you had stool in the last 24 hours? What was its consistency? Did it contain impurities?
Did your body temperature rise?
Does the patient have chronic diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder?
Has anyone in the vicinity recently had an intestinal infection?
What did the patient eat on the day when intestinal colic arose, and the day before?
What is the patient's job? What harmful substances does it come into contact with?

The doctor will then ask you to undress to the waist, lie on your back and bend your legs slightly so that he can feel your belly. During palpation, the doctor determines pain, tension in the abdominal muscles, and seals in the abdomen. He may also check for some specific symptoms.

Examination for intestinal colic

Examination for intestinal colic will depend on which disease the doctor suspected during the examination.

The following investigations are usually prescribed:

Study Title	Description	How is it carried out?
General blood analysis	Helps to discover: anemia (decrease in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin); inflammatory changes (increased ESR, white blood cell count).	Blood for general analysis is taken from a vein using a needle and syringe or from a finger using a special spear - a scarifier.
Blood chemistry	Helps to discover: inflammatory changes; liver dysfunction; dysfunction of the pancreas; impaired renal function; electrolyte disturbance.	Blood for biochemical analysis is taken on an empty stomach from a vein using a syringe and a needle.
General urine analysis	Abnormalities in the function of the kidneys, liver (bilirubin), pancreas (glucose) can be detected.	Urine is usually collected in the morning in a special clean container.
Coprogram (general analysis of feces)	In the laboratory, external indicators and the composition of feces are studied, on the basis of which one can judge the presence of certain pathological processes in the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas.	For research, it is necessary to collect a small amount of fresh feces in a special container and send it to the laboratory.
Fecal occult blood test (Gregersen test)	Using the Gregersen test, small impurities of blood in the stool are detected, which do not change its appearance and cannot be detected under a microscope. Reagents are added to the feces, which in the presence of a blood pigment give a color from blue-green to dark blue.	It is necessary to collect a small amount of fresh feces in a special container.
Ultrasonography	Diseases that can be detected by ultrasound: cholelithiasis; pyelonephritis and other kidney diseases; tumors of the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys; adhesions.	The doctor asks the patient to undress to the waist and lie down on the couch. Then he applies a special gel to his skin and conducts a study using an ultrasound probe. If necessary, transrectal and transvaginal ultrasound can be performed using specially shaped probes inserted through the rectum and vagina.
Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy (FEGDS)	Endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum. Helps identify: erosion, ulcers; polyps, malignant neoplasms.	The study is carried out on an empty stomach. The doctor lays the patient on the couch on the left side, performs local anesthesia of the pharynx with a local anesthetic and inserts a special mouthpiece into the mouth. Then the doctor inserts an endoscope through the patient's mouth - a flexible hose with a light source and a miniature video camera at the end. He examines the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum 12. During the procedure, the patient is asked to breathe deeply through the nose. In general, the procedure usually takes no more than 15 minutes.
Colonoscopy	Endoscopic examination of the colon. Helps to discover: inflammation of the mucous membrane; ulcers; fecal stones; intestinal stenosis.	2-3 days before the colonoscopy, a slag-free diet is prescribed, the day before - a liquid diet. Before the procedure, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the intestines. During the study, the patient is laid on the couch on his side, with his knees pulled up to his chest. The lower part of the body must be completely free of clothing. Colonoscopy is performed under local anesthesia (ointments and gels with anesthetics) or in a state of medical sleep. The doctor inserts a colonoscope, a flexible tube with a light source and a miniature video camera at the end, into the patient's anus and advances it through the large intestine. As the colonoscope advances, the patient is turned over to the other side or back. The study may be accompanied by discomfort, soreness.
Sigmoidoscopy	Endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon. Helps identify: polyps and malignant neoplasms; source of bleeding inflammation of the mucous membrane and its causes.	The study is carried out on an empty stomach. The intestines are cleansed with laxatives and enemas. The patient is asked to be naked below the waist and lie on the couch on the left side with knees pulled up to the chest, or take a knee-elbow position. The doctor lubricates the rectoscope - a special instrument with a light source and a miniature video camera at the end - with vaseline and introduces it into the patient's anus, examines the rectal mucosa. The survey usually takes a few minutes.
Plain radiography of the abdominal cavity	Plain radiography is performed without contrast. Helps identify: the presence of liquid, gas, foreign bodies in the abdominal cavity; intestinal obstruction; ruptures and perforations of the intestines, other hollow organs; cholelithiasis; urolithiasis;	Plain radiography of the abdominal cavity is performed according to emergency indications, therefore, there is usually no time for special preparation of the patient for the study. Pictures are taken in a standing position. Sometimes, if the patient's condition is severe, x-rays can be taken in the supine position.
X-ray contrast studies	Intestinal contrast is used with a barium suspension. It is given to drink, or injected with an enema. Then an x-ray is taken. X-ray contrast studies of the intestine help to identify: benign and malignant neoplasms; ulcers; intestinal stenosis; fecal stones; internal hernias; diverticula.	X-ray of the passage of barium through the small intestine. The patient is given a certain amount of barium sulfate to drink, after which x-rays are taken every 30-60 minutes until the contrast stains the entire small intestine. Irrigography. A suspension of barium sulfate is injected into the large intestine through the anus with an enema. Then x-rays are taken in different positions. Training. X-ray contrast studies of the intestine are carried out on an empty stomach. For 2-3 days, the patient is prescribed a diet. Various preparations are used to cleanse the intestines.
Computed tomography (CT)	Helps to detect tumors and damage to the intestines, pancreas, liver and other organs when the diagnosis cannot be established using other diagnostic methods.	The patient is asked to remove all jewelry and undress to the waist. After that, he is placed on a special table of a CT scanner. During CT, the table moves inside a special tunnel. In this case, the patient should lie still. During the examination, the doctor may ask you to hold your breath. Usually computed tomography takes no more than 15-30 minutes.

Treatment of intestinal colic

First aid for intestinal colic

In the event of intestinal colic, it is better to immediately call the ambulance team. Before the arrival of the doctor, you should not take painkillers, apply a heating pad to the stomach, do enemas and take other measures. This will blur the clinical picture, and the doctor may incorrectly assess the patient's condition. As a result, the necessary measures will not be taken in a timely manner, which is sometimes fraught with serious complications.

Treatment will depend on the disease that led to the onset of intestinal colic. For some pathologies, hospitalization is indicated. Sometimes there is a need for surgical intervention.

Treatment for simple intestinal colic:

Sedative drugs	They are prescribed in the case when intestinal colic arose as a result of stress, nervous strain. You can take 2 tablets of valerian or motherwort extract.
No-shpa (drotaverine)	Antispasmodic, relaxes the smooth muscles of the intestine, thereby eliminating pain. Release forms: In tablets of 40 mg. Dosages for intestinal colic: Take 2 tablets.
warm heating pad	With intestinal colic, apply a warm heating pad in the groin area. It helps relieve spasms and relieve pain.
Warm enema with a decoction of lemon balm or mint	Helps to clear the intestines from feces and gases.
Smecta	Antidiarrheal agent, adsorbs bacteria and viruses. Release form: In the form of a powder in sachets, each containing 3 g of the active substance. Dosage and administration for intestinal colic: Dissolve the contents of one sachet in 100 ml of water, take orally.
Preparations based on belladonna leaf extract: Becarbon (Beladonna leaf extract + sodium bicarbonate); Bellalgin (belladonna leaf extract + sodium bicarbonate + metamizole sodium); Besalol (belladonna leaf extract + phenol salicylate).	effects: Becarbon - antispasmodic, antacid(neutralizing stomach acid) hyposecretory(reducing the secretion of digestive juices) remedy. Bellalgin - antispasmodic, analgesic, antacid, hyposecretory agent. Besalol- antispasmodic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and hyposecretory agent . Release forms: Tablets. Method of application and dosage for intestinal colic: Take 1-2 tablets.
No food for 12 hours	Only warm tea without sugar and homemade croutons without spices are allowed. In the future, within a few days, it is necessary to exclude from the diet products that lead to increased gas formation.

For some diseases accompanied by intestinal colic, special diets are provided, which may differ from this list. Consult with your doctor.

Unfortunately, today there are practically no completely healthy people. From time to time, some problems with the body disturb everyone. In this article, I would like to talk about what intestinal colic in adults is: symptoms, treatment of this problem.

What's this?

At the very beginning, you need to understand the terminology. So, intestinal colic in medicine is also called intestinal dyskinesia. This is a complex of disorders that are the result of a violation of the motor function of the intestine. At the same time, there are no organic changes in it. To put it simply, intestinal colic is an attack of severe sharp pain. These sensations develop due to spasm of the large or small intestine. It is also worth noting that colic is not a separate disease, but a symptom of a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes

Helminthization of the body. That is, a similar phenomenon can occur in those people who have worms.
As already mentioned, colic is a symptom. It may accompany one of the following diseases: pancreatitis, cholecystitis, colitis, etc.
Colic can occur if the patient has such diseases of the abdominal cavity that require urgent surgical intervention.
It can occur when overeating, consuming low-quality, “heavy” or junk food. Also, do not consume food that has just been taken out of the refrigerator. It is difficult for the body to cope with food at low temperatures.
May occur with diarrhea or flatulence.
Colic occurs during acute infection of any part of the intestine.
It can also occur in case of intestinal obstruction.
The cause may also be nervous overstrain stressful situations.

Symptoms

What are the main signs of intestinal colic?

Severe sharp pain. Comes in waves (spasms).
Possible bloating, flatulence. The abdomen often becomes hard. Discomfort when touched.
Chair disorder. Both constipation and diarrhea are possible. You can also find mucus (white ribbons) in the feces. Often characteristic of intestinal colic is a violation of fecal formation.

About pain

We further study the topic "Intestinal colic in adults: symptoms, treatment." So, I would like to say a few words separately about pain. Most often they are localized in the navel or lower abdomen. Less commonly given to the lumbar region. Spasms. The duration of colic can vary from a few seconds to tens of minutes. In the most severe situations, colic can last for days. Between bouts of pain, patients have other symptoms.

Differences

Is it possible to independently correctly determine that the patient has acute intestinal colic, and not another problem? So, you just need to be able to correctly differentiate this problem.

Acute gastritis. Symptoms uncharacteristic of intestinal colic: nausea, vomiting, bloating, coated tongue. There is also an aversion to food.
Lead colic. Symptoms uncharacteristic of intestinal colic: the appearance of a lead-gray border on the gums, a grayish color of the face and skin of other parts of the body.
Intestinal obstruction. Symptoms uncharacteristic of intestinal colic: vomiting, pain, difficulty in passing feces, gases. The pain does not have a typical localization. And in the intervals between contractions completely passes.
Abdominal crisis. It is also accompanied by severe sharp pains in the navel. However, with this disease, hemorrhagic rashes on the skin (bruising) also appear. There may also be blood in the stool.

This information is important, since very often intestinal colic is confused with these diseases.

The main thing

As mentioned above, intestinal colic is a symptom of a disorder in the gastrointestinal tract. How can this problem be countered? Proper nutrition is very important for intestinal colic. So, the patient is recommended to strictly adhere to a special diet.

It is necessary to completely abandon the consumption of foods that contribute to gas formation (legumes, cabbage, etc.).
It is also necessary to reduce the consumption of sweets and muffins as much as possible.
You need to reduce your salt intake. Dishes should be as fresh as possible.
You also need to give up pickles, marinades, canned food.
It is completely necessary to exclude smoked meats, seasonings, ketchups and mayonnaises from the diet.
The diet should contain as much fiber as possible. Useful fresh vegetables and fruits.
Method of cooking: steamed, boiled or stewed.
Eggs are very useful for colic: scrambled eggs or soft-boiled.
It is also good to drink warm sweetened teas. Fennel tea will help to cope with colic.
Help to cope with intestinal colic dill and cumin. Of these, you can make decoctions or infusions and take it orally.
Mucous porridges and rice boiled in water are very useful.
It is necessary to refuse soda, "colored" drinks, coffee, alcohol.

Diagnostics

What to do if there is such a problem as intestinal colic in adults? Treatment in this case should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor. After all, self-medication can do great harm to your body. Which doctor should you go to?

Gastroenterologist. In most cases, you need to turn to him for help, because intestinal colic is a symptom of a malfunction in the digestive tract.
Traumatologist. In the event that colic was caused by an injury to the abdominal cavity.
Gynecologist. If colic torments a pregnant woman.

At the specialist

Considering the topic - intestinal colic in adults: symptoms, treatment - you need to talk about what the doctor will do with the patient.

Inspection. At the very beginning, the doctor will lay the patient on the couch and examine his abdominal cavity. It is very important at this moment to indicate exactly where it hurts and what the nature of pain is.
The study of anamnesis.
The doctor will also give a referral for a stool test. This is necessary in order to examine the feces for the presence of worms and to find out the state of the microflora of the stomach.

Possible studies:

Gastroscopy. It will be needed if the doctor has suspicions of stomach diseases.
Analysis of urine. Needed if the doctor has a suspicion of problems in the work of the kidneys. Also, using this analysis, you can determine whether there are inflammatory processes in the body.

These are the main activities. However, in some cases, doctors may prescribe other studies.

Treatment

So, intestinal colic in adults. Treatment will depend on the cause of the symptom. However, now I want to talk about those remedies that will help relieve pain:

Warm relaxing bath. It can significantly reduce colic and allow a person to rest. It is important to remember that the water should not be hot.
Attention: in case of intestinal colic, a hot heating pad should not be placed on the stomach. If it is biliary colic, you can put a heating pad with ice on the abdominal cavity.
If colic is caused by the intake of poor-quality food, in this case, you need to induce vomiting (this is necessary in order to free the stomach from the remnants of the product).
You can also take antispasmodics. That is, funds that help relieve pain. So, it can be the following drugs: "No-shpa", "Spasmalgon".
It is also important to take funds that help the work of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, it may be the drug "Smecta".
If poisoning is the cause of intestinal colic, it is also good to take a drug such as Enterosgel. It will remove toxins from the body, significantly speeding up the healing process. In parallel, the doctor may also prescribe an enema to cleanse the intestines.
If the patient has intestinal colic, what should be done to alleviate the condition? So, if this symptom is a consequence of a viral disease, it is enough to limit yourself to taking the drug "Activated charcoal", a complex of vitamins and a diet.

ethnoscience

What can you advise people who want to know how to treat intestinal colic? So, if there is no desire to resort to the use of drugs, you can turn to traditional medicine. What can help in this case?

Dill. This green will do the job perfectly. To do this, prepare a milk broth from its seeds (one tablespoon per glass of milk).
Collection. You need to take one tablespoon of calamus, angelica and oak bark, pour a liter of boiling water and leave for a day. You need to take the medicine two tablespoons before each meal. This tool will not only eliminate colic, but also relieve bloating.
Motherwort juice. Great for relieving spasms. To do this, one teaspoon of juice should be diluted in a glass of warm boiled water.
Pomegranate peels. Studying the topic "intestinal colic: symptoms and treatment", I would like to say that pomegranate peels can perfectly cope with the problem. To do this, take one teaspoon of crushed crusts, pour a glass of boiling water and boil over low heat for half an hour. This medicine is taken three times a day before meals, 30 ml.

Prevention

What else can be said to those who want to have more information about what intestinal colic is, the symptoms and treatment of the problem? Preventive measures will also be important to avoid this problem:

Proper nutrition. It is necessary to abandon products that promote gas formation. It is also best to stick to the usual diet of a healthy person (you need to completely abandon fast food, convenience foods and "harmful" foods).
Daily regime. To avoid colic, a person's day should be quite active. If the work is sedentary, it is necessary to do a little exercise during breaks, and once every two hours go out for at least 10 minutes in the fresh air.
Exercise can help relieve colic. The swing of the press works especially well in this direction.
And, of course, you need to avoid stressful situations and emotional overstrain.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, no matter for what reasons, are accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the abdomen, which are called cramps. They can be manifested by a feeling of heaviness, turning into pain, and other extremely uncomfortable conditions.

If we consider spasms as a reaction of the body, this is a spontaneous contraction of the walls of the stomach. This organ has a well-developed muscular system for softening food in order to further transfer it to the next stage of processing in the intestine.

The stomach produces contractile movements on its own, and the person does not feel them. But when the organ is exposed to factors not related to digestion, the movements resume. Then contractions bring a feeling of discomfort, because gastric juice is produced, and there is nothing to digest in the stomach.

Causes

Spasmodic pains that appear in the abdomen indicate the presence of serious problems in the body that can subsequently lead to surgical intervention.

There are many reasons why patients feel discomfort. These include:

pain on the right or in the navel area - this may indicate inflammation of the appendix;
stagnation of feces in the intestine is accompanied by pain in the left side;
acute pain in the lower back, a possible cause is renal colic;
infringement of a hernia;
inflammation of adhesive scars, etc.

The above causes of abdominal pain require a medical examination, do not self-medicate.

Particular attention should be paid to pregnant women. In recent months, cramps in the lower abdomen may indicate that the pregnancy may be terminated. The pain is accompanied by bloody or liquid secretions, immediate hospitalization is necessary. But often spasms in expectant mothers appear as a result of diseases of the urinary system: pyelonephritis, cystitis, etc.

If there is discomfort in the abdomen, a medical examination is required before treatment.

Discomfort in adults may appear in connection with liver failure and gallbladder dysfunction, for example, with cholecystitis. Bile does not move or there is a violation of its outflow. As a result of the ongoing inflammatory processes, the muscles of the bile ducts begin to contract, as well as the muscles surrounding it.

Cholelithiasis can cause abdominal cramps, but then surgery is certainly required, stones in the gallbladder provoke pain.

Similar symptoms appear with dysfunction of the urinary system, or rather, are caused by urolithiasis. The stones begin to move along the urinary tract, first the lower abdomen hurts, then the pain radiates to the back, to the intestines, to the inguinal region.

In infants, abdominal pain is caused by a digestive system that has not fully formed, dysbacteriosis, if the mother took antibiotics before childbirth.

An older child may have a stomach ache for reasons:

intestinal disorders;
nervous strain at school;
infection;
allergies to certain foods;
inflammatory processes in the urinary system.

Inflammation of the urinary system

Intestinal colic is a common and common cause of abdominal cramps. Adults and children suffer from malaise. Improper diet, dysfunction of the digestive system, intestinal obstruction, causing intoxication of the body, as a result, painful sensations appear, diabetes also becomes a source of spasms.

Classification

Doctors divide pain in the abdomen into organic and functional.

The first classification of spasms is more common in adults with pre-existing gastrointestinal problems. Functional contractions of the stomach muscles are observed more often in the younger generation. This is due to the still weak nervous system and metabolic disorders. In infants, pylorospasm is observed, requiring immediate medical attention. This happens with contractions of the transitional zone of the stomach and duodenum, due to dysfunction of the neuromuscular apparatus of the baby's stomach.

Spasms of the abdominal muscles

This is one of the types of spastic pain caused by disruption of the digestive system, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle. A sharp contraction of the abdominal muscles can also be caused by an unexpected fright. Damage to internal organs, colic in the liver, in the genitourinary system, damage to the pancreas, stomach diseases. Colic in the intestines can be caused by a violation of lipid metabolism, diabetes mellitus, porphyrin disease. With spasms, the internal organs of a person and the circulatory system passing through the abdominal cavity suffer. Often the pain syndrome is associated with the appendix, becoming inflamed, the organ begins to contract, provoking pain.

Tonic spasms

Tonic pain is characterized by prolonged muscle tension. Such syndromes are accompanied by persistent hypertonicity of the muscular apparatus of the abdominal cavity, with the development of compacted painful muscle areas, called trigger points. The movement of the damaged muscle decreases, it begins to shorten and become denser. When you try to press on the compacted area, pain occurs that spreads to other parts of the human body: in the lower back, in the arm, leg.

The causes of tonic spasms are associated with injuries, with prolonged static muscle tension, and emotional stress.

The danger of tonic pain lies in the fact that with a constant pain syndrome, a person gets used to constant contractions and stops paying attention. But pain is a protective function of the body, warning of problems with the normal functioning of internal organs. Inattention to such spasms can lead to the development of complex diseases:

the damaged muscle is not provided with sufficient blood flow, which means that blood circulation is disturbed for nearby organs;
the body works in "idle", supplying the seal with an increased amount of oxygen and nutrients;
the presence of a damaged area and not treatment leads to a negative impact on the psyche, physiology and the body system as a whole;
the muscle in which the violation occurred does not perform musculoskeletal functions.

Clonic spasms

This is a spontaneous muscle contraction, but occurring in periods (periods of tension and periods of muscle relaxation). The body begins to twitch involuntarily.

The cause of such spasms can be renal failure, dysfunction of the adrenal glands, uremia, intoxication.

The use of medications to help a patient with an attack of clonic muscle contractions is not recommended. The doctor prescribes medicines, taking into account the peculiarities of the effects of specific drugs on the body of an individual patient. It is permissible to provide first aid before the arrival of the doctors: lay it on a level place, put something soft under the head, try not to let the person injure himself.

Symptoms

Symptomatic phenomena accompanying spasms can be serious. It is worth paying special attention to the signs:

the duration of the muscle contraction period is more than 60 minutes;
loss of consciousness due to pain;
pale skin;
a person has not urinated for more than 10 hours;
vomit;
diarrhea;
the patient has difficulty breathing;
pregnant women have vaginal bleeding;
an increase in body temperature, a person has a fever;
there is blood in the feces and vomit.

If it hurts on the left side of a woman, the cause may be an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, an ambulance is called immediately.

Treatment of spasms

The use of drugs for spasms can lead to a response of the digestive system. The appointment of medication should be done by a doctor.

Medical treatment

Frequent involuntary muscle contractions can lead to more serious illnesses than just pain. Medications can be used to make the situation worse.

To relieve symptoms for a while, antispasmodics are used, which reduce the tone of cells in the muscular system of the body. They relieve pain by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles.

The pharmaceutical industry produces drugs in the form of tablets, injections, and suppositories.

Pills for spasms - papaverine. Indicated for pain syndromes in the abdominal region, heart, blood vessels. Can be taken by pregnant women. Does not affect the human central nervous system. Side effect: drowsiness, allergies, possibly constipation.

Spasmalgon is available in the form of injections. With intramuscular injection, muscle relaxation occurs faster.

Folk recipes

Pain in men and women arise from gastrointestinal dysfunction, bad habits, alcohol abuse. Women experience discomfort during menstruation in the lower abdomen.

Traditional medicine in this case can help without harming other internal organs. Spasmodic plants are able to relieve the symptom one by one and relieve the pain.

medicinal chamomile

An infusion of this natural remedy can be taken continuously. Brew one tablespoon of herbs, let it brew and take two tablespoons every 2 hours during the day. If the pain is often disturbing, then a course is taken within a week.

The patient's menu should include more herbal products. If the pain is associated with the intestines, then it is better to boil, stew or bake vegetables. Also include onions, honey and carrots in your diet. Motherwort, oregano, mint, valerian, lemon balm can also be called as relieving symptoms.

Emergency relief of spasms

The main thing that should not be done in case of a sharp deterioration in the condition is to panic. After all, stress will only exacerbate the situation. It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor, since only a professional can correctly identify the problem and prescribe an effective treatment.

If the attack is of a prolonged nature, it is necessary to take strong spasmodic drugs or drink a decoction of mint, chamomile, valerian or calamus root. It is allowed to take medications only after consulting a doctor!

The stomach as an organ plays a huge role in the life of the human body. Along with the heart, it can be called a kind of engine - by processing food, it provides energy support to the whole organism, giving it the strength to function.

But, like any organ, the stomach is subject to various diseases or just temporary functional disorders. One such disorder is colic.

What is stomach colic

Gastric colic occurs due to disruption of the digestive tract.

Gastric colic is not a disease as such. They only indicate a violation of the functioning of individual organs of the gastrointestinal tract or the very mechanism of digestive processes.

Colic can be identified not as a single symptom, but as a complex of conditions that can manifest themselves singly and in various combinations.

The colic itself is spasmodic in nature. They are sharp contractions of the muscles of the stomach, which are accompanied by severe pain, general weakness.

Sometimes nausea and vomiting are added to these symptoms. The pain is usually so severe that the person involuntarily assumes the “embryo” position, pulling his knees up to his stomach and wrapping his hands around his stomach.

Gastric colic can last for various times. In one case, spasms are possible for several minutes, in the other, this condition may not go away for several hours. Pain in this case can have a diverse character:

periodic (paroxysmal) - between the moments of occurrence of pain there are states of rest;
cramping;
cutting;
stabbing.

The level of pain can also be different:

mild pain;
moderate;
strongly pronounced.

Usually gastric colic is accompanied by a pronounced disturbing pain. In this case, most likely, there is some kind of functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. If the pain is weak, aching, on the contrary, it may indicate a serious lesion of one or more organs.

With colic in the stomach, pain can be felt not only in its area. It can irradiate to other organs and parts of the body, that is, it will seem that it is not the stomach that hurts, but, for example, the lower back. Reverse irradiation is also possible.

Because of this, determining the cause of colic is much more difficult. In addition, with a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, there are no physical changes or mechanical damage to the tissues and organs of the system, which also increases the complexity of determining the causes of spasms.

Why do stomach cramps occur?

Improper nutrition can cause colic in the abdomen.

All causes of stomach cramps can be divided into two large groups depending on the nature of the origin of colic.

Functional spasms are explained by a disorder of metabolic processes and the activity of the nervous system. Hence, among the factors causing the occurrence of colic, we can distinguish:

malnutrition (unbalanced diet, insufficient fluid intake, eating habits - talking while eating, snacking on the go, skipping mandatory meals, overeating);
frequent stressful situations;
bad habits: use, alcohol and drugs, smoking;
taking certain medications;
chemical intoxication (work in conditions of hazardous industries, disturbed environmental ecology);
allergic reactions;
poisoning of various etiologies (food, alcohol);
mechanical impact (consequences of operations on the digestive tract);
a consequence of past illnesses;
climate change and eating exotic foods;
hypothermia.

Gastric colic of organic origin is provoked by damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract:

erosion processes;
gastritis;
gastroduodenitis;
ulcerative inflammation.

Depending on the sources of colic, the treatment program prescribed by the specialist will depend.

First aid

If you find colic in the abdomen, you must contact a medical facility.

At the first attack, it is necessary to take a comfortable position, relieve the pressure of clothing on the abdomen, you can drink an anesthetic. Among the recommendations can be found taking a warm bath, warm drink.

If the attack does not go away or recurs, you need to call a doctor. In any case, after an attack of colic, even a single one, you need to contact a specialist to find out the causes of spasms and determine further actions - what and how to treat.

Doctors do not recommend taking any action before they arrive, because by eliminating the symptoms, it is possible to complicate the process of finding out the causes of their occurrence, as well as warn against the use of painkillers and thermal procedures. In this case, it is better to apply a cold compress.

In order to determine the necessary therapeutic procedures, it is necessary to carry out a minimum diagnosis, which is done in any medical institution.

Diagnosis of the disease

A blood test will help determine the cause of colic in the abdomen.

When a patient is admitted with complaints of colic, first of all, the gastroenterologist collects and analyzes the anamnesis of the disease and the life of the person who applied, as well as the anamnesis of the life of his family. To do this, the doctor may ask the following questions:

duration and nature of pain.
The presence of problems with bowel movements (constipation, bleeding).
The occurrence of nausea and vomiting, fever.
The fact of taking painkillers and the presence of a positive effect from taking them.
The patient's lifestyle, his eating habits.
The presence in the past and present of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the patient and his family members.
Further, if this is the primary appointment, the doctor examines the patient, performs percussion (palpation and tapping) of the abdomen and, especially carefully, the epigastric region (a section of the anterior abdominal wall corresponding to the projection of the stomach onto this wall).

The patient is then sent for lab testing. You may need:

general analysis of blood and urine;
blood chemistry;
analysis of feces for occult blood;
routine fecal analysis - coprogram.

To clarify the picture of the disease, the patient undergoes the necessary instrumental diagnostic procedures:

An ultrasound examination of the abdominal region allows you to assess the general condition of the organs.
X-ray examination does not give an accurate picture of the state of the tissues and organs of the abdominal cavity, but allows you to see the presence and distribution of gases and liquids in the picture. Based on this information, some conclusions can be drawn about the pathologies that occur in the studied area of the patient's body.
Computed tomography is the most accurate and informative method of instrumental diagnostics. On a computed tomogram, the image of the organs is visualized in a three-dimensional projection. Images of individual organs are not superimposed on each other, unlike an x-ray. Each organ is visible in section, its shape, size, and condition of tissues can be assessed. Computed tomography allows you to determine the presence of foreign bodies in the studied part of the body, pathological changes in cells and tissues of organs.

Based on the data obtained during the examination of the patient, his doctor draws up a treatment program. It should be remembered that therapeutic procedures (including maintenance therapy) can stretch for quite a long time.

In this case, you need to periodically visit your treating specialist so that he can evaluate the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy and, if necessary, adjust the treatment.

General principles of treatment and preventive measures

No-shpa - to eliminate colic.

If during the examination of the patient diseases of the abdominal organs were revealed, then they are treated first.

Colic, as an accompanying symptom, can go away by itself. It is possible to prescribe painkillers to alleviate the patient's condition.

If the etiology of gastric colic is not clarified or it is established that their cause is a functional violation of the gastrointestinal tract, complex therapy is prescribed. It does not include a therapeutic diet, lifestyle changes if necessary, and drug treatment.

The diet includes the rejection of heavy foods, foods that cause flatulence and bloating: complex dishes, smoked meats, pickles, spices, animal fats, legumes, cabbage, sweet fruits, strong tea and coffee, carbonated drinks.

Dishes need to be steamed, boiled or stewed. Food is consumed in small portions, divided into 5-6 meals. It is advisable to adhere to a certain regimen - eat at about the same time. Dishes are eaten warm. Food needs to be chewed thoroughly.

A sufficient amount of liquid should be consumed per day (up to 2 liters), mainly clean water. Lifestyle should be quite mobile. It is recommended to take walks in the fresh air more often, to do simple physical exercises. Drug therapy covers several areas:

Removal of pain (antispasmodics - No-Shpa, Drotaverine).
Stress relief (antidepressants - Amitriptyline).
Stimulation of digestion (prokinetics - Domperidone).
Normalization of secretion (H2-antihistamines - famotidine).

As an aid, you can take decoctions from medicinal plants. Calamus root, chamomile flowers and angelica grass are mixed in equal proportions. 3 art. l. the mixture is poured with boiling water, brought to a boil, cooled and filtered. The decoction is drunk half a cup before meals.

Another option: chamomile flowers, valerian root and snake knotweed root in a ratio of 3: 4: 4 are mixed, poured with boiling water at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. mixture in a glass of water and insist in a thermos for 6 hours. Drink the infusion before meals in a glass 2 times a day. Lavender, oregano, motherwort also have a therapeutic effect. They are brewed with boiling water and taken before meals several times a day.

As a prevention of gastric colic, it is recommended to simply lead a healthy lifestyle: give up bad habits, move more, eat right and fully, and avoid stressful situations.

Knowing the symptoms of gastric colic and the principles of first aid, a person, faced with this situation, will not be at a loss and will do everything possible to alleviate the condition. It is important to remember that in any case, consultation with a specialist is necessary, even if there was no need to call an ambulance.

About colic in the stomach will tell the video:

Cramping in the abdomen is an involuntary contraction of the muscles, accompanied by pain. This condition occurs due to physiological or pathological causes. Only a doctor can accurately establish this factor by carrying out diagnostic measures.

Abdominal cramps can occur in any person, regardless of gender and age. Almost always this happens due to the development of a disease in the human body. Therapy for this condition should be carried out immediately.

There can be quite a few causes of abdominal pain - these are physiological or pathological factors. The nature of the symptoms of the disease will manifest itself depending on the causes of this condition. Most often, patients complain of abdominal cramps and diarrhea. There is also nausea, and sometimes an increase in body temperature.

The cause of this condition can be identified through a physical examination and laboratory tests. The method of treatment will depend on the identified cause.

Etiology

There are many different factors that contribute to the occurrence of abdominal cramps. They can be general or specific to children, women and men.

The causes of abdominal muscle spasm are as follows:

inflammation in the appendix;
renal colic;
adhesive processes;
infringement of a hernia;
blockage of the bile ducts;
liver disease;
severe poisoning of the body;
poor chewing of food;
dysbacteriosis;
colic;
diabetes;
pathology of the genitourinary system.

The spasm that occurs in the lower abdomen in women has its own reasons for the appearance:

period;
premenstrual syndrome;
various gynecological problems;
the presence of adhesions in the appendages;
hormonal disruptions.

It is also necessary to note the reasons due to which cramps occur in the lower abdomen only during pregnancy:

stretching of the uterus, as well as muscles and veins in the abdomen;
displacement of internal organs due to an increase in the size of the uterus and fetus;
syndrome of "false contractions" - occurs in the third trimester;
attachment of the egg to the wall of the uterus - occurs at the beginning of pregnancy;
pathology of the cervix;
detachment of the placenta;
ectopic pregnancy;
premature birth;
spontaneous abortion.

We can say that abdominal cramps in a woman during pregnancy can occur due to natural factors or be a symptom of a dangerous condition. If vaginal discharge appears against the background of spasms, then it is urgent to seek help from your gynecologist.

Spasms that appear in the lower abdomen in men occur only for some reason. In addition to the fact that this can happen for the general reasons described above, their appearance is also affected by the inflammatory process of the prostate gland.

It should be noted that abdominal cramps in a small child occur quite often. For example, in babies under the age of one year, this condition is considered the norm, because their digestive system has not yet fully strengthened.

But there are other reasons that affect the appearance of spasms before the first year of life:

lactose intolerance;
dysbacteriosis, because during the period of bearing a baby, a woman took a lot of antibacterial drugs;
congenital narrowing of the outlet of the stomach ().

Older children may suffer from this condition for the following reasons:

But there are other factors that in rare cases cause a similar condition.

Classification

In medicine, muscle spasms are divided into two types:

tonic - prolonged spasms;
clonic - jerky muscle contractions.

The latter type is characterized by alternation with muscle relaxation.

Symptoms

In each patient, cramps in the lower abdomen will be accompanied by individual signs.

The first and main symptom is pain, which can be intermittent or constant. The nature of the pain can also be different: sharp, dull, aching, cutting. Sometimes the pain is so severe that a person can take a knee-elbow position. In some cases, the condition can be alleviated only if you constantly move.

In addition, other symptoms will appear:

nausea, bouts of vomiting;
hard breath;
bleeding from the vagina;
increase in body temperature;
pain radiates to the perineum, scrotum, chest and shoulder;
discoloration of feces;
great sweating;
difficulty urinating.

As already mentioned, the symptoms can be different - it all depends on the causes.

Diagnostics

If one or more symptoms occur, you should immediately seek help from a qualified specialist. In adults, this can be a therapist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, obstetrician-gynecologist, if the woman is pregnant. Children should first be examined by a pediatrician.

To diagnose the causes, a comprehensive examination is used, however, before that, the doctor conducts an independent examination:

studies the anamnesis of the patient's life and his medical history;
will palpate the abdomen, during which the patient's reaction to touch will be determined (women undergo a gynecological examination);
questioning the patient to establish the symptoms of the disease.

As laboratory tests are assigned:

In addition, hardware studies are also assigned, for example:

fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS) is a medical procedure that examines the upper esophagus, stomach and duodenum;
ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity;
x-ray;
electrocardiogram.

These basic diagnostic techniques will help determine the cause of spasms. If necessary, additional laboratory tests and analyzes are prescribed.

Treatment

The choice of treatment will depend on the symptoms present.

But the general therapy to relieve the resulting abdominal spasm is as follows:

the use of pain medications;
massotherapy;
intravenous administration of a solution to eliminate possible dehydration;
physiotherapy treatment;
the appointment of antibacterial and antiemetic drugs;
adherence to a special diet;
the use of traditional medicine, if there is a doctor's permission.

A special diet must be followed for three months.

Products that are allowed:

lean meat, fish;
dairy products (fat-free);
vegetables and fruits only fresh;
steamed meat dishes, boiled eggs;
kissels and compotes.

What you can eat and what you can’t, the doctor will say, while the list will be individual.

In addition, after the permission of the doctor, you can apply traditional medicine recipes.

The decision to conduct an operation is also strictly individual, but if a woman is in a position, then it is strictly forbidden to treat pain manifested by abdominal cramps.

Prevention

In order to avoid severe paroxysmal cramps in the abdomen, the following preventive measures must be observed:

adhere to a balanced diet;
observe the work/rest regime;
avoid stressful situations;
walk more in the fresh air, especially after eating;
take medicines only as prescribed by a doctor;
consume the prescribed amount of liquid per day;
control bowel movements;
during pregnancy, use a special bandage;
undergo a comprehensive examination once a year.

Timely detection of spasms, their diagnosis and complex treatment make the prognosis of such a disease favorable.

Our body is wisely arranged. If something is not right, there is discomfort or pain. There is no point in ignoring these feelings. After all, their main task is to save life, that is, the instinct of self-preservation works through pain or fear.

Stomach pain can be a sign of anything from eating a fatty meal to serious illnesses such as malignant tumors and so on. You need to go to the doctor, undergo an examination and, if necessary, be treated.

Often, colic in the abdomen occurs due to muscle spasms, in which the muscles of the smooth muscles contract convulsively.

Most often, pain in the abdomen occurs due to improper functioning of the digestive tract.

In order to avoid unpleasant and serious consequences, it is better to listen to your body and try to rid it of disturbing factors. Of course, you don’t have to run around the clinics if the pain occasionally appears and disappears without a trace, but if this happens regularly, then you need to contact a specialist.

Abdominal cramps may be accompanied by fever. This symptom occurs with inflammation of the appendix or with another inflammatory process.

Symptoms of abdominal muscle spasm

Spasmodic pain often occurs due to an unhealthy lifestyle, when a person does not eat right and is constantly under stress. Pain can appear due to problems in the work of internal organs: the liver, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, and so on. The blood vessels that are located in the abdominal cavity also suffer from spasms.

Symptoms of abdominal muscle spasm may occur during menstruation. This is quite normal, because in women of reproductive age, the hormonal background changes once a month, as a result of which the uterus contracts. Cramping pain appears in the lower abdomen. If you press a little on the painful point, then the pain goes away.

Spasm of the abdominal muscles causes

There can be many reasons for pain. In order to establish the true one, it is necessary to analyze what preceded the spasm. If it is completely unclear for what reason the pain appeared, then it is better to visit a doctor and undergo an examination.

Causes of spasm of the abdominal muscles in diseases of the internal organs, in stress, and so on. If the pain in the abdomen is inexplicable and unbearable, then it is better to call an ambulance.

How to relieve spasm of the abdominal muscles?

In order to alleviate the situation, it is necessary to press on the center of painful sensations. This will relax the muscles and increase blood circulation. Massage will help, which is desirable to do after a warm bath. Some people find contrast showers helpful. Hot water dilates blood vessels, while cold water constricts them. After the massage, a warm heating pad or a bottle of water should be placed on the source of pain.

How to relieve spasm of the abdominal muscles? In order to make it easier, you need to tighten and relax the abdominal muscles several times. Exercise will allow you to release lactic acid and, thereby, relax muscle tissue. It is also useful to drink a glass of warm milk, which will reduce the acidity in the stomach and relieve tension.

Doctors prescribe medication if spasms are caused by diseases such as anemia, diabetes, osteochondrosis, and others. Antispasmodics are usually prescribed, such as Ketorol, Ananlgin, No-shpa, Spazmalgon or Ketonal.

For pain in the abdomen, you need to lie on your side and try to relax. It will be easier if you lightly press your legs to your stomach. Warm drinks, a bath, and painkillers will provide temporary relief.

Spasms of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy

During pregnancy, changes occur in a woman's body that cause some discomfort. The uterus grows, the ligaments on which it rests stretch and become elastic, and the abdominal organs change their position. All this gives discomfort.

Cramping of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy is a normal phenomenon that you should not be afraid of. In order to alleviate the situation, you need to rest more, less physically strain and wear a bandage.

If the pain becomes severe, while the woman sees some kind of discharge from the vagina, then an ambulance should be urgently called. After all, there is always a threat of premature birth, which should take place under the supervision of doctors or not take place at all, if the time has not come.

In general, pregnant women should take care of themselves. It is natural not to work, if to work, then without much stress. Receive only positive emotions - watch cartoons and romantic comedies. If something or someone is trying to spoil the mood, do not pay any attention to this fact.

If forty weeks have passed since conception, and cramps have appeared in the abdomen, then this is most likely a sign of the onset of the birth process. A pregnant woman needs to detect the time between spasms - contractions and call an ambulance. There is no need to panic, although this is painful, it is a normal process from which you cannot escape.