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What Causes Abdominal Pain And Back Pain?
Question: Hi, I've had upper abdominal pain for the past 4 months. It feels like someone's punching me in an empty stomachs. I can feel achy pain in my back directly behind the upper abdominal pain. I have visited a specialist who has performed an endo, colonoscopy, biopsy of the liver, stomache, & colon, a gastric empty study, and I am scheduled for a small bowel series. According to my doctor everything is normal. I have tried taking Prevacid, nexium, Prilosec, & other medicine but no relief. The pain is about an 8 sometimes a 9 on 1-10 and lasts for about an hour. I am on a low fat diet with no red meat or poultry. It was occurring daily but now is at random. I have had my gallbladder removed and previously diagnosed with stomache ulcers. I have a 7 month old and it is impossible to care for her alone when the pain hits. Please help. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Bile ducts or pancreas issue.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First of all please note that there will be extremely hard to help you from the point of this service. You have seen a specialist who was able to perform physical examination and lots of tests what makes it his great advantage.
Form your description, the problem seems to be in the bile ducts or pancreas. Sometimes after gallbladder removal there might be a stone left in the bile ducts which can give upper middle and right abdominal pain along with back pain, dark urine, discolored stools and nausea. This should also give elevated GGTP, AP and bilirubin level.
Chronic pancreas inflammation can also give such pain. Fatty stools, weight loss are also characteristic for this issue. There should be some pancreas changes in the CT.
As the stones in the bile ducts or pancreas issues are sometimes invisible in the CT and ultrasound, it is worth to have ERCP(endoscopical revision of bile ducts and pancreas duct) procedure with EUS (endoscopical ultrasound) of the pancreas.
Please discuss it with your doctor.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Bile ducts or pancreas issue.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First of all please note that there will be extremely hard to help you from the point of this service. You have seen a specialist who was able to perform physical examination and lots of tests what makes it his great advantage.
Form your description, the problem seems to be in the bile ducts or pancreas. Sometimes after gallbladder removal there might be a stone left in the bile ducts which can give upper middle and right abdominal pain along with back pain, dark urine, discolored stools and nausea. This should also give elevated GGTP, AP and bilirubin level.
Chronic pancreas inflammation can also give such pain. Fatty stools, weight loss are also characteristic for this issue. There should be some pancreas changes in the CT.
As the stones in the bile ducts or pancreas issues are sometimes invisible in the CT and ultrasound, it is worth to have ERCP(endoscopical revision of bile ducts and pancreas duct) procedure with EUS (endoscopical ultrasound) of the pancreas.
Please discuss it with your doctor.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thank you for your response. They were worried that there were stones in the ducts but ruled that out since my gb was removed due to sludge buildup and i believe they checked it during one of the recent procedires.
He said because my pancreas and other biopsys were not elevated that he believes it is ruled out.
The next procedure would be a endo with xray but i am getting worried about getting put under 3x in 3 months.
He said because my pancreas and other biopsys were not elevated that he believes it is ruled out.
The next procedure would be a endo with xray but i am getting worried about getting put under 3x in 3 months.
Brief Answer:
ERCP should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Endo with X-ray is an ERCP (if endo is endoscopy). So this is good next step. Please note that sometimes bile ducts problem can be invisible in regular tests (ultrasound, CT blood work). So the could not completely rule it out without ERCP.
During ERCP they cut a little duodenal papilla (the place where the bile duct joins duodenum). Narrowing in this place can cause such symptoms.
Regards.
ERCP should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Endo with X-ray is an ERCP (if endo is endoscopy). So this is good next step. Please note that sometimes bile ducts problem can be invisible in regular tests (ultrasound, CT blood work). So the could not completely rule it out without ERCP.
During ERCP they cut a little duodenal papilla (the place where the bile duct joins duodenum). Narrowing in this place can cause such symptoms.
Regards.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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