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What Causes Sharp Pain In Upper Abdomen After Doing Abdominal Crunches?

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Posted on Mon, 14 Sep 2015
Question: i was exercising over the weekend and doing ab crunches when i felt a sharp pain in upper abs. i stopped the workout. since then, it feels like someone is sitting on my upper abdomen. i have no tenderness, swelling, no ache like i pulled something or did a hard workout.
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Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Most probably minimal edema in the rectus sheath

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
Read and understood your history.

You are feeling like something is sitting on the upper abdomen but have no tenderness, swelling or ache.

The most probable cause can be as explained:
The rectus muscles are encases in a tube of fascia (sheath). When you had sharp pain in the upper abs, there would have been a trauma to the muscles and the edema remains inside the rectus sheath, sufficient enough to cause the feeling you have but less than the quantity that could have caused swelling, tenderness or ache.

This is good that the edema is minimal.

I would advise you the following:
No exercises or any activity that can enhance your problems.
Rest alone to the part may be sufficient to resolve the issue of the feeling that you have.
You may get a second opinion of a General Surgeon and go for high resolution ultrasonography if you want the confirmation of the diagnosis and rule out any other cause that can give you the feeling that you have now.

I hope this answers your query.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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What Causes Sharp Pain In Upper Abdomen After Doing Abdominal Crunches?

Brief Answer: Most probably minimal edema in the rectus sheath Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query and an elucidate history. Read and understood your history. You are feeling like something is sitting on the upper abdomen but have no tenderness, swelling or ache. The most probable cause can be as explained: The rectus muscles are encases in a tube of fascia (sheath). When you had sharp pain in the upper abs, there would have been a trauma to the muscles and the edema remains inside the rectus sheath, sufficient enough to cause the feeling you have but less than the quantity that could have caused swelling, tenderness or ache. This is good that the edema is minimal. I would advise you the following: No exercises or any activity that can enhance your problems. Rest alone to the part may be sufficient to resolve the issue of the feeling that you have. You may get a second opinion of a General Surgeon and go for high resolution ultrasonography if you want the confirmation of the diagnosis and rule out any other cause that can give you the feeling that you have now. I hope this answers your query.