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What Causes Sharp Stomach Pain Above The Navel While Bending?
Question: starting yesterday afternoon, I feel a sharp pain in my stomach area just above my navel, a few inches away from my navel, on my right hand side. If I press down in that area about the size of a saucer, it feels painful, the more I press the more pain.
When I bend down to sit or to put and tie my shoes I feel pain,
When I bend down to sit or to put and tie my shoes I feel pain,
Brief Answer:
Information about abdominal pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The location of your pain - right upper quadrant of the abdomen - is the location of the liver and gall bladder. As you have been well and I will assume are not having signs of liver problems such as jaundice, and if the doctor did a liver function test (blood test for liver enzymes) and it was normal, this makes a gall bladder problem, particularly gall stones, more likely. Unless you had an abdominal ultrasound or an abdominal CT scan, this would not be apparent. Usually gall bladder problems cause indigestion and pain after eating, but not always.
Muscle strains can also cause pain in the area you described.
The best thing to do is go back to your doctor so that he/she can palpate the area that is giving you pain. If you can't get in to see him or her soon, go in to the urgent care clinic. If you can provide the urgent care doctor with your most recent test results, that might help speed things up.
If your pain gets worse, however, don't wait - go to the ER.
While your recent physical may have been very thorough, we don't test for everything at these and only do certain evaluations when symptoms present (like an abdominal ultrasound).
I hope this information helps.
Information about abdominal pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
The location of your pain - right upper quadrant of the abdomen - is the location of the liver and gall bladder. As you have been well and I will assume are not having signs of liver problems such as jaundice, and if the doctor did a liver function test (blood test for liver enzymes) and it was normal, this makes a gall bladder problem, particularly gall stones, more likely. Unless you had an abdominal ultrasound or an abdominal CT scan, this would not be apparent. Usually gall bladder problems cause indigestion and pain after eating, but not always.
Muscle strains can also cause pain in the area you described.
The best thing to do is go back to your doctor so that he/she can palpate the area that is giving you pain. If you can't get in to see him or her soon, go in to the urgent care clinic. If you can provide the urgent care doctor with your most recent test results, that might help speed things up.
If your pain gets worse, however, don't wait - go to the ER.
While your recent physical may have been very thorough, we don't test for everything at these and only do certain evaluations when symptoms present (like an abdominal ultrasound).
I hope this information helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor. Pain is not yet severe so I make an appointment with my doctor on Monday which means I probably would not see her till Wed.
While waiting a few questions:
1. You don't think it's an Ulcer?
2. Ore Diverticulitis, which apparently happens more on my left side? My pain is on my right hand side, a few inches above my navel, a circle area, the size of cup saucer.
3. I eat mostly organic food, lots of organic salad greens, veggies, samon, grass feed meat only a couple times a week. I even make my own yogurt frm 100% grass fed organic milk. I make up my own cereals from organic XXXXXXX and oat XXXXXXX ..
While waiting what kind of foods and drinks to have and what to avoid ( maybe no nuts nor coffee. Lately I've been eating a lot of all types of nuts, mainly Brazilian nut, almond, cashunut and peanut?
4. Anything or over the counter medications to alleviate the pain?
5. Would applying cold or heat pads help decrease the pain, which is most acute when bending down or up, sitting down or up...while walking or flat in bed, thereis little or NO pain.
Much appreciate your kind help and for any other kind advice you can offer,
Best regards, XXXX
While waiting a few questions:
1. You don't think it's an Ulcer?
2. Ore Diverticulitis, which apparently happens more on my left side? My pain is on my right hand side, a few inches above my navel, a circle area, the size of cup saucer.
3. I eat mostly organic food, lots of organic salad greens, veggies, samon, grass feed meat only a couple times a week. I even make my own yogurt frm 100% grass fed organic milk. I make up my own cereals from organic XXXXXXX and oat XXXXXXX ..
While waiting what kind of foods and drinks to have and what to avoid ( maybe no nuts nor coffee. Lately I've been eating a lot of all types of nuts, mainly Brazilian nut, almond, cashunut and peanut?
4. Anything or over the counter medications to alleviate the pain?
5. Would applying cold or heat pads help decrease the pain, which is most acute when bending down or up, sitting down or up...while walking or flat in bed, thereis little or NO pain.
Much appreciate your kind help and for any other kind advice you can offer,
Best regards, XXXX
Brief Answer:
abdominal pain
Detailed Answer:
Yes, diverticular disease can cause pain here too, and actually there can be referred pain from any of the abdominal organs. Even stomach irritation such as gastritis or duodenitis or pancreatic problems can cause pain there.
For inflamed diverticula, you would do best to avoid nuts until the problem has resolved.
I don't recommend any pain medications until it's sorted out what the problem is, although if you think a strain is possible, then you can try Tylenol and see if that helps.
Ulcers usually hurt in relation to food (but not always). For example, they can hurt more when the stomach is empty, or after a big meal.
It is good that walking does not make it worse, as abdominal pain with walking can be a sign of appendicitis.
If it feels like intestinal cramping, heat can help, but otherwise cold or heat is unlikely to help.
Other than avoiding nuts and rough foods, there isn't much I can tell you that you SHOULD do or eat, as we don't know yet what the problem is.
If the pain gets worse or is quite bad, do not wait for an appointment with your doctor but go in to be seen promptly.
abdominal pain
Detailed Answer:
Yes, diverticular disease can cause pain here too, and actually there can be referred pain from any of the abdominal organs. Even stomach irritation such as gastritis or duodenitis or pancreatic problems can cause pain there.
For inflamed diverticula, you would do best to avoid nuts until the problem has resolved.
I don't recommend any pain medications until it's sorted out what the problem is, although if you think a strain is possible, then you can try Tylenol and see if that helps.
Ulcers usually hurt in relation to food (but not always). For example, they can hurt more when the stomach is empty, or after a big meal.
It is good that walking does not make it worse, as abdominal pain with walking can be a sign of appendicitis.
If it feels like intestinal cramping, heat can help, but otherwise cold or heat is unlikely to help.
Other than avoiding nuts and rough foods, there isn't much I can tell you that you SHOULD do or eat, as we don't know yet what the problem is.
If the pain gets worse or is quite bad, do not wait for an appointment with your doctor but go in to be seen promptly.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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