Stomach Pain Breakdown: Real Daily Cases From My Clinical Practice

Today, we’ll learn about stomach pain. As a doctor, I encounter many patients daily, and after meeting and listening to their problems, I find that most patients suffer from stomach pain. But now, the question is, which stomach pain? Yes, stomach pain can be of many types. Often, patients tell me about it themselves, or I find out. Stomach pain includes pain in the stomach, left stomach pain, lower stomach pain, sharp stomach pain, upper stomach pain, right side stomach pain, diarrhea stomach pain, back and stomach pain, gas pain, pregnancy stomach pain, etc. Today, I’ll talk to you about all these types of stomach pain and share the experiences of some of my patients.

Hello, I’m Dr. Ashish, and today I’m here to talk about stomach pain, how it occurs, and how it can be treated. Here, I’ll discuss the different types of stomach pain. So, let’s learn about your stomach pain.

Stomach Pain

Your stomach pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including a reaction to something you ate, increased acid production (acidity), a problem or infection with an organ like the liver, pancreas, or spleen, or you’re having your period, appendicitis, stomach ulcers, a malignancy, or any number of other causes. But the key is to understand which of these are the most common causes you encounter in everyday life.

Generally, most of the stomach pain I experience is due to gas, overeating, acidity, indigestion, eating unhealthy food outside, food poisoning, or if the patient is pregnant, the pain is common. There are various treatments, but in everyday life, except during pregnancy, these pains usually resolve after some time with medication and rest.

If we talk about treatment, it can’t be immediately determined. First, you need to know the cause of your stomach pain before it can be treated. However, some common pain relievers can be treated at home, or you can see a doctor and your pain will subside in a short time.

If you are unable to see a doctor and it’s not possible to go to the hospital, I can suggest some home remedies, including some medicines you should keep at home for emergency use.

Home Remedies for Stomach Pain

1. Gas/Acidity/Indigestion

There are some common medications available at medical stores. However, I strongly recommend consulting a doctor before taking any medication.

• You can take an antacid, which will help with acidity.
• You can take a PPI such as Pantoprazole 40mg or Omeprazole 20mg, taking it once a day on an empty stomach.
• Also, if you have loose bowel movements, you can take an ORS.

2. If you have constipation

This is often caused by poor digestion. For this, take two teaspoons of psyllium husk at bedtime. You can also take a laxative, but be sure to consult your doctor.

3. Spasmodic Pain

The sudden and involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles, commonly known as a muscle spasm, can cause sharp, tight, or cramping pain. This pain can be felt in any part of the body such as the back, legs, or abdomen. It may also be accompanied by a feeling of stiffness, tension, or stiffness in the muscles. Most muscle cramps are harmless and resolve in a short time, but sometimes they can be caused by muscle strain, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or certain medical conditions.

To treat them, stretching can be helpful, drinking plenty of water, and taking antispasmodic medication after consulting a doctor.

4. Food Poisoning

This is quite common these days, especially among younger generations and children. You can give ORS, avoid dairy products, take probiotics, and if you develop a fever, take paracetamol.

Some Dietary Changes to Try at Home

Drink warm water and sip frequently. Eat light meals. Avoid non-vegetarian food, or foods that are too spicy or difficult to digest.

Some points that will tell you that you urgently need a doctor

• If you have a fever, or if the pain has persisted for more than 24 hours
• If the pain becomes so severe that sitting becomes difficult
• If you have difficulty sleeping
• If you are vomiting
• If you have a headache
• If you have difficulty breathing
• If you have difficulty urination
• If your stool becomes dark
• If you have pain in the upper right (related to the gallbladder)
• If you have pain in the lower right (related to the appendix)

Now let’s explore the different types of abdominal pain I mentioned at the beginning, which patients often bring to me.

1. General Stomach Pain – Causes

A patient came to my clinic yesterday with mild pain all over the stomach. It got worse after meals very typical gas and indigestion. When the pain is spread across the stomach without a specific spot, the common causes include: gas, acidity, indigestion, food intolerance, overeating, or a mild stomach infection.

2. Left-Sided Stomach Pain

If your pain is on the left side, the cause depends on the exact area. Left upper pain is often due to gastritis, gastric ulcer, gas trapped in the colon, spleen-related issues, or pancreatitis. Left lower pain is usually due to constipation, diverticulitis, left kidney stones, UTI, or IBS.

A woman walked in with pain on the left side of her abdomen. After checking, it turned out to be simple constipation and gas nothing serious.

3. Lower Stomach Pain

Lower abdominal pain is commonly caused by gas, constipation, or urinary infections. In females, it can also be due to menstrual cramps, ovarian cysts, or pelvic infections.

A young boy came with lower stomach pain and burning during urination. A urine test confirmed it was just a UTI.

4. Sharp Stomach Pain

A sharp, stabbing pain can be a red flag. Common causes include peptic ulcers, gallstones, appendicitis, pancreatitis, kidney stones, or bowel obstruction. This type of pain often requires urgent medical attention.

One patient came holding his stomach with a sharp, stabbing pain. He had eaten a heavy oily meal, and it turned out to be a gallstone attack.

5. Upper Stomach Pain (Epigastric Pain)

Pain in the upper middle part of the stomach usually suggests gastritis, acidity, or peptic ulcers. Pancreatitis and gallbladder problems can also cause pain in this region.

A college student came complaining of burning in the upper part of his stomach. The pain was worse on an empty stomach classic gastritis.

6. Right-Sided Stomach Pain

Right upper abdominal pain is most commonly due to gallstones or gallbladder inflammation. Liver issues can also cause discomfort here.
Right lower abdominal pain often suggests appendicitis, especially if it starts around the navel and then shifts to the right lower side.

A lady came with pain on the right upper side that was radiating to her back. An ultrasound later confirmed gallbladder stones.

7. Diarrhea With Stomach Pain

When stomach pain comes with diarrhea, the cause is usually an infection viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning, or contaminated water.
It can also be due to lactose intolerance or IBS.

A patient came with stomach cramps and diarrhea for two days. He had eaten street food the night before simple food poisoning.

8. Back and Stomach Pain Together

When stomach pain radiates to the back, the major causes include pancreatitis, kidney stones, gallstones, or UTI. Sometimes gastritis can also cause referred pain to the back

A man visited with abdominal pain that was shooting into his back. Based on the pattern, kidney stone was the first suspicion.

9. Gas Pain

Gas pain is typically sudden, crampy, or twisting. It happens due to overeating, oily foods, carbonated drinks, constipation, low-fiber diet, or eating too fast.

One patient was very worried because he had sudden twisting pain in his abdomen. But after examination, it was just severe gas.

10. Pregnancy-Related Stomach Pain

Mild abdominal discomfort is common in pregnancy due to ligament stretching, gas, acidity, or constipation. But severe or one-sided pain can indicate ectopic pregnancy, placental problems, or early labor these require medical attention.

So that’s all for today, I hope you have got a lot of information about stomach ache which I have learned from my real patient experience and have shared with you today.