Dull lower abdominal pain refers to mild or indistinct pain in the lower abdomen below the navel and above the pubic bone. This pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including coldness in the abdomen, improper diet, ovulation, changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, gynecological and obstetric diseases, digestive system diseases, urinary system diseases, and men’s diseases.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
Dull pain in the lower abdomen is common clinically.
Contagious
Not contagious.
Incidence
Dull pain in the lower abdomen is common clinically.
High-risk population
There is no specific susceptible population.
symptom
Typical manifestations
Dull lower abdominal pain is characterized by mild or subtle pain in the lower abdomen, which may be continuous or intermittent. Patients may also experience other discomfort symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhea, abnormal vaginal discharge (for women), and erectile dysfunction (for men).
complication
Dull pain in the lower abdomen generally does not cause obvious complications.
reason
Overview
There are many reasons for dull pain in the lower abdomen. It may be caused by non-disease factors such as cold abdomen, improper diet, ovulation, changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, or it may be caused by disease factors such as obstetrics and gynecology diseases, digestive system diseases, urinary system diseases, and andrology diseases.
Cause of symptoms
1. Non-disease factors
(1) Cold abdomen: If you do not keep warm, the abdomen will be stimulated by the cold, which may cause intestinal cramps and lead to dull pain in the lower abdomen.
(2) Improper diet: Eating too much spicy and irritating food may irritate the intestinal mucosa, causing dull pain in the lower abdomen.
(3) Ovulation: During ovulation, a woman’s ovaries release mature eggs. Some sensitive women may feel a dull pain in their lower abdomen when the eggs are released.
(4) Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels: Before menstruation, there will be significant fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels in women’s bodies. Some women may experience dull pain in the lower abdomen as a result.
2. Disease factors
(1) Gynecological and obstetric diseases: such as chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, ectopic pregnancy, etc.
(2) Digestive system diseases: such as ulcerative colitis, chronic appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, etc.
(3) Urinary system diseases: such as chronic cystitis, chronic ureteritis, etc.
(4) Men’s diseases: such as chronic prostatitis, chronic seminal vesiculitis, etc.
Common diseases
Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, ectopic pregnancy, ulcerative colitis, chronic appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, chronic cystitis, chronic ureteritis, chronic prostatitis, chronic seminal vesiculitis
Seeking medical treatment
Outpatient indications
1. Dull pain in the lower abdomen persists and affects daily life;
2. Accompanied by digestive system symptoms such as abdominal distension and diarrhea;
3. Accompanied by urinary system symptoms such as frequent urination and urgency;
4. Women with gynecological symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge, abnormal menstruation, abnormal vaginal bleeding, etc.
5. Men with symptoms such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation;
6. Other severe, persistent or progressive symptoms and signs occur.
If the above situation occurs, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time.
Treatment department
1. If you suspect a digestive system disease, you should go to the gastroenterology department for treatment.
2. If you suspect a urinary system disease, you can seek medical treatment at a urology department.
3. If a male patient is suspected of having chronic seminal vesiculitis, chronic prostatitis or other diseases, he can go to the urology department or men’s department for treatment.
4. If a female patient suspects pelvic inflammatory disease or other diseases, she should go to the gynecology department for treatment.
Medical preparation
1. Make an appointment in advance and bring your ID card, medical insurance card, medical card, etc.
2. The doctor may examine the abdomen and recommend that the patient wear loose pants that are easy to put on and take off.
3. If you have had medical treatment recently, please bring relevant medical records, examination reports, laboratory test results, etc.
4. If you have taken some medicine to relieve symptoms recently, you can bring the medicine box with you.
5. Family members can be arranged to accompany the patient to seek medical treatment.
6. Patients can prepare a list of questions they want to ask in advance.
What questions might a doctor ask a patient?
1. How long have you had dull pain in your lower abdomen?
2. Do you have pain on the left side, right side, or entire lower abdomen?
3. Is your pain intermittent or continuous?
4. Do you have any other symptoms?
5. Have you ever encountered a similar situation before?
6. What was the diagnosis at the time? How was the treatment?
7. Have you ever caught a cold or eaten spicy food before this symptom appeared?
8. Have you ever taken any medication on your own? What medication? What was the effect?
What questions can patients ask their doctor?
1. Why does my lower abdomen ache slightly?
2. Is my condition serious?
3. What tests do I need to do?
4. What treatment do I need? Can it be cured?
5. If taking medication, what are the usage, dosage and precautions of the medication?
6. What should I pay attention to in my daily life? Do I need to avoid certain foods?
7. Do I need follow-up examinations? How often?
examine
Scheduled inspection
If you experience persistent, dull lower abdominal pain or other discomfort, it’s recommended that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor will first perform a physical examination to gain a preliminary understanding of your condition. Depending on your specific situation, they may recommend a complete blood count, urine test, prostate fluid test, ultrasound, CT or MRI, or colonoscopy to further confirm the diagnosis.
Physical examination
1. Abdominal palpation
Palpation can be used to determine whether there is an abdominal mass, tenderness, rebound pain, etc.
2. Abdominal percussion
By tapping the patient’s abdomen, the condition inside the abdomen can be determined.
3. Abdominal auscultation
The patient’s intestinal condition can be judged by listening to the bowel sounds in the abdomen with a stethoscope.
4. Others
For female patients, the doctor may also examine the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, and appendages to check for any abnormalities. For male patients, the doctor may also examine the prostate, testicles, and scrotum to determine if there are any abnormalities.
Laboratory tests
1. Blood routine test
It helps to determine whether there is infection or inflammation.
2. Urinalysis
It can be used to preliminarily determine whether there is a urinary tract infection.
3. Routine examination of prostatic fluid
It can assist in diagnosing whether there is prostate inflammation.
Imaging examinations
1. Ultrasound examination
It can help doctors observe the condition of the abdominal and pelvic organs, and understand whether there is inflammation, lumps, etc., thereby providing a strong reference for diagnosing dull pain in the lower abdomen.
2. CT or MRI
Used to examine the abdominal and pelvic structures in more detail.
Other tests
Colonoscopy: It can directly observe the condition of the rectum and colon and is used to diagnose intestinal diseases.
diagnosis
Diagnostic principles
The doctor will ask the patient about his or her medical history in detail, including the nature, duration, and accompanying symptoms of the pain, and make a comprehensive judgment based on a combination of physical examinations, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations.
Differential diagnosis
The following is an identification of common diseases that cause dull pain in the lower abdomen.
1. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
It often develops from a persistent course of acute pelvic inflammatory disease. Besides dull lower abdominal pain, patients may also experience lower abdominal distension, lumbar pain, and increased vaginal discharge. Ultrasound examination may reveal enlarged fallopian tubes, with or without pelvic effusion.
2. Chronic appendicitis
This condition often develops from acute appendicitis. Patients primarily experience dull, recurrent pain in the right lower abdomen. Ultrasound examination may reveal an enlarged appendix.
3. Chronic cystitis
It often develops secondary to chronic inflammation of the upper urinary tract, and occasionally develops from incompletely treated acute cystitis. Patients often experience dull pain in the lower abdomen, along with frequent urination, urgency, pain, and a burning sensation in the urethra. Urinalysis can help confirm the diagnosis.
4. Chronic prostatitis
The etiology and pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis remain unclear, but may be related to infectious factors such as chlamydia and mycoplasma, as well as urinary irritation and abnormal immune responses. Patients with this condition often experience recurrent, dull lower abdominal pain, as well as distending pain and discomfort in the lumbar and perianal areas. Additionally, patients may experience symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, pain, difficulty urinating, and premature ejaculation. Ultrasound examinations reveal ill-defined and disorganized prostate tissue.
treat
Expected treatment
For patients experiencing dull pain in the lower abdomen, symptomatic treatments such as rest and hot compresses can be used to relieve the pain. If the dull pain persists, seek medical attention and work with your doctor to identify the cause and take targeted treatment measures to fundamentally resolve the problem and restore your health.
Treatment of the cause
Generally speaking, common causes of dull pain in the lower abdomen include chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic cystitis, chronic appendicitis, etc.
1. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease
Patients can use physical therapy such as shortwave, ultrashortwave, microwave, and infrared irradiation to relieve pain. If the pelvic tissue is adhered to the surrounding area, adhesion dissociation surgery can be performed.
2. Chronic cystitis
Patients can take oral amoxicillin capsules, levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules and other antibiotics for anti-infection treatment under the guidance of a doctor. At the same time, they should pay attention to rest, drink plenty of water and urinate frequently.
3. Chronic appendicitis
Once a patient with chronic appendicitis is diagnosed, appendectomy is usually recommended to prevent acute attacks unless there are special contraindications.
Symptomatic treatment
1. Rest
When patients experience dull pain in the lower abdomen, they should pay attention to rest and avoid excessive fatigue.
2. Hot compress
Hot compresses can promote local blood circulation and help relieve pain. Patients can place hot towels or hot water bottles on the painful area, but be careful to avoid excessive temperatures to prevent burns.
Drug treatment
There is generally no specific medicine, and treatment is mainly targeted at the cause of the disease.
Related drugs
Amoxicillin capsules, levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules
Surgical treatment
See the “Treatment of Cause” section for details.
Treatment cycle
The treatment cycle is affected by factors such as the severity of the disease, treatment plan, treatment timing, age and physical condition, and may vary from person to person.
Estimated treatment costs
There may be significant individual differences in treatment costs, and the specific costs are related to the selected hospital, treatment plan, medical insurance policy, etc.
Prognosis
General prognosis
Generally speaking, through active management and treatment, the symptoms of most patients can be significantly improved or even disappear, and they can return to normal life.
Hazards
1. Dull pain in the lower abdomen may affect the patient’s daily life and work.
2. Long-term dull pain in the lower abdomen may have a negative impact on the patient’s mental state, causing anxiety and depression.
3. Dull pain in the lower abdomen may be a symptom of digestive system disease, gynecological disease or urinary system disease. If not treated in time, it may have adverse effects on the patient’s digestive system function and urinary and reproductive health.
Self-healing
If the dull pain in the lower abdomen is caused by a cold abdomen or improper diet, it can usually be relieved by self-treatment such as hot compresses and dietary adjustments. However, if the dull pain in the lower abdomen is caused by other diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, or chronic cystitis, it will generally not heal on its own and requires professional treatment in a hospital.
Curative
In most cases, dull pain in the lower abdomen can be effectively managed with appropriate intervention and treatment.
daily
Nursing principles
Patients with dull pain in the lower abdomen should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment and maintain a good lifestyle, which will help improve symptoms and promote rapid recovery.
Medication care
Those who need to take medication must follow the doctor’s instructions and do not increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the medication without authorization, so as not to affect the treatment effect.
Life Management
1. Maintain a regular schedule and ensure adequate sleep to help your body recover.
2. Ensure adequate rest and avoid overwork.
3. Appropriate physical exercise can help promote blood circulation, enhance the body’s resistance, and help promote recovery.
4. Patients should maintain a good attitude in daily life and avoid anxiety and tension.
diet
Dietary adjustment
A proper diet is crucial for recovery. Patients experiencing dull abdominal pain should choose light, easily digestible foods and ensure a balanced and comprehensive diet.
Dietary recommendations
1. Patients should consume fresh vegetables and fruits in moderation to supplement the vitamins and minerals needed by the body.
2. Moderate intake of high-protein foods such as eggs, tofu, and fish can provide necessary nutritional support and promote the body’s repair and recovery.
3. Ensuring adequate water intake can play a certain auxiliary role in promoting recovery.
Dietary taboos
1. Avoid consuming spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, garlic, etc., so as not to aggravate the symptoms.
2. Reduce the intake of gas-producing foods, such as beans, sweet potatoes, etc. Because these foods produce more gas during digestion, which may cause abdominal distension and aggravate lower abdominal pain.
3. Reduce the intake of coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages, as these drinks are stimulating and may aggravate the symptoms.
prevention
Preventive measures
The preventive measures for dull pain in the lower abdomen mainly include keeping warm, maintaining a reasonable diet, developing good living habits, and undergoing regular physical examinations.
1. Keep warm
A cold abdomen can cause dull pain in the lower abdomen. Therefore, you should keep your abdomen warm on a daily basis to help reduce the occurrence of dull pain in the lower abdomen.
2. Maintain a healthy diet
Overeating spicy and irritating foods can induce dull pain in the lower abdomen. Therefore, you should eat a light diet on a daily basis and eat less spicy and irritating foods, which will help reduce the occurrence of dull pain in the lower abdomen.
3. Develop good living habits
Maintain a regular schedule, avoid staying up late, ensure adequate sleep, and engage in moderate physical exercise to enhance the body’s resistance.
4. Get regular physical examinations
Regular physical examinations and timely detection and treatment of potential diseases can help prevent the occurrence of dull pain in the lower abdomen.