What Causes Pain above the Belly Button?
People rarely get a sharp pain right above the belly button that can be worrisome and may even make the mistake of dismissing it as another round of menstrual cramps.
If you wake up in the morning feeling a throbbing pain above your belly button, the first question to ask yourself is, are the pains so bad that it’s disrupting your everyday life? If your answer is ‘YES,’ it is essential to seek medical care.
If your answer is ‘NO,’ you are probably experiencing symptoms of conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gallbladder disease, or stomach ulcer.
If you’re in constant pain, you might have a surgical emergency, but many types of abdominal pain are mild and will resolve without specific treatment.
Causes of Pain above the Belly Button
Pregnancy
Pain above the belly button during pregnancy is relatively common and can have an enormous impact on the day-to-day lives of women and their families.
Upper abdominal pain is typically in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, but it is not a problematic pregnancy symptom and occurs in only about 60-80% of pregnant women.
Gallstones
Gallstones are small, pebble-like lumps of material that build up due to your body’s reaction to excess amounts of cholesterol and other substances in the bile and gallbladder.
These stones can obstruct the gallbladder, causing biliary tract problems such as pain in the upper abdomen or right shoulder.
Overweight, a high-fat diet and rapid weight loss are associated with gallstones. Chronic cases may lead to gallbladder inflammation, abscess, and cholecystitis. Gallstones may resolve naturally. However, you can consult your doctor for alternative treatment if you experience severe pain.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a painful and sometimes fatal condition that occurs due to the inflammation of the pancreas by other enzymes. Most people who suffer pancreatitis are more likely to suffer from chronic pancreatitis than acute pancreatitis.
The symptoms of pancreatitis may include severe stomach pain that worsens with pressure on the belly, vomiting, and nausea. Also, there are a variety of tests for diagnosing and determining the cause of pancreatitis.
Some of the most common tests include blood tests, abdominal CT tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Acute pancreatitis may require hospitalization and intravenous fluids.
Stomach Flu
Most people refer to the stomach flu as influenza, a viral infection that causes vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. The most frequent cause of flu is influenza, which can infect the upper airway.
An infection can occur when a person inhales the droplets or comes in contact with a contaminated surface.
The stomach flu symptoms are usually very mild, but this virus can be dangerous for babies and adults with weak immune systems. The condition can cause stomach pain, sore throat, fever, myalgia, stomatitis, chills, and headaches.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In the United States, about 10 to 15 percent of the population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome. Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition of the large intestine that causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, and loose or diarrhea-like stools.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be exceptionally bothersome for patients during particular periods of their lives. While there’s no known cure for IBS, a good diet, medications, and lifestyle changes can help control flare-ups.
Diagnosis for Belly Button Pain
The majority of the time, when you experience pain above your belly button, it could be due to an issue with your gastrointestinal or intestinal tract, such as the stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, or intestines.
To determine whether a treatment plan is appropriate, your doctor will ask you about the frequency of your symptoms. Depending on the diagnosis, your doctor may order additional tests, such as a blood test, CT scan, MRI, X-ray, or ultrasound.
Treatment for Belly Button Pain
There are several ways to treat pain around your belly button; however, this depends on your condition’s severity. Your physician may suggest the following after making a diagnosis.
Ask your doctor. He or she will recommend an appropriate treatment course depending on the severity of your condition.
Your doctor may suggest the use of antibiotics to treat an infection, anti-inflammatory medication to treat an autoimmune condition, a bowel rest, or laxative to remove the obstruction. Severe cases may require surgery.
If your condition doesn’t improve after a few days, consult your doctor to diagnose and treat.
