Pancreas Pain

Pancreas pain

Abdominal pain in the upper mid quadrant is likely to come from pancreas, which often produces pain when itself becomes inflamed or cancerous. The pancreas pain tends to attack with drinking or eating, and also plays a prominent role in pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

In the vast majority of cases, the pancreas pain comes in attacks prior to other symptoms (e.g. jaundice, nausea, vomiting), and persists during the entire course of the pancreas diseases. In severe pancreatitis, the pancreas often bleeds so prominent that abdominal pain is also therefore sharp; In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, their pancreas pains progress to severe dull pain or drilling-like pain, or even pancreas colic.

A slight pancreas pain is often wrongly attributed to insignificant stomach problems (e.g. stomach cramps, gastritis) and therefore overlooked, yet an unbearable pain will impress patients enough to require medical treatments.

Pancreas back pain | Pancreatic cancer pain | Pancreatitis pain

Pancreas pain location

Most of the time, pancreas pains are located in the upper middle abdomen (above the belly button and overlapping the area of the lower part of the stomach and behind it). However, due to the its shape and location, the pancreatic pain can be felt on the left (representing the body and tail of pancreas) or slightly right (head of pancreas) side of abdomen, also involves lower left back to lead to a pancreas back pain, belonging to referred pain.

Sensations of pancreas pain

Pancreas pain manifests as a tolerable dull pain, or knife-like or drilling-like pain, or even intense colicky pain, often persistent and accompanied by a sudden intensification. Typically, you may feel a belt-like pain which appears around your stomach and extends to your lumbar back. Besides, you also have feelings of nausea, retching and even vomiting. The pain can get worse by eating and drinking or supine, and also get better by sitting with your trunk bent and knees contracted.

Pancreatitis pain

The pancreatitis is one of the two most common causes leading to a pancreatic abdominal pain, which often attacks induced by alcohol consumption or large meal. Chronic pancreatitis, acute edematous pancreatitis (mild) will cause a upper abdominal discomfort or mild abdominal pain; In contrast, acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (severe) produces a persistent, unbearable pain. In addition, pancreas pain can radiate to your waist, back and shoulders.

Pancreatic cancer pain

Pancreas pain, weight loss and jaundice are the three main symptoms of pancreatic cancer. This abdominal pain occurs in more than 75 per-cent of cases of pancreas cancer, and appears as deep-seated pain in upper mid abdomen. Pancreatic cancer pain varies from a slight and vague abdominal discomfort to continuous dull or drilling-like pain, to persistent severe abdominal ache and lower back pain.

Pancreas pain location, Pictures

The location of pancreas pain is mainly in the upper middle abdomen, also either on the left or the right side, which varies depending on the correct location of the abnormal change (lesion) in the pancreas. In addition to this, pancreas pain can radiate to the small of the back and lower back to cause a lower back pain.

more about Location of pancreas pain

Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis begins suddenly with severe, constant, often belt-shaped upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back. Patients avoid the supine position, and often bend together in order to relieve the pain. The abdominal pain responds to pressure and is easily tense ("rubber-belly"). Furthermore, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, flatulence, fever, jaundice and decreased bowel function.

Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment

Pancreatitis pain

The pancreatitis pain is mainly composed of abdominal pain, which often begins or worsens after eating/drinking and typically lasts for several days. Acute pancreatitis pain usually presents with sudden pain, that is typically severe; or gradual attack, that starts out mild but may become severe later.

Acute pancreatitis pain | Chronic pancreatitis pain

Pancreatic cancer pain

In initial symptoms, pancreatic cancer pain always predominates in at least three-quarters of patients. The pain is present as a deep-seated pain in the mid-upper abdominal quadrant, usually followed by upper abdominal fullness or discomfort.

Pancreatic cancer back pain

See also

1. Pancreatic cancer abdominal pain In initial symptoms, pancreatic cancer pain always predominates in at least three quarters of patients.
2. Pancreatic cancer back pain If you are suffering from pancreatic cancer, then back pain may be frequent. That includes these possible types.
3. Pancreatitis pain The pancreatitis pain is mainly composed of abdominal pain, which often begins or worsens after eating/drinking and typically lasts for several days.
4. Acute pancreatitis pain Characteristics
   Chronic pancreatitis pain Characteristics
5. Pancreas back pain Pancreas problems are the common causes of back pain, especially the lower back pain in the left.

Recommended

1. Pancreatitis
   The pancreas inflammation occurs in acute and chronic form, known as acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis.
2. Pancreatitis symptoms
   Symptoms of acute pancreatitis, severe pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis.
3. Pancreatitis causes
   Alcohol and gallstones, age, other causes for acute and chronic pancreatitis.
4. Pancreatitis diagnosis
   Diagnosed by blood test, abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ERCP, differential diagnosis.
5. Pancreatitis treatment
   General treatment, removal of the causes and lesions, nutritional therapy, pancreas pain management, surgical resection, pancreas transplant.
6. Pancreas Function
   Digestive function to digest food and Endocrine and metabolic function in the regulation of blood sugar in the body.

Source: Pancreaspain.org
Last update: 2012-05-18