How to Help Someone With Abdominal Pain

The causes of abdominal pain can be caused by many factors and conditions some are easily treated, like bloating from gas retention, and others are more serious and can become a medical emergency like acute appendicitis. Other medical conditions can cause abdominal pain. For example, gastroenteritis which is when there is inflammation of the stomach and intestinal lining, Crohns Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and some female related specific conditions, eg,, prementrual symptoms. Sometimes, the causes can be secondary to infections, such as urinary tract infections or cancer of the intestine or colon. This article will show you how to look for common signs and symptoms of abdominal pain and what you should or should not do to help the person who is experiencing the pain. By knowing some basic facts about the history and location of the abdominal pain it will help you to make a quick assessment as to whether the person will require immediate medical attention.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Always check the ABC's of any person who is experiencing some medical related condition, like, difficulty in breathing, shock, pain, extensive bleeding, serious injuries. The A,B, C, represents the airway, breathing and circulation , respectively. After checking ABC and the victim appears stable then the next thing to do is to look for specific and common signs and symptoms which will help you make an assessment as to whether the person will require professional medical attention.
2. For abdominal pain first look to see the location of the pain. In medical assessment the abdominal region of the body is divided into four quadrants by two imaginary lines crossing perpendicular to each other with the center point crossing at the belly button. The reason for dividing the abdomen into the four quadrants, ie, upper left quadrant, lower left quadrant, upper right quadrant, and lower right quadrant, is to assist in the quick assessment of the causes of the pain. Since the anatomy and location of the internal organs and major structures of the human body is very much similar in each person and commonly falls into one of these quadrants then locating any pain or signs and symptoms will help to rule out or rule in differential diagnosis of possibilities for the etiology of the abdominal pain.
3. Look for radiation or referred pain from the abdomen. Does the pain travel to other regions of the body, for example, the arm , the leg, neck, jaw, shoulder.
4. iI is also important to look for certain signs which will be clues to helping in the assessment of the abdominal pain. Does the person have nausea, or signs of vomiting, fever, or diarrhea. Another important clue to look for is blood. Does there appear to be blood in the vomit, bruising on the abdomen, or blood in the stools. When there is black, tarry looking stools this could be a strong indication of some internal bleeding occurring inside the body. This could be an immediate medical emergency and the person will have to be taken straight away to the ER to be assessed and treated quickly
5. Finding out and asking questions about the history of the person who is experiencing abdominal pain will give additional clues to help in assessing the cause for the pain. Does the person have any heart problems, bleeding disorder, cardiovascular disease, or is the person currently pregnant.
6. Other questions to ask is where is the pain? How did it start? Describe the pain? Is the pain intermittent, stabbing, sharp or "comes and goes"?. Does the pain feel better if you pass gas or belch? Is it crampy, bloaty. is pain constant, dull, burning?.
7. Next to prevent the person from falling if he/she should lose consciousness it is advisable to lie the person down in a comfortable position. Have a container or bucket near by in case the person vomits.
8. One way to help reduce the abdominal pain is to apply heat to the area. Use warm flannel towel or cloth and place onto the abdomen or if you have a hot water bottle that would also work.

Tips & Warnings

• DON'T give the person any fluids or food until they have seeked professional medical attention and have been instructed by the doctor that it is alright to start drinking or eating again.
• DON'T give the person any painkiller medications until the medical doctor has instructed the victim that is it alright to do so.
• Avoid giving an enema or laxatives to a person experiencing abdominal pain unless they have been instructed to do so by the medical doctor.
• This article is written to educate and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advise and attention from your own medical doctor.