mental Archives

Interviewer: I’m sure a lot of you out there know it well. You’re in mental pain, which causes physical pain which, in turn, causes more mental distress. It’s a vicious cycle. When does it end? Dr. Jorge Leal from Florida Pain Relief Group joins us now to talk more about this. Dr. Leal, great to have you here.

Dr. Leal: Thank you.

Interviewer: Oftentimes, when you have people come in that are just mentally and physical exhausted because of their pain, is it sometimes because of something that’s happening inside their minds?

Dr. Leal: It is very common that you see a lot of mental abnormalities in people who suffer with chronic pain. It is sometimes difficult to tell which one was first, but you have to definitely emphasize both aspects. The physical and emotional aspect of pain and suffering are intertwined. Not infrequently, people that suffer from chronic pain also suffer from sleeplessness. And if you don’t sleep well, your day does not go well and your pain can be intensified by the lack of sleep, lack of concentration, anxiety, causing a release of catecholamines which basically are adrenaline. Response to chronic stress can also make you more sensitive to pain, more susceptible to pain and it just, indeed, becomes a vicious cycle.

Interviewer: Can depression cause pain too?

Dr. Leal: It can intensify pain and sometimes it is associated with chronic pain, very commonly.

Interviewer: So what’s more important? Treating the mental side first or treating the physical side first?

Dr. Leal: Well, you have to treat both. One without the other will not be effective so you have to emphasize in treating both aspects of the pain experience, the psychological aspect and the physical aspects as well.

Interviewer: I’m curious to know how you go about that.

Dr. Leal: In our center, we have a comprehensive approach to the treatment of pain and we identify, by certain psychometric tools that we have available, to gauge when is someone susceptible to psychological problems. We identify if they have any kind of depression or any other psychological condition that might interfere in the management of pain. And we identify it, and then we seek appropriate treatment in terms of referral to the appropriate mental health specialist, counseling and so forth.

Interviewer: I think it’s important that you mention a lack of sleep can cause all of these problems. That it’s not necessarily something wrong with your brain, it’s something physically that’s happening to you and then it’s affecting your whole body.

Dr. Leal: Absolutely. And as you will know, this is very common in our day of life. Lack of sleep is extremely common and has tremendous negative consequences in our health. It’s now becoming more and more talked about, and we have to deal with that. That being said, pharmacological treatments for insomnia are fraught with their own problems, including addiction to sleep aids. So a very good sleep hygiene is extremely important and we do emphasize that in our practice.

Interviewer: And you can help people get off the pills and figure out a great way to just remedy their sleep.

Dr. Leal: Indeed.

Interviewer: Okay. Good stuff. Dr. Leal, thank you very much. You can visit their website, or give them a call at 844-KICK-PAIN to schedule your same-day appointment. We’ll be right back with more Daytime, so don’t go away.

Lower abdominal pain can mean a lot of different things, from common ailments to more serious diseases. The cause of your pain might be something minor that could go away on its own, or it could be something that requires medical attention and treatment.

Since there are a number of different organs in your lower abdomen, there are a variety of things that could be at the root of your pain. Here are some of the potential causes of your lower abdominal pain:

Appendicitis

Your appendix is located in the lower right quadrant of your abdomen. When it becomes inflamed, it causes appendicitis. Some of the signs to look out for include:

Pain near your navel that sharpens as it moves to the lower right side of your abdomen
Feeling nauseous or vomiting
Appetite loss
Abdominal bloating
Fever
Gas with diarrhea or constipation

Appendicitis can be serious, even potentially fatal if untreated, so don’t ignore the warning signs.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Pain in your lower abdomen could be due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a disorder that impact your colon. Some of the potential signs for IBS may include:

Abdominal pain
Gas
Cramps
Bloated abdomen
Constipation
Diarrhea

Keep in mind that IBS is a chronic condition, so long-term treatment may be needed.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

There are a number of inflammatory bowel diseases that could cause pain in your lower abdomen, including colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Some symptoms of colitis include:

Abdominal pain
Cramps
Diarrhea with blood
An urgent feeling like you need a bowel movement
Nausea
Losing weight
Vomiting

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease could include:

Consistent abdominal pain
Losing weight
Diarrhea
Fever may occur
Sometimes you might have blood in your stools

These particular inflammatory bowel diseases are more common in people under the age of 30, though they can occur in older people as well.

Urinary Issues

Problems in the urinary system could be the cause of your lower abdominal pain. Though there are a number of potential urinary issues that could be at fault, the most common is a urinary tract infection (UTI). The signs of a UTI could include:

Burning sensation when urinating
A frequent pressure that makes you feel like you need to urinate, though not much urine comes out
Pain in the lower abdomen or back
Pressure in the lower abdomen or back
Urine that looks cloudy, bloody or dark or urine that smells strange
Tired or shaky feeling
Fever or chills

Though UTIs are common and easy to treat, you should seek medical attention right away, especially if you have a fever. UTIs can cause kidney damage, which can be very serious.

Next Steps When You Have Lower Abdomen Pain

Though some of the causes of lower abdominal pain are easy to treat, it is important to seek medical help right away so that it doesn’t lead to something worse. Your medical professional will be able to determine what is causing your pain and what you need to do to heal. Treatment will help you feel better sooner and lessen the risk of complications.