Hi, I have had lower abdominal discomfort for over a month and a half now. It started when I woke up in the morning with a stomach ache and a weird abdominal/pelvic feeling back in mid-April. I now am pretty sure I can trace it back to what it was. 2-3 days prior, my computer died, and I was using a very small backup computer while sitting on my futon. I would constantly lean and hunch over heavily for hours on end, compressing my lower abdomen. 2-3 weeks later I finally realized this could be the cause, so I stopped doing this. The constant stomach ache feeling has pretty much subsided. I think I may have had trapped gas because I remember when going to the bathroom one day, it was 75% better right after that, along with a very strong smell just that 1 time. Now, it's been about 6 weeks, and my main issue is that when I bend over to pick stuff up, especially when at work, I notice a gradual increase in burn/ache near my belly button which can radiate down into my pelvis/groin or also slightly upward and around. After a few hours at work, it will be a bit painful. When I go home for the night, it seems to subside. I keep looking for bulges in my abdomen/pelvis and don't see anything. There is no pain to the touch. But there is pain if I press in deeply and upward at a spot about 1 inch above my belly button. Wearing sweatpants or tighter shorts also seems to irritate it. Also an achy/burn feeling when constantly bending over or sitting for a while in an upright position. Any idea what this could be? Blood and urine tests came back normal. Playing tennis doesn't really aggravate it unless I have to constantly bend down, which I avoid.
Hello, guest. Several things could potentially cause such symptoms. Some possibilities include:
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Muscular Strain: Given your description of hunching over a small computer, you might have strained some of your abdominal muscles, leading to discomfort, especially when engaged in specific activities like bending.
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Hernia: Hernias are protrusions of tissue, often a part of the intestine, through a weakened area in the abdominal wall. The pain or aching sensation you describe when bending over or pressing deeply near your belly button could be indicative of a hernia. Hernias can sometimes be hard to detect visually, especially if they are small or deep.
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Digestive Issues: Gas, constipation, or other digestive issues could also cause the symptoms you're describing. The relief you felt after going to the bathroom might be a hint towards this.
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Other Internal Conditions: Issues related to internal organs, like the appendix, ovaries, or other structures in the abdominal or pelvic region, could be causing the discomfort.
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Postural Issues: Long periods in a poor posture, like hunching over, can have long-term effects on your musculoskeletal system.
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Nerve Issues: Sometimes, irritation or impingement of nerves can lead to radiating pain or discomfort.
An imaging study, like an ultrasound or MRI, might be beneficial to visualize the abdominal structures more clearly. Let us know what the result was.