Upper abdominal cramps (severe spasms)

Usually cramping pain starts out moderate to severe!  Can start while just walking or to wipe one's bottom!  Sorry!  Cramps can come from stretching!  I found the worst type can start even while sleeping!  In the throat to the ear or vice-versa to the back, stomach!  I found I have to drink something hot immediately and chew one or two baby aspirin when this happens!  Becomes as happened to me while walking down the street it's debilitating as you all know!  They wanted to call an ambulance!  But it subsided with something hot or the baby aspirin.  Vicodin as is subscribed by ER or any other doctor or a doctor who connects it to arthiritis is someone I would not want to go back to as they are hiding the condition with no resolution.  I've had this for so many years I can tell when it's starting and hopefully I'm home but the baby aspirin is a good thing to have on hand!  Vicodin is too extreme and won't cure the problem!  I think it may even be heridtary as my mother had the same problem!  Tests aren't going to show anything!  But as for the cramps itself like stretching in the legs other than the upper torso I found that tonic water helps cramps in general taken 1/2 bottle once a day!  Go ahead and maybe a splash of something in it will help, too!  Don't abuse!  Just that at times as the saying goes "a stones throw away!" to find relief!

 

 

omg I wish I knew with this was. but now I feel less alone. I'm 15 il be 16 next month on the 28th. I have been having these "spasms" in my stomach since I was 1 1 I'm scared..what if we all have something really bad but no one knows what it is yet or how dangerous. it may not be life threatening but when it occurs its unbearable. it happens when I'm sitting in a certain position for too long or doing sit ups or crunches, or when I'm laughing too hard. I usually feel them coming so I hurry& lay back or tilt to the opposite side of the pain, anything to stretch it out. it feels like someones ringing something out in there or a Charlie horse. idk , but it hurts really bad. I don't really get them as much anymore. but no one really knows I do, its so embarrassing when it happens in front of ppl and I try to play it off by leaning back or to the side. its like I cant be normal without being weird. :/ sometimes I just wanna curl up in a ball and cry about it, but by doing that itl just happen again, and it might be worse than before. I've learned to just take the pain, cry and pray that it just goes away. like I seen some one else say...I JUST LIVE WITH IT

I posted a lengthy answer so I don't understand why you didn't see my reply since your question was referred to me for an answer. I wonder why your parents haven't noticed especially since you were so young and you don't mention a doctor's visit. Having a drink of tonic water helps or one baby aspirin. You are very young still and to have had this that long is curious to me. What is your weight general health diet. Do you smoke if so stop it. Get healthy and it will get better.

I have had the abdominal Charlie Horse in my left abdomen for nearly 25 years. I'm only 31, which means I've been having it since childhood. I have a long history of severe GI issues my whole life, including colostomy as an infant. When speaking with my gaggle of doctors, including all the specialists, their only explanation is adhesions & scarring due to surgeries. The cramps have become increasingly worse and more frequent now that I am older and after having had two kids. Some have suggested that I have Fibromyalgia. However, they don't want to give me another "catch all diagnosis," since I already have IBS, too. I lead an active lifestyle (exercise at least 4x a week) & have a well-balanced diet. I take vitamin supplements daily and am definitely not overweight, since some are suggesting that excess body fat seems to play a part. Nonetheless, my lifestyle and overall "good health," despite my GI issues doesn't seem to make these cramps happen less frequently, etc. I DO notice that they seem to occur when there is a weather change (i.e. when it starts to rain or the weather gets really cold). I don't know if anyone else has noticed that with their cramps. I compare it to a veteran with an "old war wound" or someone who has lost a limb & can feel cramps in that lost limb when the weather changes. For me, there is visible cramping in my ribcage area. However, I believe some of it may be linked to my nervous system, since I'm sure the nerves in my insides are probably all shot from my surgeries. I've learned that a hot water bottle while lying down helps to relax the muscle(s). And, if that doesn't work, I resort to pain meds. Cramps also tend to occur at night, but have also occurred at all times of the day, too. My husband has gotten really good at helping me. But, sometimes the pain comes on so quickly & so severely that I am literally frozen & unable to even call for help. I truly hope everyone who has shared their stories on this forum will be able to find some relief!!

I also have terrible spasms in my body. I never know where they will hit. When it happens in the very top of my legs I found that ice takes it away in seconds. If I keep taking calcium magnizieme I find I very rarley get the spasms but they come back if I stop taking it. Still my husband knows that if I get one he is too run to the freezer to get ice packs. This really works. Good Luck

Hi. I am finding that bio-magnesium seems to be working. it certainly relieves leg cramps and I may be kidding myself but if i take a regular dose, daily, it seems to be longer between my stomach spasms.

Just having yet another trawl of web after suffering these upper right abdo spasms, which lately seem to be gripping right across upper abdo.  For years I'd get the 'knot' that some describe on here when bending to wash hair etc or pick something up, I'd have to stretch, apply pressure and eventually (disabling though it felt at time) it would subside.  About 2 years ago, I started whenever sitting down in an evening with a feeling  of ' something there' under my right upper rib cage.  This has now progressed as described above to feel as though the whole of intercostal muscle just spasms. It isn't particularly painful, just very uncomfy and really seems to affect my digestion.  I kind of expect this now every time I sit down on the sofa. Have had USS and CT with contrast and all seems well. I have also suffered what was diagnosed as menieres disease for past 7 years - balance problems and tinnitus.  My latest trawl of web has thrown up a new one to me - 'The MS hug'. Apparantly, in multiple sclerosis, lesions on the spine can cause muscle spasms anywhere - but a pretty well known one in MS is this hug - which is exactly what a few of us are experiencing, this spasm of abdominal area including the intercostal muscle.  I'm not for a minute suggesting everyone on here has MS, but it may be an overlooked disease in some of us - I am now wondering if those years of initial spasms where I was bending over were down to pressure on neck area of spinal cord?  Given my balance problems as well, I for one will be visiting my doc shortly. Anyone else know anymore about this?

DM Dest, you might read on non-alcoholic pancreatis and non-alcoholic fatty liver........I have been having severe muscle cramps in my left side under my rib cage and each side of my belly button for about 6 mths now. I finally started researching and typing in different ways to describe my symptoms. I ran across the one on fatty liver and bingo ..when I read it I knew because on occasion I have itching bad like a rash on my chest and fore arms which was also a symptom. another was high triglycerides,cholesterol,fatigue,drinking alcohol and high liver enzymes..which off and on the last year my doctor has been warning me.Hope this helps.

terri50 wrote:

jholmes900 wrote:

Did you find a solution? I posted a new reply at the end of these posts and I have been reading all of them trying to find a solution. So far.... nothing. When the problem first started, it felt and looked just like I was pregnant and the baby was kicking. I am over 60 with no chance of being pregnant. I can't even imagine what muscles are cramping so much that they protrude.

i am 61 and been having these 'spasms' for about 3 years - upper left abdomen and feels like a lump pushing up under my ribs - lasts a minute or two then subsides. Not really painful but a very worrying pressure that stops me breathing for a bit. it is very similar to when a baby is kicking when we are pregnant. It does feel like my stomach sac is spasming. I would really like to know what causes it!!!!Terri from Brisbane

Hi Terri,

I am 58 and have had these spasms on my left side for about 6 months. If you put your hands on your waist, and where your thumbs rest, on your side/back, this is where I am talking about... near the last rib. I can often feel a lump there while the spasm is happening, and if I push on the lump, I can make the spams worse. The lump goes away though... a dr recently told me that I was feeling poo going through my bowels. I have diverticulosis, but I am thinking this is an IBS-C problem. I had IBS as a youngster, but have not been bothered by it for over a decade. I have a very diseased sigmoid colon from the diverticulosis and the doctor says that is what is causing my constipation and probably causing the spasms as well. Any of this sound familiar to you?
Sharon

sharon wrote:

terri50 wrote:

jholmes900 wrote:

Did you find a solution? I posted a new reply at the end of these posts and I have been reading all of them trying to find a solution. So far.... nothing. When the problem first started, it felt and looked just like I was pregnant and the baby was kicking. I am over 60 with no chance of being pregnant. I can't even imagine what muscles are cramping so much that they protrude.

i am 61 and been having these 'spasms' for about 3 years - upper left abdomen and feels like a lump pushing up under my ribs - lasts a minute or two then subsides. Not really painful but a very worrying pressure that stops me breathing for a bit. it is very similar to when a baby is kicking when we are pregnant. It does feel like my stomach sac is spasming. I would really like to know what causes it!!!!Terri from Brisbane

Hi Terri,

I am 58 and have had these spasms on my left side for about 6 months. If you put your hands on your waist, and where your thumbs rest, on your side/back, this is where I am talking about... near the last rib. I can often feel a lump there while the spasm is happening, and if I push on the lump, I can make the spams worse. The lump goes away though... a dr recently told me that I was feeling poo going through my bowels. I have diverticulosis, but I am thinking this is an IBS-C problem. I had IBS as a youngster, but have not been bothered by it for over a decade. I have a very diseased sigmoid colon from the diverticulosis and the doctor says that is what is causing my constipation and probably causing the spasms as well. Any of this sound familiar to you?
Sharon

Hi Sharon
That is exactly where my spasms are. Mine is left side about where the stomach sac is.I have a colonoscopy every 2 years and last week my gastro-enterologist examined me and basically just said 'bowel 'spasm' I had a endoscopy 2 years ago and they found nothing! Yes, I feel the lump too when it is happening. Now i just try to relax until it passes. No-one really seems to think it serious or even cares!! Sometimes a couple of times a week and sometimes not for months. i do worry that my bowel may be twisting though

Hi Terry,

Hi Sharon

Your symptoms are really interesting. I don't get actual pain ,more like the lump and spasm/movement in my upper left abdomen. it is very uncomfortable though. The sharp pain you are talking about - try to 'google' a condition called Epiploic Appengitis. I went to E.R a month ago with very, very extreme pain in my lower left abdomen. They talked about diverticulitis and surgery etc UNTIL they did a Cat scan and found this condition. Apparently it is quite rare and is just a piece of fat attached to the outside of our bowel to help cushion it. (we all have about 50 of them -quite small just about 2cm long)Well, one of mine twisted - would just eventually drop off and re-absorb back into my body. And probably has been mistaken for diverticulis a lot.

I will join your "hate my colon' club. I am starting to think maybe stress has a lot to do with it so combining more probiotcs and prunes with relaxing may be the hope. I hope so. This forum is great for sharing info!!! I am also going to document when my spasms occur to try to see a pattern. But after 3 years of them, I don't think it will be the death of me....touching wood, as I type!

Terri from Australia

terri50 wrote:

sharon wrote:

Hi Terry,

OMG... This whole "illness" is so weird! Mine started last October and the pain was more annoying than anything. It gradually got more frequent and I became worried that something serious was wrong. I went to the ER one day .... think I had a panic attack imagining something really serious was wrong (-: ... and they did a CT scan and told me that I had a "cylinder shaped plastic object in the area of my pain!" A couple of radiologist looked at it and told me "they had never seen anything like it before." The dr at the ER told me to "go to a major medical center and consult a surgeon!"

My husband took me over to a big hospital and after looking at the CT scan I had brought with me they admitted me. I was still having pain (and the pain then was strong but I could bare it without gasping or yelping out). TWO more CT scans later, they told me that they were unable to see the cylinder object, but that they thought I had a perforated stomach. I told them that I never had any stomach problems, but they insisted it was very serious. This was a "teaching hospital" so in the three days I ended up being there, my husband counted 8 different doctors that investigated my case. I was kept NPO, and after the first day, my pain had totally stopped. They kept talking about doing an endoscopy, but were concerned it might be too dangerous because of the "perforation." They also talked about exploratory surgery. They could not make up their minds what to do. All my bloodwork etc. was normal.

On the third day they decided they were going to do an endoscopy after all, and told me they were trying to "fit me in to the schedule, but that it might take another day or two." By then I had had enough, and I told them I was going home, and that they could call me with an appt. So I went home and two days later (on Halloween) I had my endoscopy. I ended up having a diverticulum in my stomach (pretty rare), which was what they mistook for a perforation. 

My pain never really came back again, except occasionally when I would bend down or move a certain way, then I would have a quick jolt, and then it was gone. This only happened maybe 8 times in 5 months or so.

So jump ahead to two weeks ago. My husband and I have been on this weird diet where you follow a diet plan for 3 days, and then you eat normal for 4. I didn't have much to lose, but hubby did, so I stayed on the diet to be supportive, because it is essentially easy to follow, and fairly healthy. I think this diet jump started my problem again though, because at night it consisted of eating huge amounts of broccoli and cauliflower. Also, I have a huge problem with constipation, and I think the two situations together "upset" my delicate colon.

I have been sick for three weeks now, but feeling a lot better. The pains this time around though were KILLERS! Sharp, stabbing pain, where I scream out in surprise, which scares everyone (especially my two dogs) around me. Very embarrassing! I am a special ed teacher, so I had one week off for Easter vacation, and took this last week off using sick leave. 

I have seen my gastro dr and my primary care dr. Gastro dr did a colonoscopy  on me last December and told me that I have SEVERE diverticulosis, and that my sigmoid colon is very narrow, and that is the cause of my constipation. I may need colon resection surgery down the road... very daunting! My primary care dr is a DO and really into "natural" medicine. She thinks my IBS and the diverticulosis combined is causing my problems. I am trying all kinds of things to get rid of the constipation naturally, but still have to result to using Miralax which I hate. I am investing money into probiotics and digestive enzymes, as I have done a lot of research on this and think that they make dramatically help my situation. 

So there you have it! I am officially a member of the "I hate my colon club!" BUT, you better believe I am going to RESPECT it in the future and do everything I can to treating my illness naturally in an attempt to avoid surgery and further problems!

Keep me posted how you are doing!

Sincerely,

Sharon

Hi Sharon
Your symptoms are really interesting. I don't get actual pain ,more like the lump and spasm/movement in my upper left abdomen. it is very uncomfortable though. The sharp pain you are talking about - try to 'google' a condition called Epiploic Appengitis. I went to E.R a month ago with very, very extreme pain in my lower left abdomen. They talked about diverticulitis and surgery etc UNTIL they did a Cat scan and found this condition. Apparently it is quite rare and is just a piece of fat attached to the outside of our bowel to help cushion it. (we all have about 50 of them -quite small just about 2cm long)Well, one of mine twisted - would just eventually drop off and re-absorb back into my body. And probably has been mistaken for diverticulis a lot.
I will join your "hate my colon' club. I am starting to think maybe stress has a lot to do with it so combining more probiotcs and prunes with relaxing may be the hope. I hope so. This forum is great for sharing info!!! I am also going to document when my spasms occur to try to see a pattern. But after 3 years of them, I don't think it will be the death of me....touching wood, as I type!
Terri from Australia

Hi Sharon
I meant to add, I am taking Bio-Magnesium for leg cramps and hoping this may also be of benefit for my stomach 'spasms'
Terri

Hi Terri,

i thought something was with my heart i would get a severe spasm when i had to bend over real far to pick something up it only happens occasinally but scary