The abdominal pain may also differ depending on the cause of the pancreatitis. The pain of gallstone pancreatitis, for instance, is usually sudden, stabbing, and may radiate to the back.
Stomach and Back Pain
A common symptom of pancreatic cancer is a dull pain in the upper abdomen (belly) and/or middle or upper back that comes and goes. This is probably caused by a tumor that has formed in the body or tail of the pancreas because it can press on the spine.
What is it? Mid-back pain can be a sign of pancreatic cancer. The pain can be caused by a tumour invading nerves or organs that lie near the pancreas. Some people also report that they feel pain in their shoulder or under their shoulder blade.
People with acute pancreatitis usually look and feel seriously ill and need to see a doctor right away. The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain in your upper abdomen that may spread to your back.
Blood tests to look for elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes, along with white blood cells, kidney function and liver enzymes. Abdominal ultrasound to look for gallstones and pancreas inflammation. Computerized tomography (CT) scan to look for gallstones and assess the extent of pancreas inflammation.
The hallmark symptom of acute pancreatitis is the acute onset of persistent upper abdominal pain, usually with nausea and vomiting. The usual locations of the pain are the epigastric and periumbilical regions. The pain may radiate to the back, chest, flanks, and lower abdomen.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
The pain usually develops in the middle or left side of your tummy and can move along your back. It's been described as a burning or shooting pain that comes and goes, but may last for several hours or days.
Pain in the stomach or back
Pancreatic cancer can cause a dull pain in your upper tummy (abdomen), which may spread to your back. To begin with, the pain may come and go, but as the tumour becomes larger and more advanced, the pain may be more constant and last longer.
It's been described as a burning or shooting pain which comes and goes, but can last for several hours or days, in some cases. Some people also experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting during the pain. As chronic pancreatitis progresses, the painful episodes may become more frequent and severe.
The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe, dull pain around the top of your stomach that develops suddenly. This aching pain often gets steadily worse and can travel along your back or below your left shoulder blade. Eating or drinking may also make you feel worse very quickly, especially fatty foods.
In some cases, additional medicine – called amitriptyline, gabapentin or pregabalin – may be recommended to help relieve the pain. If this isn't effective, severe pain can sometimes be relieved for a few weeks or months using an injection called a nerve block. This blocks the pain signals from the pancreas.
Pancreatitis is the redness and swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. It may be sudden (acute) or ongoing (chronic). The most common causes are alcohol abuse and lumps of solid material (gallstones) in the gallbladder. The goal for treatment is to rest the pancreas and let it heal.
The pain may come and go to start with but become constant as time goes on. People often say that the pain gets worse after meals or when they lie down. Some people have pain at night and it disturbs their sleep. The pain might be mistaken for a pulled muscle or as joint or bone pain.
Mild acute pancreatitis usually goes away in a few days with rest and treatment. If your pancreatitis is more severe, your treatment may also include: Surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, if gallstones cause your pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis is a non-progressive disease, meaning that it does not worsen over time. It causes sustained pain that lasts hours, days, or up to several weeks. Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term condition in which the pancreas is not necessarily persistently inflamed, but has been damaged by past inflammation.
The pain of chronic pancreatitis takes two forms. In the first kind, the pain may come and go, flaring up for several hours or several weeks, with no discomfort in between flare-ups. In the second, the pain is steady and debilitating.
Call your doctor immediately if your middle back pain is accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure in your chest that radiates to your shoulders and arms, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and/or vomiting.
A couple of acute abdominal conditions that can mimic pancreatitis include: impacted gallstones (biliary colic) gastric perforation or duodenal ulcer.
Acute pancreatitis may begin as either a gradual or sudden pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate through the back. It is often worse after eating. The pain can become severe, even constant, lasting for several days.
Acute pancreatitis usually clears up within one to two weeks. Solid foods are generally avoided for a while in order to reduce the strain on the pancreas. Supportive measures like an infusion (IV drip) to provide fluids and painkillers can help to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
People with acute pancreatitis often look ill and have a fever, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Other symptoms that may occur with this disease include: Clay-colored stools. Bloating and fullness.
In severe cases, pancreatitis can be life-threatening. If you have severe abdominal (tummy) pain that lasts for more than 20 minutes, call your doctor or visit the emergency department of your local hospital. Pancreatitis can be either acute (sudden onset) or chronic (ongoing and longer-term).
The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis is obvious in an advanced case with typical features: upper abdominal pains with weight loss; steatorrhea; and, diabetes. However, all of these features are seen only when the disease has been present for many years. Most patients present with pain only.