Severe pain and swelling to right side of abdomen

[bevkevhaigh]

Want hep my dad is 72 and been diagnosed with crumbling of the spine but is also getting pain in his right side with extreme swelling. The doctor says he doesn't think it's anything of concern but sending him for a ct scan. The only thing that takes off this severe pain is a warm bath. He says he has never experienced pain like it and it's like a knife in his side. Do have any idea what this could be?

Thanks

[Gary Turner]

Hi, I can understand your worry. I can't help with what it might be yet can help with understanding the pain.

Pain is a signal to 'pay attention to something', so definitely get it checked out and push for pathology! When you are paying attention to the pain then the signal is being attended to, so it will usually lessen as a result.

All pain is real, yet all pain is a perception, a subjective experience in the mind. Nerve endings detect heat and pressure - damage, or risk of damage - and send a signal up to the brain where it is interpreted and the perception formed.

When there is negative emotion present the perception is strongest. Probably because negative emotions tense the body up therefore increasing heat and pressure. A better emotional state, ie. getting happier, relaxes the body and eases the pain. This is probably why the bathing helps. Anything that can relax him will ease the pain.

Bathing will also help ease the pain through 'efferent regulation' where there are more signals sent up the nerve lines because of the water and the heat. A nerve line only has so much 'capacity'. This is the same as rubbing a knock - a confused signal is sent up, therefore lessening the perception of pain.

To help your father with the pain get him happy, relaxed, and distract him as much as possible. All will help to regulate his pain. Most importantly, support him in getting the source of the pain investigated and resolved.

Hope this helps, if just a little.

[Dr Jon Rees]

Hi

very difficult to say what the pain is, but good to see it is being investigated - on the right side of the abdomen sits the right kidney, liver, gall bladder, bowel, the head of the pancreas - so many potential causes of swelling. So, cannot be of much help except that having some imaging is a good next step - he should also have blood tests for anaemia, liver function, kidney function etc - worth discussing with his gp if these haven't been done.

[Adam Eason]

Hello there,

Though I cannot offer any medical advice beyond that which is already offered here, you might find some use in another post and the contributions made here regarding additional ways of dealing with pain:

viewtopic.php?f=528&t=5327

I wish you and your Father well going forward, Adam.