{"id":5366,"date":"2025-12-08T21:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T02:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=5366"},"modified":"2026-01-12T18:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T23:38:38","slug":"pain-due-to-gastrointestinal-disorders","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/chapter\/pain-due-to-gastrointestinal-disorders\/","title":{"raw":"10p8 Pain due to Gastrointestinal Disorders","rendered":"10p8 Pain due to Gastrointestinal Disorders"},"content":{"raw":"<h1><strong>General Signs of GI Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Often accompanied by:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Paleness<\/strong>\u00a0(pallor).<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Sweating<\/strong>\u00a0(diaphoresis).<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Nausea<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>vomiting<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Activation of the\u00a0<strong>sympathetic nervous system<\/strong>\u00a0(fight or flight response).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>Types and Causes of GI Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<h1><strong>1.\u00a0 Burnings and Reflux<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Burning sensation<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Indicates\u00a0<strong>irritation<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>inflammation<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Common in\u00a0<strong>ulcers<\/strong>\u00a0(gastric, esophageal, or mouth ulcers).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Heartburn<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Caused by\u00a0<strong>acid reflux<\/strong>\u00a0from the stomach to the esophagus.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>2.\u00a0 Upper Abdominal Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Dull, aching pain<\/strong>\u00a0in the\u00a0<strong>right upper quadrant<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Suggests\u00a0<strong>liver inflammation<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>irritation<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Due to\u00a0<strong>stretching of the liver capsule<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>3.\u00a0 Spasms and Colicky Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Diffuse cramping pain<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Often occurs in\u00a0<strong>distended intestines<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Examples include\u00a0<strong>lactose intolerance<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>celiac disease<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Colicky pain<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Spasms of smooth muscles, often\u00a0<strong>intermittent<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Sometimes caused by\u00a0<strong>gallstones<\/strong>\u00a0trapped in the bile duct.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Peristalsis<\/strong>\u00a0against a stone can cause tearing and intense pain.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>4.\u00a0 Somatic Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Localized<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>sharp<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Examples:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Rebound tenderness<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0<strong>appendicitis<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Lower right quadrant<\/strong> pain.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Often\u00a0<strong style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">more severe<\/strong><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">constant<\/strong><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1><strong>Additional Notes<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Pain can signal\u00a0<strong>inflammation, obstruction<\/strong>, or\u00a0<strong>organ damage<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Recognizing the\u00a0<strong>location<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>nature<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>timing<\/strong>\u00a0of pain helps diagnose specific GI conditions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<h1><strong>General Signs of GI Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Often accompanied by:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Paleness<\/strong>\u00a0(pallor).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sweating<\/strong>\u00a0(diaphoresis).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nausea<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>vomiting<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Activation of the\u00a0<strong>sympathetic nervous system<\/strong>\u00a0(fight or flight response).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Types and Causes of GI Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h1><strong>1.\u00a0 Burnings and Reflux<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Burning sensation<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Indicates\u00a0<strong>irritation<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>inflammation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Common in\u00a0<strong>ulcers<\/strong>\u00a0(gastric, esophageal, or mouth ulcers).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Heartburn<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Caused by\u00a0<strong>acid reflux<\/strong>\u00a0from the stomach to the esophagus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>2.\u00a0 Upper Abdominal Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dull, aching pain<\/strong>\u00a0in the\u00a0<strong>right upper quadrant<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Suggests\u00a0<strong>liver inflammation<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>irritation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Due to\u00a0<strong>stretching of the liver capsule<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>3.\u00a0 Spasms and Colicky Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Diffuse cramping pain<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Often occurs in\u00a0<strong>distended intestines<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Examples include\u00a0<strong>lactose intolerance<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>celiac disease<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Colicky pain<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Spasms of smooth muscles, often\u00a0<strong>intermittent<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Sometimes caused by\u00a0<strong>gallstones<\/strong>\u00a0trapped in the bile duct.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Peristalsis<\/strong>\u00a0against a stone can cause tearing and intense pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>4.\u00a0 Somatic Pain<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Localized<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>sharp<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Examples:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rebound tenderness<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0<strong>appendicitis<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lower right quadrant<\/strong> pain.<\/li>\n<li>Often\u00a0<strong style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">more severe<\/strong><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">constant<\/strong><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><strong>Additional Notes<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Pain can signal\u00a0<strong>inflammation, obstruction<\/strong>, or\u00a0<strong>organ damage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Recognizing the\u00a0<strong>location<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>nature<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>timing<\/strong>\u00a0of pain helps diagnose specific GI conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":1370,"menu_order":11,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["zoe-soon"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by-nc-sa"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[60],"license":[57],"class_list":["post-5366","chapter","type-chapter","status-web-only","hentry","contributor-zoe-soon","license-cc-by-nc-sa"],"part":67,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1370"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5368,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5366\/revisions\/5368"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/67"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5366\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=5366"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=5366"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=5366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}