1. Digestive Issues
Belly button pain is sometimes the result of digestive issues and may include other symptoms like heartburn, gas, and bloating. Bloating and gas can create pressure, leading to a feeling of fullness. Eating something that didn’t agree with you might cause indigestion, which sometimes causes abdominal pain.
These symptoms can be part of a condition known as chronic indigestion, or functional dyspepsia. It can also cause cramp-like pain that comes and goes, especially after meals or when you’re constipated.
See your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve after two weeks of home treatment.
2. Infections
Some infections can cause pain around the belly button.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), for example, can cause pain when they irritate your bladder. This can happen when bacteria, usually E. coli, get into the urinary system.
Call your healthcare provider if you experience UTI symptoms, such as frequent urination, a burning feeling when you urinate, or cloudy, foul-smelling urine.
Skin infections, such as yeast or bacterial infections, can also develop in the belly button because of its moist, damp environment. The folds of skin in this area often trap sweat, oils, and moisture, making it easier for bacteria and fungi to grow. These infections can cause swelling, pain, and sometimes a foul odor or discharge. Call your healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of a belly button skin infection.
3. Hernia
An umbilical hernia occurs when abdominal tissue bulges through an opening in the abdominal muscles around the belly button. This can cause pain or pressure, says David D. Clarke, MD, an internal medicine and gastroenterology physician in Portland, Oregon, and president of the nonprofit Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms.
An umbilical hernia that causes symptoms often requires surgery to repair the weak spot in the abdominal wall, particularly if the hernia becomes strangulated. This occurs when blood flow is cut off to the bulging tissue.
4. Surgical Complications
Belly button pain can be a side effect of abdominal surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery or C-section (cesarean section).
Laparoscopic surgery involves making small incisions in the abdomen to insert tools and perform procedures, which can cause temporary discomfort near the navel. This pain resolves on its own as your body heals, usually within a few weeks.
Similarly, after a C-section, you may have some temporary pulling near the belly button as your incision heals.
Keep in mind that belly button pain may worsen if an incision doesn’t heal properly. It’s important to follow your doctor’s postsurgery instructions for a smooth recovery. These may include temporarily not wearing tight clothing around the navel area and avoiding strength training, heavy lifting, and scratching the wound.
Call your healthcare provider if you have fever, chills, redness, or swelling around your incisions as well as abnormal discharge or bleeding, vomiting, or trouble urinating. These are signs of infection.
5. Pregnancy-Related Pain
In addition to a C-section, pregnancy itself can also cause pain around the belly button. An expanding uterus can put pressure on surrounding tissue and lead to discomfort in the navel area. This creates a stretching or pulling sensation, especially during the second trimester.
Called round ligament pain, this is generally harmless and goes away by the third trimester. But see your doctor if you don’t find relief from resting or changing positions, if you experience vaginal bleeding or contractions, or if the pain becomes severe.
6. Appendicitis
The infection can initially cause pain around the belly button before it moves to the lower right side of the abdomen, Dr. Clarke says. Appendicitis usually accompanies nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite.
Seek immediate medical care if you suspect appendicitis. Left untreated, the appendix can burst and cause a life-threatening infection called sepsis. You may need surgery to remove the appendix.
7. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is painful inflammation of the pancreas, an organ in the abdomen. It can have several causes, but the most common include a blockage in the bile duct caused by gallstones (hardened deposits of bile in the gallbladder) and alcohol use.
Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis lasts for a short time, causing pain in the upper belly that may radiate to the back, fever, upset stomach, vomiting, and rapid pulse.
On the other hand, chronic pancreatitis is inflammation that comes and goes over time. It causes pain in the upper belly that may feel worse after you eat.
Call your doctor if belly pain suddenly appears or doesn’t improve. If the pain is severe, seek immediate medical attention.
Treatment may involve a hospital stay to allow your pancreas time to rest and heal. You may receive pain medication, intravenous (IV) fluids, and instructions for dietary changes.
8. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic conditions that cause inflammation of the digestive tract and potentially pain around your belly button. The two most common types are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Their symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue.
Treatment usually includes prescription medications to reduce inflammation and plans to reduce flare-ups.
9. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that occurs when tissue normally lining the uterus grows outside of it. It can cause sharp, cramp-like pain around your belly button that gets worse during menstruation.
An estimated 11 percent of U.S. women between 15 and 44 years old may have the condition.
In addition to cramping and pelvic pain, endometriosis symptoms include bleeding or spotting between periods, gastrointestinal issues, and infertility. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about these symptoms.
10. Diverticulitis
Sharp pain in the lower left area of the abdomen is a common symptom of diverticulitis. This condition develops when small pouches form in the wall of the large intestine and become inflamed.
Many people develop small pouches known as diverticula as they age, though most don’t have issues. But sometimes, the diverticula can get infected and potentially tear, causing moderate to severe abdominal pain that’s sudden or grows over time. You may have other symptoms, including fever, nausea and vomiting, constipation, and rectal bleeding.
If you suspect you have diverticulitis, call your doctor. Mild cases may go away on their own or with medications. More severe cases may require a hospital stay to avoid complications.
Read the full article here
