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Ulcers And Back Pain:

Ulcer, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

In some cases, abdominal pain caused by ulcers may radiate to the back and result in mid to low back pain. Usually, such pain lasts for a short duration, but some people experience intermittent back pain for a few days or even weeks. Excruciating and persistent back pain could be a sign of a perforating peptic ulcer that penetrates the pancreas. This condition needs immediate medical assistance in order to avoid further complications. Those who experience back pain due to ulcers may not be able to recall any event or injury that triggered such pain. Sometimes, they may relate the pain with intake of food.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Peptic Ulcer Does It Cause Pain

Ulcers do not always cause symptoms. Sometimes, a serious complication such as bleeding or a sudden, bad upper abdominal pain is the first sign of an ulcer.

The most common symptom of peptic ulcers is abdominal pain.

  • The pain is usually in the upper middle part of the abdomen, above the belly button and below the breastbone.
  • The ulcer pain can feel like burning, or gnawing, and it may go through to the back.
  • Pain often comes several hours after a meal when the stomach is empty.
  • The pain is often worse at night and early morning.
  • It can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
  • The ulcer pain may be relieved by food, antacids, or vomiting.

Other symptoms of peptic ulcers include the following:

  • Loss of appetite

Severe ulcers may cause bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. Bleeding is sometimes the only symptom of an ulcer. This bleeding can be fast or slow. Fast bleeding reveals itself in one of the following ways:

  • Vomiting of blood or dark material that looks something like coffee grounds: This is an emergency and warrants an immediate visit to an emergency department.
  • Blood in the stool or black, tarry, sticky-looking stools

Slow bleeding is often more difficult to detect, because it has no dramatic symptoms.

  • The usual result is low blood cell count .
  • The symptoms of anemia are tiredness , lack of energy , weakness, rapid heartbeat , and pale skin .

What Is A Duodenal Ulcer

Duodenal ulcers are a common cause of abdominal pain. Once treated, they usually get better in a matter of weeks.

A duodenal ulcer is a sore that forms in the lining of the duodenum. Your duodenum is the first part of your small intestine. This is the part of your digestive system that food travels through, after it leaves your stomach.

You can get an ulcer in your stomach as well as in your duodenum. Stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers are both types of peptic ulcers. If you have either of these, you have what’s called ‘peptic ulcer disease’.

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Will Surgery Cure A Peptic Ulcer

Medical therapy works in most people with peptic ulcers. Sometimes, medical therapy does not work, or a person can’t take the therapy for some reason. Surgery is an alternative to medical therapy for these people.

Surgical operations often used in peptic ulcers include the following:

  • Vagotomy: Cutting the vagus nerve, which transmits messages from the brain to the stomach, can reduce acid secretion. However, this can also interfere with other functions of the stomach. A newer operation cuts only the part of the nerve that affects acid secretion.
  • Antrectomy: This is often done in conjunction with a vagotomy. It involves removing the lower part of the stomach . This part of the stomach produces a hormone that increases production of stomach acid. Adjacent parts of the stomach may also be removed.
  • Pyloroplasty: This procedure also is sometimes done with vagotomy. It enlarges the opening between the stomach and duodenum to encourage passage of partially digested food. Once the food has passed, acid production normally stops.
  • Tying off an artery: If bleeding is a problem, cutting off the blood supply to the ulcer can stop the bleeding.

If Your Ulcer Was Caused By An Anti

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If possible, you should stop taking the anti-inflammatory medicine. This allows the ulcer to heal. You will also normally be prescribed an acid-suppressing medicine for several weeks. This stops the stomach from making acid and allows the ulcer to heal. However, in many cases, the anti-inflammatory medicine is needed to ease symptoms of arthritis or other painful conditions, or aspirin is needed to protect against blood clots. In these situations, one option is to take an acid-suppressing medicine each day indefinitely. This reduces the amount of acid made by the stomach and greatly reduces the chance of an ulcer forming again.

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Causes Of Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers happen when theres damage to the layer that protects the stomach lining from the acids in your stomach.

This is usually a result of:

  • an infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria
  • taking anti-inflammatory medicines , such as ibuprofen or aspirin particularly if they’re taken for a long time or at high doses

It used to be thought that stress or certain foods might cause stomach ulcers, but there’s little evidence to suggest this is the case.

Stomach ulcers can affect anyone but are more common in people aged 60 or over. Men are more affected than women.

Signs You May Have An Ulcer

Did you know that stomach ulcers also called peptic ulcers affect at least 1 in 10 Americans over the course of their lives? And while stomach ulcers can be treated easily when caught early, lack of medical care can lead to serious complications.

Understanding the signs of stomach ulcers is important in helping you get the treatment you need. At Prima Medicine in Fairfax and South Riding, Virginia, our care team has the experience and knowledge to diagnose and treat stomach ulcers. Weve curated this guide to help you recognize the warning signs of an ulcer and understand what you can do about it.

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How Are Peptic Ulcers Treated

Treatment will depend on the type of ulcer you have. Your healthcare provider will create a care plan for you based on what is causing your ulcer.

Treatment can include making lifestyle changes, taking medicines, or in some cases having surgery.

Lifestyle changes may include:

  • Not eating certain foods. Avoid any foods that make your symptoms worse.
  • Quitting smoking. Smoking can keep your ulcer from healing. It is also linked to ulcers coming back after treatment.
  • Limiting alcohol and caffeine. They can make your symptoms worse.
  • Not using NSAIDs . These include aspirin and ibuprofen.

Medicines to treat ulcers may include:

  • Antibiotics. These bacteria-fighting medicines are used to kill the H. pylori bacteria. Often a mix of antibiotics and other medicines is used to cure the ulcer and get rid of the infection.
  • H2-blockers . These reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes by blocking the hormone histamine. Histamine helps to make acid.
  • Proton pump inhibitors or PPIs. These lower stomach acid levels and protect the lining of your stomach and duodenum.
  • Mucosal protective agents. These medicines protect the stomach’s mucus lining from acid damage so that it can heal.
  • Antacids. These quickly weaken or neutralize stomach acid to ease your symptoms.

In most cases, medicines can heal ulcers quickly. Once the H. pylori bacteria is removed, most ulcers do not come back.

What Kind Of Doctor Treats Peptic Ulcers

Pain of Duodenal Ulcer Improves on eatingâ¦Ever Wonder Why?
  • If you suspect you may have a peptic ulcer, you may first be diagnosed by your family practitioner or internist.
  • Children or teenagers may see a pediatrician.
  • For further treatment you will likely be referred to a gastroenterologist, a specialist in disorders of the digestive tract.
  • If you have an emergency such as vomiting or severe abdominal pain you will be seen by an emergency medicine specialist in an emergency room.
  • In the rare case where surgery is needed, you may see a general surgeon.

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Is Your Persistent Stomach Pain An Ulcer

Its normal to have a stomachache every now and then. Maybe you ate something that isnt agreeing with you or youre having a stressful day. These run-of-the-mill pains usually resolve on their own or with basic treatment.

But if you experience daily abdominal pain, or pain that comes and goes frequently, you could have a more serious problem, such as a peptic ulcer.

UNC Rex Digestive Healthcare gastroenterologist Silpa Yalamanchili, MD, explains how peptic ulcers can develop and how to find relief.

Warning Signs Your Body Pain Is Associated With Cancer

We experience body pain from time to time and in most cases, it is due to exertion, stress, minor injuries or due to too much sitting. These pains may last for a shorter or a bit longer duration and are usually cured with the help of medication or painkillers prescribed by doctors. But what happens when your body pain persists over a longer period of time and accompanied by symptoms like weight loss, cough, fatigue etc. One shouldn’t ignore body pain if it recurs and becomes unbearable as it could be a sign of cancer. Cancer is a group of diseases that occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably or spread to other parts of the body. It a leading cause of death worldwide, and accounted for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths, according to WHO.

Body pain is considered to be the most common symptom in people associated from all age groups right from young age to elderly. It is usually a result of exertion, sometimes trauma or other nonspecific causes.

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What Are The Signs Of Stomach Ulcers

If youve developed a stomach ulcer, there are several signs that should alert you to the problem. Here are the main seven signs you should look for:

  • Indigestion. This is the most common sign of a stomach ulcer.
  • Dull burning. You will feel this in your stomach when its empty of food.
  • Bloatedness. You may feel full even when your stomach is empty.
  • Heartburn. If youre experiencing acid reflux frequently, it could be because of an ulcer.
  • Triggered flare-ups. Your symptoms may suddenly flare after eating foods that are high in fat.
  • Nausea. You may notice feeling unwell first thing in the morning or when your stomach is empty
  • Black stools. The dark color could indicate that an ulcer somewhere in your digestive tract is bleeding.
  • As we said earlier, in some cases, you may not have symptoms at all. On the flip side, the severity of your symptoms could put you in the hospital. Severe signs of a peptic ulcer may include:

    • Trouble breathing

    Any signs of a stomach ulcer should prompt you to take a trip to the doctor. These illnesses, particularly if they are severe, will simply not get better on their own. If left untreated, a stomach ulcer can worsen to the point where it actually breaks through the stomach wall. This is called a perforation and its extremely serious.

    Some of the other complications of an untreated stomach ulcer include:

    Peptic Ulcer Facts And Picture

    Gastric Ulcer: Causes, Picture, Symptoms and Treatment
    • Peptic ulcer are sores in the lining of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum.
    • The main symptom of a stomach or duodenal ulcer is upper abdominal pain, which can be dull, sharp, or burning .
    • Other associated symptoms may include:
    • Acid reflux or heartburn
    • Feeling satiated when eating
  • Peptic ulcer formation is related to H. pylori bacteria in the stomach and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications in 50% of patients. For the remaining 50% there are miscellaneous causes such as drugs, lifestyle factors , severe physiological stress, and genetic factors, but less frequently the cause is unknown.
  • Ulcer pain may not correlate with the presence or severity of ulceration.
  • Diagnosis of an ulcer can be made with an upper GI series or endoscopy.
  • Treatment of the esophagus, stomach or duodenal ulcersaims to relieve pain, heal the ulcer, and prevent complications. Medical treatment involves antibiotic combinations along with stomach acid suppression medication, for example, antacids, proton pump inhibitors to eradicate H. pylori eliminating precipitating factors such as NSAIDs or suppressing stomach acid alone.
  • Complications of esophageal, duodenal or stomach ulcers include
  • perforation, and
  • blockage to the passage of food due to gastric obstruction from the swelling or scaring that surrounds the ulcer.
  • If a person with peptic ulcers smokes or takes NSAIDs, the ulcers may recur after treatment.
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    What Is The Treatment For Stomach Ulcers

    The choice of treatment depends on whether or not the ulcer is caused by infection with H pylori. Correct diagnosis is key to whether a treatment works or not. If the bacteria are the cause, treatment focuses on killing the infection. Regardless of whether the bacteria are the cause, reducing acid in the stomach is another important focus of treatment.

    The following treatments are recommended for ulcers:

    • Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, avoid alcohol, aspirin, and NSAIDs
    • Acid-blocking medications
    • Medications that protect the lining of the stomach and duodenum
    • “Triple-therapy” or “dual-therapy” regimens for ulcers caused by H pylori

    No single medication works to get rid of H pylori infection. Two combinations have been found that work well in most people.

    These treatments are generally given for two weeks.

    Once H pylori bacteria are eradicated from a person’s digestive tract, usually it will not come back. The ulcers usually heal completely and do not return.

    Treatment for bleeding ulcers depends on the severity of blood loss and includes:

    It is important to remember that treatment may not work if the diagnosis is not correct. If the doctor diagnoses an ulcer, it is important to determine whether the ulcer is caused by infection with H pylori.

    What Is A Stomach Ulcer

    Peptic ulcers are painful sores that line the stomach. Normally the stomach has a protective layer that keeps the acidic juices in the stomach from getting to sensitive tissue and causing an ulcer. However, some people are at risk for developing stomach ulcers, most often due to long-term use of NSAIDs, the class of pain reliever that includes ibuprofen or aspirin, or an infection with a type of bacteria called H. pylori. The good news is that treatment can help many ulcers to heal. Here are the signs of an ulcer you shouldnt ignore.

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    Youve Had Unexplained Vomiting

    From time to time, nausea brought on by ulcers may become so intense that it could actually cause you to vomit. If that happens, stay away from medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. According to Dr. Sengupta, these over-the-counter pain medications actually put you at a higher risk of developing ulcersor make your current ulcers worse.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Peptic Ulcers

    Gastric ulcer, Duodenal ulcer – symptoms and treatment

    Each persons symptoms may vary. In some cases ulcers dont cause any symptoms.

    The most common ulcer symptom is a dull or burning pain in your belly between your breastbone and your belly button . This pain often occurs around meal times and may wake you up at night. It can last from a few minutes to a few hours.

    Less common ulcer symptoms may include:

    • Feeling full after eating a small amount of food
    • Bloody or black stool

    Peptic ulcer symptoms may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider to be sure.

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    What Causes Peptic Ulcers

    In the past, experts thought lifestyle factors such as stress and diet caused ulcers. Today we know that stomach acids and other digestive juices help create ulcers. These fluids burn the linings of your organs.

    Causes of peptic ulcers include:

    • H. pylori bacteria . Most ulcers are caused by an infection from a bacteria or germ called H. pylori. This bacteria hurts the mucus that protects the lining of your stomach and the first part of your small intestine . Stomach acid then gets through to the lining.
    • NSAIDs . These are over-the-counter pain and fever medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Over time they can damage the mucus that protects the lining of your stomach.

    What May Interact With This Medication

    Do not take this medication with any of the following:

    This medication may also interact with the following:

    This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

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    Treating Helicobacter Pylori Infection

    If your stomach ulcer’s caused by a Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection, you’ll be given:

    • a course of antibiotics
    • a medication called a proton pump inhibitor

    This is also recommended if it’s thought your stomach ulcer’s caused by a combination of an H. pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .

    How Is A Peptic Ulcer Treated

    Can you describe peptic ulcer pain?

    Some peptic ulcers heal on their own. But if you donât treat them, the ulcers tend to come back.

    They can erode the blood vessel wall in your stomach or small intestine. The ulcers also can eat a hole through the lining and get infected. Or they can cause swelling, which may block food from moving from your stomach into your small intestine.

    If H. pylori is the culprit, your doctor may prescribe a mix of antibiotics to kill it. If aspirin and other NSAIDs are behind the ulcer, you may need to cut down on them, stop taking them altogether, or switch to another pain reliever.

    Your doctor may also give you antacids to fight stomach acid, or prescribe medicine to lessen the acid your body makes. Prescription drugs called cytoprotective agents can help protect the lining of the stomach or small intestine so the ulcer can heal.

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