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What Causes Painful Sensitive Spot Above Belly Button?
Question: Hello, I am 26 years old and developed a pain in my abdomen a little over 10 years ago. The pain is located about 1 inch above my belly button and it is extremely sensitive. It was a sudden sharp pain, almost felt like someone stabbed me and was very intense for a couple days and then slowly let up, but never fully went away. I never had any problems with my digestive system prior to this pain and now my body is unable to process caffeine/alcohol. If I have either I will find mucus in my stool and it will not be solid for a few days. Not only that but it is as if I lose all contorl over my bowels. I usually have to sprint to a restroom because it is a sudden onset, but I always have the feeling like I never released everything. The pain is not located very deep in my abdomen, just placing my finger on that spot with the littlest amount of pressure causes discomfort. I have had all sorts of tests done such as a CT scan (done 2 different ways), a colonoscopy, an endoscopy, blood tests, ultrasounds, my gallbladder was removed but nothing turned up or helped.
Brief Answer:
Intolerance and a small hernia- consult Surgeon
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history, read and re-read it and understood your problems.
As per the very good history you have provided you have two different problems.
The first one is about the sensitive and painful spot / area 1 inch above the belly button which started when you were 16 years old ( 10 years prior to your present age of 26 ). As per the history you provided about starting as a sudden sharp pain almost felt like someone stabbed- intense for couple of days - never went away. This occurs in a case of a very small hernia in the mid-line where the fat of the falciform ligament ( a structure bellow this area) gets entrapped and during the process nerves get injured or entrapped to cause a pain which you have. This is one of the commonest explanations...
You another problem started after this.
You are allergic to alcohol and caffeine. And there is no way that your should continue this (as a part of treatment).
This is the reason for having mucus and loose stools. The urgency and feeling of loss of control over bowels, feeling of inadequate evacuation all are suggestive of intolerance to the contents of caffeine and alcohol.
This is the reason all your tests are normal as such problems cannot be picked up by any of the tests.
Thanks you so much for a very proper history.
The treatment is obviously NOT taking caffeine and Alcohol any time in life.
As for the pain above the belly button- you can get a high resolution ultrasonography , which may find a small defect. If a General Surgeon ( whom you have to consult) examines this and feels appropriate may advise you a small corrective surgery and excise the painful part and close the defect in linea XXXXXXX (the mid-line structure of the abdomen as discussed above).
I hope this answer helps you to get a proper diagnosis, and get a proper further treatment. Please feel free to ask for more or if you need further clarifications if you feel there is a gap of communication
Intolerance and a small hernia- consult Surgeon
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history, read and re-read it and understood your problems.
As per the very good history you have provided you have two different problems.
The first one is about the sensitive and painful spot / area 1 inch above the belly button which started when you were 16 years old ( 10 years prior to your present age of 26 ). As per the history you provided about starting as a sudden sharp pain almost felt like someone stabbed- intense for couple of days - never went away. This occurs in a case of a very small hernia in the mid-line where the fat of the falciform ligament ( a structure bellow this area) gets entrapped and during the process nerves get injured or entrapped to cause a pain which you have. This is one of the commonest explanations...
You another problem started after this.
You are allergic to alcohol and caffeine. And there is no way that your should continue this (as a part of treatment).
This is the reason for having mucus and loose stools. The urgency and feeling of loss of control over bowels, feeling of inadequate evacuation all are suggestive of intolerance to the contents of caffeine and alcohol.
This is the reason all your tests are normal as such problems cannot be picked up by any of the tests.
Thanks you so much for a very proper history.
The treatment is obviously NOT taking caffeine and Alcohol any time in life.
As for the pain above the belly button- you can get a high resolution ultrasonography , which may find a small defect. If a General Surgeon ( whom you have to consult) examines this and feels appropriate may advise you a small corrective surgery and excise the painful part and close the defect in linea XXXXXXX (the mid-line structure of the abdomen as discussed above).
I hope this answer helps you to get a proper diagnosis, and get a proper further treatment. Please feel free to ask for more or if you need further clarifications if you feel there is a gap of communication
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thank you for your help on this, it has seriously been causing me pain and discomfort for way too long! I always thought that it could be a hernia, but thought that it would have been seen with the ultra sound or a CT scan. I even thought it may have been seen when the surgeon was removing my gallbladder. I think since they said everything looked good I just dropped it and thought that couldn't be it. So just to be certain you think I should go back to the doctor and ask for a high resolution ultrasonography? Thanks again for taking the time to help!
Brief Answer:
Yes, Go back to Surgeon
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your feedback.
The Camera port is put through below the umbilicus. And it is possible that the small hernias are easily missed by all investigations, examinations. It is high degree of suspicion that helps in such cases.
Please go back to the Surgeon, Discuss about this, request for high resolution ultrasound and you may find the answer. You have to discuss and point the exact area of pain and tenderness to the Radiologist who will be doing Ultrasound.
If necessary you can certainly take another opinion of another Surgeon, our focus is your diagnosis and proper treatment.
I am sure you will get proper diagnosis and treatment.
Yes, Go back to Surgeon
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your feedback.
The Camera port is put through below the umbilicus. And it is possible that the small hernias are easily missed by all investigations, examinations. It is high degree of suspicion that helps in such cases.
Please go back to the Surgeon, Discuss about this, request for high resolution ultrasound and you may find the answer. You have to discuss and point the exact area of pain and tenderness to the Radiologist who will be doing Ultrasound.
If necessary you can certainly take another opinion of another Surgeon, our focus is your diagnosis and proper treatment.
I am sure you will get proper diagnosis and treatment.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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