Is stomach pain caused by gallstones?

Stomach pain may be caused by gallstones, but not all stomach pain is caused by gallstones. Stomach discomfort caused by gallstones is usually accompanied by symptoms such as pain in the right upper abdomen, nausea, and even shoulder and back pain. The specific cause needs to be confirmed by combining medical history, imaging examinations, and blood tests. It is recommended to seek medical attention in time and treat the symptoms after the cause is determined.

1) Causes of stomach pain caused by gallstones

Gallstones can lead to bile duct obstruction or cholecystitis, which in turn can cause upper abdominal pain. Some patients may feel stomach discomfort because the gallstones are located close to the gallbladder area, irritating the stomach nerves, or because of abnormal bile excretion leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction. This pain is generally persistent and can radiate to the right shoulder and back in severe cases, accompanied by nausea or fever. If there are suspected symptoms, B-ultrasound examination or hepatobiliary function assessment should be performed to determine whether it is caused by gallstones so that accurate treatment can be given.

2) Determine whether stomach pain is related to gallstones

The relationship between stomach pain and gallstones can be preliminarily judged from the nature of the pain and the accompanying symptoms: the pain caused by gallstones is often related to diet, especially aggravated after eating high-fat foods, and the pain is usually concentrated in the right upper abdomen and stomach junction area. If the pain location does not match and there are no other accompanying symptoms, it may be caused by gastric diseases (such as gastritis, gastric ulcer) or other organ lesions. For safety reasons, stomach pain suspected of gallstones should be seen by the gastroenterology department or general surgery department as soon as possible.

3) Treating stomach discomfort caused by gallstones

Treatments for gallstones include:

-Drug treatment: such as oral ursodeoxycholic acid to help dissolve stones, suitable for small cholesterol stones, the effect is slow and requires long-term persistence.

-Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: Non-invasive method to break up gallstones. Suitable for some patients with smaller gallstones and those without infection, but stones may recur.

-Surgical treatment: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a common method, suitable for patients with moderate or severe conditions or recurrent gallstones, and can cure the problem.

4) Diet and daily management advice

Avoid high-fat diets and eat more light foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains to reduce the burden on the gallbladder. Moderate exercise helps bile circulation and reduces cholesterol retention. At the same time, develop a regular three-meal habit and avoid overeating to reduce the possibility of inducing bile duct spasm.

If stomach pain persists for a long time or is accompanied by obvious right upper abdominal pain, the possibility of gallstones should be highly suspected and timely medical attention should be sought. Only after the patient with stomach pain symptoms has identified the cause through scientific examination can he choose the appropriate way to relieve the pain and completely solve the problem. Regular physical examinations, healthy diet and moderate exercise are important measures to prevent gallstones and related stomach pain.