Pancreatitis Pain

Pain is one of the most obvious and common symptoms of pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas gland.

The pancreas is an important component of the digestive process. The pancreas produces a number of digestive juices and hormones, including insulin and glucagon. These enter the bloodstream, where they help regulate blood sugar.

Since the pancreas is located in the upper part of the abdomen, behind the stomach, pancreatitis causes pain in the upper abdomen and feels as if it's radiating to the back.

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic.

Acute pancreatitis pain

Stomach pain is characteristic of acute pancreatitis. The pain can happen suddenly, or it can build up gradually. When it happens suddenly, the pain tends to be sharp and severe.

The pain is usually located in the upper middle of the abdomen, or the upper left abdomen. As mentioned above, it often feels as if it's traveling around the midsection to the back.

Pancreatitis pain often starts or intensifies after you've eaten. It's not unusual for the pain caused by pancreatitis to last several days, and it sometimes feels worse when you lie down on your back.

The abdomen is likely to be painful to the touch.

Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include

• nausea (and sometimes vomiting),
• chills and fever.
• rapid pulse
• fatigue, lethargy and weakness
• headaches and a feeling of faintness
• irritability
• cognitive difficulties: confusion and problems concentrating

Sometimes when you have pancreatitis, your blood pressure gets too low. This is a very dangerous situation that requires medical attention.

Chronic pancreatitis symptoms

Chronic pancreatitis causes less pain than the acute variety. In fact, most people with chronic pancreatitis don't experience pain at all. But those who do have pain say it can be continuous and at times, even disabling.

Sometimes, pain goes away as the condition progresses. This is generally regarded as a negative sign because it may indicate that the pancreas is no longer functioning.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by a number of other symptoms, which are mostly related to long-term complications. These include

• Diabetes, which results from the inability to produce insulin
• Digest problems that cause weight loss
• Anemia
• Jaundice

Chronic pancreatitis starts as acute pancreatitis. During the acute phase, scarring of the pancreas takes place. Damage to pancreas tissue grows and worsens.

According to recent statistics, about 80,000 cases of acute pancreatitis are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

Pancreatitis pain is common in both men and women, but pancreatis is very uncommon in children.

Pancreatitis can be severe enough to require a stay in the hospital.