Symptoms of pancreas pain : Location and What does pancreas pain feel like ?
If there is pain due to inflammation in the pancreas ( known as Pancreatitis), it is often sharp and intense. The pain is felt in upper abdomen ( the epigastric region ) above the navel. This pain often radiates to the back. In the early stages of inflammation, the pain is usually dull and slightly bothering. In the later stages, it can lead to continuous mild pain with bouts of intense pain in between. This pain is more in sleeping position and relieves a little when the person sits and bends forward. In some cases, the pain may encircle the entire upper abdomen, flanks and back and circulate in the deep areas of the body.
Other symptoms associated with pancreas pain :
- Vomiting after eating food : The person is unable to digest food and there may be occasional vomiting and mild nausea.
- Higher pulse rate : Check your heartbeat. In case of pancreas pain, the heartbeat is often elevated.
- Weight loss : One may experience weight loss because of pancreatic disease.
- Other less common symptoms are fever, chills, yellowish eyes and even jaundice.
What are the causes of pancreas pain ?
- The most prominent cause of pancreas pain is inflammation of the pancreas.
- Mumps can also cause this kind of pain.
- A scorpion sting is also known to initiate pancreas pain and that is why it is so painful.
- Stones in the pancreatic duct may cause a sharp pain. This is similar to gallstones.
- Pancreas cancer is also a cause of pancreas pain.
- Weight loss : If the body starts losing weight even after eating a healthy diet and there is no major changes in lifestyle, then it indicates that something is wrong.
- Diabetes : Many people with pancreas cancer have newly detected diabetes.
- Bowel movements may be more frequent and more foul smelling. They may be lighter in color.
- Pain in cancer is usually dull and radiates to the back. There is lesser interest in delicious foods and lower appetite.