What should I do if my abdomen is cramping and painful?
Disease description:
I’m not sure what’s causing this, but I often experience abdominal cramping upon waking in the morning—mainly in the lower abdomen. It’s not an internal abdominal pain. Could you advise what I should do if I experience cramp-like abdominal pain?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Yong
Hello, abdominal cramp-like pain typically arises from two main causes:
First, it may result from intestinal spasms—contractions of the smooth muscles within the gastrointestinal tract. In such cases, applying local heat (e.g., using a hot water bottle or warm towel) is often helpful.
Second, the pain may originate from skeletal muscle cramps in the abdominal wall—most commonly following strenuous abdominal exercise, such as sit-ups. This type of cramp is usually due to localized lactic acid accumulation or muscle fatigue. Gentle local massage is generally recommended for relief.
We hope this information is helpful. Wishing you good health!
