Last updated October 1, 2021
- By Body Part→
- Abdomen→
- Abdominal Pain
5 min read
No Ads
Why Abdominal Pain Worsens With Movement
If your stomach pain gets worse when you move around, it may be just a cramp, but it also may be a sign of appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, or a stomach ulcer.
Table of Contents
Last updated October 1, 2021
Constipation questionnaire
Answer our clinicians' questions to get a constipation treatment prescription for $25 and know if your constipation is serious.
Constipation questionnaire
Answer our clinicians' questions to get a constipation treatment prescription for $25 and know if your constipation is serious.
See constipation treatment options
Only available in: CA, NY, TX, FL, IL, NC, PA, OH, MI, and WA
9 causes for abdominal pain that gets worse with movement
Appendicitis
Appendicitis refers to inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-like structure in the lower right corner of the belly. Appendicitis is extremely common, occurring in about five to 10 percent of people at some point in their lifetime. While it can occur at any age, the most commonly affected group...
Acute abdomen
Acute abdomen refers to sudden, severe abdominal pain that is considered a medical emergency, requiring immediate diagnosis and often urgent surgical intervention. People of both genders and all ages are at risk for acute abdomen because it can have such varied causes.
Stomach ulcer
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum), which causes pain following meals or on an empty stomach.
Rarity: Uncommon
Top Symptoms: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, moderate abdominal pain, abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)
Symptoms that never occur with stomach ulcer: pain in the lower left abdomen
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Intestinal inflammation (diverticulitis)
Diverticula are small pouches that bulge outward through the colon, or large intestine. Diverticulitis is a condition where the pouches become inflamed or infected, a process which can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation.
Rarity: Uncommon
Top Symptoms: abdominal pain (stomach ache), nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation
Symptoms that never occur with intestinal inflammation (diverticulitis): pain below the ribs, pain in the upper right abdomen
Urgency: Hospital emergency room
Constipation questionnaire
Answer our clinicians' questions to get a constipation treatment prescription for $25 and know if your constipation is serious.
See constipation treatment options
Only available in: CA, NY, TX, FL, IL, NC, PA, OH, MI, and WA
Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which creates and releases insulin and glucagon to keep the sugar levels in your blood stable. It also creates the enzymes that digest your food in the small intestine. When these enzymes accidentally get activated in the pancreas, they digest the pancreas itself, causing pain and inflammation.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: constant abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, being severely ill, severe abdominal pain, fever
Symptoms that always occur with acute pancreatitis: constant abdominal pain
Urgency: Hospital emergency room
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is the general term for a bacterial infection of a woman's reproductive organs.
PID is most often a complication of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. However, it is possible to get PID from other causes.
Any woman can be affected. It is most often found in sexually active women under age 25, especially those who have had PID before, have multiple partners, and/or douche frequently.
Symptoms include fever, lower abdominal pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pain and/or bleeding during sex, and pain on urination.
Untreated PID can cause infertility due to damaged tissue in the reproductive tract, as well as chronic pelvic and abdominal pain. Unprotected sex partners will be infected as well.
Diagnosis is made through symptoms, pelvic examination, vaginal and cervical swabs, and urine tests.
Treatment is with a course of antibiotics. Be sure to finish all of the medication as directed, even when you begin feeling better.
To prevent PID, have all partners (male or female) tested for STDs and avoid unprotected sexual contact.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: fever, abdominal pain or unusual vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge, nausea or vomiting, vaginal bleeding, pelvis pain
Symptoms that always occur with pelvic inflammatory disease: fever, abdominal pain or unusual vaginal discharge
Urgency: In-person visit
Ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is a fairly common condition (one to two percent of all pregnancies). An ectopic pregnancy is one that occurs outside the uterus, which is the normal site of fetal development.
Constipation questionnaire
Answer our clinicians' questions to get a constipation treatment prescription for $25 and know if your constipation is serious.
See constipation treatment options
Only available in: CA, NY, TX, FL, IL, NC, PA, OH, MI, and WA
Crohn's disease flare
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's can affect any area from the mouth to the anus, and may cause diarrhea and weight loss.
Rarity: Rare
Top Symptoms: fatigue, nausea, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)
Urgency: In-person visit
Esophageal perforation
An esophageal perforation is a hole in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube food passes through as it goes from the mouth to the stomach.
Rarity: Ultra rare
Top Symptoms: being severely ill, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, trouble swallowing
Symptoms that always occur with esophageal perforation: being severely ill
Urgency: Hospital emergency room
Questions your doctor may ask about abdominal pain that gets worse with movement
- Any fever today or during the last week?
- Have you experienced any nausea?
- Have you lost your appetite recently?
- Have you been feeling more tired than usual, lethargic or fatigued despite sleeping a normal amount?
Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.
Abdominal pain that gets worse with movement symptom checker statistics
People who have experienced abdominal pain that gets worse with movement have also experienced:
- 14% Abdominal Pain (Stomach Ache)
- 6% Pain In The Lower Left Abdomen
- 5% Nausea
People who have experienced abdominal pain that gets worse with movement were most often matched with:
- 37% Appendicitis
- 37% Acute Abdomen
- 25% Stomach Ulcer
People who have experienced abdominal pain that gets worse with movement had symptoms persist for:
- 41% Less than a day
- 34% Less than a week
- 11% Over a month
Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from Buoy Assistant.
Share your story
Read this next