Suggest Treatment For Severe Pain In The Diaphragm Area

Posted on Thu, 27 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 Answered on

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Infrequently(once / mo.) I get severe (10) pain in the diaphragm / transverse colon area lasting about 20 minutes...pain sometimes causing vomiting...not occurring with exercise.. can you give me some differential diagnoses ?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Peptic ulcer can be the reason.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

In this area, such pain and vomiting are usually caused by peptic ulcer or stomach inflammation. Especially if the pain appears after a meal. Such pain does not radiate to the back.
Transverse colon usually does not hurt. However the pain in this location along with vomiting can be a sign of bowels partial obstruction. In such case, bloating, gas obstruction should be present as well.
And finally as you have had bypass, intestines ischemia should be considered as well.

I suggest you to have some diagnostic done. You should have gastroscopy and colonoscopy done for sure. If this two tests come negative, you should have abdominal CT with contrast done.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar