Pain around the belly button, medically known as periumbilical pain, is discomfort localized near the navel. This common complaint can arise from various sources, from minor issues to more significant medical conditions. Understanding the pain’s characteristics can offer clues to its underlying cause.
Common Causes of Belly Button Pain
Many instances of pain around the belly button stem from common digestive issues. Indigestion (dyspepsia) can cause a burning or aching sensation in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the navel. This discomfort often results from eating too quickly, consuming fatty or spicy foods, or certain medications.
Gas and constipation are frequent causes of periumbilical pain. Gas buildup leads to abdominal bloating and cramping as intestines distend, causing pain around the belly button. Constipation similarly causes discomfort due to accumulated feces and intestinal distension, stimulating nerves.
Muscle strain in the abdominal area, from strenuous exercise or persistent coughing, can cause pain near the navel. This pain is localized to the abdominal wall and may worsen with movement or pressure. An umbilical hernia, where intestine or fatty tissue bulges through a weak spot near the navel, can cause pain or a pulling sensation, especially when lifting or straining.
During pregnancy, belly button pain often occurs due to stretching of abdominal muscles and skin as the uterus expands. This pressure can lead to discomfort, more noticeable in later trimesters. Hormonal changes, such as increased relaxin, can also cause ligaments to stretch, contributing to soreness.
Serious Conditions Linked to Belly Button Pain
Beyond common issues, serious medical conditions can also cause pain around the belly button, often requiring professional evaluation. Appendicitis often begins with dull pain near the navel before shifting to the lower right abdomen. This migration occurs as inflammation progresses and irritates the abdominal wall.
Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, causes severe upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the belly button or back. This pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever. It results from digestive enzymes attacking the pancreas itself.
A small bowel obstruction, a blockage in the intestine, causes intense, crampy pain centered around the navel. This condition prevents normal passage of food, fluids, and gas, leading to abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and an inability to pass stool or gas. It can become life-threatening if untreated.
Other inflammatory conditions like diverticulitis, which often localizes to the lower left abdomen, or Crohn’s disease, can cause periumbilical pain. An incarcerated umbilical hernia, where tissue becomes trapped, or a strangulated hernia, where blood supply is cut off, are medical emergencies. These present with severe pain, tenderness, and sometimes changes in bulge color.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many instances of belly button pain resolve without intervention, certain symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation. Seek immediate care if the pain is severe, unrelenting, or significantly worsens. Pain that prevents daily activity, wakes you from sleep, or intensifies with movement like coughing or straining, signals a need for professional assessment.
Accompanying symptoms necessitating urgent care include fever, persistent nausea, or vomiting. Bloody stools, inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement, or significant abdominal swelling also require immediate medical consultation. If a visible bulge near the navel becomes painful, tender, red, or discolored, or if pain follows an injury, seek emergency medical help.