Pancreas hurts - what to do at home

The pancreas is an important organ of the human body responsible for vital functions. Thanks to specific enzymes produced in the pancreas, the digestion process is accelerated. In addition, the pancreas is involved in the production of insulin - it is a protein hormone that normalizes carbohydrate metabolism in the body. Therefore, organ diseases must be taken seriously. More information about what to do when pain in the pancreas appears, and will be discussed in this article.

Causes of pain

Pancreatic pain can occur for many reasons, but the most common ones include:

• inflammatory process;
• genetic predisposition;
• violation of metabolic processes in the body;
• the consequences of taking hormonal or antibacterial drugs;
• pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
• frequent use of alcoholic beverages;
• unhealthy diet (eating a lot of carbohydrates or fats).

Inflammation (pancreatitis) is the main cause of painful sensations in the pancreas. Typically, it can be identified by the following symptoms:

• bad breath;
• bouts of nausea;
• increased heart rate;
• diarrhea;
• the appearance of abdominal pain on palpation;
• sharp weight loss;
• increased body temperature.

On a note! Gallbladder diseases (cholelithiasis, chronic cholecystitis, acute cholangitis) can also provoke the appearance of pain in the pancreas.

Typical symptoms

The development of pathologies of the pancreas can lead to disruption of the endocrine and digestive systems. Such diseases include chronic pancreatitis, cyst, polyp development, diabetes mellitus, cancer or inflammation of the pancreas. It is most difficult to detect polyps formed in the pancreatic duct, since their appearance is not accompanied by any symptoms.

Depending on the type of pathology, symptoms may vary. But the main symptom that unites all diseases of the pancreas is pain under the left rib. Over time, pain can also go to the lumbar zone.

Consider the main symptoms that occur with pancreatic disease:

• attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• heart palpitations;
• increased sweating;
• yellowing of the whites of the eyes.

These are just some of the symptoms that a person may experience. Therefore, first you need to diagnose the cause of the pain, and only then treat a specific disease. A therapist and a gastroenterologist are involved in diagnostics. It is to them that you need to turn to in the first place when pain appears in the pancreatic region.

Treatment methods

If, with the appearance of pain, you turned to a doctor for help and he determined a violation in the work of the pancreas, then he will prescribe special laboratory tests. Based on the results obtained, he will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. There are several treatments for diseases of the pancreas. This includes drug therapy, treatment with folk remedies, adherence to a medical diet, and surgical treatment. Doctors rarely resort to the latter, since it is almost always possible to overcome the disease using non-surgical methods. Let's take a look at each of these methods separately.

Pharmacy preparations

It is impossible to use medications on your own, only the attending physician should deal with their appointment. Otherwise, if you self-medicate, the risk of complications will increase significantly. The development of the inflammatory process in the pancreas, as noted earlier, can be affected by various diseases, therefore, therapy should begin with the elimination of the root cause. It is not recommended to ignore the painful sensations and delay the visit to the doctor.

Most often, when treating the pancreas, doctors prescribe the following drugs:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugswith anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. The most common of these are Ibuprofen and Paracetamol;
• antispasmodic drugsare aimed at eliminating spasms of smooth muscles. Drotaverin, No-Shpa and others are used;
  

  Description "Drotaverina"

• prokinetics - medicines that improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The most effective of them are Gastroxan and Metoproclamide;
• gastroprotectors - funds that have a positive effect on the state of the gastric mucosa, protecting it from various factors. Most often, doctors prescribe "Sucralfat", "Meteospazmil", "Rebamipid" and "Espumisan".

Important! When choosing a particular drug, the doctor must take into account several factors, for example, the patient's age, state of health, tolerance of individual components.

Folk remedies

As a supplement to traditional treatment, many use time-tested folk remedies. They are effective only in the treatment of non-advanced forms of the disease. If the disease has become severe, then more serious medications are used. In other cases, folk remedies do their job.

Table. Traditional medicine for pain in the pancreas.

Name of the product, photo	Application
Propolis tincture	Since ancient times, people have used bee products in the treatment of many diseases. Propolis helps to cope with gastrointestinal pathologies. For the treatment of the pancreas, you need to prepare a medicinal tincture. To do this, pour 100 ml of boiled water with 2 tbsp. l. chopped propolis and insist throughout the day. For the best effect, the product must be infused in a tightly closed thermos. Take the ready-made tincture 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.
Oat broth	For the next recipe, you need to prepare in advance. Before preparing the broth, oats must be soaked in warm water for a day. After that, it is dried and passed through a blender. Pour 200 ml of pure water for 1 tsp. l. chopped oats and cook for 30 minutes over low heat. It is not necessary to bring the product to a boil. Drink the broth at a time, prepare a new portion the next day. The duration of the treatment course is 2-3 days.
Flax kissel	This unique remedy relieves inflammation and relieves painful sensations in diseases of the pancreas. To prepare jelly, you need to pour 400 ml of water 1 tbsp. l. flaxseeds and cook for 8-10 minutes over low heat. After that, remove the jelly from the heat and leave for 1-2 hours. Strain the medicine through cheesecloth and drink throughout the day. Drink jelly, preferably warm.
Herbal collection	A great way to treat abdominal pain is with a herbal decoction. To begin with, you need to prepare a herbal collection by mixing in equal proportions marsh creeper, medicinal marigolds, yarrow and peppermint. If you could not get marigolds, then they can be replaced with a more common plant - calendula. Pour 200 ml boiling water over 2 tbsp. l. cooked collection and leave for 40 minutes. After insisting, the product must be filtered and drunk twice a day, 100 ml.
Wormwood tincture	Regular intake of such a tincture will help with liver diseases, pain in the pancreas and gastritis. To prepare, fill a liter or two-liter jar with wormwood flowers, fill it all with vodka and set the jar to infuse in a dark place for 1 week. After insisting, strain the product through cheesecloth and take 1 tsp every morning. l. on an empty stomach. Eat the same amount of honey about 1-2 minutes after ingestion. The duration of the treatment course is 10 days, after which you need to take a 30-day break. Take the tincture until it runs out.
Potato juice	Perhaps one of the simplest traditional medicine recipes for treating the pancreas. Juice or mince 2 large peeled potatoes, then use cheesecloth to squeeze out all the juice. Take 50 ml of juice before each meal. To increase the medicinal properties, immediately after the potato juice, you need to drink 200 ml of kefir.

On a note! Regardless of the chosen method of treatment for pain in the pancreas, it is recommended to drink 30 ml of mineral water (always non-carbonated) every 15-20 minutes. This will enhance the effect of the drugs or folk remedies used.

Nutrition

In parallel with taking medications, doctors prescribe a therapeutic diet, adherence to which will speed up the recovery process. Permitted products include:

• baked pears, apples and other fruits;
• berry jelly;
• fresh compotes;
• fermented milk products, preferably low-fat;
• fresh or boiled vegetables;
• egg omelet;
• buckwheat, pearl barley, rice and barley porridge;
• low-fat varieties of fish and meat.

With those products that can be eaten with pain in the pancreas, sorted out. Now let's look at prohibited foods that can increase painful sensations:

• alcoholic beverages;
• canned food;
• mushrooms;
• oily fish or meat;
• chocolate and other sweets;
• carbonated drinks;
• crackers, chips and other snacks;
• smoked, spicy and fried foods.

It is also advisable to refuse salty foods, as well as fruit juices (they contain a lot of sugars). Compliance with a special diet in combination with taking medications will cure various diseases of the pancreas.

Surgical intervention

Doctors resort to surgery in extreme cases, for example, with the development of an abscess, peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, or when a malignant tumor appears. In such cases, the surgeon resects the affected area and removes the abscess. Complete removal of an internal organ is carried out only in the most severe cases, when no measures help.

Also, the doctor may prescribe a pancreatectomy, a complex surgical operation that is characterized by a long recovery period. After the procedure, the patient must still follow the strict diet mentioned earlier.

Preventing Potential Problems

It is much easier to prevent various pancreatic problems than to treat them later. There are special preventive measures for this.

Step 1. Eat healthy foods and exercise. If you've already had problems with your pancreas, there are some precautions you can take to prevent future recurrence. One of the best things you can do is eat right and exercise to keep your body in good shape. Many gastrointestinal diseases can develop due to high triglycerides or diabetes mellitus.

Eat fewer carbs (such as pasta and chips) and remove high-sugar foods from your diet. Eat more vegetables, chicken and fish (they are very good for the body).

Step 2. Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink. Drinking alcoholic beverages on a regular basis can cause pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal diseases. If you have been diagnosed with a pancreatic disorder, stop drinking alcohol immediately.

If you still want to walk and chat with friends, calmly order apple juice or kvass. Both of these drinks look like booze, but they are not actually alcohol. Although it is better to tell everything to your friends at once.

Step 3. Do not smoke. Smoking also causes pancreatic disease and can lead to other health problems. Smoking also has many other negative health effects, so it is best to try to quit smoking. There are many great methods to help you with this these days, so don't be afraid to get started and just give it a try.

Step 4. Consider all medications you are using. Talk to your doctor about medications, as some of them can trigger pancreatitis.

Video - Signs of pancreatic disease