The solar (its other name is splanchic) plexus is the area in which the largest number of nerve fibers in the human body is concentrated. It is located in the upper part of the abdominal cavity. Often, patients turn to a therapist with a complaint regarding the fact that they are worried about pain and heaviness in the solar plexus. It is important to understand that discomfort can radiate to this area from many organs, even those that are anatomically located as far away as possible. The main causes of heaviness in the solar plexus area are described below.
High-intensity exercise and various types of injuries
Most often, uncomfortable sensations appear in novice athletes. This does not indicate the presence of any pathology in the body, but is a kind of “bell” indicating that a person is doing the exercises incorrectly.
Heaviness in the solar plexus can also occur in professional athletes. In this case, the presence of discomfort indicates thatphysical activity is too intense. In addition, heaviness is accompanied by pain. The latter is acute (burning or stabbing) in nature. Sometimes the pain is so pronounced that the person is forced to interrupt the workout and rest.
As a rule, pain and a feeling of heaviness in the solar plexus that occur against the background of high-intensity physical exertion or improper exercise are not an alarming symptom. When they occur, it is enough to interrupt the workout and rest. Then it is recommended to make adjustments to the lesson plan. It is important to remember that overwork has a negative impact on he alth. Beginners need to master the technique of doing exercises.
However, it is worth knowing that regular high-intensity exercise, accompanied by pain and heaviness in the solar plexus, can lead to the development of an inflammatory process in the nerve fibers. And this is a condition that requires medical intervention.
Also one of the most likely causes of heaviness in the solar plexus is any kind of trauma. The latter may be a consequence of:
- Strike. This is especially true for athletes involved in wrestling. Even hitting the ball in the solar plexus while playing football can cause severe discomfort.
- Falling and, accordingly, hitting a surface.
- Strong tightening of the belt on the stomach. In addition, heaviness appears while wearing tight trousers with a high fit.
After an injury, a person experiences heaviness and burning pain. Discomfort is localized in the area between the lower edge of the sternum and the navel.
In addition, if the cause of their occurrence is trauma, after receiving the latter, other alarming symptoms may appear:
- Nausea.
- Frequent urge to defecate.
- Burning and warm feeling inside the abdomen.
- Violation of the breathing process. Most often it is very difficult to take a breath.
- Painful sensations can radiate to the chest, in particular to the region of the heart. At the same time, they are blunt in nature.
- If the discomfort is severe, the person involuntarily bends his knees and presses them to his stomach.
As part of the first aid, the victim must be laid on a flat surface and forced to breathe evenly. As a rule, for this it is enough to unbend it. In addition, if the injury is minor, you can massage the affected area of the solar plexus.
If you suspect a serious injury, call an ambulance. Doctors will transport the victim to a hospital, where they will competently draw up a treatment regimen for him.
Neuralgia
Another common cause of heaviness in the solar plexus. The term "neuralgia" refers to a pathological process, the course of which is accompanied by irritation of nerve fibers.
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, only heaviness in the solar plexus worries. But soon there is intense pain. It is so sharp and sharp that a personit takes a lot of effort to inhale. Thus, if a person is worried about heaviness in the solar plexus and it is difficult to breathe, in 80% of cases we are talking about neuralgia. Some patients are also concerned about the feeling of heat in this area.
The causes of the disease are very diverse. Neuralgia may result from:
- Herniated disc.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Various kinds of lower back injuries.
- Fracture of the femur or pelvic bones.
- The appearance of a neoplasm. The latter can be both benign and malignant.
- Hypocooling of the hips, lower back or buttocks.
- A non-moving lifestyle.
- Intensive loads on the lumbar region.
- Pregnancy.
- Obesity.
- Progression of pathologies of the pelvic organs.
If there is a severity, where the solar plexus, you need to contact a therapist. The specialist will take a history and conduct a physical examination. If you suspect the presence of neuralgia, the therapist will refer you to a neurologist for treatment.
Diagnosis of the disease involves the passage of the following studies:
- NMR.
- CT.
- X-ray.
In addition, it is necessary to donate blood and urine for a general and biochemical study.
The classic treatment for neuralgia is as follows:
- Taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Against the background of therapy, pain is also stopped. Most often, doctors prescribe "Baclofen" andIbuprofen.
- Taking or intravenous administration of drugs containing B vitamins.
- Passing a course of physiotherapy. As practice shows, acupuncture helps to achieve good results.
Treatment of women during pregnancy is carried out in stationary conditions.
Solarite
In medicine, the disease is also called idiomatic peripheral autonomic neuropathy. In the medical literature, you can also find the concept of "solar plexitis". Behind all these terms lies the inflammatory process in the solar plexus.
Main causes of solarite development:
- Injury resulting from a fall or impact.
- Lordosis.
- Enteroptosis.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Pathologies of the spine that are dystrophic or degenerative.
- Inflammatory processes in the abdominal organs.
- Flu.
- Peritonitis.
- Syphilis.
- Tuberculosis.
- Worm infestations.
- Colitis.
- Poisoning by chemical compounds.
- Tobacco smoking.
- Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Hypothalamus lesions.
- Long exposure to stress.
The main symptom of solaritis is heaviness in the area of the solar plexus. At the same time, discomfort has nothing to do with eating. There is pain in the supine position. The latter is aching and boring.
Sometimes the course of the diseaseaccompanied by a short-term deterioration in well-being. Symptoms come on suddenly and disappear abruptly. In this case, it is customary to speak of a solar crisis. It can occur every day or even once a month. A solar crisis is always accompanied by pain and a feeling of heaviness in the solar plexus.
In addition, the following symptoms may occur against its background:
- High blood pressure.
- Tachycardia.
- Stool disorders.
- Headache.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Fear of death.
- Inadequate perception of reality.
- Uncontrolled aggression.
If there are signs of solaritis, you must consult a general practitioner. Based on the results of the primary diagnosis, he will send you for a comprehensive examination, including consultations with a gastroenterologist, neurologist, surgeon and infectious disease specialist.
The goal of treatment is to eliminate the provoking factors that prompted the development of solaritis. With a regular occurrence of a crisis, symptomatic therapy is paramount.
The classic solarite treatment regimen is as follows:
- Taking painkillers and antispasmodics. As a rule, doctors prescribe "No-shpu", "Papaverine" and "Tifen".
- Reception of adreno- and ganglionic blockers. Most often, doctors prescribe Anaprilin and Pentamine.
- UHF therapy.
- Segmental massage.
- Vacuum therapy.
- Intake of vitamins A, C and group B.
- Calcium electrophoresis.
- exercise.
In addition, personsperiodically suffering from a crisis, the passage of a spa treatment is indicated.
Peptic ulcer
This is a pathology, the course of which is accompanied by the formation of specific defects in the gastroduodenal zone. Ulcers can be either multiple or single.
The main reason for the development of the disease is ignoring the signs of gastritis, which, in turn, arose against the background of the active life of Helicobacter pylori.
However, the presence of infection in the body is not a guarantee of the onset of the disease. The process of disease development starts only when exposed to one or more provoking factors.
These include:
- Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Irregular and unbalanced diet.
- Long-term medication.
- Strain (both nervous and physical).
- Lack of vitamins in the body.
- Long exposure to stress.
- Injuries to the abdominal cavity or spine.
- The presence of blood clots in the blood vessels that feed the stomach.
- Sleep deficiency.
Clinical manifestations and their severity directly depend on the localization of the ulcer and the individual characteristics of the organism. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and heaviness in the solar plexus area after eating. However, some patients complain only of mild discomfort. Others say the pain is unbearable.
Signs of pathology (except for heaviness in the solar plexus):
- Burp. It has a sour taste.
- Heartburn.
- Nausea that occurs immediately after eating.
- Vomiting. It brings considerable relief.
- Dramatic weight loss.
- Sleep disorders.
- Anemia.
The most disturbing symptom is vomiting associated with coffee grounds. It indicates internal bleeding.
Diagnosing an illness involves undergoing a comprehensive examination, including:
- FGS. During the procedure, a sample of the mucous membrane near the ulcer is taken.
- Bacteriological examination of tissues for the detection of Helicobacter pylori.
- X-ray with contrast.
- Clinical and biochemical blood tests.
All therapeutic measures are aimed at stopping unpleasant symptoms and eliminating the root cause of the development of pathology. The duration of conservative therapy can be up to 2 months. If it is ineffective, the doctor evaluates the feasibility of surgical intervention.
Conservative treatment involves taking the following groups of drugs:
- Antacids (Almagel, Maalox, Gastal, Gaviscon, Vikair).
- Antisecretory agents (Omeprazole, Ultop, Ranitidine).
- Cytoprotectors (Andapsin, Sucralfate, Carbenoxalone).
- Antiulcer drugs ("Verapamil", "Nifedipin", "Isoptin").
- Antibiotics (if Helicobacter pylori is detected).
- Pro- and prebiotics ("Normobakt", "Linex","Bifidumbacterin".
- Prokinetics ("Cerucal", "Motillium").
- Sedatives ("Motherwort", "Valerian").
- Vitamin complexes.
Ignoring the need for treatment leads to the development of complications, in particular, to oncology.
Peritonitis
This term refers to diffuse or local inflammation of the peritoneum. This pathology is always difficult. According to statistics, ignoring the signs of peritonitis in 30% of cases leads to death.
Most often, the disease develops against the background of the active life of pathogenic microorganisms (staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, clostridia, mycobacterium tuberculosis, etc.). If the bacterial flora enters the body by lymphogenous, hematogenous routes or through the fallopian tubes, it is customary to speak of primary peritonitis. In practice, it is diagnosed only in 1.5% of cases.
Most often, patients have secondary peritonitis, which is a complication of injuries or pathologies of the abdominal organs.
The development of the disease goes through several stages:
- Early phase (before 12 noon).
- Late (from 3 to 5 days).
- Final Phase (6 to 21 days).
At an early stage, there is pain and heaviness in the solar plexus area, it is hard to breathe. The important thing is that the uncomfortable sensations have a clear localization.
As the pathological process progresses, the following symptoms appear:
- Nausea, often turning intovomit.
- Pain and heaviness spread throughout the abdomen, that is, their clear localization is lost.
If treatment is not carried out at this stage, the patient's condition will worsen. First, bile will appear in the vomit, and then the contents of the intestine. Against this background, constipation will occur, and the gases will stop leaving. In addition, body temperature will rise and blood pressure will decrease. At the final stage, the general condition will become critical.
If there are signs of peritonitis, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, including:
- Palpation.
- Percussion.
- Auscultation.
- Vaginal and rectal examinations.
- X-ray of the abdomen.
- Laparocentesis.
- Complete blood count.
Peritonitis is always treated with surgery. In the postoperative period, antibiotics, immunostimulants, as well as intravenous laser blood purification, hemodialysis, and physiotherapy are indicated.
Severe helminthic invasion
If there are only a few individuals in the body, a person may not notice signs of their active life. However, with severe helminthic invasion, almost everyone has heaviness and discomfort in the solar plexus.
Sometimes it happens that the worms are woven into a dense ball, practically blocking the lumen of one or another organ, in particular, the stomach. A natural consequence of this is not only heaviness in the solar plexus, but also pain. The latter may appearpain or intestinal spasms. In addition, after eating, heartburn constantly occurs.
Currently, there are many ways to detect parasites in the human body. The most reliable is the enzyme immunoassay.
Treatment of invasion occurs in stages. First, the body must be prepared so that it does not suffer from toxic compounds that are released after the death of individuals. After that, an antiparasitic agent is shown (its choice is made by the doctor based on the results of the diagnosis). The final stage is the restoration of the body.
Osteochondrosis
As mentioned above, discomfort does not always come directly from the splanchic zone. Often they radiate even from the most remote parts of the body.
One of the common causes of heaviness in the solar plexus is osteochondrosis. This is a disease, the course of which is accompanied by damage to bone and cartilage tissues, as well as intervertebral discs.
Main causes of osteochondrosis:
- A lifestyle that does not imply physical activity.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Tobacco smoking.
- Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The following symptoms indicate the progression of the disease:
- Limited spinal mobility.
- Pain in the lower back, chest or neck.
- Nausea.
- Dizziness.
- General weakness.
- Desensitization.
Treatmentosteochondrosis can include both conservative and surgical techniques. To choose tactics for further management of the patient, the doctor must exclude other reasons for which heaviness in the solar plexus may appear. To do this, you must undergo a comprehensive diagnosis.
Classic scheme of conservative treatment of osteochondrosis:
- exercise.
- Kinesiology taping.
- Manual and reflexology.
- Hydromassage.
- Laser and ultrasound treatment.
- Medications, the active components of which contribute to the relief of unpleasant symptoms.
Surgical intervention is performed in severe cases and when conservative therapy is ineffective.
Pancreatitis
This is an inflammatory process in the pancreas. Under the influence of various adverse factors, the outflow of digestive juice and various enzymes into the intestine is disrupted. As a result, the fluid begins to accumulate, which cannot but affect the structure of the organ itself. As a result, the pancreas begins to digest itself, which is accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms.
Main causes of pancreatitis:
- A lifestyle that does not imply physical activity.
- Frequently eating junk food.
- Long-term medication.
- Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- All kinds of injuries.
- Food poisoning.
- Frequentovereating.
- Pathologies of the digestive system.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Allergy.
- Genetic predisposition.
Heaviness under the solar plexus is the first warning sign. Soon there is a cutting or dull pain. The localization of discomfort directly depends on which part of the organ is damaged.
Discomfort is permanent, but its intensity is associated with eating. As a rule, there is pain and heaviness in the solar plexus after eating.
Other symptoms of pancreatitis:
- Increased body temperature.
- Pale skin.
- Hiccup.
- Vomiting.
- Shortness of breath.
- Bloating.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
After a comprehensive diagnosis (ultrasound, urine and blood tests), the doctor draws up a treatment regimen. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized in a hospital and completely deprived of food for several days. At the same time, pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment is carried out.
Other possible causes
Heaviness in the solar plexus is a symptom that may indicate the presence of many ailments.
Other possible causes:
- Chronic gastritis. Appears in this case, heaviness in the solar plexus after eating.
- Duodenitis. Accompanied not only by heaviness, but also by a feeling of fullness.
- The presence of a neoplasm, both benign and malignant. Astumor growth, a feeling of heaviness is replaced by a pressing dull pain.
In addition, discomfort may appear against the background of the progression of infectious diseases.
In closing
The solar plexus is the area in which the largest number of nerve fibers are concentrated. Discomfort in this area can be a sign of a large number of diseases. However, some of them pose a danger not only to he alth, but also to human life. That is why it is very important to find out the cause of heaviness in the solar plexus area. To do this, the doctor draws up a referral for a comprehensive diagnosis. Based on its results, he will subsequently draw up the most effective scheme, which may include both conservative and operational methods. It is worth noting that surgical intervention is resorted to only in severe cases.
