Belly button pain can afflict you either consistently or sporadically. This pain should not be too intense but rather will feel like an uncomfortable pressure. It may be heightened when you bend over, lean forward, or stretch. This pain commonly does not go away, even when you are at rest. You may notice it if your waistband accidentally touches your navel. Belly button pain can be quite concerning when the cause is unknown. In this article we will explore some common symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Causes of Belly Button Pain

Minor problems

  • Urinary Tract Infection (Cystitis) - Cystitis is a type of urinary tract infection that can spread to the kidneys as it continues to develop. These types of urinary tract infections are more common in women. You may notice pain when you are urinating, bleeding or cloudy urine. Antibiotics will be necessary to clear this infection. See your doctor right away to avoid the infection spreading and causing further injury.
  • Viral or Bacterial Infections (Stomach Infections) - Infections in the stomach can cause the area around the bellybutton to become tender. Some bacterial infections can cause the stomach to swell due to the reproduction of the virus or bacteria. This may be accompanied by nausea or flu symptoms including vomiting. If you notice these symptoms, contact your doctor for an examination. You may require antibiotics to clear the infection effectively.
  • Certain Medications - Medications given to treat a stomach problem can cause pain around the belly button area. This can be a sign that you are experiencing an adverse reaction to the medication and your body is not properly absorbing the medication into your system. Contact your doctor to determine if your medication is known to cause digestive side effects.
  • Overeating and Food Poisoning - As the stomach expands to take on the size of the meal you have consumed, it can put pressure on the abdomen. Overeating can also cause gas to build up in the stomach, putting pressure on the surrounding areas. Food poisoning can also cause the stomach to expand due to the buildup of gas from growing bacterial colonies. As the infection makes its way through your system you can experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Surgery - Those that have recently undergone abdominal surgery can experience pain around the belly button. This pain can be acute or mild and may also be accompanied by diarrhea or constipation. As your body heals from your surgery this pain should fade away.
  • Pregnant women - Pregnant women will often experience pain around their abdomen. This pain is not typically constant or overwhelming, but it is important to make note of these symptoms as they can signal trouble with the growing baby. In most cases, this pain is caused by your body adjusting to the growing baby. If the pain is severe it can be a sign of something severe such as a fallopian pregnancy that will require immediate medical attention.
  • Hernia - Hernia is another cause of belly button pain, which occurs when part of an abdominal organ (intestines, bowels, bladder, etc.) is pushed outside of where it should be. Pain and tenderness in the affected area is the most common sign of a hernia. This pain will be elevated with activity, such as walking or bending over. Other symptoms include a tender lump, painful bowel movements, urination scrotum pain, and a heavy feeling in the abdomen. Surgical repair of the torn tissue is the primary treatment for a hernia. Before treatment, avoid any activity that may exacerbate the hernia.

Severe Problems

  • Pancreas Problems - Pancreas problems can cause pain to develop in the area which can center near the belly button. This can also cause fever, nausea or headaches to develop. If you have been showing signs of diabetes or you notice that this pain comes and goes throughout the day, make note of what appears to be causing it to help your doctor diagnose your condition.
  • Small Intestine Disorder - The small intestine winds through the abdomen, centering near the bellybutton area. If you develop an infection, kink in the intestines or other disorders it can cause severe pain around this area. Make note if you experience constipation, nausea, fever or other symptoms along with this pain to help your doctor determine what might be causing this disturbance. Some small intestine disorders will require surgery to correct.
  • Ulcers - Ulcers can cause a sharp pain in the bellybutton area. Ulcers are caused when the stomach lining is eroded, causing the stomach acid to damage the tissue below. This can cause internal bleeding leading to severe damage. This pain can become worse when you consume items that agitate the damaged tissue such as spicy or acidic foods. Medications can be administered to help replace the lining of the stomach, eliminating these symptoms. Your doctor will also give you a list of ways to modify your diet and lifestyle to avoid developing ulcers in the future.
  • Crohn's Disease - Crohn's disease is a disease that causes inflammation of the bowel, but can occur anywhere from the mouth to the rectum. This disease has genetic tendencies, but can also be caused by environmental factors such as smoking or the body's over reaction to normal bacteria. When Crohn's symptoms flare they can cause loss of appetite, fever, cramping in the abdomen, constipation, mouth ulcers, rectal bleeding or diarrhea. There is no cure for Crohn's disease but your doctor can provide medication to help manage the symptoms.
  • Appendicitis - Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small tube like structure that is attached to the cecum. Belly button pain due to appendicitis can be compared to the feeling of indigestion or constipation. At first, the pain will be dispersed and not localized to one specific area. It will be around the belly button region, with the exact spot difficult to pinpoint. Pain will move to the lower right side of the abdominal region as the condition progresses. This pain will be exacerbated when you walk or cough. Other symptoms include chills, constipation, appetite loss, nausea, fever, and vomiting. These will typically begin after the pain has started. The general course of action after diagnosis is appendectomy. Once the appendix has been removed, the patient will need plenty of rest and fluids.
  • Gallstones - The majority of people with gallstones do not experience symptoms. Symptoms will generally only occur when there is a complication. The most common symptom is immense upper abdominal pain, though it may radiate down to the belly button. This pain will occur periodically, occurring every few days, months, or even years. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, bloating, belching, and jaundice. Seek treatment if you are experiencing constant pain, fever, or jaundice. For severe cases of gallstones surgical intervention will be required. Treatment for mild cases includes reduction by avoiding fatty foods, drinking only clear fluids and taking pain killers.

When to Seek Medical Help

If belly button pain persists for more than 3-4 days and interferes with your life, seek medical attention. Moreover, if this pain coincides with vomiting, jaundice, fever, loss of appetite, or chills, it is highly recommended that you consult a doctor to determine if you are developing appendicitis or gallstones.

References
  1. http://www.medicinenet.com/appendicitis/page5.htm#toci
  2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001302/
  3. http://www.medicinenet.com/interstitial_cystitis/page6.htm#toch
  4. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hernia_faqs/page7_em.htm#treatment
  5. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/gallstones/page6_em.htm#Gallstones Treatment
  6. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/belly-button-pain.html
Discussions(11) Add New

  1. King September 06, 2011 11:58 PM Reply

    I have visited four different doctors up till now and no one has diagnosed anything. I had three ultrasounds and they were clear. The doctors at the first sight, seeing no infection, had to say that pain around belly button area is sometimes due to a navel hernia. The tests are all clear and the depth of the problem is still unknown. The pain is still there and now I am helpless. I don’t know what to do with it.

  2. Carling September 14, 2011 03:49 AM Reply

    I had a checkup a couple of days back and the doctor told me that I have umbilical hernia. It is type of hernia which does not protrude. The doctor told that as it is trying to change the shape of the skin near the belly button, I am feeling pain in the belly button. Now I have to check it up with a surgeon.

  3. Yannick October 13, 2011 11:56 AM Reply

    I feel my belly button hurts and once in a month it is a must. I think my problem is only the wearing of tight pants and when I feel the pain, I stop wearing them and in a day or two the pain goes and my life goes on in the same manner as it is normally. This is in my opinion sometimes a serious matter and sometimes you should not take care of it.

  4. Ardon December 21, 2011 08:28 PM Reply

    My uncle was having pain inside belly button and he was diagnosed to have an infection in the naval. Doctors tried to make remove the infection by medicines and dressing it. When over a period of two weeks that was not heeled up, then doctors decided to operate. They operated upon my uncle and removed the belly button and the infectious part. This is how he got treated. It is a very serious matter.

  5. Gwynne January 01, 2012 11:26 AM Reply

    I also have a pain like this and I used to have it due to the some kind of swelling inside my navel. I tried to press it today and it hurt. It is not rock hard but it is hard to press. It caused a disturbance in the whole of the area and the stomach pain belly button area started. I do not know what to do with it because it is for the first time that I am experiencing such a thing.

  6. Harman January 29, 2012 02:25 PM Reply

    If you have a pimple or an infection inside there which is causing a pain behind belly button, then you must sit down and you need to clean that with alcohol and piece of cotton. This treatment will make the infection to go away and probably you will become well.

  7. Zenon March 02, 2012 10:35 AM Reply

    I want to direct your attention towards the fact that there is a possibility of having some sort of infection in the navel which causes a navel pain to occur. There are people who have pains like this due to any pimple inside there and also sometime due to an in grown hair. You need to check it out.

  8. Bryce March 14, 2012 09:20 AM Reply

    You might be having appendicitis as you have a feeling of pain around navel. Sometimes you really do not know that where exactly the pain is and what to do with it. Believe me that you should immediately check it up with a doctor as you are at risk. The appendicitis has to be operated upon immediately. There are certain symptoms of it that you get a smell from your abdomen area and also there are some different secretions which tell about the appendicitis.

  9. Thorkell May 04, 2012 05:25 PM Reply

    The pain around belly button is a pain which causes hindrance in many works of daily life as it makes a person become lazy as it happens to pain anytime during the day. It is really a sensitive area and it must not be taken normally. In my opinion you must try to diagnose it by discussing it with some doctor.

  10. Xandy May 18, 2012 06:45 PM Reply

    I am a guy of 18 and I am having a very different kind of pain which has never been experienced before. As I am a student, I mostly wear jeans and such stuff and two months ago I had a pain in belly button. I thought that it is due to the reason that I wear tight jeans. I stopped wearing them and I saw that the pain disappeared after two days. Since then I have started to wear loose pants and I was feeling comfortable. Three days back, the pain started again. Now I don’t know what to do with it. Does anybody have any idea?

  11. damo August 20, 2012 10:48 AM Reply

    my girlfriend is worried their could b somthing wrong with her, her belly button is bright red inside and around the outside, it hurts to touch , its a bit smelly and its oozing . Any one kno2 what the problem cound be?