Functional Abdominal Cramping Pain

 5 mins 30 secs

Topics

  • About Belly Pain

We’ve all been there: the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, you’re out and about listening to your favorite song through your headphones, when all of a sudden, you’re stopped in your tracks. Your belly’s tied in knots. You want to collapse. The pain is so dull and deep that instantly you are questioning the very meaning of life. You’ve got abdominal cramping.

Functional Abdominal Cramping Pain

Despite the horrific pain, there are times when these debilitating cramps are not caused by an actual disease1. In these cases, cramps are grouped together under the phrase “functional abdominal cramping pain” (FACP). But what are the causes and symptoms of this condition, and what can you do about it?

In this article, we shed light on this… knotty topic, because when you understand what’s causing your abdominal cramps, lo and behold, it becomes a lot easier to treat them.

What is FACP?

A recent review — published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology — defines FACP as recurring mild-to-moderate cramping pain that comes on suddenly, lasting for seconds, minutes, or a few hours1.

FACP is very common, with up to 39% of US participants of one study reporting this symptom.3 Thankfully, it isn’t usually serious. The cause is not exactly clear, and your tests may all come out normal.

Symptoms of FACP

FACP can occur on its own, or along with other symptoms such as2:

  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • bloating

Usually, FACP is unpleasant or painful, but not painful enough to stop you from doing your daily activities, like going to school or work1.

Finally, if you also feel the need to poop when you have abdominal cramps, you should see your doctor. In these cases, the cause is more likely to be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Causes And Triggers of FACP

The Researchers agree there are likely multiple causes, and that these causes are similar to those that lead to IBS.

Specifically, FACP may be caused by the following factors combined:

  • stress
  • low-grade inflammation in the intestines (an overreaction of the immune system)
  • hypersensitivity to pain around the internal organs
  • problems with the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract
  • an imbalance between the “good” and the “bad” bacteria in the gut

Things that may raise your risk of FACP include:

  • genes
  • triggering factors, such as stress

Food Triggers

Certain foods or eating patterns (for example, eating at irregular times, or eating an irregular number of meals each day) may trigger your FACP. It may be useful to keep a diary in order to see which foods and eating behaviors trigger your abdominal cramps2.

Although researchers aren’t certain about the triggers of FACP, we may take a cue from what we know about IBS and other similar gastrointestinal problems.

Many people with IBS find that the following things trigger their flare-ups2:

  • eating at irregular times
  • following a diet that’s not diverse enough and doesn’t have enough of each main food group
  • eating insoluble fiber, fatty foods, or foods that make you gassy
  • drinking caffeine
  • eating foods high in so-called FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols)

Stress

Research shows that stress is one of the most important factors affecting your gastrointestinal health by disrupting the gut-brain axis1.

Stress can1:

  • cause your belly to empty out the food more slowly
  • cause the contents of your large intestines to pass through quicker, which makes you poop faster
  • make you more sensitive to pain in the gut wall

Treatments For FACP

If you get FACP only once in a while and the pain is mild, try avoiding the foods, drinks, and stressful situations that trigger your symptoms1.

If your pain is triggered by stress, try relaxation techniques. You may also benefit from over-the-counter medicines such as antispasmodics. These drugs are very effective for relieving FACP because they target the pain at its root cause: for the smooth muscle of the gut. Antispasmodics stop the muscle cramps and contractions in the gut wall.

Always see a doctor if you’re worried about your symptoms — they can run some tests and reassure you that your condition is not serious.

Antispasmodics:

Several types of antispasmodic treatments are available over the counter (OTC). They include:

  • Hyoscine N-butylbromide main ingredient in (Buscopan®)
  • Drotaverine
  • Peppermint Oil

Hyoscine N-butylbromide has been a trusted ally in the fight against abdominal cramps for 70 years. The makers of Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®) know that for some people, abdominal cramps won’t relent without a bit of help from an additional painkiller — paracetamol. So, Hyoscine N butylbromide + Paracetamol, a power combo for stronger abdominal pain and cramps, is available in 2 versions:

  • Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®)
  • Hyoscine N-butylbromide + Paracetamol (Buscopan Venus) Hyoscine N-butylbromide Paracetamol (Buscopan® Plus)

It’s important to note that painkillers, alone or analgesics, are not equally suitable for treating FACP. This is due to a number of reasons.

Firstly, analgesics don’t treat the root cause of the pain, they just block the pain perception and pain signals from the central nervous system. Meanwhile, antispasmodics like Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®) act directly on the cause of the pain, and only where needed, by relaxing the contracting muscles in the gut.

Secondly, analgesics or painkillers may also cause some gastrointestinal side effects. Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®), on the other hand, is tough on pain, but gentle on the belly. It also works locally on the gut. 

Read our article about the difference between antispasmodics and painkillers to learn when to use each.

When to Contact a Doctor

Contact a doctor if you have additional symptoms with your abdominal cramping such as:

  • you lost weight without wanting to
  • you look pale
  • you feel generally unwell
  • you have persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  • you have blood in your poo

You should also see a doctor if:

  • the pain is keeping you from doing the things you love or are required of you (such as going to work or exercising)
  • you’ve never experienced pain this intense before

Don’t let belly pain hold you back.

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Find your Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®)

Buscopan Mono Product

Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®)
  • Mild to Moderate Pain
  • Adults and children 6+
  • Tablets
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Buscopan Venus Product

Hyoscine N-butylbromide + Paracetamol (Buscopan® Venus)
  • Mild to Strong Dysmenorrhea
  • Adults and children +10
  • Tablets
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Buscopan Plus Product

Hyoscine N-butylbromide + Paracetamol (Buscopan® Plus)
  • Strong pain
  • Adults and children +10
  • Tablets
See details
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