Sharp and sudden lower abdominal pain is a common reason for urgent care.
The problem can be a symptom of many problems, includingdiverticulitisandappendicitis.
Right-sided diverticulitis pain can be confused with the right-sided pain common in appendicitis.
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While both conditions affect the colon, the causes and impact of diverticulitis vs. appendicitis are diverse.
Colon Anatomy
Yourcolonalso called the large intestineis part of your digestive system.
The colon forms the remaining material into stool and passes it to the rectum for removal through the anus.
Symptoms do not always occur, or they may come and go.
Symptoms include intense tenderness and pain in the lower right side.
These issues can progress to severe and possibly life-threatening without proper care.
Both conditions affect your colon and the areas surrounding it.
Diverticulitis
Symptoms of diverticulitis occur when one of the individual diverticula becomes perforated, causing an inflammation.
Pain may also disappear for a period, then return.
Misdiagnosis can occur when findings are inconclusive.
This can occur because the appendix is small and hard to locate.
The gold standard for appendicitis treatment is anappendectomy, which is the surgical removal of the appendix.
The procedure can be performed using open surgery or less-invasivelaparoscopictechniques.
Recovery from open surgery can take from two to four weeks.
The rate of recurrence after an appendectomy is virtually nonexistent.
The antibiotic treatment typically involves receivingintravenous (IV)antibiotics in the hospital for 24 to 72 hours.
Upon discharge, patients must continue taking oral antibiotics for seven days at home.
Recuperation is faster with antibiotics, with fewer lost workdays and a faster return to normal activities.
This therapy leaves you vulnerable to recurrence.
Is Surgery Better?
Research indicates that treating uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics delivers results similar to an appendectomy.
In some cases, there is no choice.
Short-term problems are also handled differently from those that occur repeatedly or last a long time.
Short-Term
Simple diverticulitis is treated with antibiotics, though medication is not always necessary.
Without treatment, diverticulitis can become severe and progress to complicated diverticulitis.
Depending on your condition, surgery may be performed with either traditional open surgery or laparoscopic techniques.
Summary
There are many causes of stomach pain.
Symptoms of diverticulitis and appendicitis can be confused because they can cause pain on one side of the body.
Germs, stool, or a tumor can cause an inflamed appendix.
When this occurs, your body reacts with inflammation to protect itself from the problem.
Diverticulitis results when diverticula, small bulging pockets that form in the colon, become inflamed.
Both issues can be acute or chronic problems that can become severe without treatment.
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