Burning-Like Pain
A burning feeling or gnawing pain in the center of the belly is the most prevalent sign of a peptic ulcer. An ulcer may cause a stomach or duodenal wall hole, causing infection and inflammation. It may also bring pus and scarring at the junction of the duodenum and the stomach. Constriction or complete blockage of the duodenal sphincter may prevent food from entering the small intestine from the stomach. This results in acute, severe abdominal discomfort that radiates rapidly and is exacerbated by movement.
In most cases, this manifests as stabbing pains between the chest, pubic bone, and belly button. The discomfort might last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Moreover, an empty stomach at night or morning can also trigger the burning pain to occur. This discomfort may wake a person up at night and can be especially severe after eating.
Peptic ulcers, although often only causing minor pain initially, may progress if not addressed. Moreover, pain triggers are inconsistent in ulcer patients. Some may find that eating aggravating the discomfort rather than alleviating it, while others can feel at ease after a meal. Some patients with duodenal ulcers report that the pain is more noticeable by midday than at night.
