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Low abdominal pain when running

I just wanted to see if anyone has experienced some of my problems. I am a 27 year old female; I am in a pretty good shape. I exercise regularly and for the last 3 months I have been running 3 to 5 times a week for 2 miles. My problem is that sometimes I would get very severe LOW abdominal pain when running.  Sometimes is on the right side, sometimes is on the left side. It does not happen all the time, though. I worm up and increase my speed gradually. I am not sure if I should I see a doctor about that. If anyone has had anything similar, please share. Thank you!
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I came looking for answers after experiencing menstrual type cramps, but lower down, after doing a hard run. It's not every time, I think only when I really push myself when running. These symptoms have been evident for years but I just assumed it was blood being redirected from unnecessary organs to cope with demands of running - a bit like pins and needles.  Sometimes I can walk it off, sometimes I need to run to the toilet. Can this be normal without being a medical emergency? Only happens after running. Weight training doesn't affect it.
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Avatar universal
Hi amacon128,

Did you say that you DID have pain even when you were on the bc pill? The pain I get is exactly what has been described on this thread, but when I'm on the pill, I do NOT get any pain! I just want to confirm whether or not this was the same for you. I would rather not be on the pill, but it seems to be the only thing that works. I would also prefer to avoid a CT scan if at all possible.

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by the way, the external iliac artery supplies blood to the, you guessed it, PELVIS. if you are not getting sufficient blood flow through it, your pelvic organs wont get enough oxygen and HURT, just like cramps. Please, investigate an aneurysm as the cause to your pain.
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Avatar universal
VERY IMPORTANT LIFE SAVING DIAGNOSIS. PLEASE READ

Hey everyone, got some good news for you all. well, not good news. But for me it is good news, because I have been trying to figure out the cause of this exact pain for almost two years now, since I first got pregnant.

I have been to countless doctors, have had countless imaging tests done, such as pelvic ultrasound, pelvic MRI, and abdominal cat scan, even a colonoscopy at 23 years old, with no answers. People kept telling me, "its normal if you eat too much before you run" or "that's a 'stitch' and it happens when you run sometimes, its normal." Well I knew what they were talking about.. nut that is NOT the pain I felt. I have felt that before and this is something different. A hemmoragic cyst was found on my left ovary, but it was gone in 2 weeks when I went for a sono with my gyno. She told me that I probably just have hemmorigic cysts that hurt all the time and told me that hormonal bc would help control them. made sense so I agreed. well, that didn't help. it still hurt when I ran, or did anything that got my blood going.

I investigated everything, from muscles to ligaments to colon to ovaries. nothing. But I've finally found the answer.

Don't know why I never considered my circulatory system as the culprit, since this pain only happens when I physically exert myself. I am in ultrasound school now, and I took it upon myself to investigate thoroughly my abdominal aorta and iliac artery. Turns out I have an aneurysm in my left external iliac artery. How did they miss it on CT, I don't know, but I purposely ran up and down the stairs a few times right before I scanned. sure enough, its there, and I really should be off to the hospital right now, because an aneurysm rupture can be fatal. for now I am just not exerting myself until I can get there (looking for a sitter for my son). This is not good, but, its actually so much of a relief that I finally found the problem and hopefully I will be able to fix this and excersize without pain in the future.

Please, PLEASE, if you have this pain only when you do CARDIO... PLEASE, go to the hospital or doctor right away. if this is what you have... it can be potentially fatal. and until you see a doctor, DO NOT RUN. any amount of extra pressure can burst it at any time.
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Avatar universal
Hey all women on here,

I recommend Mayan abdominal massage (the Arvigo technique). The uterus can easily be knocked whilst running and the massage moves it back into place. Can also have a life-changing effect on your period...my years of struggling with very heavy menstruation were cured after one treatment.
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Avatar universal
It's exactly how you're describing it. It comes in waves and is similar to period pain. It's located in my uterus and lasts 10-15 min. I can't go on a pill because I'm trying to get preagnant (my hubby has some problems) and that would zero everything. I don't know what else to do. Quit running and go for swimming perhaps.
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