A colic is called a strong pain in the abdominal area that can be very variable in terms of its intensity over time, that is, it can range from very intense and oppressive, to almost disappear, to later increase its intensity again. This occurs because of an increase, sometimes violent, of the peristaltic movements of the hollow viscera of the abdomen. Many of the individuals who have presented this condition describe it as a feeling that something is compressing and releasing them. The pain causes the affected person to become restless and in constant movement.
In general, colic is due to the contraction of smooth muscle, which makes up one of the parts of the viscera and hollow organs such as the digestive tract and the urinary system, either due to irritation or obstruction. In addition, depending on the location, they have several names.
On the one hand, there are intestinal colic, which occurs as mentioned above due to the contraction of visceral smooth muscle. This muscular movement may be due to an infection or, failing that, to the presence of an obstacle that prevents the normal transit of the contents of the viscera. In many cases the colic disappears during or before the evacuation, however, it is also possible that the patient resorts to drugs that minimize the spasms that produce the pain.
Another type of colic is biliary, this is generated when the gallbladder becomes distended due to the presence of stones that prevent free circulation through the cystic duct. The pain that occurs is usually quite severe but intermittent. In order to eradicate the pain, a laparoscopy is used to remove the gallbladder or, failing that, an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy which eliminates the stones.
On the other hand, the moment the stones are in the duct that runs between the urinary tract and the kidneys, renal colic also known as nephritic colic occurs.
