I have a theory

[crispy0800]

I'm 17 and have had this exact same pain (the pulling pain under the belly button when not in a fetal position, and when urinating) for 24-48 hours about 3 times a year for the past few years. I once was told I had a urinary tract infection and was given antibiotics (no idea if that helped me since it goes away on its own anyway).

Anyway, I have a theory about what this might be but its based on other symptoms I have. So, I want to find out whether you guys share these symptoms to see if I could be right.

Ok, I think we may have a Vesicointestinal fistula, this is an abnormal connection between the bladder and the bowels. Symptoms include (I've had all of these):
-Bubbles in the urine (because gases from the bowels enter the urine)
-Feces in the urine/strange smells (i thought the smell was normal until my sister commented that my wee smelt like poo, so ask someone else to comment)
-Urinary tract infections
-Frequent urination
-Feeling that bladder isn't empty after urinating
-Painful urination and suprapubic pain (this might be what were experiencing, maybe the 'string pain' episodes happen when the connection is obstructed)

To anyone experiencing this, please respond to tell me whether or not you've experienced these symptoms. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this strange phenomenon. Merry Christmas everyone (let's hope an episode doesn't spoil it!)


This discussion is related to Severe pulling pain in belly button and penis..

[Tfitz2102]

From what I have found it results from bunching of the T10 abdominal nerve. Known as ACNES. if you Google that there will be better explanations from smarter people than myself. Hope this helps!

[peacansandies]

I have the last three symptoms... not sure if that's enough to tell my doctor about though because he rarely listens to anything I have to say regarding symptom research online. -.- Anyway my bladder feels empty the most often of the symptoms. But I've wondered if it was IBS.

[kewago]

I don't have a weird smell coming from my urine. Here are my symptoms. Dull pain in the right ball (groin area). That pain run's through some type of cord up to the belly buttom. The symptoms usually come after working out or something strenous.

[sobersallie]

I do not know anything about this kind of condition, but I can tell you that you should most definately go to the doctor. It sounds like something that could be fixed with a simple slice and sew.

[Tfitz2102]

Have had the same pain symptoms minus the bubbles or strongly scented urine. Due to the nature of the pain it has to be some sort of connection of nervous, tendonous, or muscular. Going to review some anatomy to see what I find.
After checking the T10 AND T11 Abdominal nerves run along the nervous system from the naval to the penis/clitoris. It is a highly busy area within your body so the bunching of nerves/muscle etc. Can cause a pulling sensation along the lines of referred pain. Similar to when heart attack patients receive pain in the shoulder or arm.
Shouldn't be a major problem just an overly busy spot in the body. Hope this info helps solve some questions.

[crispy0800]

Your response made me revisit this site/thread - what a nostalgia trip!

Funnily enough I have since been to medical school, am a doctor, and specialise in histopathology (meaning I have dissected surgically removed bladders and all sorts and diagnose anything and everything as long as it can be diagnosed based on examination of tissue and with a microscope)

Anyway, I still get recurrent episodes of pulling 'string like' belly button pain, and during the episodes the pain is triggered by urinating or stretching the abdominal wall by leaning backwards. Not sure what I was going on about with frothy and foul smelling urine and looking back I think I was overanalysing and didn't actually have those symptoms.

I am now almost certain this is due to a urachal remnant. The urachus is a embryological outpouching of the bladder into the umbilical cord and is meant to fully regress in the later stages of being a fetus. In some people it remains as a blind endingurachal remnant still connected to the bladder but closed to skin, or a doubly bind ended urachal cyst, or as a urachal fistula opening on to the skin (the latter is obvious at birth and would be repaired with a quick op, but the former would not be noticed until they cause infections in that stagnant pool of urine and/or urachal serous fluid).

Here is a paper describing the same thing https://www.hindawi.com/journals/criem/2018/6051871/
I have cut up urachal cysts myself too.
I personally am not going to seek anything further about this as all episodes self resolve. If I get into an episode later that doesn't resolve and ends up in me needing IV antibiotics for a bad infection then I suppose I will explain my idea and see if they recommend surgery. But otherwise I don't think it's worth any intervention personally.