Chronic unremitting lower abdominal pain quickly abrogated following treatment with amphetamine.

PURPOSE: To describe a cause and treatment for chronic unremitting lower abdominal pain of long duration with unknown origin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 50-year-old woman with 30 years of unexplained right lower quadrant pain was treated with dextroamphetamine sulfate.

RESULTS: Dramatic complete abrogation of the pain occurred within two weeks. The complete relief persisted for two years while she remains on therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Symphathetic neural hyperalgesia edema syndrome should be considered whenever there is refractory pelvic or abdominal pain.