Overview
Abdominal pain, also known as a stomachache, is pain that occurs between the chest and groin area known as your stomach or belly. There are many causes for abdominal pain, and the pain can be in the form of cramps, aches, sharp or dull pains, and it can be intermittent or lingering.
Abdominal pain can be generalized (pain is felt in more than half of your stomach) or localized (only in one part of your stomach). There are several organs in this area of the body including: appendix, gallbladder, intestines, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and spleen. Any one of these can have issues that would cause abdominal pain.
Probably everyone at some time has experienced some sort of abdominal pain. Usually it’s not serious and may be caused by something a person has eaten or by something as basic as gas. The level of pain can be deceptive because something like gas can cause very bad pain, while something is dangerous as colon cancer can cause little or no pain.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment options may include:
- Avoid Alcohol
- Avoid Smoking
- BRAT Diet (banana, rice, applesauce, and toast)
- Eat Smaller Amounts of Food
- Ingest Lemon or Lime Juice
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include:
- Abdominal Cramping
- Bloating
- Fever
- Gas
- Nausea
- Vomiting
DIAGNOSIS / TESTS
Diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood sample
- Colonoscopy
- endoscopic
- Imaging Tests (MRI, Ultrasound, and X-ray)
- Physical Exam (pressing down on parts of the abdomen, checking for tenderness and swelling)
- Stool sample
- Upper GI
- Urine Sample
TYPES
Generalized: pain felt in more than half of the stomach
Localized: pain felt only one in part of the stomach
Cramp-like: from diarrhea, bloating, gas, menstrual related, constipation
Colicky: severe pain often from gallstones, kidney stones
CAUSES
Causes & contributing factors may include:
- Abdominal Muscle Injury
- Appendicitis
- Cholecystitis
- Constipation
- Crohn’s Disease
- Diverticulitis
- Food Allergy
- Food Poisoning
- Gallbladder Attack
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Incarcerated Hernia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Kidney Stones
- Lactose Intolerance
- Pancreatitis
- Parasitic Infections
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Peptic Ulcer
- Pregnancy
- Stomach Virus
- Stress
- Vomiting
FACTS
- The most common cause of abdominal pain are related to the digestive system.
- Sudden, severe pain should be treated with immediate medical attention.
- Most abdominal pain will go away with no medical treatment.
- Mild cases of abdominal pain can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) and constipation are the most common reasons for abdominal pain and adults over 50 years old.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!
Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
OUR OFFICE:
The Pain Experts of Arizona
3370 South Mercy Road
Suite 321
Gilbert, AZ 85297
Phone: 480-550-9393
Fax: 480-999-3375