If you are suffering from abdominal pain, contact us immediately. We have the tools and knowledge on hand to diagnose and treat the cause of your pain right now.
Abdominal Pain
Treatment Procedures
Common Causes of Abdominal Pain
Many injuries and conditions can cause abdominal pain.
- Abdominal Organ-Related Conditions:
- Appendicitis – A potentially deadly condition caused by the inflammation, infection and build up of pus in the appendix
- Gall Stones – Hardened fluid deposits in the gall bladder that cause intense pain and fever
- Bowel Blockage – Caused by scar tissue, tumors, or narrowing of intestine, resulting in build- up of food, gas and fluid in the bowels
- Peptic Ulcer – A painful sore in the stomach lining and upper small intestine that can sometimes be accompanied by bleeding or vomiting
- Gender-Related Conditions:
- Menstrual Cramps – Caused by the approach or start of a woman’s menstrual cycle
- Mittelschmerz – Minor pain on one side of the abdomen that occurs during ovulation
- Ectopic Pregnancy – A life-threatening condition caused when an ovum attaching itself to and growing inside the fallopian tube
- Endometriosis – Caused by the lining of the uterus growing in other areas of the pelvis and abdomen
- Food and Digestive Conditions:
- Food Allergies – Caused by an allergic reaction to dairy, red meat, gluten and other foods
- Heartburn – The result of acid reflux and indigestion after eating
- Food Poisoning – Vomiting or diarrhea caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages
- Lactose Intolerance – A condition caused by the inability to absorb and digest lactose found in dairy
- Conditions Caused by Other Organs:
- Heart Attack – A life-threatening emergency caused when blood flow to the heart is restricted and causes part of the heart muscle to die.
- Abdominal Aneurysm – A deadly enlargening or ballooning of the aorta that supplies blood f low to the abdomen, legs, and pelvis.
- Pneumonia – A serious viral or bacterial infection in one or both lungs that causes coughing, shortness of breath, lethargy, high fevers, and pain in the stomach and ribs.
- Other Causes:
- Injury – A blow to the stomach, pelvis or lower chest can cause pain and swelling in the abdomen
- Flatulence – Excess flatulence can cause pressure and pain throughout the abdomen
- Anxiety – Worry, stress, anxiety and panic attacks can cause stomach aches and nausea
In order for us to alleviate your abdominal pain, we may need to perform some scans or tests. These include:
- Abdominal x-ray – This procedure uses an x-ray machine to provide doctors with images of the intestines, spleen, stomach and other organs in the abdominal cavity. It may identify intestinal blockage, kidney stones or other causes of your pain or nausea. You may be asked to lie on a table or to stand as the x-ray machine captures images of the abdominal area.
- Abdominal CT scan – This scan is similar to an x-ray, but it uses multiple rays in order to create cross-sectional images of organs and tissues in the abdomen. These images will allow us to identify any swelling, masses, infections or other issues that could be contributing to your pain. In order to receive these images, you will lie on a table that slides into the CT machine.
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography– MRCP helps us identify gall stones through the use of magnetic resonance imaging. The scan can also provide us with information about the liver, pancreas and bile ducts. You will be asked to lie on a table that will be moved into an MRI tunnel, which is where the equipment will gather images.
- Abdominal ultrasound – We may order ultrasounds to help us check for liver disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms and issues with other abdominal organs. These ultrasounds are often performed quickly and can give us immediate images that may help us make a diagnosis. We will place a small amount of gel on your abdomen, and then we will rub the area with a transducer that sends the images to a screen for us to view.
Abdominal pain is defined as any pain that you feel anywhere in your stomach or groin area. It can be accompanied by nausea, bloating, excess gas, sweating, cramps or fever. Abdominal pain can appear gradually and become worse or it can appear suddenly with no prior warning. If your abdominal pain is not relieved with home remedies or over-the-counter medication or you experience other symptoms like bloody stools or vomit, you should immediately go to the nearest emergency room.
If you are experiencing abdominal pain, please visit one of our convenient locations. We are always open with no wait.
