Abdominal Pain

What Is Abdominal Pain?

Why do I have abdominal pain?

There are many reasons you may have abdominal pain. It may be related to digestion, injury, infection or disease. It may come from an organ inside your abdominal wall, or from the muscles or skin within it. Or it may have spread from somewhere else nearby.

Your healthcare provider will ask you detailed questions about your pain to figure out the cause. Keep in mind that the level of pain you feel doesn’t always line up with how serious it is. Some common, temporary conditions can cause intense abdominal pain. And some life-threatening, serious conditions may feel mild.

Abdominal pain can feel much worse than others might expect. So, make sure your provider knows exactly what kind of pain you’re in.

What is the main cause of abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain has many causes. Most are short-lived and not serious. They may have to do with digestion, inflammation or menstruation.

Digestive issues

Abdominal pain after eating may be due to:

• Indigestion.
• Gas and gas pain.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea.
• Food allergies and intolerances.
• Food poisoning.

Inflammation

Irritation or infection in your organs can cause temporary inflammation, like:

• Stomach flu.
• Peptic ulcer disease.
• Chronic acid reflux (GERD).
• Urinary tract infection (UTI).

Menstruation

Causes of female abdominal pain may include:

• Menstrual cramps.
• Ovulation pain.
• Adenomyosis.

What are the more serious causes of abdominal pain?

Sometimes, abdominal pain can mean a more serious medical condition. This can depend on where you’re experiencing the pain. Pain in different areas may mean certain organs are involved. You may have:

• Upper abdominal pain.
• Lower abdominal pain.
• Right side abdominal pain.
• Left side abdominal pain.

Causes of upper right abdominal pain include:

• Hepatitis.
• Gallstones.
• Gallbladder inflammation.
• Bile duct, gallbladder or liver cancer.
• Kidney stones and infections.
• Bowel obstruction.

Causes of upper left abdominal pain include:

• Pancreatitis.
• Pancreatic cancer.
• Enlarged spleen.
• Gastritis.
• Stomach ulcer.
• Stomach cancer.

Causes of lower abdominal pain include:

• Bladder inflammation.
• Bladder stones.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Ulcerative colitis.
• Hernia.

Pain referred from your pelvic organs could be due to:

• Endometriosis.
• Ovarian cysts.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
• Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS).
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Ovarian cancer.
• Uterine fibroids.
• Uterine cancer.

Causes of lower left abdominal pain include:

• Diverticulosis.
• Diverticulitis.

Causes of lower right abdominal pain include:

• Appendicoliths.
• Appendicitis.
• Appendix cancer (rare).

When you talk to your healthcare provider, let them know which region your pain is in.

How is abdominal pain treated?

Abdominal pain has a wide variety of causes and treatments. For some conditions, you’ll just need medicine to relieve your symptoms. For others, you may need surgery. And sometimes, you just have to get through a bout of stomach flu or a kidney stone until it passes.

If you don’t know what’s causing your abdominal pain, it’s important to find out. This is especially true if it doesn’t go away on its own. Remember that even mild cases can be serious.

Your healthcare provider may ask you to complete an imaging study so they can further evaluate your pain. Depending on the pain location and other factors, imaging tests may include:

• Ultrasound.
• CT scan.
• MRI.

If you have a good idea that your stomachache is related to digestion, you can begin by treating yourself with:

• Bowel rest: Stop eating, or only eat easy-to-digest foods like crackers or bananas.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water or a hydration formula.
• Heat therapy: Try a warm water bottle or a soak in the bath.
• Home remedies: You can try licorice for abdominal gas pain. Ginger can relieve indigestion, and peppermint may help relax your intestinal muscles.
• Pain relievers: Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, like acetaminophen.

For more serious conditions, treatment may include:

• H2 blockers.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
• Antibiotics.
• IV fluids.
• Cancer treatment.

Can abdominal pain be prevented?

You can’t always prevent abdominal pain. But you can take some steps to keep your abdominal organs healthy. You can:

• Eat smaller meals more often.
• Make sure you’re getting enough fiber.
• Get regular physical activity.
• Drink enough water.
• Avoid alcohol or limit how much you drink.

If you have certain health conditions — like lactose intolerance or celiac disease — you may be able to prevent stomach pain. Your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding certain foods or drinks. Talk to your provider before starting any new eating plan.

When should abdominal pain be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

Always see your doctor if your pain is unexplained, severe or doesn’t go away. Or if you’ve been injured or are pregnant.

Also, see your provider if you have abdominal pain along with:

• A fever that doesn’t go away on its own.
• Nausea or vomiting that doesn’t stop.
• Blood in your. poop, pee or vomit.
• Swelling and tenderness in your belly.
• Jaundice (yellowing of your eyes and skin).
• Pain in any other part of your body.
• Shortness of breath or symptoms that get worse with physical activity.