It is common to experience abdominal or stomach pain at some point, which is usually not serious and can resolve on its own. However, chronic, severe, persistent pain may indicate a serious health problem. Thus it is important to understand the signs and seek medical help if necessary.
Great Neck, NY pain management team offers a collaborative and customized approach to pain management depending on the underlying cause of your discomfort.
Understanding abdominal pain and its types
Abdominal pain is defined as any discomfort around your belly region- between your ribs and your pelvis. However, this is not always a stomach pain or ache, since the pain in your abdomen can also root from other organs too.
Your abdomen comprises your stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and small and large intestines.
Depending on the intensity of your pain, it can be classified into the following types:
- Generalized pain: If it affects almost three fourth of your abdominal area.
- Localized pain: If the pain is felt only in one particular area.
- Cramp-like pain: You feel a throbbing kind of pain that is sharp.
- Colicky pain: This is a type of pain that comes and goes which can be a sudden and sharp shooting pain, that may end as quickly as it started.
- Dull pain: It is a low-intensity, gnawing kind of pain.
Contributing factors that cause abdominal pain
Most often the causes of abdominal pain are temporary and not serious, which include the following:
Digestive issues
- Indigestion
- Gastric pain
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Food poisoning
Inflammatory causes
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
- Diverticulitis
- Cholecystitis
- Pancreatitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Kidney stones
- Endometriosis
Female reproductive issues
- Ovulation pain
- Menstrual cramps
Abdominal pain evaluation
Abdominal pain can be evaluated through the following initiatives:
- Recording medical history to rule out debilitating diseases like diabetes, hypertension, or gastritis. It also helps doctors evaluate the severity, location, and frequency of pain.
- Conducting a physical examination to check for any lumps or tenderness.
- Running laboratory tests like blood tests or urine analysis, imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRI.
- Extensive tests like endoscopy or colonoscopy.
Treatment options for abdominal pain
Your doctor may design a customized treatment approach depending on the pain intensity. Treatment includes:
- Dietary changes and increasing water intake
- Stress management through yoga and meditation
- OTC pain medication
- Muscle relaxants
- Peripheral nerve stimulator
- Medications to treat the underlying cause
Abdominal pain can be a common condition experienced, that may resolve on its own. However, most often it could indicate an underlying medical condition, especially if the pain is severe and debilitating.
If your abdominal pain interferes with your ability to manage your routine activities, make sure to consult your doctor for further evaluation.
