Abdominal Pain Treatment Questions and Answers

These symptoms may indicate a serious condition. If experiencing any of the following, seek medical attention immediately:

• Abdominal pain that is sharp, severe, and sudden
• Pain is also present in the chest, neck, or shoulder
• Vomiting blood, bloody diarrhea, or black, tarry stools (melena)
• A high fever of over 100ºF
• Difficulty breathing
• Consistent nausea and/or vomiting
• Abdomen is stiff, hard, and tender
• Inability to move bowels, especially if also vomiting

Schedule an appointment to see your doctor if:

• Stomach pain doesn’t subside within a couple of days
• Pain comes back after going away
• Symptoms like diarrhea don’t subside within a couple of days
• Urinating more or less often, especially alongside pain or discomfort

Abdominal pain can have many causes with symptoms ranging from mild aches to serious cramps. Common causes for abdominal pain include:

• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Stomach virus
• Menstrual cramps (for women)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Food poisoning
• Food allergies
• Gas
• Urinary tract infection
• Abdominal muscle strain or pull
• Lactose intolerance
• Stomach ulcers
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Hernia
• Gallstones
• Kidney stones
• Endometriosis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Appendicitis
• Diverticulitis
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (swelling in the abdomen’s main artery)
• Bowel blockage or obstruction
• Cancer of the stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, liver or bile duct
• Ovarian cancer or cysts
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Low blood flow to your intestines, can be caused by blocked blood vessels

Abdominal pain is a common symptom experienced by much of the population. Fortunately, most cases of abdominal pain are not serious and go away without special treatment. However, some cases can be very serious, and it can often be difficult to tell the difference. Therefore, any abdominal pain that lasts longer than two days, severe sudden onsets of pain, symptoms alongside a fever or infection, should be evaluated by a doctor. Although nothing can replace professional medical care, a few things you can do to help ease the pain include:

• Placing a hot water bottle or heated bag on the abdomen
• Soaking in a warm bath
• Drink plenty of clear fluids such as water
• Reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol, as these substances can worsen the pain
• Starting with clear liquids when able to eat again, then progressing to bland foods such as rice, toast or crackers; your physician may also advise you to avoid certain foods
• Get plenty of rest
• Taking over-the-counter antacids, to help reduce some types of pain caused by acidity
• Taking mild painkillers such as acetaminophen. Please follow the recommended dose. Unless advised to take them by a doctor, avoid aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs can exacerbate some types of abdominal pain.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abdominal pain, come to Reddy Urgent Care for treatment today. Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in treating abdominal pain and can effectively diagnose the cause to appropriately alleviate your symptoms. For more information on our abdominal pain treatments, call our office and get in touch with a member of our specialist team. To book an appointment with our abdominal pain specialist, visit our website or speak with us over the phone today.