Abdominal Pain Specialists

What Causes Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain can have a number of causes ranging from mild to severe.

Three groups categorize abdominal pain:

• Acute: Abdominal pain is acute if it lasts a few hours to a few days. Acute abdominal pain usually gets better on its own.
• Chronic: Chronic abdominal pain comes and goes in flare-ups and last for weeks, months, even years. It can indicate an underlying medical condition.
• Progressive: Progressive abdominal pain gets worse over time.

Abdominal pain can be caused by:

• Appendicitis
• Live abscess
• Injuries
• Cystitis
• Cholangitis
• Pneumonia
• Pancreatitis
• Diverticulitis
• Kidney stones
• Intestinal obstructions
• Kidney infections
• Crohn’s disease
• Ruptured spleen
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Some of the more chronic causes of abdominal pain include:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Enlarged spleen
• Gallstones
• Peptic ulcers
• Hiatal hernias
• Pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Progressive causes of abdominal pain include: 

• Cancer
• Hepatitis
• Lead poisoning
• Uremia (accumulation of waste products in your blood)

In more severe cases, abdominal pain can indicate a serious condition like appendicitis. If your abdominal pain is severe, you should visit your local hospital emergency room as soon as you can.

When Should I See a Doctor for My Abdominal Pain?

You should visit Illinois Gastroenterology Group if your abdominal pain is negatively affecting your daily life, if it isn’t going away at-home remedies, and if you have other concerning symptoms as well, like:

• Tender and sore abdomen
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Yellowing skin
• Swollen abdomen
• Persistent vomiting and nausea
• Rectal bleeding and bloody stools

Your Illinois Gastroenterology Group provider works hard to determine what’s causing your abdominal pain.

How is Abdominal Pain Treated?

How your abdominal pain is treated depends on the cause and severity. Your Illinois Gastroenterology Group provider usually starts with a consultation and any necessary testing like blood work, urine tests, and imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans).

Your provider might recommend a diagnostic procedure like a colonoscopy, an outpatient procedure used to examine your large intestine.

Your provider creates a personalized treatment plan that can include a number of treatments for your abdominal pain, including:

• Medications (anti-inflammatories and pain-relievers)
• Antibiotics (if you have an infection)
• Healthy lifestyle changes (better nutrition, stress management, and exercise)

Your provider might recommend other helpful methods like using a heating pad, staying hydrated, eating plenty of fiber-packed vegetables, and staying away from foods that could trigger your pain.

In some cases, surgery will be necessary, including a procedure for diverticulitis where your provider usually drains collections of pus and surgically removes the segment of your colon where the diverticula are located. 

For the highest standard of compassionate care for your abdominal pain, call Illinois Gastroenterology Group or schedule online today.