Types of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can change from intense pain to irregular pain. This is contingent on whether the patient is suffering from acute or chronic abdominal pain. The majority of people are simply unaware of the processes that the lungs in the stomach go through. As well as any pain produced by things such as feeding, stomach absorption, or bowel movements. Nerves are actively checking for problems.
Acute Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can progress over hours or days due to a variety of factors. The causes can range from minor problems that go away on their own to serious health emergencies.
Chronic Abdominal Pain
It’s not always easy to figure out what’s behind your chronic abdominal pain. Injuries can vary from normal to severe, steadily increasing over time but not increasing. Here are a few things that may be causing a patient’s chronic abdominal pain.
- Gallstones
- Mittelschmerz(pain associated with ovulation)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — infection of the female reproductive organs
- Strained or pulled abdominal muscle
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)(gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Angina(reduced blood flow to the heart)
- Nonulcer stomach pain
Progressive Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain that gets worse over time and is frequently followed by the addition of other complications is typically a sign of something severe. The following are some of the causes of progressive pain.
- Cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
- A tubo-ovarian abscess (pus-filled pocket involving a fallopian tube and an ovary)
- Uremia (buildup of waste products in your blood)
Abdominal Pain Treatments
Treatment for abdominal pain is determined by the source of the pain. Medications for pain, GERD, or ulcers, as well as antibiotics for infections, are both choices. Changes in personal conduct can also be used to relieve abdominal pain caused by certain foods or drinks. More advanced abdominal pain therapies may be needed in some cases, such as appendicitis and hernia. Diagnostic tests, such as blood, urine, and stool sample examinations, CT scans, and endoscopy, may be needed to rule out or confirm the specific diagnosis, and surgery may be necessary.
- Prescription medications for inflammation, GERD, ulcers, or general pain
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Low-dose antidepressants
- Antibiotics
- Surgery to remove intestinal blockages, hernia, or infected organs.
- Changes in behavior, including the elimination of certain foods or beverages that may be contributing to abdominal pain
When should you approach a doctor about your abdominal pain?
If your abdominal pain is serious and is followed by trauma (accident/injury) or chest pressure/pain, seek medical attention.
When you have an emergency, have someone take you to urgent care or the emergency department.
- Fever
- Bloody stools
- Severe pain
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Bloody stools
- Weight loss
- Skin that appears yellow
- Weight loss
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
Schedule a doctor’s visit
If your abdominal pain lasts more than a few days, schedule an appointment. In the meantime, try to find ways to alleviate your discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided since they may irritate the stomach and aggravate abdominal pain. Providers at Infinity Medical Care will devise an abdominal pain management plan that will improve the patient’s quality of life.
While it will take time to find the right abdominal pain medication, the relief will be well worth the effort.