The Complete Guide To Abdominal Pain: Causes, Risk Factors And Treatment

It is common for everybody to endure abdominal pain or discomfort in the region that extends from their ribs to the pelvis. It is often known as stomach pain/ache although the pain could arise from different places of the internal organs. Best Gastroenterologist In Pimple Saudagar The abdomen has many organs which include the stomach, liver, pancreas, small and large bowel, and reproductive organs, and also major blood vessels.

Abdominal pain comes in many forms and may range from cramps that come and go to sudden, stabbing pains to constant, dull abdominal aching. Even mild pain can be an early sign of a serious condition.

Types of Abdominal pain

Acute Pain
Acute abdominal pain develops and often resolves over a few hours to a few days.

Chronic Pain
Chronic abdominal pain is present for more than three months. It may be present all the time, or it may come and go.

Progressive Pain
Pain gets worse over time and often comes with other symptoms

When should a person visit a Gastroenterologist?
A person should visit a gastroenterologist if these symptoms persist:

Abdominal pain
Fever
Pain during peeing
Not urinating frequently
Dark-colored urine
No proper bowel movement
Tender belly to touch
Pain lasts more than a few hours
Vomit blood
Trouble breathing
Constant vomiting
Swelling in the belly
Yellow skin
Unexplained weight loss

What are the Causes of Abdominal Pain?
Abdominal pain can have various causes, whether or not it’s a mild ache or serious cramps, to give an instance, a person might experience indigestion, constipation, stomach virus, or menstrual cramps for women. Other possible causes could include

Irritable bowel syndrome
Food poisoning
Food allergies
Gas
Urinary tract infection
Lactose intolerance
Abdominal muscle strain or pulls

Other underlying conditions that could result in Abdominal Pain :

Hernia
Pelvic Inflammatory disease
Gallstones
Kidney stones
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Appendicitis
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (swelling in the belly’s main artery)
Bowel blockage or obstruction
Cancer of the stomach, pancreas, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, or immune cells
Ovarian cancer or cysts
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Low blood flow to your intestines is caused by a blocked blood vessel
Ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, viz, in a Fallopian tube)

Treatment for Abdominal Pain
The treatment for abdominal pain depends on the origin of the condition. The gastroenterologist might first diagnose the cause and then prescribe the medicines. The best course of treatment may involve self-care measures, over-the-counter, prescription medications, or procedures including drug injections or surgery.

Medicament options
It is essential to visit a doctor/ gastroenterologist for abdominal pain. Not all abdominal pain requires antibiotics or medicines and it is not at all recommended to take medications before consulting the doctor. Sometimes, consuming tablets without consulting the doctor may irritate further and worsen the pain. If that person has an underlying health condition such as appendicitis, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a bowel blockage, cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux that requires medical treatment, the doctor may prescribe medications such as the following:

Drugs to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Antibiotics to treat infection
Medicines to reduce inflammation
Targeted treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Procedures and Surgery
In rare cases, medical procedures or surgery may be needed to effectively treat your abdominal pain if the condition of the abdominal pain is severe like inflammatory bowel disease, appendix, hernia, etc. These procedures may include the following:

Injection of a numbing agent
Corticosteroid injections
Hernia repair surgery
Appendectomy

Self-care/Home Remedies for Abdominal Pain
It is often possible to treat and palliate abdominal pain using home remedies. Here are some tips to ease your abdominal ache.

Eat smaller portions of food at frequent levels
Chew food well
Drink beverages at room temperature
Place a hot water bottle or heated wheat bag on your abdomen.
Limit caffeine and alcohol
Engage in physical activities
Stick to mild and bland foods like rice, bananas, or applesauce
Manage your stress

Dr. Nikhil Jillawar is providing specialized treatment in the field of Gastroenterology including Piles, Fistula/fissure treatment, Hernia Repair, Pancreatic Surgery, Trauma Surgery. Have gastrointestinal tract problems? Dr. Nikhil Jillawar is an eminent Gastrology Surgeon in Pune treating Diseases in the field of gastroenterology.