We all have experienced abdominal pain from time to time. When the pain does not go away, you should see a physician to determine what’s causing your abdominal pain. Life-threatening conditions, such as colon cancer or early appendicitis, may only cause mild pain or no pain.
Ways to describe abdomen pain include:
- Generalized pain: You feel pain in more than half of your abdomen. This type of pain is more typical for a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas. If the pain becomes more severe, it may be caused by a blockage of the intestines.
- Localized pain: Found in only one area of your abdomen. It can be a sign of a problem in an organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach.
- Cramp-like pain: This type of pain is not serious most of the time. It’s most likely due to gas and bloating, and is frequently followed by diarrhea. More troublesome signs include pain that occurs more often, lasts than 24 hours, or comes with a fever.
- Colicky pain: It often starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe. Kidney stones and gallstones are common causes of this type of abdominal pain.
Our board-certified physicians will perform an evaluation of your health and review your specific symptoms, the location of pain and when it occurs to determine the cause and your treatment method. Often, an imaging test like an ultrasound or CT scan may be ordered to help diagnose the problem.