Abdominal Pain Specialist

What is abdominal pain?

Any discomfort between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your pelvis — the belly ― is abdominal pain.

Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg describes abdominal pain as:

Generalized pain

Generalized abdominal pain refers to discomfort that affects more than half of your belly. 

Localized pain

When you feel pain in only one part of your belly, you have localized pain. 

Cramp-like pain

Cramp-like pain causes gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This type of abdominal pain is rarely a sign of a serious health issue.

Colicky pain

When you have abdominal pain that comes in waves, you have colic. This pain is severe and comes on without warning. 

What are some causes of abdominal pain?

You may have abdominal pain for many reasons. However, most aren’t serious health issues. 

Common causes of abdominal pain include:

• Constipation
• Gastrointestinal infection
• Food poisoning
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Appendicitis
• Food allergies
• Diverticulitis
• Gallstones
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Celiac disease
• Ulcers
• Hernia
• Pancreatitis

Because your abdomen is home to so many organs, you may also have abdominal pain from conditions that affect your kidneys (kidney stones) or reproductive organs. Sometimes chest pain is mistaken for abdominal pain. 

You don’t always need to see your health care provider when you have abdominal pain. However, you should schedule an appointment with the Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg team if your pain is severe or chronic. 

What types of tests do I need for abdominal pain?

Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg is a state-of-the-art gastroenterology practice and uses a wide range of diagnostic testing tools to determine what’s causing your abdominal pain.

Before testing, your provider reviews your symptoms, including type, location, and severity of your abdominal pain and medical and family history, then does a physical exam. 

Your provider may request testing based on your symptoms, such as a colonoscopy, an upper endoscopy, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), or an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

What are some of my abdominal pain treatment options?

The Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg team customizes your abdominal pain treatment plan based on the cause of your discomfort. 

Some of the treatment options might include:

• Diet modification
• Lifestyle modifications — regular exercise, not eating too close to bed
• Disease-specific medication
• Antibiotics
• Antidiarrheal medication
• Stool softeners

In some cases, the team may recommend surgery to alleviate your abdominal pain. For example, you may need surgery for gallstones or diverticulitis. 

To get help with your abdominal pain, call Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg or schedule an appointment online today.