Abdominal Pain Specialist

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is any discomfort affecting the region between the chest and the pelvis. It can include, but is not limited to, bloating, mild to severe cramping, or any number of other uncomfortable symptoms that may occur near your belly button very low in your abdomen or near your sternum (breastbone).

The pain may be constant, come and go in waves, or change in intensity. Sometimes the pain may begin in one area and seemingly travel into another region. For instance, an inflamed or infected pancreas (pancreatitis) can cause upper abdominal pain that often travels to your back and generally worsens with eating.

What causes abdominal pain?

While still painful, less worrisome causes of abdominal discomfort include:

• Constipation
• Stomach virus
• Food poisoning
• Food intolerance or sensitivity (such as lactose intolerance)
• Gastritis
  
  

Additionally, more serious conditions that can cause abdominal pain include:

• Bowel blockage/obstruction
• Stomach, colon, and other cancers
• Gallstones and other gallbladder issues
• Loss of adequate blood supply to the intestines (ischemic bowel)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Kidney stones
• Peptic ulcers
• Appendicitis
• Celiac disease (gluten intolerance)
  
  

Because there are so many potential causes of abdominal pain, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from experts like ours at Chicago Surgical Clinic.

How is the cause of abdominal pain diagnosed?

A diagnostic workup for abdominal pain starts with an examination and detailed discussion of your symptoms. Your surgeon will also ask about the nature of your pain, how often it occurs, when it began, and other pertinent questions that help narrow the diagnosis.

You can also expect a variety of diagnostic tests, which may include:

• Blood, urine, and stool tests
• CT scan of the abdomen
• Colonoscopy
• Ultrasound of the abdomen
• Upper endoscopy
• X-rays of the abdomen
  
  

Your doctor may also use diagnostic laparoscopy, which gives them a high-definition view of your inner abdomen.

How is abdominal pain treated?

Once diagnosed, treatment for your condition may include medication and avoiding certain foods, amongst other options. Your doctor may also recommend surgery to treat a bowel obstruction, colon cancer, or any other serious issues discovered.

Many abdominal surgeries can be performed laparoscopically, which is much less invasive than traditional surgery. The laparoscopic method requires only small incisions, resulting in less trauma to surrounding structures, thus generally leading to faster healing.

For an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for your abdominal pain, call Chicago Surgical Clinic or schedule an appointment online today. We also provide urgent and emergency services.