Abdominal Pain

Treatment depends on the cause. The key is knowing when it’s just a minor problem like a mild stomach ache or when it’s something worse. Pain that persists can be a sign of a medical condition or illness. Very severe abdominal pain usually needs immediate medical care.

Questions to Ask

Question 1

With abdominal pain, is any heart attack warning sign present?

Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.

Question 2

With abdominal pain, are any of these problems present?

• Vomit without stopping or vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. Vomit, have a fever and shaking chills, and feel pain in one or both sides of your mid back or shoulders.

• Dry mouth, excessive thirst, little or no urination, and dry skin.

• Stools have blood or are tarlike and black in color.

• Pain so bad that you can’t move or gets worse when you move.

• Heavy vaginal bleeding and you are pregnant.

Question 3

With abdominal pain, do you have any of these problems?

• The pain spreads to the back, chest, or shoulders.

• You feel a mass in the abdomen that throbs or pulsates.

• Your abdomen is very tender when touched.

• You don’t know why your abdomen is swollen but it keeps getting worse.

Question 4

Is the abdominal pain very severe or sudden, extreme, and constant?

Question 5

Are all of these symptoms of appendicitis present?

• You have not had your appendix removed.

• Pain and tenderness usually start in the upper part of the stomach or around the belly button and moves to the lower right part of the abdomen. The pain can be sharp, severe, and felt more when the lower right abdomen is touched.

• Nausea, vomiting, or no appetite.

• Mild fever.

Question 6

With abdominal pain, are symptoms of a kidney infection present?

Question 7

With abdominal pain, are symptoms of a kidney stone present?

• The pain started in your side or back before it moved to your abdomen or groin.

• Pain can be constant or come and go. The pain may be severe.

• Your urine is bloody, cloudy, or dark- colored.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Chills and fever, if you also have an infection.

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Question 8

With abdominal pain, do you have any of these problems?

• The whites of your eyes or your skin looks yellow.

• Recurrent pain in the upper abdomen is relieved by antacids.

• Severe diarrhea or constipation lasts for more than a week.

• Skin on the abdomen is sensitive or you have a skin rash on one side of the abdomen.

• You have a bulge and/or discomfort (when pressed) anywhere in the abdomen.

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Question 9

With the abdominal pain, are any symptoms of a bladder infection present?

You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.

Question 10

Is swelling or discomfort in the groin made worse when you cough or lift heavy objects?

Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.

Question 11

With abdominal pain, do you have any of these problems?

• Continued belching, nausea, gas, or gurgling noises.

• Pain worsens when you bend over or lie down.

Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.

Question 12

Are you female? Do you have abdominal pain and could you be pregnant?

Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.

Use Self-Care / Prevention:

You can probably take care of the problem yourself if you answered NO to all the questions. Use the “Self-Care” measures that are listed. Call your doctor if you don’t feel better soon, though. You may have some other problem.

Self-Care / Prevention

• Find a comfortable position. Relax.

• Take an over-the-counter pain medicine as directed on the label.

• Apply a heating pad set on low (adults only).

• Don’t wear clothes that fit tight.

• Don’t exercise too hard.

• Use a hot water bottle on the area that aches.

Crohn’s Disease is a chronic problem that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Other symptoms are fever, fatigue, and, at times, rectal bleeding or drainage. Symptoms occur when the disease flares up. This is followed by periods when symptoms go away or lessen.

With Crohn’s disease, any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, can be inflamed. Usually, the colon and the last part of the small intestine, the ileum, are affected.

Treatment for Crohn’s disease includes medicines, nutrition supplements, and surgery.

This website is not meant to substitute for expert medical advice or treatment. Follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s advice if it differs from what is given in this guide.

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