Digestive Health Abdominal Pain - When To See A Doctor By Richard N. Fogoros, MD facebook linkedin Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified in internal medicine, clinical cardiology, and clinical electrophysiology. Learn about our editorial process Richard N. Fogoros, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI on November 21, 2019 facebook twitter linkedin Yasmine Ali, MD, is board-certified in cardiology. She is an assistant clinical professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an award-winning physician writer. Learn about our Medical Review Board Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI on November 21, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes of Abdominal Pain A Few Generalizations Should You See A Doctor? Abdominal pain—pain or discomfort in the abdominal area—is something all of us experience sooner or later. Usually, when we have belly pain the cause is benign and the problem is self-limited. But sometimes abdominal pain indicates a serious medical condition or even a medical emergency. So it is important to know when to see a doctor if you have abdominal pain. Illustration by Alexandra Gordon, Verywell Causes of Abdominal Pain There is a lot going on in the abdomen. The abdominal cavity contains many important organs (including stomach, duodenum, small intestine and large intestine, pancreas, gall bladder, liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs), as well as muscles, blood vessels, bones and other structures. Problems with any of these organs or structures can cause pain (as well as other symptoms). So the list of disorders that can produce abdominal pain is very large. Here is a partial list of some of the more common causes of abdominal pain: Indigestion or gasGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)UlcersGallstonesKidney stonesAppendicitisPeritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity)HepatitisEndometriosisIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS)Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)Food poisoning and food allergiesUlcerative ColitisHerniaPancreatitisBowel ischemiaBowel obstructionPelvic inflammatory disease (PID)Surgery A Few Generalizations About Abdominal Pain Here are a few generalizations doctors often use in evaluating abdominal pain. Be aware, however, that these generalizations are not true in every case, and doctors treat them as clues, and not as rules: Pain that is widespread (involving more than half of your abdomen) tends to have a relatively benign cause such as indigestion or a stomach virus, while pain that is localized to a particular area is more likely to be from a particular organ, such as the appendix or gallbladder. Cramping pain is usually benign unless it is severe, lasts for more than 24 hours, or occurs with a fever. Colicky pain (pain that occurs in waves) is likely to be caused by obstruction or partial obstruction, such as with kidney stones or gallstones. Should You See A Doctor? Keep in mind that it is often difficult enough for experienced physicians to make the right diagnosis of abdominal pain; it is usually foolish to try to figure this out for yourself. If your abdominal pain is concerning to you, or unusual in any way, you should consult your doctor. There are certain signs that should always cause you to see a doctor or call for help whenever they occur with abdominal pain. These signs indicate a possible emergency: You are vomiting bloodYou have bloody or tarry stoolsYou are unable to pass stools, especially with vomitingThe pain extends above the abdomen (to the chest, neck or shoulder areas)The pain is severe, sudden and sharpThe pain is accompanied by dyspnea (shortness of breath)You have cancer, are pregnant, or have had recent traumaYou have extreme tenderness in the region of the painSignificant abdominal distention You should also see (or at least call) a doctor if you have any of these signs or symptoms: Pain that persists for more than a day or two, or becomes more severe over the first day, or is colickyFeverNausea, vomiting or diarrhea that persists for more than a day or twoProlonged poor appetite or weight lossPersistent vaginal bleedingBurning with urination, or frequent urinationPain that, while mild and self-limiting, recurs frequently A Word From Verywell While abdominal pain is common and is usually benign, it is important not to just brush it off. If you have any of the signs or symptoms that might suggest a serious problem, get medical advice. If you decide to self-treat your abdominal pain, try to drink frequent sips of water or clear liquids, and skip food for at least several hours. Stay away from NSAIDS or other pain medicines unless your doctor says it’s OK. And reassess your symptoms every few hours — or any time you notice new symptoms — to decide whether it’s time to see a doctor. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Patterson JW, Dominique E. Acute Abdomen. [Updated 2019 Nov 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459328/ Schachter H. Indigestion and Heartburn. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 83. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK409/ Sherman R. Abdominal Pain. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 86. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK412/ Shi XZ, Lin YM, Hegde S. Novel Insights Into the Mechanisms of Abdominal Pain in Obstructive Bowel Disorders. Front Integr Neurosci. 2018;12:23. 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