Is My Abdominal Pain a Concern?

Everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. It can be mild or severe, acute or chronic, and contagious or non-contagious. But, what do you do when it’s more severe than a stomachache or minor cramp?

When to See Your Doctor About Abdominal Pain…

Seek medical help immediately if:

• Your pain is associated with trauma, such as an accident or injury
• It’s associated with pain or pressure in your chest
• Your abdominal pain is so severe that you aren’t able to sit still
• Your abdominal pain causes you to curl up in a ball from the pain
• Pain is accompanied by bloody stools
• Pain is accompanied by extreme nausea
• Abdominal pain is causing swelling in the abdomen

What Could My Abdominal Pain Be?

The following conditions are commonly cause abdominal pain that might be alarming and, at times, painful.

Kidney Stones. If your pain is severe and comes in waves — starting and stopping repeatedly — it may be a sign of kidney stones.
Appendicitis. If your pain is in the lower and upper right abdomen and is persistent, it might be appendicitis. Contact your physician if you have other symptoms of appendicitis such as nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, and severe pain when you cough or walk.
Indigestion, gas, and bloating. Pain caused by cramping and bloating is usually a sign that your digestive system is dealing with offending food items and then it passes after that food is digested or passed through to your large intestine.
Colon Disease/Cancer. This is less likely, but pain combined with other symptoms like blood in your stool, you may want to get screened.

Many other things can cause abdominal pain. If your abdominal pain lasts longer than a couple days and is becoming more severe, contact your physician immediately.

Call Dr. Sachse at (571) 512-5300 if you’re suffering from abnormal abdominal pain.