Abdominal pain is a common symptom that usually resolves with at-home care. However, if you have severe or recurring abdominal pain and at-home care isn’t helping, you need to schedule an appointment with the experienced team at Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg. They utilize the newest in medical technology with the highest clinical standards, so you get the best care possible. Call the office in Fredericksburg or Stafford, Virginia, or schedule an appointment online today.
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 abdominal pain refers to discomfort that affects more than half of your belly.
When you feel pain in only one part of your belly, you have localized pain.
Cramp-like pain causes gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This type of abdominal pain is rarely a sign of a serious health issue.
When you have abdominal pain that comes in waves, you have colic. This pain is severe and comes on without warning.
You may have abdominal pain for many reasons. However, most aren’t serious health issues.
Common causes of abdominal pain include:
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.
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).
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:
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.
