Abdominal Pain Specialist

What is abdominal pain?

Any discomfort that affects the area from your chest to your groin is abdominal pain. There are specific types of abdominal pain that might help determine the cause. These types include:

Generalized pain

Generalized pain affects more than half of your abdominal area. Viruses, indigestion, and gas are common causes of this type of pain.

Localized pain

Localized pain affects only one area of your abdomen. For example, pain on the lower right side of your belly may come from appendicitis.

Cramp-like pain

Cramp-like pain usually includes other symptoms, such as bloating and diarrhea. This type of pain is usually not from a serious medical issue.

Colicky pain

Colicky pain is a type of abdominal pain that comes in waves. You feel sudden, severe pain that lasts a few minutes or a few hours, goes away, and returns.

What are common causes of abdominal pain?

You can have abdominal pain from numerous causes, and some are more serious than others. Common causes of abdominal pain include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Constipation
• Stomach virus, food poisoning, gastroenteritis
• Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Gallstones
• Pancreatitis
• Colitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Appendicitis
• Ulcers
• Crohn’s disease

You may also develop abdominal pain from conditions not related to your digestive tract, such as kidney stones or a urinary tract infection (UTI).

When should I seek medical help for abdominal pain?

You should schedule an appointment with Dr. Memon at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants for abdominal pain if your discomfort is severe, an ongoing problem, or has other concerning symptoms such as bloody diarrhea or a fever.

Dr. Memon takes a holistic approach to care and conducts a thorough evaluation, assessing your whole health, when you come in with abdominal pain symptoms. He asks detailed questions about your pain, medical history, family history, usual diet, and daily routine.

He does a physical exam and may run diagnostic tests such as bloodwork, stool testing, or a urinalysis. If he needs more information for a diagnosis, Dr. Memon may recommend a colonoscopy or an endoscopy.

What are some of the treatments for abdominal pain?

Dr. Memon creates individualized plans for abdominal pain based on the underlying cause. Treatment might include:

• Diet modification
• Disease-specific medication
• Antibiotics
• Surgical intervention

Dr. Memon spends time talking to you about your diagnosis and treatments so you can make informed decisions about your care.

To find out what’s causing your ongoing abdominal pain, schedule an appointment with the highly skilled gastroenterologist at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants by calling or booking online today.