Abdominal Pain: What’s Causing Yours?

Abdominal pain can be a frustrating complex issue for many sufferers. The abdominal cavity is home to a plethora of organs, and each comes with their own set of aches and pains that can be debilitating to daily life. Luckily, there are many ways to treat the pain associated with abdominal issues, but first, it’s important to determine the root cause of your specific pain.

Here are five of the more common conditions that cause abdominal pain –

• Celiac Disease: While gluten-free may be a trend, it’s much more than that for at least 1% of the population. Sufferers with this auto-immune disease can find relief after diagnosis by creating a plan with their doctor.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS): Throughout the world, more than 10% of people deal with the symptoms of IBS each day. Proper diagnosis plays a huge role in creating a treatment plan that helps patients get their lives back.

• Endometriosis: Eleven-percent of women are plagued with endometriosis – an often-painful condition affecting the abnormal growth of tissues within the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterine tissues. Hormone therapy or surgical intervention can effectively treat the pain.

• Ulcers: Many people with ulcers won’t feel them, but those who do know the symptoms come in a wide range of sensitivities. Abdominal pain, often in the form of a burning sensation, is one of the symptoms.

• Urinary Tract Infections(UTIs): Urinary tract infections are extremely common, and quite painful when allowed to go unchecked. Diagnosis is imperative in order to get treatment. Often, treatment includes a simple round of antibiotics, and patients report a reduction in pain within a short amount of time.

Note that this is not a complete list of conditions that cause abdominal pain, and it’s important to avoid self-diagnosing.

With so many potential abdominal pain sites, it’s imperative that you relay to your doctor as many specifics about your situation as possible. While it won’t be fun, a good way to do this is to be mindful. Sit for a moment, turn the TV off, put your phone away, and just rest in silence. Try to notice where your pain is coming from, and write it down so you can give a roadmap to your doctor. Additionally, consider the type of pain you’re experiencing. Is it a burning sensation? Do you feel a stabbing sensation? Maybe your pain is more of a throbbing. Does your abdominal pain come and go? Does it get worse with certain movement, or does it get better when you rest in a particular position?

When you give your doctor the most accurate and complete information that you can, he or she will be able to fast-track your testing process – so you can undergo the appropriate diagnostics.

In order to properly diagnose you, and treat your pain, your doctor will need to run some tests. You may need to provide urine and blood samples, or you may need an imaging procedure like an X-ray, MRI or CT scan.

To start feeling relief from your abdominal pain, schedule your appointment with Premier Pain & Spine today.