Abdominal Pain

Abdominal Pain services offered in Denton, TX

Abdominal pain accounts for more than 12 million visits to the emergency room every year, and many more than that see their primary care physician or gastroenterologist. At Denton Digestive Institute PLLC, Abhinandan Raj, MD, offers comprehensive care for abdominal pain. Dr. Raj determines the cause of your pain and provides the medical care needed to ease your pain and treat the underlying problem. If you have ongoing or severe abdominal pain, call the office in Denton, Texas, or book an appointment online today.

Abdominal Pain Q & A

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain includes many types of discomfort occurring in the area that runs from your diaphragm (the muscle below your lungs) down through your pelvic area.

The pain may begin in the muscles and connective tissues in the area. Or it may originate in any of the abdominal organs, which includes your:

Stomach
Liver
Spleen
Gallbladder
Pancreas
Kidneys
Small intestine
Large intestine
Urinary bladder
Female reproductive organs

Abdominal pain can also begin in the blood vessels and nerves in the region.

What does abdominal pain feel like?

Abdominal pain has many possible qualities. Your pain may be mild or severe, dull or sharp, or feel achy, burning, or cramp-like. Some types of abdominal pain are constant, while others come and go. The pain may stay in one specific area, or you could feel it throughout your abdomen.

You may have other symptoms along with your pain, such as:

Fever
Blood in your stools
Ongoing constipation
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea or constipation
Abdominal swelling
Yellow-looking skin or eyes (jaundice)
Tenderness when touching your abdomen

You should seek help from Dr. Raj any time your pain doesn't improve, gets worse, or any of the above symptoms accompany your pain.

Sudden, severe abdominal pain, or moderate pain that rapidly gets worse are red flags alerting you to the presence of an infection or obstruction that needs emergency attention.

What causes abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is a common problem that often comes from trapped gas, an upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation. However, it can also signal a condition, such as:

Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Gastroenteritis
Peptic ulcer
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Liver disease
Pancreatitis
Colitis
Gastritis
Cholecystitis
Diverticulitis
Kidney stones
Gallbladder stones

Advanced cancer in the abdominal organs also causes pain.

How is abdominal pain treated?

Dr. Raj reviews your medical history and symptoms, completes a physical exam, and may order blood, urine, or stool tests. In some cases, he may perform diagnostic imaging such as an ultrasound.

When needed, Dr. Raj has extensive experience performing minimally invasive diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Your treatment depends on the cause of your abdominal pain. However, treatment for many non-emergency conditions begins with dietary changes and medications. Some conditions may need a steroid injection or a procedure to repair the underlying problem.

Don't wait to get help for abdominal pain. Call Denton Digestive Institute PLLC, or book an appointment online today.