Abdominal pain can be serious, but most abdominal pain gets better on its own without needing any special treatment. Don't ignore abdominal pain — see your doctor if your symptoms are severe, get worse over time, keep coming back, or are ongoing.
Stomach pain may come on suddenly or happen gradually. Severe causes of stomach pain will not resolve without medical treatment and should not be ignored. In some cases, stomach pain can indicate a life-threatening condition.
If the pain is sudden, severe or does not ease within 30 minutes, seek emergency medical care. Sudden abdominal pain is often an indicator of serious intra-abdominal disease, such as a perforated ulcer or a ruptured abdominal aneurysm, although it could also result from a benign disease, such as gallstones.
Emergency care for abdominal pain
Sudden onset of stomach pain. High fever. Blood in your stool or vomit. Stomach pain following an accident that has caused trauma to the abdomen.
If the pain in your abdominal region is dull and persistent or sudden and severe and is also accompanied by vomiting, that's another major red flag. The combination of abdominal pain and vomiting – especially if the vomiting is intense and lasts for a prolonged period of time – could be a sign of a major complication.
There are three main types of abdominal pain: visceral, parietal, and referred pain.
Signs or symptoms of gas or gas pains include: Burping. Passing gas. Pain, cramps or a knotted feeling in your abdomen.
Acute abdominal pain develops and often resolves over a few hours to a few days. Chronic abdominal pain may be intermittent (episodic), meaning it may come and go. This type of pain may be present for weeks to months, or even years. Some chronic conditions cause progressive pain, which steadily gets worse over time.
The stages of appendicitis can be divided into early, suppurative, gangrenous, perforated, phlegmonous, spontaneous resolving, recurrent, and chronic.
If it's not treated, gastritis may get worse and cause a stomach ulcer. If gastritis is not getting better, or it's causing severe symptoms, a GP might refer you to a specialist stomach doctor (gastroenterologist). They might do a test to look inside your stomach, called a gastroscopy.
Gas in the intestine causes pain for some people. When it collects on the left side of the colon, the pain can be confused with heart disease. When it collects on the right side of the colon, the pain may feel like the pain associated with gallstones or appendicitis.
If someone experiences stomach pain that does not go away or believes it may be a symptom of another condition, they should contact a qualified healthcare professional. A healthcare professional can investigate the cause of the stomach pain and prescribe treatment if necessary.
Abdominal pain usually goes away without surgery and most people only need relief from their symptoms. If pain persists or if you have any other concerns, see your doctor.
Tests for abdominal pain
Your doctor may order urine, blood and stool tests. Imaging tests are also helpful for detecting abnormalities inside your digestive system and other organs. These tests may include X-rays, CT scan, ultrasound, barium enema or endoscopy.
Some of the most common causes of abdominal pain are appendicitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, diverticulitis, and small bowel obstruction.
Abdominal pain (sometimes called stomachache or bellyache) is usually felt in the part of the trunk below the ribs, above the pelvis and the groin. It can range in intensity from a mild ache to severe, disabling pain. While abdominal pain isn't normal, it isn't necessarily serious, and it often resolves itself.
While trapped gas may cause discomfort, it usually passes on its own after a few hours. Some people may be able to relieve pain due to trapped gas using natural remedies, certain body positions, or OTC medications. Avoiding known trigger foods or drinks can help prevent trapped gas from occurring.
Less serious causes of abdominal pain include constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, food allergies, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, and a stomach virus. Other, more serious, causes include appendicitis, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a bowel blockage, cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux.
Factors such as hormonal imbalances, food intolerances, constipation, gut bacteria imbalances, large or small intestinal parasites and certain medications can all result in bloating without passing gas. It's important to remember that while gas may be a sign of true bloating, it depends on what else you are feeling.
A stomach ache is cramps or a dull ache in the tummy (abdomen). It usually does not last long and is often not serious. Severe abdominal pain is a greater cause for concern. Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Healthcare providers diagnose a distended abdomen in terms of the “five 'f's”: flatus (gas), fetus (pregnancy), feces (trapped poop), fluid (from several causes) or fat. A distended abdomen may be very uncomfortable, or it may simply be a symptom that you and your healthcare provider observe visually.