Abdominal Pain: Common Causes & When to See a Doctor

Everyone gets abdominal pain at some point, and some more than others depending on their overall health and diet. While mild abdominal pain symptoms can easily go away on their own, more severe symptoms may be pointing to a bigger issue. This post will cover abdominal pain causes, symptoms, treatment, and when you should see a doctor. 

Minor Abdominal Pain Causes

Many cases of abdominal pain are mild and temporary, often resolving without medical treatment. Minor abdominal pain causes include:

• Gas
• Indigestion
• Mild allergic reaction
• Minor constipation
• Lactose intolerance
• Celiac disease

These issues can happen from time to time and are often linked to factors like diet and digestion. Many of these will resolve themselves either on their own or with an over-the-counter medication. 

However, if the pain persists for more than a few hours or is paired with vomiting and/or fever, consider seeking medical attention. 

Severe Abdominal Pain Causes

Severe abdominal pain can be a sign of illness or serious conditions. Severe causes of abdominal pain can include:

• Kidney stones: Small stones of salt or built-up minerals in urine. These are often painful and may cause severe abdominal pain. These may pass on their own, but sometimes kidney stones need further medical attention or surgery to remove.
• Hernia: When an organ squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or tissue.
• Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix. If severe abdominal pain is caused by appendicitis, you’ll need immediate medical attention to have the appendix removed. An inflamed appendix can burst and spread infectious material throughout your abdomen.
• Urinary tract infection: UTIs may seem to be a fairly common occurrence, but left untreated, bacteria can travel to the bladder and eventually the kidneys. Pain in your abdomen, dark cloudy urine, or a burning feeling while urinating may all be symptoms pointing to a UTI that needs medical care.
• Gallstones: Gallstones are the accumulation of solid materials in the gallbladder, mostly caused by cholesterol. If you feel severe pain in the upper part of your abdomen, you may be experiencing gallstones. Treatment for this usually involves removing the gallbladder in its entirety.
• Pancreatitis: The inflammation of the pancreas, which is a gland located behind your stomach that helps with your digestion and blood sugar control. You may feel pancreatitis pain in your upper abdomen. 
• Abscess: An abscess is a localized pocket of pus caused by an infection. Abscesses form when the body tries to contain bacteria, leading to an inflamed area filled with fluid and white blood cells. 

Abdominal Pain Treatments

Home remedies or treatments for mild abdominal pain include: 

• For gas, try over-the-counter antacids or medicine that includes the ingredient simethicone
• General pain may benefit from heat therapies like pads or hot water bottles
• Some foods will settle your stomach, including mint or ginger
• Digestive pain can also be remedied by adjusting your eating habits to let your bowels rest, either by fasting or changing up your mealtimes 
• Stay hydrated 

Symptoms of Abdominal Pain

Depending on the cause, abdominal pain can manifest in a few different ways. Abdominal pain can be as simple as a sore reminder from a particularly ab-heavy workout, or it could mean you have a bit of gas. For some causes, some people experience discomfort while others may experience sharp or intense pains. 

Common abdominal pain-related symptoms include: 

• Frequent urination
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Bloating 
• Loss of appetite
• Cramping or aching
• Sharp pains 

Some symptoms can be mild and short-lived. However, others can become more intense over time. So, pay attention to whether the pain evolves or becomes more prolonged. 

When You Should Seek Medical Help

You should seek immediate attention if your abdominal pain comes with these severe symptoms, no matter their duration:

• Difficulty breathing
• Bloody or black stool
• Vomiting blood
• Pain during pregnancy
• High fever

These symptoms, despite their severity, are an immediate cause for concern. It’s always best to err on the side of caution. So, if something feels unusual or concerns you, seeking help from a healthcare provider may be the best thing for you. At the very least, you could get some peace of mind. 

How to Get Help for Your Abdominal Pain 

Diagnosing abdominal pain often requires more than a physical exam. Depending on your symptoms, healthcare providers may use a combination of imaging, lab testing, and supportive care to identify the underlying cause.

At The Urgency Room, we have access to the following equipment and supplies: 

• X-ray
• CT scanner
• Ultrasound
• High-complexity lab work
• Sedation for adults and children

The Urgency Room is owned and operated by the Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA), with its first priority always being the patient. From infant to adult, our facilities are equipped to assess and diagnose your severe abdominal pain without the wait you might experience at an emergency room.

All of our locations have extended hours from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm (later than most medical centers). Locations include Eagan, Vadnais Heights, Woodbury, or Golden Valley.

How Can the Urgency Room Treat My Severe Abdominal Pain?

All three Urgency Room locations are outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and some of the best emergency room physicians in the Twin Cities. Although our Urgency Room facilities are standalone, we still have all of the equipment to treat the same illnesses, aches and pains you might get treated at an emergency room.

If you’d like to take a closer look at all we have to off, check out this virtual tour of a typical Urgency Room. Some of the advanced equipment we offer includes:

• X-ray
• CT scanner
• Ultrasound
• High-complexity lab work
• Sedation for adults and children

The Urgency Room is owned and operated by the Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA) with its first priority always being the patient. From infant to adult, our facilities are equipped to assess and diagnose your severe abdominal pain without the wait and high cost of an emergency room.

What Types of Abdominal Pain Exist?

Abdominal pain—mild to severe—isn’t something to ignore. While most reasons for abdominal pain aren’t cause for a trip to the emergency, it’s important to take note if your pain is getting better or worse as it persists. Also, if your abdominal pain does persist, it may be best to see someone.

Abdominal pain can be as simple as a sore reminder from a particularly ab-heavy workout. Or it could mean you have a bit of gas. However, the more severe the abdominal pain becomes, the more you should consider heading to your nearest Urgency Room for assessment. Severe abdominal pain is less likely to be a bad case of gas and is more likely to be a serious issue that should be addressed immediately.

Symptoms of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain on its own could be cause for concern, however you should always be on the lookout for these symptoms that could come with it:

• Pain that persists for hours
• Frequent urination
• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms; dehydration, inability to keep food down, etc.
• Vomiting
• Inability to have a bowel movement

These symptoms could quickly escalate, so medical attention should be sought right away. You should also come in if your abdomen has sharp pains when touched—this is cause for concern of more serious issues.

You should seek immediate attention if your abdominal pain comes with these severe symptoms, no matter their duration:

• Difficulty breathing
• Bloody or black stool
• Vomiting blood
• Pain during pregnancy

These symptoms, despite their severity, are immediate cause for concern. When minutes matter for assessing and diagnosing these symptoms, get to your nearest Urgency Room in Eagan, Woodbury, Golden Valley or Vadnais Heights. Our experienced staff is ready and waiting to help you in your urgent time of need.

A Vast Range of Causes of Abdominal Pain

The causes of abdominal pain vary by the extent of the pain. Our highly experienced physicians are well-versed in why you may be experiencing abdominal pain and what the next steps should be.

When you come to the Urgency Room, you may be asked questions regarding your pain to better evaluate what may be causing it. You could be asked questions about how long you’ve had the pain, what type of pain you’re feeling, and about any medications or activities that may have been the source of the pain.