Almost everyone experiences abdominal pain at some point in their life; in most cases, the underlying cause isn’t a serious medical issue. However, when you have severe or ongoing abdominal pain, it may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem that would benefit from an evaluation with Nelson Tajong, MD, at Lakeside Gastroenterology. Dr. Tajong takes a patient-centered approach to care and utilizes advanced diagnostic tools to find the root cause of your discomfort. To schedule an abdominal pain consultation, call the office in Conroe and The Woodlands, Texas, or book online today.

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What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain includes any discomfort that affects the area between your chest and groin. The type and location of your pain may help determine the underlying cause.

Generalized abdominal pain

When your discomfort affects more than half your belly, you have generalized abdominal pain.

Localized abdominal pain

Abdominal discomfort that affects one specific area of your belly is localized abdominal pain. This type of pain may indicate a problem with an organ, such as your stomach or gallbladder.

Colicky abdominal pain

Colicky abdominal pain is a type of pain that comes and goes and may be severe at times. This type of pain is common with conditions like kidney or gallbladder stones.

Cramp-like pain

With cramp-like abdominal pain, you may have gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This type of pain often occurs from acute gastrointestinal infections.

What causes abdominal pain?

Your abdominal pain may develop for several reasons, some more serious than others. Causes of abdominal pain might include:

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gastrointestinal infection
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Appendicitis
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Liver disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Food allergies or intolerance
  • Celiac disease
  • Diverticulitis or diverticulosis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Gastrointestinal cancer

When you have ongoing abdominal pain, severe abdominal pain, or pain that seems to worsen over time, you should schedule a consultation at Lakeside Gastroenterology.

What happens during an abdominal pain evaluation?

When you visit Lakeside Gastroenterology for an abdominal pain evaluation, you can expect a patient-centered exam. The goal of the assessment is to find the root cause of your discomfort so you can get the most effective treatment.

Your provider reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam. To confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis, your gastroenterologist may request additional testing, such as

  • Lab work
  • Upper endoscopy
  • Colonoscopy
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP)
  • Small bowel capsule endoscopy
  • 48-hour Bravo™ pH test
  • Esophageal manometry
  • Urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori

The type of testing you need depends on your symptoms and medical history.

How is abdominal pain treated?

The gastroenterologist at Lakeside Gastroenterology takes an evidence-based approach to care and customizes your abdominal pain treatment plan based on the underlying cause.

In some cases, you may only need to make lifestyle changes to ease your discomfort, such as diet modifications. For other conditions, your gastroenterologist may prescribe disease-specific medication.

Your provider may suggest surgery for conditions such as gallbladder disease or gastrointestinal cancer.

Abdominal pain is common and not always a serious medical issue. But, if you have concerns about your abdominal pain, call Lakeside Gastroenterology or schedule a consultation online today.