6 Treatable Causes of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can stem from a range of conditions – some of them more serious than others. If you have persistent abdominal pain but aren’t sure what’s causing it, it’s important to get a prompt diagnosis, so you can learn more about your treatment options.

AABP Integrative Pain Care and Wellness uses the latest technologies to identify the root cause of acute and chronic abdominal pain.

Our highly skilled physicians offer personalized treatment plans to rapidly ease pain and prevent your condition from worsening. We also provide ongoing care for certain pain conditions, so you can continue living an active, high-quality life.

Below, we highlight some more common and treatable causes of abdominal pain.

6 abdominal pain triggers you should know about

Abdominal pain can occur suddenly or develop gradually over time, depending on its cause. Because there are so many potential causes of pain in the abdomen, you should seek medical attention for unexplained pain that lasts longer than a few days or for sudden or severe pain.

Here are six common and treatable reasons for abdominal pain:

1. Constipation

Constipation means you’re not passing stool as frequently as usual. This can lead to a hardening of the stool that remains in your intestines, making it difficult to pass.

You can treat occasional constipation with over-the-counter stool softeners or laxatives. Increasing your fiber intake in your daily diet can also prevent additional episodes of constipation.

2. Food allergies and intolerances

Food allergies and intolerances can cause abdominal pain when you eat certain foods or ingredients. Common allergy or intolerance triggers include dairy, nuts, shellfish, and wheat.

Allergies and intolerances are typically treatable with diet changes and avoidance of known allergens. You may also benefit from allergy medicines or immunotherapy, which helps reduce the severity of your immune system’s reaction to known allergens.

3. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes persistent abdominal pain and bowel movements. You may have ongoing bouts of constipation or diarrhea, frequently feel bloated, or have excessive gas.

IBS is manageable with lifestyle and diet changes. You may also benefit from medications to relieve bloating, pain, and other symptoms.

4. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease describes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. The two main types of IBD include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which can cause chronic abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, unexpected weight loss, and other symptoms.

Treatment for IBD focuses on symptom management and preventing additional symptom flare-ups. You may benefit from diet changes and medications to keep symptoms well-controlled. Surgery may be necessary for severe IBD symptoms.

5. Ulcers

Ulcers are sores that develop in the stomach lining or the first part of the small intestine. They can stem from an H. pylori infection or from overuse of over-the-counter ibuprofen and other pain relievers.

Treatment typically includes medications to reduce the production of stomach acids that can further irritate the ulcer and worsen abdominal pain. You may also need to make changes to your lifestyle and diet to prevent additional ulcers.

6. Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis develops when pouches in the colon (diverticula) become inflamed or infected, leading to abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and fever.

Diverticulitis treatments include diet changes, antibiotics, and rest. If your symptoms are more severe, you may need intravenous (IV) antibiotics or surgery to prevent complications.

If you have persistent or unexplained abdominal pain, call AABP Integrative Pain Care and Wellness today to schedule an evaluation. You can also book a consultation online.