Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is discomfort anywhere in your belly region — the area between your ribs and pelvis. We often think of abdominal pain as “stomach pain” or a “stomachache.” But pain in your abdomen could be coming from organs other than your stomach.

Your abdomen is home to many important organs, including:

• Stomach
• Liver
• Bladder
• Spleen
• Bile ducts
• Gallbladder
• Kidneys
• Pancreas
• Small intestine
• Large intestine (colon)
• Appendix

These are all organs in your digestive system and urinary system. But pain can also be in your abdominal wall. This is the skin and muscles that make up the outer shell of your abdomen. Sometimes, the pain that you feel in your belly may be coming from somewhere else, like your chest, pelvis or back.

What does abdominal pain feel like?

Abdominal pain can take many forms and mean many things. It may be constant, or come and go. You may feel it in one spot or all over. It may feel:

• Mild or severe
• Dull or sharp
• Burning or achy
• Crampy, twisting or pulsing

Your abdominal pain is a symptom that only you can describe. Since your healthcare provider can’t measure it, it’s what you say it is. Whether your abdominal pain is serious or mild, your provider will help you find the cause and provide treatment.

Types of abdominal pain

There are many different organs in your abdomen. So, your healthcare provider may narrow down the pain you’re having by which area you’re feeling it in. Providers often group your abdomen into quadrants, or four parts. They may ask if your pain is in the:

• Upper right quadrant (above your belly button, to your right)
• Lower right quadrant (below your belly button, to your right)
• Upper left quadrant (above your belly button, to your left)
• Lower left quadrant (below your belly button, to your left)

What does abdominal pain location tell you?

Location is an important clue to your abdominal pain. But it’s not the only factor. It may tell your healthcare provider which organs are involved. For example, pain in the upper right quadrant may mean you have a problem in your liver or gallbladder.

But your provider will also want to know more about your pain, including:

• What it feels like
• How often you feel it
• How severe it is
• If it spreads or radiates from one place to another

The answers to these questions give them additional clues about the kind of condition you may have.

Why do I have abdominal pain?

There are many reasons you may have abdominal pain. It may be related to digestion, injury, infection or disease. It may come from an organ inside your abdominal wall, or from the muscles or skin within it. Or it may have spread from somewhere else nearby.

Your healthcare provider will ask you detailed questions about your pain to figure out the cause. Keep in mind that the level of pain you feel doesn’t always line up with how serious it is. Some common, temporary conditions can cause intense abdominal pain. And some life-threatening, serious conditions may feel mild.

Abdominal pain can feel much worse than others might expect. So, make sure your provider knows exactly what kind of pain you’re in.

What is the main cause of abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain has many causes. Most are short-lived and not serious. They may have to do with digestion, inflammation or menstruation.

Digestive issues

Abdominal pain after eating may be due to:

• Indigestion
• Gas and gas pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Food poisoning

Inflammation

Irritation or infection in your organs can cause temporary inflammation, like:

• Stomach flu
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Chronic acid reflux (GERD)
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Menstruation

Causes of female abdominal pain may include:

• Menstrual cramps
• Ovulation pain
• Adenomyosis

What are the more serious causes of abdominal pain?

Sometimes, abdominal pain can mean a more serious medical condition. This can depend on where you’re experiencing the pain. Pain in different areas may mean certain organs are involved. You may have:

• Upper abdominal pain
• Lower abdominal pain
• Right side abdominal pain
• Left side abdominal pain

Causes of upper right abdominal pain include:

• Hepatitis
• Gallstones
• Gallbladder inflammation
• Bile duct, gallbladder or liver cancer
• Kidney stones and infections
• Bowel obstruction

Causes of upper left abdominal pain include:

• Pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cancer
• Enlarged spleen
• Gastritis
• Stomach ulcer
• Stomach cancer

Causes of lower abdominal pain include:

• Bladder inflammation
• Bladder stones
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Hernia

Pain referred from your pelvic organs could be due to:

• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Uterine cancer

Causes of lower left abdominal pain include:

• Diverticulosis
• Diverticulitis

Causes of lower right abdominal pain include:

• Appendicoliths
• Appendicitis
• Appendix cancer (rare)

When you talk to your healthcare provider, let them know which region your pain is in.

How is abdominal pain treated?

Abdominal pain has a wide variety of causes and treatments. For some conditions, you’ll just need medicine to relieve your symptoms. For others, you may need surgery. And sometimes, you just have to get through a bout of stomach flu or a kidney stone until it passes.

If you don’t know what’s causing your abdominal pain, it’s important to find out. This is especially true if it doesn’t go away on its own. Remember that even mild cases can be serious.

Your healthcare provider may ask you to complete an imaging study so they can further evaluate your pain. Depending on the pain location and other factors, imaging tests may include:

• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• MRI

If you have a good idea that your stomachache is related to digestion, you can begin by treating yourself with:

• Bowel rest: Stop eating, or only eat easy-to-digest foods like crackers or bananas.
• Hydration: Drink plenty of water or a hydration formula.
• Heat therapy: Try a warm water bottle or a soak in the bath.
• Home remedies: You can try licorice for abdominal gas pain. Ginger can relieve indigestion, and peppermint may help relax your intestinal muscles.
• Pain relievers: Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, like acetaminophen.

For more serious conditions, treatment may include:

• H2 blockers
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• Antibiotics
• IV fluids
• Cancer treatment

Can abdominal pain be prevented?

You can’t always prevent abdominal pain. But you can take some steps to keep your abdominal organs healthy. You can:

• Eat smaller meals more often
• Make sure you’re getting enough fiber
• Get regular physical activity
• Drink enough water
• Avoid alcohol or limit how much you drink

If you have certain health conditions — like lactose intolerance or celiac disease — you may be able to prevent stomach pain. Your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding certain foods or drinks. Talk to your provider before starting any new eating plan.

When should abdominal pain be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

Always see your doctor if your pain is unexplained, severe or doesn’t go away. Or if you’ve been injured or are pregnant.

Also, see your provider if you have abdominal pain along with:

• A fever that doesn’t go away on its own
• Nausea or vomiting that doesn’t stop
• Blood in your poop, pee or vomit
• Swelling and tenderness in your belly
• Jaundice (yellowing of your eyes and skin)
• Pain in any other part of your body
• Shortness of breath or symptoms that get worse with physical activity