Abdominal Pain
What is abdominal pain, and what are its causes?
Abdominal pain is a common gastrointestinal complaint. There are many causes of abdominal pain, including things like irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, adhesive disease from prior surgery, Crohn’s disease, gallbladder issues, and cancer.
Pains associated with specific organs are often located within a specific area of the abdomen. For example, the gallbladder typically causes pain in the right upper abdomen. However, sometimes this pain can be “referred”, and present in the back, or right shoulder blade. For some internal organs, the pain can be more widespread, and not as easy to localize.
There can also be associated symptoms which give “hints” as to the cause of the pain, like nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, and abdominal distension. Lastly, there are potential triggers for pain, like pain only with eating. It can be challenging to try and localize the pain and look at the associated symptoms and triggers to decide on what tests to run and initiate appropriate treatment.
How is abdominal pain diagnosed?
A careful history and physical exam are important steps to the correct diagnosis of the cause of the abdominal pain. Often, your provider will start the workup with serum blood work including an assessment of metabolic factors, liver chemistries, pancreatic enzyme levels, and blood counts. Endoscopic studies, both EGD/upper endoscopy, and colonoscopy are helpful, as are certain imaging studies. Each patient has a unique history and a diagnostic workup is tailored to that individual.
How is abdominal pain treated?
Treatment for the specific type of pain is personalized to each patient, with the goal of choosing therapy that best matches each individual’s disease pattern and severity.
Abdominal pain specialists in Colorado Springs
Our experienced team of physicians and advanced practice providers at Associates in Gastroenterology can help you with your concerns, questions and management of all aspects of gastrointestinal and liver disease. We would love to be your gastroenterology practice. Please schedule an appointment either by calling us (719-635-7321) or by clicking here.
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Locations
North Location – St. Francis Medical Campus – St. Peregrine Pavillion
6031 E Woodmen Rd #100
Colorado Springs, CO, 80923
Central Location – Audubon Medical Campus
2940 N. Circle Drive
Colorado Springs, CO, 80909
Endoscopy Centers of Colorado Springs – Audubon Medical Campus
2940 North Circle Drive
Colorado Springs, CO, 80909
Endoscopy Centers of Colorado Springs – St. Francis Medical Campus – St. Peregrine Pavillion
6031 E Woodmen Rd #100
Colorado Springs, CO, 80923