Abdominal Pain Treatment Doctor Q&A

If you are experiencing abdominal pain, there are several doctors who can provide high-quality medical care and treatment. Some of those doctors include family medicine doctors, internal medicine doctors, emergency medicine doctors, or gastroenterologists.

At Fast Aid Urgent Care, we have board-certified emergency medicine doctors, board-certified family medicine doctors, and internal medicine doctors. As such, our medical personnel can take excellent care of any abdominal pain you are experiencing.

With that being said, some abdominal pains could be a sign of a life-threatening medical emergency, in which case you should call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Some signs that abdominal pain could be life-threatening include the following:

– Abdominal pain during pregnancy
– Blood in diarrhea or vomit
– Distended, rigid, or swollen abdomen that is tender to the touch
– Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above with a severe headache
– Heart attack symptoms, including difficulty breathing or chest pain that spreads to the shoulder or neck
– Inability to have a bowel movement, pass gas, or urinate
– Persistent vomiting and inability to keep fluids down
– Signs of acute dehydration
– Sudden and severe pain that keeps getting worse
– Yellow skin

Abdominal pain can be caused by a wide range of different symptoms, including any of the following:

– Acid reflux
– Appendicitis
– Constipation
– Diarrhea
– Gallbladder stones
– Gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu
– Indigestion
– Inflammation
– Injury to the abdomen, such as a muscle strain
– Kidney stones or kidney infection
– Stress
– Stomach ulcers
– Vomiting
– And more

The three different types of abdominal pain are known as visceral, parietal, and referred pain.
 
With visceral abdominal pain, the pain experienced is directly linked to an abdominal organ. Since most organs do not have many nerve fibers, the pain experienced with visceral abdominal pain is not well localized, nor is it typically severe. However, visceral abdominal pain can still be a sign of a serious problem depending on the cause. Visceral abdominal pain is generally dull, achy, and constant or intermittent.
 
Parietal pain refers to pain caused by irritation of the peritoneum, which is the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the abdominal organs. Since the peritoneum has more nerve fibers than the abdominal organs, the parietal pain is typically more intense and localized. As such, parietal pain is generally sharp and constant.
 
Referred pain stems from visceral pain or dysfunction in another part of the body with organs that share a common nerve pathway or related function. An example of referred pain would be when an overactive thyroid speeds up digestion and causes discomfort within the gut. When this happens, it is natural to assume that you are dealing with an abdominal issue when the actual problem is with the thyroid, which is a small organ in the neck.

While a mild stomach-ache usually does not require a trip to the doctor, some signs that you should visit a doctor for abdominal pain include the following:
 
– Bloating that lasts longer than two days
– Blood in the stool or urine
– Changes in the stool or diarrhea for an extended period
– Dull pain that lasts longer than one week
– Fever and chills
– Lack of appetite for a significant amount of time
– Significant pain that lasts longer than two days or continues to get worse
– Unexplained weight loss
– Unusual symptoms, such as blurred vision, easy bruising, or oral ulcers
 
For an appointment or more information about abdominal pain diagnosis and treatment at Fast Aid Urgent Care, please call us or visit one of our clinics. We serve patients from Bulverde Rd San Antonio TX, Windcrest TX, Selma TX, Bastrop TX, Paige TX, Smithville TX, Alamo Ranch San Antonio TX, Leon Valley TX, Helotes TX, La Grange TX, Rabbs Prairie TX, Halsted TX, Leon Springs TX, Fair Oaks Ranch TX, Cross Mountain TX, New Braunfels TX, Hunter TX, Zorn TX, Potranco Road San Antonio TX, Rio Medina TX, Rolling Oaks Estates TX, Dripping Springs, TX, Saddletree Ranch TX, Belterra TX, Lemon Creek Boerne TX, Scenic Oaks TX, Fair Oaks Ranch TX, Belle Chasse LA, Timberlane LA, Woodmere LA, and surrounding areas.