Abdominal Pain

Abdominal Pain in San Antonio , TX

Abdominal Pain services offered in San Antonio , TX

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of many health conditions. Though not always a serious medical issue, some causes of abdominal pain require medical intervention, especially when the cause of the pain is unknown, ongoing, or severe. Allison Harrington Sirakos, MD, is an experienced gastroenterologist in San Antonio, Texas, who conducts thorough evaluations for abdominal pain to find the underlying cause. To get help for your abdominal pain, call the office of Allison Harrington Sirakos, MD, at the Gastroenterology Clinic of San Antonio or schedule an appointment online today.

Abdominal Pain Q&A

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain includes any discomfort you feel in the abdominal area — the region between your chest and pelvis.

Types of abdominal pain include:

Generalized pain

Generalized abdominal pain means your discomfort affects more than half your abdominal area and is not localized to one specific region. You may have this type of pain from a stomach virus or indigestion.

Localized pain

Localized abdominal pain means you only feel discomfort in one specific area of the abdomen. This type of pain may indicate the problem affects a specific organ. For example, pain on the lower right side of the abdomen is associated with appendicitis.

Cramp-like pain

Cramp-like abdominal pain can be severe but is usually not a symptom of a serious medical problem. With this type of pain, you may also have gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Colicky pain

Colicky pain is severe pain that comes and goes. It is common with gallstones and kidney stones.

What are some gastrointestinal causes of abdominal pain?

Many health conditions cause abdominal pain, but most aren’t serious. Common gastrointestinal (GI) conditions that cause abdominal pain include:

Acid reflux
Food poisoning
Constipation
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Appendicitis
Bowel blockage
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Gallstones
Diverticulitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (e.g., Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
Pancreatitis
Liver disease
Ulcers
Colon cancer

The severity of your abdominal pain isn’t a good measure for determining the seriousness of the cause. If you have ongoing abdominal pain or severe abdominal pain that fails to resolve after 24 hours, you need a medical evaluation.

What happens during an abdominal pain evaluation?

During your abdominal pain evaluation, Dr. Harrington reviews your symptoms, usual diet, bowel habits, medical history, and the types of medication and supplements you take. She performs a physical exam and may run diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out the cause of your pain, such as stool testing or blood work.

Dr. Harrington may also recommend an endoscopy or colonoscopy so she can examine your GI tract to confirm or rule out specific disorders like ulcers or IBD.

What are some treatment options for abdominal pain?

Dr. Harrington customizes your abdominal pain treatment plan based on the underlying cause. Your treatment plan may include:

Diet modifications
Increase in fluid intake
Disease-specific medications
Stress management
Regular exercise

For conditions like appendicitis and cholecystitis, you may need surgery.

Abdominal pain isn’t always a symptom you can manage at home. For expert care, call the office of Allison Harrington Sirakos, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.