Abdominal Pain: When to See a Doctor

Many of us are hesitant to be seen about our medical conditions. It isn’t exactly fun to be seen by a doctor, especially when you aren’t feeling well, but sometimes, it’s necessary. Many abdominal pains, if left untreated or undiagnosed, can lead to serious consequences. What kind of pain is enough pain to be seen by a medical professional? 

Sudden Pain

Most serious abdominal issues start with sudden pain. This pain can range anywhere from stabbing pain to burning pain. While these two types of pain are very different, they are similar in the way that they make the sufferer feel horrible. These aches could be indicating a more serious, underlying issue and should be seen by a medical professional immediately. 

Sometimes, stomach pains can come from something as normal as eating. Gallbladder attacks occur after eating meals high in fat. After eating a high-fat meal, you may feel severe stomach pain that goes beyond a little indigestion. Although it may last up to an hour, this pain will become more severe over time if left untreated. 

Sudden lower abdominal pain may be a sign that you have appendicitis. In addition to severe pain on the right side of the abdomen, you may have vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or a fever. Appendicitis pain starts in the belly button region of the abdomen and spreads from there. This condition can become deadly if unseen because your appendix could rupture.

Another pain that can lead to serious consequences is the lower abdominal pain involving ovaries. In women, pain in the lower right or left abdomen could indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst. This issue can be caused by hormonal fluctuation, pregnancy, sexual intercourse, and even constipation. This painful occurrence should be seen to immediately, as surgery will most likely be required to remove the ovary. 

Chronic Pain

For some of us, our chronic pain doesn’t seem like it’s worthy to be seen by a doctor. Sure, it’s pesky and hurts, but does it hurt that much? Any persisting, chronic pain could indicate an underlying issue. 

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic illness that reacts to the levels of stress and anxiety that you may be undergoing in your daily life. For instance, you might have a big presentation coming up and find that you have lower abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, or bloating. This happens each time something that makes you stressed or anxious comes up. 

Another chronic illness is Crohn’s disease. With this disease, your digestive system, primarily your small intestine and colon, becomes inflamed. As a result, you may experience stomach pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. 

There are no cures for these illnesses, but there are ways to help. Medications, adjusted diets, and a change of lifestyle can help manage the symptoms, but first, you need to be diagnosed. It is good to consider persisting pain, no matter how minor it is, as a problem. If these symptoms are ignored, they can grow into something much larger and serious. You don’t have to live in silent suffering when there may be options to help. 

Should You See a Doctor? 

Any pain, no matter how intense or how mild, could be cluing you in on a serious, underlying condition. It is important to take the pain you feel seriously, even if it’s mild and chronic. Chronic illnesses can become serious, just as illnesses involving sudden, heavy pain can become serious. If you experience any kind of stomach pain, especially pain you’ve never felt, you may need to be seen immediately. 

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BASS Urgent Care is here for you and ready to help you find out what is causing your pain. With our advanced services, we can perform a series of tests on-site. You shouldn’t let any kind of pain go untreated. With our professional help, you will start feeling better in no time.

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