Abdominal Pain Specialist

What causes chronic abdominal pain?

Because your abdominal cavity is by far the largest in the body, chronic abdominal pain can have many causes. A few possible causes of chronic abdominal pain include:

• Gallstones
• Pancreatitis
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Pancreatitis
• Appendix inflammation
• Ulcers
• Kidney stones
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Abdominal pain can occur alongside back pain, leg pain, headaches, or other kinds of pain as well.  

When should I think about abdominal pain management?

Some general guidelines that may mean it's time to consider a consultation at the Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh include:

• Your abdominal pain lasts more than 4-6 weeks after injury or illness
• You're not sure what's causing your abdominal pain
• You can't sleep well due to the pain
• You're missing work, school, or obligations due to abdominal pain
• Abdominal pain makes you feel frustrated, anxious, or depressed

Because it has so many causes, and because each person's abdominal pain tolerance level may be different, you're the one who ultimately best knows when it's time to seek help with abdominal pain.

How is abdominal pain diagnosed?

At the Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh, the team starts with a full evaluation of all the factors that may contribute to your abdominal pain. They perform a physical exam, review your medical records, and discuss your symptoms with you in detail. 

The team asks questions about when the pain occurs, how it affects your life, which treatments you have tried, and what the pain feels like to better determine what kind of diagnostic tests you need.

You may need blood tests, imaging tests, or other forms of diagnostic testing to find the cause of your abdominal pain. 

How is chronic abdominal pain treated?

At the Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh, the team uses multiple modalities to decrease your pain as much as possible while maximizing your function and improving your quality of life. Some of the treatment options for chronic abdominal pain include:

• Physical therapy
• Massage therapy
• Nerve block injections (celiac plexus block)
• Implant pain pump
• Thoracic or lumbar epidural injections
• Trigger point injections
• Medical marijuana
• Osteopathic manipulative therapy
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Nerve stimulation
• Pain medication
• Disease-specific medication

These are some of the many treatment options available. If you need another approach, the team creates a personalized abdominal pain management plan for you.  

For help with chronic abdominal pain, call the Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh or click the scheduling link now.