Abdominal Pain

Abdominal Pain

Overview

When you are experiencing abdominal pain, it’s hard to get through your day. Abdominal pain is a common condition that can affect people for a variety of reasons and has different levels of severity. Causes of abdominal pain can range from mild heartburn and indigestion to more severe conditions, like gallstones, a perforated intestine, or appendicitis. If you are experiencing abdominal pain and your symptoms do not improve at home, you should seek medical treatment. If the pain is new or different, intense, constant, or accompanied by other symptoms, getting medical care is even more important. These symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fainting, fatigue, weakness, bloody stools, or shortness of breath. At iCare ER & Urgent Care in Frisco and  Fort Worth, TX, we have all of the latest testing equipment and tools necessary to properly diagnose a painful abdominal issue. Our dedicated and highly trained team of physicians will work with you to understand your symptoms and then direct you to the proper treatment.

Abdominal Pain Conditions

Some conditions that can cause abdominal pain are less serious, but still very painful. Many times symptoms pass on their own; however, there still may be a reason to visit our urgent care center. Some examples of these conditions are below:

  • Constipation
  • Food allergies or symptoms associated with lactose intolerance
  • Food poisoning
  • Heartburn, indigestion, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
  • Stomach flu
  • Stomach virus
  • UTI or bladder infection

 

There are also conditions that cause abdominal pain that can be more serious, and in most cases, should be diagnosed and treated in our 24/7 emergency room. Examples of more serious abdominal pain conditions include:

  • Appendicitis
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Cancer of the stomach or colon
  • Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
  • Diverticulitis (inflammation and infection of the colon)
  • Endometriosis
  • Gallstones
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
  • Kidney stones
  • Pancreatitis (swelling or infection of the pancreas)

 

Finally, there are some known conditions that can threaten a patient’s life that requires a very rapid diagnosis and treatment. This level of abdominal pain is a serious health risk and would be considered an emergency case at all times. Examples include:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
  • Ischemic bowel (low blood flow or blockage to the intestine)
  • Perforated stomach or intestine

 

What to Expect

When you visit an  iCare Emergency Room & Urgent Care location with any level of abdominal pain, one of our board-certified ER physicians will first perform a medical exam and ask questions about your medical history to try and uncover the root of the problem. Depending on the symptoms and level of pain, our physicians may perform or request further tests, like an ultrasound or a blood test. Our onsite laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment that allows us to get results within several minutes. After diagnosis, our expert team will work to administer medications and a treatment plan to get you feeling better again. In the event that a patient requires hospitalization or other procedures that we do not offer at iCare, we are able to transfer them to a hospital for admission.

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