Causes and Symptoms of Chronic Abdominal Pain
Specific chronic pain causes are often difficult to determine. However, some common medical conditions that can cause chronic abdominal pain include:
- Angina
- Functional dyspepsia
- Gastritis
- Inguinal hernia
- Gallstones
- Ovarian cysts
- Peptic ulcer
- Hiatal hernia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Endometriosis
- Pulled or strained abdominal muscle
Chronic abdominal pain symptoms may vary from one patient to the next and change with each episode. They may include:
- Cramping
- Sharp or dull pain
- Acid reflux
- Pain that can last hours
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Bloating or gas
- Nausea and vomiting
How Chronic Abdominal Pain Can Impact Your Quality of Life
Chronic abdominal pain can significantly affect various aspects of your life, possibly causing physical discomfort, mental health concerns, nutritional deficiencies, reduced physical activity, sleep disturbances, emotional strain on relationships or reduced productivity.
The persistence of chronic abdominal pain makes it a health condition that may significantly impact aspects of your life.
When to Seek Treatment for Chronic Abdominal Pain
We advise seeking immediate medical attention when you experience unexplained or severe abdominal pains. Some common abdominal pain symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention include the following:
- Trauma from an injury or accident
- Pressure or pain in the chest area
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bloody stool, urine and/or vomit
- Severe abdominal tenderness
- Persistent vomiting and/or nausea
- Abnormal abdominal swelling
If you have chronic abdominal pain that lasts more than a few days, seek immediate medical attention from your healthcare provider. You may have a form of inflammatory bowel disease, which includes both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Left untreated, the inflammation from these conditions can cause damage to the GI tract.