Abdominal (stomach) pain
Abdominal pain, also known as stomach pain and a stomach or gut ache, is a common symptom of many conditions. It can be mild to severe and occurs in various places in your abdomen. If your pain persists or you notice changes to your digestion, ask a doctor for advice.
Our gastroenterologists (stomach specialists) offer trusted medical advice and expert private care. Book an appointment to get a diagnosis, treatment and other tailored recommendations.
When to seek emergency care
Severe abdominal pain can be a sign to visit the emergency room. You should also seek urgent care if you start vomiting blood, cannot pee or poo, or see blood in your poo. Additional signs include pain when touching your stomach, passing out, and black, sticky or very smelly poo.
Blood in your poo can occur with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), haemorrhoids, anal fissure (when your bottom’s lining has a small tear) and diverticular disease. If you aren’t sure whether you need to seek urgent care, you can call 111 or speak to your GP. They may recommend calling 999 or booking an appointment with your doctor.
Symptoms
Your abdominal pain may feel sharp, dull, cramping, aching or cause a burning sensation. It could be constant or come and go over days, weeks, months, or years. If your pain lasts more than three months, we consider it chronic.
Abdominal pain can occur in one place (localised) or throughout your abdomen (generalised). It might also feel as if it’s moving. Sometimes, you can feel pain originating in your stomach from your chest or back.
Depending on the cause, some people experience more pain after eating, at night, or in the morning, as well as related symptoms, as listed above. Additional symptoms include abdominal swelling, weight loss, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), and a fever.
Diagnosis
During your consultation, we will feel your abdomen to check if it’s distended (swollen) and to locate areas of pain. We’ll ask about how severe your symptoms are, where your pain is, how it feels, and if you have noticed any triggers. We shall also discuss your medical and relevant family medical history. Your risk of certain conditions can increase if a close relative has it.
We will need to know how long you’ve had the pain, whether it’s worsened since it started, and if anything helps improve it, such as eating or using the bathroom. You should tell us if you’ve had this pain before or if this is the first episode.
To identify the cause, we may recommend blood or stool tests, abdominal scans such as CT, and an endoscopy, either upper (gastroscopy) or lower (colonoscopy) or both. In rare cases, bowel cancer could be causing stomach pain. If we suspect this to be the cause, we will recommend bowel cancer screening.
When to see a doctor
Most stomach aches go away on their own, but sometimes, you will need to see a doctor to discuss your symptoms.
See a doctor if:
- Pain or bloating keeps recurring or doesn’t go away
- Passing urine more than usual or it’s painful
- Your stomach pain rapidly gets worse
- You have trouble swallowing food
- You have blood in your stool
- You have diarrhoea often
- Unexplained weight loss
Your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist for further investigation. You can also see a private gastroenterologist, such as one of our world-renowned specialists, for a faster diagnosis and treatment. Book an initial consultation to discuss your symptoms and arrange diagnostic tests.
Causes
There are many causes of temporary and persistent stomach pain. Short-term causes include trapped wind, indigestion, constipation, stomach flu, and food poisoning. You may have food poisoning if you have diarrhoea, vomiting and watery stool. You can avoid some temporary causes by washing your hands and raw fruits, vegetables and salads before cooking.
If it has been longer than three months, you may have a condition affecting your gastrointestinal tract, such as:
- Peptic ulcer
- Food intolerance or allergy
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Diverticular disease and diverticulitis
- Gastritis (an inflamed stomach lining)
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder (GORD)
You may also have a metabolic, psychological, or hormonal disorder. If our specialist does not suspect a gastrointestinal condition, they may refer you to another expert. However, we will provide advice on ways you may alleviate your pain. Read our blog to learn more about the causes of temporary and persistent abdominal pain.
Abdominal pain at night
Eating before sleeping or lying down, you are more likely to experience reflux. People with a reflux condition, such as GORD or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), may have upper abdominal pain at night or after waking. Drinking a fizzy drink, eating too fast, or smoking before bed can lead to gas, which may cause pain, bloating or swelling at night. You may experience discomfort with an empty stomach if you have H. pylori, a peptic ulcer, or have taken too many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Treatment
As with any symptom, we usually need to identify the cause before we can recommend the right treatment. You may first visit your local pharmacist or GP, but a gastroenterologist can provide specialist advice for ongoing symptoms.
Treatments can range from over-the-counter or prescription medications to medical procedures. However, you can try some home remedies and lifestyle changes first to find faster relief for your pain.
Managing pain at home
Ensure you drink plenty of water while unwell and eat gentle foods if you are throwing up. If you experience pain after eating, you may benefit from taking an antacid, such as Gaviscon.
Some lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, managing your weight, and exercising regularly, could help you manage an underlying condition. You could also try eating smaller portions and earlier before bed.
While you must still seek help for ongoing pain, these may provide you with some pain relief. We share further tips in our blog: Lifestyle changes to prevent and treat abdominal pain. Find what works and is comfortable for you.
Medication
Once we diagnose the cause of your pain, we may prescribe medication to help treat it or manage your symptoms. Antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can help treat GORD, laxatives and stool softeners can relieve constipation, and antibiotics can treat an infection and H. pylori. Our specialist may recommend a different medication if your pain has another cause.
Medical procedures
You may need surgery if you have tried lifestyle changes and medications but still experience symptoms. The exact procedure we recommend will depend on the condition.
If you have a hernia or appendicitis, you may need hernia repair surgery or an appendectomy. People with GORD sometimes need stretta therapy or transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) to treat problems with the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS).
You may also need surgery for endometriosis, gallstones, and Crohn’s disease.
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Book an appointment
When your stomach pain lasts for a significant amount of time, it can be worrying. Put your worries to rest by speaking to one of our specialists.
Our gastroenterologist will ask when your symptoms started, how long you’ve been experiencing them, and if any other symptoms are present. Book an appointment today to find the cause of your stomach pain.
We also offer a second opinion service for people who have sought help elsewhere and still experience pain. If you aren’t sure whether to seek a second opinion, read our blog: Getting a second opinion from a gastroenterologist.