Abdominal Pain Specialist
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Jeffrey M. Loria, MD
Gastroenterologist located in Upper East Side, New York, NY
Abdominal pain can range from mild to debilitating and may be the result of any of a number of underlying causes. Leading gastroenterologist, Dr. Jeffrey M. Loria, located on the Upper East Side in New York City, has over two decades of experience in diagnosing and treating abdominal pain.
Abdominal Pain Q & A
How pervasive is abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain is extremely common, as pain can originate from any of the structures within the abdomen or the abdominal wall. In addition, pain that originates in the chest, back, or pelvis can mistakenly be perceived as originating in the abdomen. Year after year, abdominal pain is one of the leading reasons for visits to the emergency room.
What are the most common causes of abdominal pain?
An extensive and elective list of reasons is responsible for abdominal pain. Some of the most common are:
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Infections(colitis, appendicitis, diverticulitis)
- Menstrual cramps
- Food poisoning
- Lactose intolerance
- Food allergies (celiac disease)
- Peptic ulcer disease (gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Hernias
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Endometriosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Esophagitis (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Gastritis (irritation of the lining of the stomach)
- Pancreatitis
- Tumors
When does abdominal pain warrant medical attention?
Any on-going pain is abnormal and should be evaluated by a physician. Abdominal pain that is associated with certain warning signs should be checked right away. These red flags are:
- Fever
- Bloody diarrhea
- Persistent, worsening constipation
- Blood in the stools
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Any severe tenderness with movement or palpation
- Jaundice (yellow skin)
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain that lasts several days
How does Dr. Loria diagnose the cause of abdominal pain?
Dr. Loria will begin by taking a complete medical history, discussing each patient’s symptoms in detail, followed by a physical examination and, if necessary, testing that can include laboratory work (analysis of blood, urine, and stool samples), and/or imaging and endoscopic procedures.
How will my abdominal pain be treated?
Once a firm diagnosis is made, Dr. Loria will discuss all potential treatment options. Many conditions can be successfully remedied through dietary and lifestyle adjustments, while others may require medication, others non- or minimally-invasive treatments, and on occasion, surgery. With today’s sophisticated technology, most patients who suffer abdominal pain are successfully diagnosed and treated.
Words from our patients
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"Dr. Loria has been my primary doctor for years. He has helped me in so many ways to have a better and healthier life."
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"Dr. Loria is calm, cool and collected and not an alarmist, but when something needs attention he doesn't miss the mark."
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"Dr. Loria takes time to make sure you understand what he is going to do and then afterwards explains the results carefully. He is an excellent doctor."
