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 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.
An extensive and elective list of reasons is responsible for abdominal pain. Some of the most common are:
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:
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.
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.