Abdominal Pain

Summary

Your abdomen extends from below your chest to your groin. Some people call it the stomach, but your abdomen contains many other important organs. Pain in the abdomen can come from any one of them. The pain may start somewhere else, such as your chest. Severe pain doesn’t always mean a serious problem. Nor does mild pain mean a problem is not serious.

Call your health care provider if mild pain lasts a week or more or if you have pain with other symptoms. Get medical help immediately if:

• You have abdominal pain that is sudden and sharp
• You also have pain in your chest, neck or shoulder
• You’re vomiting blood or have blood in your stool
• Your abdomen is stiff, hard and tender to touch
• You can’t move your bowels, especially if you’re also vomiting

Diagnosis and Tests

• Abdominal and Pelvic CT (Computed Tomography) Radiological Society of North America
• Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Long-Term American Academy of Family Physicians
• Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-Term American Academy of Family Physicians
• Abdominal Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America
• Endoscopy: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Abdominal CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Abdominal mass Medical Encyclopedia
• Abdominal MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Abdominal rigidity Medical Encyclopedia
• Abdominal ultrasound Medical Encyclopedia
• Diagnostic laparoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Intestinal ischemia and infarction Medical Encyclopedia
• Intussusception – children Medical Encyclopedia
• Mittelschmerz Medical Encyclopedia
• Peritonitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Point tenderness – abdomen Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Abdominal Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Abdominal Pain Syndrome American College of Gastroenterology

Patient Handouts

• Abdominal pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Flank pain Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American College of Gastroenterology American College of Gastroenterology
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Abdominal Pain National Institutes of Health

Children

• Colic in Babies American Academy of Family Physicians
• First Aid: Stomachaches (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Functional Abdominal Pain (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Intussusception Nemours Foundation
• Pediatric Abdominal Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America
• Stomachaches (For Kids) Nemours Foundation
• Talking about GI Disorders International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Ultrasound: Abdomen (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Your Colicky Baby Nemours Foundation

Specifics

• Functional Dyspepsia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Gas and Gas Pain Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Indigestion (Dyspepsia) American Academy of Family Physicians

Journal Articles

• Abdominal pain

Teenagers

• Stomachaches (For Teens) Nemours Foundation