Chronic Stomach Pain

Chronic stomach pains can be caused by many factors. They are not always originated in the stomach. The pains can be due to the inflammation of an organ in the abdomen, the stretching of an organ or the reduction in the blood supply to an organ. The organs could be the lower area of the lungs, the liver, the intestines, or even the pancreas. However, the pain is always around the abdomen which is the reason we refer to any such pain as stomach pains. A stomach pain can be classified as chronic stomach pain if you have been experiencing the pain regularly for a long period of time; usually a few weeks. While some types of chronic stomach pain can be a slight problem, others can be symptoms for a more serious problem. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the cause of the pain as early as possible.

When trying to diagnose the cause of the chronic stomach pain with the help of a doctor, there are many ways to identify the root of the pain. The type of pain plays a major role in the cause of the pain. This includes the location of the pain and the feel of the pain – sharp or dull. The area in which the pain is most intense will help the doctor diagnose which organ is actually responsible for the pain. The way in which the pain started and spread will also help with the diagnosis. In addition, the time the pains last and the time between pains will help narrow down the causes of the pain. For instance, pains due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome are periodic and last for long periods of time, whereas Biliary colic pains last only a few hours.

A close physical examination will get the doctor closer to diagnosing the chronic stomach pain. In case of a tumor, the doctor will be able to feel the growing mass by feeling the area you feel the most intense pain. The doctor may also look for areas where the skin is tender. This is a sign for inflammations. The tenderness together with inflammations can be a sign for appendicitis or Crohn’s disease, whereas only inflammations can indicate intestinal problems.

The next step in the diagnosis is to take laboratory tests. An X-ray is the standard test that needs to be done in diagnosing the chronic stomach pain. Intestinal obstruction is clearly visible in an X-ray as it shows if the intestines have unusual amounts of fluids around them. The X-ray may also show kidney stones that have passed out which caused the chronic stomach pain. However, if X-rays do not show anything, it may be necessary to take other tests such as CT (Computer tomography) scans, MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scans, or ultrasound scans to check other possible causes of the chronic stomach pain.