Abdominal Pain? When to Go to the ER

Abdominal pain, which can be felt anywhere between your ribs and pelvis, often manifests itself in various levels of pain, including an ache, stabbing or burning sensation, cramping, or dull pain. Tyler Malcolm, RN, Emergency Department Nurse, Northern Nevada Medical Center, explains the symptoms that warrant a trip to the ER.

Are abdominal pain symptoms the same for all patients?

There are many different things that could affect the type of pain symptoms someone with abdominal pain is experiencing. As the pain can be from various causes, including gas, menstrual cramps, a stomach virus, digestive issues, inflammation, and more, the pain differs from person to person. Other variables, like age, race, sex, and underlying health conditions can affect the location and severity of the pain as well.

At what point does my abdominal pain warrant a visit to the emergency department?

While pain severity is unique to everyone, if you experience a sudden severe onset of pain, you should be seen in the ER. This sudden onset could indicate an issue that should be immediately looked at to rule out underlying conditions, or possible side effects from any medication you might be taking, or a possible allergic reaction.

You would also want to go to the ER if your abdominal pain is accompanied by a high fever, difficulty breathing, abdominal tenderness, pain radiating to your back, dark or bloody stools, or if the abdominal pain is following an accident.

Is abdominal pain a common condition seen in the emergency department?

Yes, abdominal pain is one of the top reasons people of all ages visit the ER. Patients tend to worry about abdominal pain because it can be caused by many different things—some mild, and others can be serious.

Some common causes of belly pain can include:

• • Constipation
  • Stomach flu (gastroenteritis)
  • Appendicitis (infection of the appendix)
  • Kidney stones
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Cramps from periods
  • Food poisoning
  • Stress or infections in other parts of the body

The doctors in the ER take belly pain seriously and may need to ask a lot of questions, do a physical exam, and use tests like blood work or scans (like an ultrasound or CT scan) to find out what’s wrong.

If you have pain, in your abdomen or elsewhere, you may want to seek emergency care if it occurs suddenly or gets worse.

If you are experiencing any medical emergency, call 911 or visit the ER closest to you.