Abdominal Pain Specialist
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Oasis Advanced Gastroenterology
Mehrdad Asgeri, MD
Gastroenterologist located in Palm Springs, CA
Abdominal pain is the reason for up to 10% of all emergency room visits — and up to 25% of those patients leave the hospital without any answers. That’s where Oasis Advanced Gastroenterology, located in Palm Springs - serving Rancho Mirage, Indio, La Quinta, and Palm Desert, CA - comes in to help. Board-certified gastroenterologist Mehrdad Asgeri, MD, specializes in abdominal pain testing and management, and he’s here to find the solutions you need. Book your appointment by calling the office or clicking the online scheduler now.
Abdominal Pain Q & A
Why do I have abdominal pain?
When your stomach hurts, the pain can occur anywhere from the rib area down to your hips. Because there are multiple large abdominal organs in this area, the pain may originate in any of them. Some of the most common causes of abdominal pain are digestive tract problems, including:
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Diverticulitis
- Celiac disease
- Ulcers
- Cancer
- Gallstones
- Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
- Hiatal hernia
- Intestinal blockage
- Infection
Abdominal pain can vary greatly by condition, ranging from tenderness and pressure to acute severe pain.
When do I need to see the doctor about abdominal pain?
Depending on the cause of your abdominal pain, you may have additional symptoms like diarrhea or constipation.
If you also have fever, blood in your stool, pronounced abdominal swelling, jaundice, unexplained weight loss, nausea, or vomiting, you need to see Dr. Asgeri as soon as possible. These symptoms may represent a severe problem that requires prompt treatment.
If your abdominal pain doesn't go along with other symptoms, but is persistent and interferes with any aspect of your day-to-day routine, it still requires evaluation and treatment.
How do you find the cause of abdominal pain?
At Oasis Advanced Gastroenterology, Dr. Asgeri examines you, gently checking for points of pain and tenderness. He reviews your symptoms and determines which tests you need to confirm your diagnosis. You may need tests such as:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Stool tests
- X-ray
- Ultrasound
In some cases, you may need an outpatient procedure like upper endoscopy or colonoscopy so Dr. Asgeri can closely examine your abdominal organs from the inside.
What is the treatment for abdominal pain?
Your abdominal pain treatment plan depends on its root cause. Dr. Asgeri may prescribe medication, such as anti-inflammatory medication, to ease your pain. While narcotics can reduce pain, they can also bring on side effects like constipation.
Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline can alter pain signals to decrease your abdominal pain. When taken in these therapeutic low doses, the drugs don't have any significant antidepressant effects.
In some cases, abdominal pain could improve with nutritional and dietary changes.
For certain kinds of abdominal pain, surgery may be the answer. For example, if you have abdominal pain due to cholecystitis, gallbladder removal surgery can permanently end your pain. Up to 45% of ulcerative colitis sufferers and 75% of Crohn’s disease sufferers need surgery to relieve symptoms like abdominal pain at some point.
From conservative care to surgical treatments, Oasis Advanced Gastroenterology is here to help with abdominal pain. Call the office or click the provided link now.