Abdominal pain is a common complaint and can be caused by a number of different health conditions. It can, however, be a challenge to determine the source of your abdominal pain, especially if it is chronic. Short-lived abdominal pain is often the result of a foodborne illness or infection and often resolves on its own in a couple of days or so. Abdominal pain that lasts longer than a couple of days may require an abdominal pain workup by your physician. Here are some things to expect during your doctor office visit that will help your physician diagnose and treat your abdominal pain.
Palpation And Auscultation Examination
During your doctor office visit, they will palpate each quadrant of your abdomen to assess the areas for organomegaly, also known as organ enlargement, displaced organs, rebound tenderness, irregularly shaped or nodular organs, and pain. They will also listen to your bowel sounds (auscultation) with their stethoscope to determine whether your colonic activity is normal.
If your bowel sounds are very sluggish or if your doctor does not detect any sounds at all, further testing may be needed to rule out an inflammatory bowel condition or obstruction. If your liver or gallbladder feels enlarged during your palpation examination, the doctor will also look at the whites of your eyes and your skin to see if they are jaundiced or yellow. In addition to abdominal pain, liver and gallbladder disorders may also cause jaundice as a result of high bilirubin levels.
Blood And Urine Tests
Another component of your abdominal pain workup may be lab tests such as blood and urine tests. At you doctor office visit, your doctor may order a complete blood count and a blood chemistry profile to help diagnose your abdominal pain. These tests may reveal abnormalities with your kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas that could be the cause of your abdominal pain. Further, a urine test may reveal high bacterial counts that may be indicative of a bladder infection, which can also cause abdominal pain as well as pelvic and lower back pain. If your blood tests and urine tests reveal abnormalities, further assessments such as imaging tests may be recommended.
If you develop abdominal pain, see your doctor right away. Once they diagnose the source of your pain, they will recommend treatment options. It is important to note, that if your abdominal pain workup does not uncover the reason behind your symptoms, your primary care physician may refer you to other specialists such as a gynecologist, infectious disease doctor, or orthopedic physician for additional testing.
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