Your Abdominal Pain Might Be Hiding Something More Serious

It’s almost midnight. You had a late dinner and now you're slouched on the couch, half-watching your inbox fill up while trying to relax. But something feels off. There’s this discomfort in your abdomen—nothing sharp at first, just enough to make you squirm and shift around.

You keep trying to find the right position so the pain could dull. The pain creeps in more, tightening its grip, taking hold of your insides, making more space for itself. You start to feel that sinking, uneasy dread. You’ve got work in the morning. You need sleep. This is not good.

You drink a gallon of water, pace around the house, try breathing exercises—anything to make it stop. Eventually, you drag yourself to bed, willing your body to cooperate. But sleep doesn’t come. Of course, it doesn’t!

A few months ago, you felt something eerily similar, but it went away after a rough night, and you hoped that would be the end of it. Clearly, it wasn’t.

By dawn, you're in tears. Exhausted, anxious, and still in pain, you drive yourself to the emergency room. The doctor asks a few questions, gives you a shot of ibuprofen, and—just like that—the pain finally fades to a dull ache. Relief. Until you see the $300 bill.

After a few days, you follow up with a complete check-up. Bloodwork, scans, even an endoscopy. You’re expecting answers. And what you get is reassurance - your organs look fine. Understanding the cause of your pain brings a wave of relief. Let’s find out more!

Abdominal pain can be tricky. It’s that discomfort you feel anywhere in your belly area, between your ribs and your pelvis. Most of us just call it a “stomach ache,” but the truth is, the pain might not even be coming from your stomach at all.

Your abdomen is home to quite a few important organs, including your:

• Stomach

• Liver

• Gallbladder

• Pancreas

• Small intestine

• Large intestine

That’s your whole digestive system packed into one area. But pain can also come from the abdominal wall itself—the outer layer made up of skin and muscles. And to make things even more confusing, sometimes belly pain doesn’t even start in the belly. It could be referred to as pain in your chest, pelvis, or even your back.

Abdominal pain isn’t one-size-fits-all either. It can show up in a bunch of different ways. It might feel:

• Mild or intense

• Dull, sharp, or burning

• Crampy, achy, or colicky

• Constant or come-and-go

• Focused on one area or spread all over

At the end of the day, abdominal pain is personal—it’s how you feel it. Your doctor can’t measure it the way they do blood pressure or temperature, which is why your description matters so much.

Not all belly pain is the same, and how long it lasts can tell you much about what might happen.

Sometimes, pain is acute, meaning it comes on suddenly and doesn’t last long. Acute pain is often uncomfortable, but not always something to worry about. Other times, the pain can be chronic, sticking around for weeks or even months—or it might be progressive, meaning it gradually gets worse over time.

In those cases, it’s usually a sign that something more serious could happen. To make sense of it, let’s break down some of the most common causes of abdominal pain into a few categories:

Digestive-related pain - Think indigestion, gas, bloating, constipation, or even food poisoning.

Inflammatory pain - Conditions like gastritis, Crohn’s disease, or an inflamed gallbladder or pancreas can cause this.

Pain related to the female reproductive system - Things like menstrual cramps, ovulation pain, or complications like ovarian cysts or endometriosis.

More serious or less common causes - These might include appendicitis, kidney infections, an ectopic pregnancy, or even a heart attack.

But here’s the thing - where the pain is, what it feels like, and how intense it is can all offer clues to what’s really going on.

So let’s dive deeper into the possible causes of abdominal pain—based on location, type, and intensity—to help you figure out what your body might be trying to tell you.

If you’ve ever experienced stomach pain after a meal, you're not alone. It's a common issue that many people face. Understanding the potential causes can help you find relief. Let’s explore a few common culprits:

• Indigestion - This type of pain usually occurs in the upper abdomen and can be accompanied by a burning sensation, a feeling of fullness that will not go away, and sometimes nausea or gas.

• Gas - Passing gas is a normal part of digestion, but when there’s too much gas in your system, it can get trapped in your abdomen and cause pain.

Digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or lactose intolerance can make you even flatulent.

• Constipation - When your digestive system is backed up and your body can’t move stool through your system, it can result in abdominal discomfort.

• Diarrhoea - Diarrhoea often comes with more frequent trips to the bathroom, but it can also cause painful cramps in your abdomen.

• Food Intolerances - If you have trouble digesting certain foods, eating them could lead to stomach pain and other unpleasant symptoms.

A common example is lactose intolerance, where your body has trouble breaking down lactose (the sugar found in dairy), which means dairy products can be tough on your stomach.

• Food Poisoning - One of the most common symptoms? Abdominal pain. Along with other unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, this type of stomach upset can definitely ruin your day.

Your upper right abdomen is home to some pretty important organs, like your liver, gallbladder, right kidney, and bile ducts. So, if you’re feeling pain in that area, it’s good to know that it could be linked to a few different conditions.

Here are some of the most common causes of upper right abdominal pain:

• Hepatitis (alcoholic, toxic, metabolic, viral or autoimmune)

• Gallstones

• Cholecystitis or gallbladder inflammation

• Gallbladder cancer

• Liver disease, including liver cancer

• Kidney infection

• Kidney stones

• Bile duct cancer, stones and strictures

• Duodenal ulcer

• Large bowel obstruction

If you’re feeling pain specifically in the lower right side of your abdomen, the most likely culprit is your appendix. The pain could be a result of appendicitis, which is an inflammation of the appendix. This is a pretty common cause of lower right abdominal pain and usually requires emergency treatment.

In very rare cases, though, the pain could also be related to appendix cancer.

Your upper left abdomen is home to several important organs: your stomach, pancreas, spleen, and even your left kidney (which sits toward the back). Plus, your heart and left lung are just above this area.

So, if you're feeling pain in the upper left side, there are several possible causes:

• Pancreatitis or an inflamed pancreas

• Pancreatic cancer

• Splenomegaly or enlarged spleen

• Gastritis

• Stomach ulcer

• Bile reflux

• Stomach cancer

• Kidney infection

• Kidney stone

If the pain seems like it’s coming from your chest, it could be referred pain from issues like:

• Heartburn

• Angina

• Heart attack

• Pericarditis or inflammation of the tissue around your heart

• Pneumonia

• Pleurisy, or the inflammation of the lining of your lungs

• Pulmonary embolism

Your lower abdomen is where most of your small and large intestines live, and it’s also where your ovaries and uterus are located (for people with female reproductive systems).

So, pain in this area can point to a range of issues, from gastrointestinal problems to reproductive concerns. Here are some common causes:

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Functional dyspepsia

• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)

• Large or small bowel obstruction

• Small intestine cancer

• Colon cancer

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Peritonitis

• Mesenteric lymphadenitis

• Intestinal (mesenteric) ischemic syndrome

• Hernia

• Kidney stones

If the pain seems to be coming from your reproductive organs, it could be related to:

• Endometriosis

• Ovarian cysts

• Pelvic inflammatory disease

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Ovarian cancer

• Uterine cancer

If you’re feeling pain specifically in your lower left abdomen, one of the most common causes is diverticulosis or diverticulitis. These conditions involve small pouches, called diverticula, that can form in the walls of your colon.

While diverticula can appear anywhere in the colon, they’re most often found in the lower left side.

Pain in your lower right abdomen is most commonly linked to your appendix. The most common cause is appendicitis, which is when your appendix becomes inflamed and painful.

It’s usually a sharp pain that starts around your belly button and then moves to the lower right side. In rare cases, pain in this area could be due to appendix cancer, though this is much less common.

It’s important to remember that there are a lot of other reasons why you might experience abdominal pain, beyond the usual suspects. Some of these include:

• Stress

• Visceral hypersensitivity

• Abdominal bloating

• Traumatic injuries

• Abdominal muscle strain

• Shingles

If you’re dealing with chronic abdominal pain that doesn’t get worse over time but keeps coming and going, there are a few conditions that could be causing it. Some of these include:

• Celiac disease

• Gallstones

• Gastritis, or inflammation of the lining of your stomach

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Hernias

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Ovarian cysts

• Peptic ulcer

• Ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease

You might also experience colicky abdominal pain, which is crampy and severe, that comes in waves due to more acute causes, like kidney stones and gallstones.

It’s always a good idea to see your doctor if your abdominal pain is unexplained, lasts for a long time, is severe, or if you’ve recently been injured or are pregnant. In addition, you should definitely seek medical attention if any of these warning signs accompany your abdominal pain:

• Persistent Fever

• Ongoing Nausea or Vomiting

• Blood in Your Stools, Urine, or Vomit

• Swelling and Tenderness

• Jaundice

• Pain in Other Parts of Your Body

• Shortness of breath or symptoms that get worse with exertion

Abdominal pain could be the culprit behind a lot of issues, from innocent digestive troubles to much more serious conditions. If you’re experiencing persistent pain accompanied by concerning symptoms, it’s probably best to check in with your doctor.

Pay attention to how your body responds. What causes discomfort, where does it hurt, how often does it hurt - listen to it!

Q. What causes sudden abdominal pain?

A. Sudden abdominal pain can be caused by issues like gas, indigestion, food poisoning, or more serious conditions like appendicitis or kidney stones.

Q. When should I see a doctor for abdominal pain?

A. If your pain is unexplained, lasts for a long time, is severe, or is accompanied by symptoms like fever, vomiting, or blood in your stool, it’s important to see a doctor.

Q. Can stress cause abdominal pain?

A. Yes, stress can cause abdominal discomfort, including cramps, bloating, and indigestion.

Q. How can I relieve mild abdominal pain at home?

A. For mild pain, drinking water, applying a warm compress, or resting can help. Avoiding heavy meals and foods that irritate your stomach may also provide relief.

Q. What are the common causes of lower abdominal pain in women?

A. Conditions like ovarian cysts, endometriosis, or menstrual cramps could cause lower abdominal pain in women.