Abdominal Pain on Left SideThe location of your abdominal pain can provide a clue to its cause. If your pain occurs on your lower left side, the most common culprit is diverticulitis of the colon. This is a complication of diverticulosis, a condition in which small pouches develop on the lining of your intestines. When these pouches become inflamed (a condition called diverticulitis), you’ll likely have severe abdominal pain. Irritable bowel syndrome also may cause pause pain in your lower left abdomen. Pain in your upper left abdomen has many possible causes, including:Inflammation of your pancreas, called pancreatitisPancreatic cancerEnlarged spleen, called splenomegalyInflammation of your stomach lining, called gastritisStomach ulcerBile refluxStomach cancerKidney infectionKidney stonePain in this part of your abdomen can also start in your chest due to:HeartburnAngina, or chest pain caused by coronary artery diseaseChest pain not related to your heartHeart attackInflammation of the tissue that surrounds your heart, called pericarditisPneumoniaInflammation of the lining of your lungs, called pleurisyPulmonary embolismAbdominal Pain on Right SideIf you have pain in your lower right abdomen, it could mean trouble with your appendix, such as appendicitis or, rarely, appendix cancer.You have some major organs on the upper right side of your abdomen, including your liver and right kidney, as well as your gallbladder. Serious causes of pain in this area include:Hepatitis, including alcoholic hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, metabolic hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitisGallstonesLiver disease, including liver cancerGallbladder cancerInflammation of your gallbladder, called cholecystitisKidney infectionKidney stonesDuodenal ulcerLarge bowel obstructionAbdominal Pain That Comes and GoesIf you have long-lasting, or chronic, abdominal pain, it may come and go without getting worse over time. Conditions that can cause chronic abdominal pain include:Celiac diseaseGallstonesGastritis, or inflammation of the lining of your stomachGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)HerniasIrritable bowel syndromeOvarian cystsPeptic ulcerUlcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel diseaseYou may also have colicky abdominal pain, which comes and goes and is often severe, due to more acute causes, such as kidney stones and gallstones.Recurrent Abdominal PainIf you have at least three stomachaches over 3 months, and they’re severe enough to keep you from doing everyday activities, you have what doctors call “recurrent abdominal pain.”Recurrent abdominal pain symptomsRecurrent abdominal pain feels different from person to person. The pain may start and stop without warning or could be ongoing. Some people describe it as a dull ache in their belly. Others have sharp cramps. Besides pain, there may be symptoms such as diarrheaor throwing up.When to Call the Doctor About Abdominal PainIf your abdominal pain is serious, doesn't go away, or keeps coming back, talk to your doctor. Call 911 right away if your belly hurts because you had a recent injury there or if you have chest pain.You should also contact your doctor as soon as you can if you have pain along with other symptoms, such as:Inability to keep food down for more than 2 daysSigns of dehydration, including not urinating frequently, dark-colored urine, and being very thirstyInability to have a bowel movement, especially if you're also vomitingPain when you urinate or you need to urinate often Also call your doctor if:Your belly is tender to the touchPain lasts more than a few hoursYou may have other symptoms that could indicate a problem inside your body that needs immediate treatment. Get medical care right away if you have abdominal pain and you also:Vomit bloodNotice bloody or black, tarry stoolHave trouble breathingVomit constantlyHave swelling in your bellyHave yellow skinAre pregnantHave unexplained weight lossAbdominal Pain and NauseaThese two symptoms often go hand in hand. When they persist, you should see a doctor. The following, some of them serious, are a few examples of conditions that can cause both abdominal pain and nausea:DiverticulitisFood poisoningFood intolerances, such as lactose intoleranceDigestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, and indigestionLow blood flow to your intestines caused by a blocked blood vessel, called mesenteric ischemiaUlcersInflammation of your pancreas, called pancreatitisHepatitisPreeclampsiaUTIStomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritisAbdominal Pain DiagnosisSince there are so many possible causes, your doctor will do a thorough physical exam. They’ll also ask you some questions about your symptoms and want to know what type of pain you have. For instance, is it a severe stabbing pain or a dull ache?Some other questions your doctor may ask you:Does it hurt throughout your abdomen, or is it just in one particular area?When does it hurt? Always? More often in the morning or at night?If the pain comes and goes, how long does it last each time?Does it hurt after you eat certain foods or drink alcohol?Are you in pain during menstruation?How long have you been hurting?Does the pain sometimes move into your lower back, shoulder, groin, or buttocks?Do you take any medications or herbal supplements?Are you pregnant?Does any activity ease the pain, such as eating or lying on one side?Does an activity or position make the pain worse?Were you injured recently?After your exam is over and your doctor is done asking you questions, you may need tests to help find the cause of your pain. These tests may include:Stool or urine testsBlood testsBarium swallows or enemasColonoscopy or sigmoidoscopyCT scanUltrasoundUpper endoscopyX-raysAbdominal Pain TreatmentThe treatment for abdominal pain depends on its cause and may include:Medications to lower inflammation, prevent , or treat ulcers or infectionSurgery to treat a problem with an organOver-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate your stomach and worsen your pain. Don’t take them unless a doctor has diagnosed the cause of your belly pain and recommends their use.Abdominal Pain Home RemediesSome diet and lifestyle changes may help ease belly pain caused by gas and indigestion. Here are some things you can try:Eat smaller portions at more frequent meals.Eat slowly.Chew your food well.Drink beverages at room temperature.Avoid foods that give you gas or indigestion.Manage your stress.Limit alcohol and caffeine.Sit up straight after you eat.Get regular physical activity and take a short walk after you eat.TakeawaysAbdominal pain can develop for many different reasons. Most of the time, it’s not serious and will go away on its own. But persistent, severe, and unexplained abdominal pain could be a cause for concern and require treatment. Our best advice — let your doctor decide.Abdominal Pain FAQsWhat does the location of your abdominal pain tell you?Where your pain occurs provides clues to its cause. For example, your appendix is in your lower right abdomen, so pain in that area could indicate you have appendicitis, a medical emergency requiring surgery.What is the difference between stomach pain and abdominal pain?Your stomach is just one organ in your abdomen. It’s located in your upper abdomen on the left-hand side. While you can feel pain in your stomach, abdominal pain can occur anywhere in your abdomen, the area of your body between your chest and your pelvis.SourcesUpdate HistorySharePrintSOURCES:National Institutes of Health.FamilyDoctor.org: “Dehydration.”American College of Gastroenterology: “Abdominal Pain Syndrome.”Mayo Clinic: “Abdominal Pain,” “Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu),” “Intestinal Ischemia,” “Indigestion,” “Dehydration.”Brigham and Women’s Hospital: “Gas: Beat The Bloat.”MedlinePlus: “Abdominal Pain.”Global First Aid Reference Centre: “Abdominal Pain.”Merck Manuals: “Acute Abdominal Pain,” “Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).”Mount Sinai: “Abdominal pain.”Cleveland Clinic: “Abdominal Pain,” “Miscarriage,” “Abdominal Pain: Care and Treatment,” “Indigestion,” “Gas and Gas Pain,” “Constipation,” “Diarrhea,” “Food Intolerances,” “Food Poisoning,” “Diverticulitis,” “Food Allergy vs. Intolerance: What’s the Difference?” “Mesenteric Ischemia,” “Stomach.”American Pregnancy Association: “Stomach Pain in Pregnancy.”Medscape: “Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Clinical Presentation.”Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Why Does My Stomach Hurt?”Cedars-Sinai: “Abdominal Pain - Unexplained.”St. Luke’s: “Anatomy of the Abdomen and Groin.”SharePrintNext In Types of PainShow more articles More on Pain Management Recommended FEATURED Top doctors in , Find more top doctors on Search Related LinksPoliciesAboutFor Advertisers © 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. , Abdominal pain - A discomfort that you feel in your belly area. Learn more about types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & home remedies., Abdominal pain has many causes. What feels like a stomachache may be coming from another organ in your abdomen, or from outside of your digestive system..