When Is Abdominal Pain an Emergency?

Your abdomen houses a lot of your body’s most important parts and processes, including several key organs and your digestive tract. That’s why pain in your abdominal area can be difficult to nail down. Is it just a stomach ache, or is something more serious going on in your abdomen?

Our dedicated team at Smart Clinic Urgent Care is knowledgeable about the various causes of abdominal pain and can help you find the right treatment to ease your discomfort whether it’s minor or an emergency. We offer expert care for abdominal pain at our clinics in West Covina and Santa Clarita, California.

But when should you come see us? Here’s a look at some warning signs that your abdominal pain could be something serious that warrants a prompt visit to the doctor.

Abdominal pain symptoms to watch for

If your abdominal pain feels like indigestion or isn’t bothering you much, it’s generally safe to wait out the day and reevaluate how you’re feeling tomorrow. However, if the pain doesn’t worsen but you’re still feeling uncomfortable in a few days, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.

When should you seek medical care right away? Your abdominal pain could be a sign of an emergency if you’re experiencing:

• Fever
• Intense pain
• Tenderness when you touch your stomach
• Swelling in your abdomen
• Blood in your stool
• Persistent vomiting
• Nausea that won’t go away
• A yellow tinge in your skin

All of the above could indicate that your abdominal pain is a symptom of something serious going on in your body. See a doctor as soon as possible.

Getting treatment for your abdominal pain

Because there are so many causes of abdominal pain, finding the right treatment comes down to identifying what’s causing your discomfort in the first place. Here at SmartClinic Urgent Care, our team can help you do exactly that. We offer a variety of diagnostic tools — including urine tests, imaging, and blood work — to help us figure out what’s going on in your abdomen.

From there, we explore your treatment options with you. These can range from antibiotics for infections to lifestyle changes to avoid digestive problems. We can make recommendations to help ease your pain, too. For example, ibuprofen and aspirin can irritate your stomach, so we usually recommend patients with abdominal pain avoid these medications. 

We can also refer you to a specialist should your abdominal pain need further care. 

Abdominal pain is fairly common, but if it persists more than a couple of days, if your pain is severe, or if you have any of the warning signs we outlined above, don’t wait to see us. Call us at either location, or book a telemedicine appointment online today.