Your abdomen is a large section of your body that generally refers to the area below your ribs and above your pelvis. Since you have about a dozen different organs residing in your abdomen, the location of your abdominal pain is vital to finding a proper diagnosis.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be super specific; just giving a quadrant can be very helpful in narrowing down what is causing the pain when you meet with a gastroenterologist.
Our GI doctors at the Digestive Health Centers in North Texas are very helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain based on where it is located. While our guide below is designed to help you narrow down the possibilities of your abdominal pain, it is recommended that you consult a local gastroenterologist in Dallas, Texas, for definitive answers.
Pain in the Upper Abdomen
Abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant
- Gallbladder (gallbladder attack/biliary colic, gallstones, gallbladder disease)
- Liver (hepatitis, liver abscess, portal vein thrombosis)
- Duodenum, a.k.a. the upper part of your small intestine (duodenal ulcer)
- right kidney (kidney stones)
- pancreas (pancreatitis)
Abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant can be a symptom of various conditions. It may indicate issues with the gallbladder, such as gallbladder attacks, gallstones, or gallbladder disease. Liver problems like hepatitis, liver abscess, or portal vein thrombosis could also manifest as pain in this area. Additionally, the upper right quadrant encompasses the duodenum, where conditions like duodenal ulcers might occur. Kidney stones in the right kidney and pancreatitis, affecting the pancreas, are other potential causes of pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen.
Abdominal pain in the upper left quadrant
- stomach (peptic ulcer, gastritis)
- pancreas (pancreatitis)
- spleen (splenic infarction/abscess/rupture, enlarged spleen)
- Liver (hepatitis, liver abscess, portal vein thrombosis)
- left kidney (kidney stones)
This upper left area of your abdomen includes the stomach, where peptic ulcers and gastritis might occur. Pancreatitis is another condition that can cause pain here, associated with the pancreas. The spleen, potentially affected by infarction, abscess, rupture, or enlargement, is also located in this quadrant. Liver issues such as hepatitis, liver abscess, or portal vein thrombosis can manifest pain in this area as well. Additionally, kidney stones in the left kidney are a potential cause of pain in the upper left quadrant.
Pain in the Lower Abdomen
Abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant
- appendix (appendicitis),
- right kidney (kidney stones)
- right ureter (narrow tube between your kidney and bladder)
- right ovary or fallopian tube (for females)
- right spermatic cord (for males)
- Crohn’s disease
Abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant can be symptomatic of several medical conditions such as Appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix. The right kidney could be a source of pain due to kidney stones. Pain might arise from the right ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. For females, issues with the right ovary or fallopian tube can cause discomfort here, whereas for males, it might be related to the right spermatic cord. Additionally, Crohn’s disease can also manifest pain in the lower right quadrant.
Abdominal pain in the lower left quadrant
- Diverticulitis (inflammation of the small pouches in your intestine called the diverticula)
- left kidney (kidney stones)
- left ureter (narrow tube between your kidney and bladder)
- left ovary or fallopian tube (for females)
- left spermatic cord (for males)
Abdominal pain in the lower left quadrant can be indicative of a variety of conditions. Diverticulitis, which is the inflammation of small pouches in the intestines known as diverticula, is a common cause of pain in this region. Both the lower left and the lower right abdominal pain may be caused by kidney stones (either in the right or left kidney) and issues related to the ureter (right or left).
Pain on Both Sides of the Abdomen (multiple quadrants)
There are some organs, such as the intestines, that are present in more than one quadrant. Some disorders of the intestines can cause pain in any quadrant, like an:
- obstruction
- GI tract perforation
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- ulcerative colitis (UC)
- Crohn’s disease
- colon cancer
- ketoacidosis
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- constipation
- lactose intolerance
In some cases, the pain may not be only on one side of your abdomen. If your upper abdomen is causing you pain (both sides), the culprit could be a stomach issue (ulcers or gastritis a.k.a. inflammation of the stomach lining), pancreatitis (pain often radiates to the back), or even a heart attack.
If you have pain in your lower abdomen (both sides or either side), it could be due to a disorder of the bladder or appendix, diverticulitis, kidney stones, or gynecologic problems (ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids).
No matter where your abdominal pain is located, your GI doctor will also have other questions about your abdominal pain, such as:
- When does the pain occur?
- Is the pain sharp/dull/constant/intermittent/radiate to other areas?
- How long does the pain usually last?
- What makes the pain better/worse?
- Do you have any other symptoms in addition to the pain?
It’s important to schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist at the Digestive Health Centers in North Texas if you’re having persistent and/or severe belly pain. You may need an endoscopic procedure to appropriately diagnose/treat your disorder. Our team of experienced GI doctors, including Dr. Noel Snowberger, Dr. Deepti Dhavaleshwar, and Dr. Adnan Badr, specializes in diagnosing and treating abdominal pain in addition to colon cancer, GERD, IBS and other digestive conditions. Call the Digestive Health Centers to get started on demystifying the cause of your abdominal pain at (214) 646-3459.