Some conditions that can cause abdominal pain are less serious, but still very painful. Many times symptoms pass on their own; however, there still may be a reason to visit our urgent care center. Some examples of these conditions are below:

• Constipation
• Food allergies or symptoms associated with lactose intolerance
• Food poisoning
• Heartburn, indigestion, or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Stomach flu
• Stomach virus
• UTI or bladder infection

There are also conditions that cause abdominal pain that can be more serious, and in most cases, should be diagnosed and treated in our 24/7 emergency room. Examples of more serious abdominal pain conditions include:

• Appendicitis
• Bowel obstruction
• Cancer of the stomach or colon
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Diverticulitis (inflammation and infection of the colon)
• Endometriosis
• Gallstones
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Kidney stones
• Pancreatitis (swelling or infection of the pancreas)

Finally, there are some known conditions that can threaten a patient’s life that requires a very rapid diagnosis and treatment. This level of abdominal pain is a serious health risk and would be considered an emergency case at all times. Examples include:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
• Ischemic bowel (low blood flow or blockage to the intestine)
• Perforated stomach or intestine

When you walk into iCare with any level of abdominal pain, our board-certified physicians will first perform a medical exam and ask questions about your medical history to try and uncover the root of the problem. Depending on the symptoms and level of pain, our physicians may perform or request further tests, like an ultrasound or a blood test. Our CLIA/COLA-certified onsite laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment that allows us to get results within several minutes.