Chronic Abdominal Pain

Chicagoland Pain Management

Interventional Pain Management Specialists located in Bolingbrook, IL & Hinsdale, IL

Abdominal pain can be a distressing symptom that could indicate disease or dysfunction in the internal organs that require immediate treatment. However, if you have chronic abdominal pain that lasts for many months, you should seek specialized care from the team at Chicagoland Pain Management in Bolingbrook and Hinsdale, Illinois. The highly qualified doctors have many years of experience in helping patients who have chronic abdominal pain, whether it’s due to long-term disease or has a neuropathic origin. To find compassionate relief from chronic abdominal pain, call Chicagoland Pain Management today or book an appointment online.

Chronic Abdominal Pain Q & A

What is chronic abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is considered chronic if it lasts more than three months. Pain in the abdomen has many possible causes, and when the pain first starts, your doctor examines you and runs tests to find out if the pain is due to an identifiable disorder.

In some cases, chronic abdominal pain is due to conditions such as cancer and chronic pancreatitis, but in other cases, there’s no identifiable cause. Chronic abdominal pain that lasts more than six months with no specific cause is known as functional pain.

Before confirming you have chronic functional pain, your doctor first needs to eliminate any potential cause that needs treating. If all your test results fail to identify a reason for your pain, then the most likely explanation is that the pain is neuropathic, meaning there’s a problem with your nerves.

Why would I have functional pain?

Several factors influence the development of functional pain, such as chronic stress, depression, and anxiety.

If other members of your family also suffer from chronic functional pain, you’re more likely to experience the problem.

How is chronic abdominal pain treated?

If there’s a long-term medical problem that’s causing chronic abdominal pain, then treating that cause is vital to relieving the pain. Your doctor can arrange any specific treatments for your condition.

They may also recommend a course of treatment designed to reduce the symptoms so you can lead a more normal life. A conservative treatment program might consist of:

Pain-relieving medication
Antidepressants
Anti-anxiety medication
Antispasmodic medication
Relaxation training
Biofeedback
Hypnotherapy

If these measures aren’t providing relief from your pain, your specialist physician at Chicagoland Pain Management has several advanced treatments that may help. One of these treatments is nerve blocks, such as a celiac plexus block or a splanchnic nerve block.

Nerve blocks are injections of medication directly into the bundles of nerves that are generating the pain signals. They may be a combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication or neurolytic agents that destroy specific nerve endings for a more permanent solution.

Another option is an innovative form of spinal cord stimulation called high-frequency neuromodulation (HF10) therapy. An implantable device sends out signals at 10 Mhz that block the nerves sending pain signals to your brain, relieving you of your symptoms.

To find out more about these advanced solutions for chronic abdominal pain, call Chicagoland Pain Management today, or book an appointment online.

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