Abdominal Pain

Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates

Pain Management Specialists located in Salem, VA & Christiansburg, VA

While occasional abdominal pain due to digestive issues affects everyone from time to time, persistent pain may point to something more going on in your body. At Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates, the experienced pain management specialists offer customized solutions to address chronic stomach and abdominal pain at all of their Virginia locations, including Salem, Christiansburg, and Roanoke. Whether you need chronic pain management services or anesthetic injections, you can expect comprehensive care with a focus on long-term pain relief. Call the office nearest you or book a consultation online for abdominal pain today.

Abdominal Pain Q & A

What causes abdominal pain?

While common digestive issues, such as indigestion, can cause stomach cramping or pain on occasion, chronic abdominal pain can develop from conditions like:

  • Hernia
  • Ulcers
  • Constipation
  • Kidney stones
  • Stomach viruses
  • Nerve damage

You may also suffer injuries to the soft tissues of your abdomen, such as muscle tears.

How is abdominal pain diagnosed?

During your consultation, your Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates specialist reviews your medical history and discusses your symptoms. In some cases, they can pinpoint the cause of your stomach or abdominal pain based on its location and the accompanying symptoms.

To rule out underlying medical issues or to confirm a diagnosis, you may need to undergo imaging tests to evaluate your digestive tract and the soft tissues that support your abdomen. Tests may include:

  • X-rays
  • CT scan
  • Ultrasound

Endoscopy is also a testing option that uses a flexible tube with an attached camera to explore the inside of your stomach and digestive tract.

Once your Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates physician understands the root cause of your pain, they create a custom treatment plan to address it.

What treatment options are available for abdominal pain?

For all types of stomach and abdominal pain, the pain management specialists create a holistic treatment plan based on the severity and location of your pain. Medication therapy can provide quick and long-term relief of chronic pain.

In some cases, the physicians manage nerve-related abdominal pain with a celiac plexus block, an injectable treatment that delivers anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medications to the group of nerves in the front of your lower spine, known as the celiac plexus.

During a celiac plexus block, your Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates specialist uses a fluoroscopic imaging device that ensures they are positioning the needle in the correct location. This device provides real-time images of the inner structure of your lower spine and abdomen.

When chronic pain from this group of nerves interferes with your functionality, the medical team may also recommend an ablation procedure. Ablation involves the use of radiofrequency heat energy to destroy the nerves and stop the pain signals from traveling to your brain. Ablation provides long-term relief of chronic pain and assists with the regeneration of a healthy nerve.

To learn more about available diagnostic and treatment options for chronic stomach and abdominal pain, schedule a consultation today at the office nearest you by phone or by using the online booking feature.