What are the symptoms of abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain ranges from dull cramping, bloating, and gas to sharp, localized, or burning pain, often with nausea, vomiting, or changes in bowel habits. The location, timing, and accompanying symptoms — especially fever, blood, or a rigid belly — point to the cause and how serious it is.
“Abdominal pain” is really a family of sensations. Describing yours accurately — where it is, what it feels like, and what comes with it — helps a clinician narrow down the cause quickly.
What the Pain Itself Feels Like
- Cramping — comes and goes in waves; often from gas, indigestion, menstrual cramps, or a stomach virus.
- Sharp or stabbing, localized pain — easy to point to one spot; more likely to signal a specific organ problem such as the appendix or gallbladder.
- Dull, aching, or generalized pain — harder to pinpoint; common with indigestion or early illness.
- Burning pain — often related to acid reflux, heartburn, or an ulcer.
- Colicky pain — intense waves that build and ease, seen with kidney stones or bowel blockage.
Symptoms That Commonly Come With It
- Bloating or a feeling of fullness
- Gas, belching, or rumbling sounds
- Nausea or vomiting
- Heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Tenderness when the abdomen is touched
- Swelling or visible distention of the belly
Why Location Matters
- Upper right: gallbladder or liver problems.
- Upper middle: stomach, ulcers, acid reflux; upper-abdominal pain can also be referred heart pain.
- Upper left: stomach, spleen, or pancreas.
- Lower right: appendix (classic appendicitis) or, in women, an ovary.
- Lower left: colon (such as diverticulitis) or an ovary.
- Around the navel: early appendicitis or small-intestine issues.
Warning-Sign Symptoms to Take Seriously
Some symptoms turn ordinary belly pain into a possible emergency. Treat these as danger signs: severe or steadily worsening pain, a rigid or very tender belly, high fever, persistent vomiting or vomiting blood, blood in the stool or black tarry stools, a swollen belly with no bowel movement or gas, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), or fainting and a racing heart. In a person who is or could be pregnant, one-sided lower pain with bleeding or dizziness is an emergency.
If danger signs are present, go straight to the ER or call 911 rather than waiting to see if symptoms pass. Bellaire ER is open 24/7 at 5302 Bellaire Blvd with on-site labs and imaging; call (713) 660-0001 for guidance. For a complete guide, see our abdominal pain page.