Conditions

Abdominal pain affects us all from time to time and, in most cases, isn’t a major cause for concern. Indigestion, reflux, heartburn and trapped wind are all common causes of stomach pain and can pass without any treatment.

However, persistent or acute pain can be a sign that something more serious is going on. If this is the case, then getting a diagnosis is vital.

Mr Shankar has helped hundreds of patients like you, giving them either peace of mind or the right treatment as soon as possible.

Causes of abdominal pain can include:

Diagnosis
At your consultation, Mr Shankar will discuss your symptoms with you and carry out an examination of your stomach. You will also have access to blood tests and scans including ultrasound, CT and MRI.

The pancreas is a small organ located behind the stomach that helps with digestion. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, it’s called Pancreatitis, a condition that can be acute or chronic.

It’s more common in men than women, with alcohol and gallstones often the main causes. If you suffer from acute pancreatitis, you’ll often feel better within a week, and won’t need treatment.

However, when the pancreas becomes damaged from inflammation and stops working properly, this is known as severe acute pancreatitis, or chronic pancreatitis. If this is your diagnosis, you’ll need medical attention.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis

• Severe pain in your abdomen
• Feeling nauseous or vomiting
• A high temperature
• Diarrhoea

Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis

• Frequent pain in your abdomen
• Stomach cramps
• Bloating and wind
• Foul-smelling stools
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Jaundice (when your skin and eyes become yellow)

Diagnosis

We’ll ask you about your symptoms and give you a physical examination.

You might also need to have blood tests (including genetic tests), an ultrasound scan and a CT or MRI scan.

The appendix is a small, thin pouch connected to the large intestine, where stools form. The function of the appendix, however, remains something of a mystery.

Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix common in young people. It typically starts as a pain in your abdomen that comes and goes. Within a few hours, that pain increases and becomes more persistent, moving to the lower right-hand side of your body, where the appendix usually sits.

If left untreated, appendicitis can cause your appendix to burst and lead to infection. 

Symptoms of appendicitis

• Pain in the middle of your abdomen
• Feeling nauseous or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• A high temperature 

Diagnosis

Appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose for a number of reasons. The symptoms only appear in about half of all cases for example, and the location of the appendix can vary from person to person.

When you come to see us, we’ll ask you about your symptoms, and examine your abdomen to see whether the pain gets worse when pressure’s applied to the appendix area. You may also have a blood test or a CT scan or ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ beneath your liver. It stores bile, which helps your body to digest fat. Gallstones are small stones, usually made up of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder.

Gallstones can become trapped in a duct inside the gallbladder, which then contracts to dislodge the stone, resulting in sudden, sharp abdominal pains known as biliary colic. Gallstones often affect older people, and are more common in women than men. Pregnancy, being overweight and rapid weight loss are also risk factors.

Symptoms of gallstones

• Sudden, sharp abdominal pains (biliary colic)
• Inflammation of the gallbladder caused by infection (cholecystitis). This can lead to pain and fever
• A yellow appearance to the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis)

Further complications include: severe infection of the bile duct, and obstruction to the bowel.

We may give you a test called the Murphy’s sign test. We’ll apply gentle pressure to the upper right area of your abdomen while you breathe in. If this hurts, it usually means your gallbladder is inflamed.

You may also have a blood test to check for infection, and liver function. If your liver isn’t working normally, it can be a sign that gallstones have moved into your bile duct.

An ultrasound is the most effective way to diagnose gallstones. We use a type of MRI called MRCP to see whether the gallstones have moved into your bile duct, and an HIDA scan to look at the function of the gallbladder and bile ducts.

An inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia. A condition that mainly affects men, it occurs when there is a weakness in the abdominal wall. Tissue from organs, such as your intestine, can break through the abdominal muscles, resulting in a visible swelling or lump. These can be painful, and you may find it hurts with certain movements, such as coughing. Enlarged hernias usually require surgery. 

Symptoms of an inguinal hernia

• A swelling or lump in the area around your pubic bone
• A burning or aching sensation around the swelling or lump
• Pain in this area, caused by sudden movements such as coughing 
• Pain, discomfort or a feeling of weakness around the groin
• Men may also feel pain or experience swelling in their testicles

Normally a diagnosis for inguinal hernia just requires a physical examination. Your consultant may ask you to stand and cough to see if this causes pain. Further tests may include an X-ray or CT scan to identify the hernia.

Sarcoma is a general term for a broad group of cancers that begin in both the bone and soft tissue.

Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in almost any part of the body. They affect connective or supporting tissue, including fatty tissue, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels and the soft tissue that surrounds organs.

Symptoms of soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas often have no obvious symptoms in the early stages. It’s not until they’ve grown in size and are pressing on a nerve, muscle or organ within the body that symptoms can appear.

These symptoms will differ depending on location of the sarcoma. A soft tissue sarcoma in the abdomen, for example, may cause abdominal pain and abnormal bowel movements or blood in vomit, while one in the womb may cause bleeding from the vagina or pain in the lower abdomen. 

Things to look out for include:

• Any lump that is increasing in size
• Any lump that is sensitive or painful
• Any lump that has returned after being removed by surgery
• Any lump that is deep within the body (not just beneath the skin)

These symptoms are not true for all sarcomas, and you may experience other symptoms, depending on the location of the sarcoma.

There are a number of investigations and tests available to confirm a diagnosis, which will be based on your symptoms and suspected type of cancer. These tests may include a biopsy, where a small amount of tissue is removed, or scans such as X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET CT.