SEVA PAIN INSTITUTE
ABDOMINAL PAIN
Abdominal pain can interfere with anyone’s lifestyle. If you suffer frequent and disruptive abdominal pain, Gurpreet Dhaliwal, MD, at SEVA Pain Institute, in Tracy, California, can help you find lasting relief. There are various treatment options that can help, and a solution for virtually any set of needs. Book your appointment today, either by calling the office or trying the online scheduling tool.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What causes abdominal pain?
Everyone experiences occasional abdominal pain, but when discomfort is severe or persistent, professional diagnostics may be necessary.
Some common causes of abdominal pain include:
- Indigestion
- Kidney stones
- Acid reflux disease
- Gallstones
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
This is far from a comprehensive list. Fortunately, there are both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments that can relieve moderate to severe abdominal pain.
What are some lasting options for treating abdominal pain?
Nerve blocks are an effective way to both diagnose and relieve abdominal pain. These treatments use injections to lessen pain and destroy nerve tissue. Dr. Dhaliwal begins by numbing a small area of skin. He then:
- Inserts a thin needle and injects an anesthetic
- Inserts another needle to inject a medical dye that tracks where medication will travel
- Injects pain medication and sometimes a solution that destroys nerve tissue
Nerve blocks can be used to treat nerves in your celiac plexus, a group of nerves that transmit pain signals from your abdomen. The treatment is also effective in your superior hypogastric plexus, which is a bundle of nerve fibers that transmit pain signals from your lower abdomen and pelvic region.
Can radiofrequency ablation help with abdominal pain?
Radiofrequency ablation can improve abdominal pain by destroying nerve fibers. This approach uses an X-ray called a fluoroscope to direct a thin needle to the area where pain originates.
Once in place, the needle is heated using radiofrequency current and destroys selected nerve tissue. There are also techniques that use cold temperatures to destroy nerve cells.
That prevents those nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. You may feel some discomfort for a couple of weeks as your body heals, but relief should arrive within 10 days.
How can neurostimulation help treat abdominal pain?
Neurostimulation is a pain management treatment that uses controlled electrical current to disrupt the transmission of pain signals between your body and brain. One of the biggest advantages of neurostimulation is the opportunity to “try before you buy.” The lead(s) can be temporarily placed and connected to an external stimulator device before committing to implantation.
If your trial period delivers significant pain reduction, you can choose to have a small stimulation device implanted in your body, usually in the upper portion of your buttocks or shoulder blade. Permanent leads are implanted and can be repositioned or removed if needed.
To learn more about treatment options, schedule a visit with SEVA Pain Institute today.