Stomach Pain Diagnosis: How Gastroenterologists Find the Real Cause

Diagnosing stomach pain involves understanding where the pain occurs, when it starts, how long it lasts, and what other symptoms accompany it. It's where it is, when it hits, and what happens when it hits. Our gastroenterologists at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (MGMCH) in Jaipur treat each ache as a clue and work accordingly till the actual cause is identified. This article deals with the causes of stomach pain, warning signs for stomach pain, tests for stomach pain, and how to find the best gastroenterologist in Jaipur.

What Are the Common Causes of Stomach Pain?

There are many causes of abdominal pain - from after eating too much gas to a surgical emergency. The usual suspects:

• Gastritis and acid reflux (GERD): upper abdominal pain after eating.
• Peptic ulcers: pain in the stomach area that is associated with the presence of H. pylori or frequent use of painkillers.
• Gallstones: sudden, severe pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, usually following fatty or rich foods.
• Pancreatitis: a serious condition of upper abdominal pain that can radiate to the back.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): cramps, bloating, and changing bowel patterns.
• Gastroenteritis: stomach pain that goes along with diarrhea or vomiting.
• Constipation: aching pain that improves after bowel movements.
• Recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea, sometimes with blood: Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Appendicitis: Pain often begins around the belly button and later moves to the lower right abdomen, although symptoms can vary.

Often there are many situations where there is overlapping pain, so where and how pain is felt is as important as the pain itself.

What Causes Left-Side Abdominal Pain?

The abdomen is full; location reduces the options considerably.

Left-sided abdominal pain can have several causes, including trapped gas, constipation, stomach conditions, diverticulitis, or kidney problems. The location alone cannot confirm the cause. Another common cause is diverticulitis (inflamed colon pouch), which is more frequent after age 40. Other symptoms that can signal pancreatitis or kidney stones may appear on the left as well.

When pain is on the right side of the stomach, it is indicative of problems with the gallbladder, liver, or appendix. Right-sided abdominal pain may be associated with gallbladder, liver, appendix, bowel, or kidney conditions. The possible causes depend on the exact location and accompanying symptoms.

Lower abdominal pain is related to the bowel, bladder, and pelvis. Some common causes of lower abdominal pain include IBS, constipation, urinary infection, hernia, and inflammatory bowel disease.

If the pain is in the lower abdomen, there are additional possibilities for females: Period cramps, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, fibroids, and pelvic infection. Sudden or severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain, particularly with a missed period or possible pregnancy, requires urgent medical assessment because conditions such as ectopic pregnancy may need emergency treatment. Gut and gynecological pain overlap and can be treated by gastroenterologists and radiologists simultaneously.

When Should I See a Gastroenterologist for Stomach Pain?

If the pain is:

that persists for over a week or comes back (chronic stomach pain)

Includes weight loss, decreased appetite, or continuous vomiting.

Increases the difficulty of swallowing, frequent bloating, or alteration of bowel habits.

Unexplained fatigue or anemia.

Also, check if you're 45 years or older or have a family history of GI cancer. If you would like to get a first opinion from home, you may use teleconsultation.

Immediately go to emergency care if pain is sudden and intense, the abdomen is hard, a fever is present with pain, there is vomiting blood, there is black or bloody stool, there are yellow eyes or skin, or there is any abdominal pain during pregnancy. MGMCH emergency number is +918306222198.

What Do Gastroenterologists Do to Determine the True Cause?

The diagnosis of abdominal pain is straightforward: listen, examine, test.

The conversation: You can be asked about pain location, duration, factors that make it better or worse, relationship to food or bowel movements, changes in body weight, drugs, activity, alcohol, and family history. Burning pain or cramps relieved by a bowel movement may provide clues about the cause, but symptoms alone cannot confirm a diagnosis. When waves are found in the colic area, they will indicate the gallbladder, bile duct, or kidney. A history often will restrict the diagnosis before any tests have been ordered.

The examination: The doctor presses down on the abdomen for tenderness, swelling, guarding, and lumps.

The tests: Only tests that conform to the clues are called for, so the procedure is fast and sensible.

Tests for Stomach Pain

Typically, stomach pain is diagnosed from simple to specialized:

• Blood, stool, and urine tests: Detect infection, anemia, liver and pancreas disease, inflammation, and H. pylori.
• An ultrasound is the initial test for gallstones, the liver, kidneys, and pelvis. MGMCH has a range of color Doppler and the latest technology ultrasound machines.
• CT scan and MRI: detailed images of the pancreas, bowel/bile duct, and MRCP. MGMCH has a 16- and 128-slice CT and 1.5-Tesla and 3-Tesla MRI.
• Upper GI endoscopy: A thin camera tube is used to examine the food pipe, stomach, and duodenum. Most will experience light discomfort.
• Colonoscopy: Checks the colon and rectum for colitis, polyps, or cancer.
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): helps examine the digestive tract and nearby organs. ERCP is used to diagnose and treat selected biliary-duct and pancreatic-duct conditions, including the removal of certain stones.
• Capsule endoscopy and balloon enteroscopy: get to the small intestine, helpful in Crohn's disease or when there's blood in the stool.
• Food pipe movement and stomach emptying tests (manometry and motility).
• Liver biopsy: Biopsy of the liver when liver disease is suspected.
• The tests required depend on the patient's symptoms, physical examination, and suspected cause. Normal test results do not always exclude every serious condition.

Chronic Stomach Pain: Don’t Normalise It

Many people live with chronic stomach pain for months, blaming gas or stress. Recurrent abdominal pain may be associated with conditions such as IBS, peptic ulcers, gallstones, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or motility disorders. Further evaluation may be needed to identify the cause. Stress can worsen symptoms, but it should be a diagnosis of exclusion, not a first guess. Keep a short diary of when pain appears, what you ate, and any other symptoms, then carry it to your appointment. That small habit often saves a visit.

How Can I Stop Stomach Pain?

For mild, short-lived abdominal discomfort without warning signs, the following measures may help:

• Sip water, rest, and place a warm compress on the abdomen.
• Eat small, bland meals such as rice, banana, or toast. Skip spicy, oily food, alcohol, and excess tea or coffee.
• Avoid lying down for two to three hours after eating.
• Avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers on an empty stomach.

Stomach pain treatment depends on the cause. Gastritis and ulcers need acid control, and H. pylori needs a full antibiotic course. Stones or strictures may need endoscopic treatment. IBS and IBD respond to diet, medicines, and long-term follow-up. Avoid self-medicating with antibiotics or strong painkillers, as masking pain can hide the real problem. Pain that returns or lasts several days needs a doctor, not another home remedy.

Why Choose MGMCH for Stomach Pain Diagnosis?

Medical specialties: MGMCH is a multispeciality hospital in Jaipur with over 55 departments, including Medical Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Radiodiagnosis, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Emergency Medicine. If your pain needs surgical care, that expertise sits under the same roof. For advanced liver disease, the hospital has performed over 175 liver transplants.

Experienced doctors: Over 400 doctors work across MGMCH. The gastroenterology department, established in 2016, is led by Dr. Sandeep Nijhawan (MBBS, MD, DM Gastroenterology), who has 37 years of experience. Dr. Rajat Bhargava, Dr. Akash Rajender, and Dr. Sumit Yadav, all DM-qualified gastroenterologists, complete the team. The department has performed thousands of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures and won Best Gastroenterology and Hepatology Services at the Healthcare Leaders Summit 2022 by The Economic Times.

Advanced facilities: The unit offers upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP, capsule endoscopy, EUS, cholangioscopy, single balloon enteroscopy, and manometry, backed by CT and MRI. Specialty clinics cover hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, GI oncology, and motility disorders. In 2025, MGMCH also became the first academic medical center in India to receive JCI accreditation.

Patient care services: With 1,450+ beds, ICUs, 24x7 emergency care, ambulances and pharmacies, dietitians, telemedicine, and online lab reports, MGMCH supports you from first consultation to recovery.

Final Thoughts

Early medical evaluation can help identify the cause of abdominal pain and guide appropriate treatment. If your pain keeps returning, do not wait for it to get louder. Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (MGMCH), Jaipur, combines experienced gastroenterologists, advanced diagnostics, and round-the-clock care to find the real cause. Call 1800 180 6005 or book an appointment.