Pain Management for Chronic Abdominal Pain

Chronic abdominal pain is a complex medical problem and is the leading symptom for referral to a gastroenterologist [1]. Causes of chronic abdominal pain are diverse and can require an extensive workup and repeated imaging sometimes with no clear etiology [2, 3]. Abdominal pain may be due to somatic reasons transmitted through A-delta nociceptors as in chronic abdominal wall pain (CAWP) or visceral reasons transmitted through C-type nociceptors as in chronic pancreatitis and ulcerative colitis. A detailed history and physical examination are key in addressing abdominal pain. Attention to the patient’s pain symptomatology details may reveal the etiology and assist in decision for the best management approach.