What Kind Of Doctor Should I See For Stomach Problems

What Is Gastrointestinal Surgery

Gastrointestinal surgery is a treatment for diseases of the parts of the body involved in digestion. This includes the esophagus , stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. It also includes the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Surgery may be used to remove a cancerous or noncancerous growth or damaged part of the body, such as the intestine. It may also be used to repair a problem like a hernia . Minor surgical procedures are used to screen and diagnose problems of the digestive system.

Below are gastrointestinal conditions that may be treated with surgery:

A surgical procedure called an endoscopy is used to screen and diagnose problems of the digestive system. The doctor puts a long, thin tube with a tiny camera into the body to see inside. If the problem is with the stomach or esophagus, the doctor puts the scope through the esophagus. To check for colon cancer or other problems of the intestines, the doctor puts the scope through the anus into the intestine.

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How Is Hip Pain Diagnosed

After reviewing your medical history with you, including specific information about the severity of your hip pain, where it hurts, and how long the pain has lasted. I will also ask about any self-care remedies youve tried and if they provided any relief.

Next, I will examine you in order to assess the range of motion and strength around your hip as well as your walking. Tests, such as an X-ray or MRI, may also be warranted if more information is needed about your hip joint, cartilage, muscles, or other supporting structure, as well as nearby areas of your body that could be causing the pain in your hip. CT scans and blood work may be necessary in some, but not all, cases.

Board Certification And Strong Educational Background

Consider the doctors board certification. The best knee pain doctors are board-certified in the field of pain management. This denotes that theyve gone through advanced residencies and fellowships, which makes them far more experienced than regular knee pain doctors. You should also consider the knee pain doctors education background and go for doctors who have graduated from Ivy League universities or those of equivalent stature.

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When To See A Doctor For Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can be a sign of serious illness. It can be caused by appendicitis, abdominal aortic , ectopic pregnancy, or even a perforated colon, for example. These are emergency situations that require immediate medical care. Go to your local emergency department as soon as possible if you:

• Have blood in your stool or urine

• Canât touch your abdomen because itâs too tender

• Are pregnant

• Had a trauma or injury to the abdomen within the previous few days

• Are unable to stand up straight because of severe pain

Call 911 if you are having difficulty breathing or if you also have .

You should also see your doctor as soon as possible if the pain has lasted more than a few days, you havenât had a bowel movement for more than a few days, or you have pain when you urinate.

What Treatments Work For Groin Pain

Most cases of groin pain that arent caused by arthritis, soft tissue tears, or bone injuries will resolve with rest and time.

Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvis to help prevent future injuries and encourage faster healing of your existing injury. Some injuries or damage from arthritis will require surgery.

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Abdominal Pain Treatment At Home

If your is not severe, you may be able to manage the pain at home with a heating pad or over-the-counter medications, such as antacids or pain relievers. However, if you believe your pain is caused by stomach irritation, do not take ibuprofen or aspirin, as these can irritate your stomach further.

If the pain does not go away within a day or two or you seem to be getting worse instead of better, it is best to see your doctor for evaluation. Here are some tips for caring for yourself at home:

• Pain related to gas and intestinal issues: If your abdominal pain seems to be related to something you eat or drink, try eliminating this from your diet for several weeks to see if the pain returns.

• : Eating food contaminated with bacteria that causes food poisoning can cause serious abdominal pain, vomiting and . In most cases, this will pass within 24 to 48 hours. It is essential to drink as much fluid as possible to keep from becoming dehydrated during this period. However, if you start passing blood in your stool, you become dehydrated, or you get worse instead of better, see your doctor as quickly as possible.

• Gas: Gas in your stomach and intestines can be very painful. Over-the-counter medications that help your body digest food can help reduce the amount of trapped gas. Physical exercise and hot baths can also help move the gas.

How Do I Prepare

Preparation for surgery depends on the type of surgery you have.

Follow InstructionsThe doctor or nurse will tell you how to prepare for your surgery. Most likely, you will have instructions about not eating or drinking before the surgery. The doctor may also tell you to stop taking some of your medicines or vitamins before surgery. Follow all of the instructions you get for preparing for surgery.

Make a Plan for the Day of Surgery and AfterHave a plan for who will take you to the surgery and who will take you home, even for a minor surgery.

Plan for who will help you in the days following your surgery. The week after you get home is the most important time after surgery. If all goes well, youll be on your way to a speedy recovery. If not, you may be making a return trip to the hospital.

Plan for any changes to your living space. Will you be able to climb stairs after your surgery? Will you be able to use the bathroom as is, or do you need a grip bar or other equipment? Do you have the food you need or a plan for someone to bring meals? If you need physical therapy after surgery, where will you do it?

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In General What Conditions Do Gastroenterologists Treat

Gastroenterologists can evaluate for and treat a wide variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease , gastroesophageal reflux disease , celiac disease, peptic ulcer disease, obesity and more. GI doctors also routinely perform screenings for colon cancer.

My area of specialty is in prevention and early detection of cancers such as colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancer. I enjoy helping patients, especially those with a family history, understand their risk for cancer while offering genetic testing, screening and more.

Overall, its important for patients to openly discuss stress and GI symptoms with their doctors. Primary care doctors can help manage stress and treat symptoms, but in some cases it may be necessary to see a gastroenterologist to evaluate for other conditions.

Who Is A Gastroenterologist

From the name, you should be able to deduce that a gastroenterologist has a lot to do with the gastrointestinal tract.

To be exact, a gastroenterologist is a physician who is specially trained and has had experience in managing the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, rectum, and related organs like the liver and pancreas.

The training of gastroenterologists is often internal and involves more than 5 years of additional education in internal medicine and gastroenterology after medical school.

After their years of training and practical experience, these specialists are adept at so many methods that can be used to alleviate discomfort and manage the problems of the gastrointestinal tract.

They use a number of treatment options like medications, lifestyle modifications, and some special procedures like colonoscopy, endoscopy and others to treat patients suffering from any gastrointestinal problem.

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You Have Intense Stomach Cramps In Your Lower Abdomen But You Feel Better After You Poop

This can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome , a disorder thats related to how your brain and gut work together , the NIDDK says. Basically, IBS can cause your gut to be more sensitive and change how the muscles in your bowel contract, the NIDDK explains. That can lead to myriad issues, like persistent stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and more. With IBS, the abdominal cramping is usually in the lower abdomenand often improves after completing bowel movements, Dr. Tripathi says. IBS is a chronic disorder, but its symptoms can come and go, the NIDDK says.

Stomach cramps that recede post-poop can also sometimes be a sign of good old-fashioned constipation. Since IBS can cause constipation , the lines are a little blurred here. If these symptoms havent been an issue for you in the past, theres a chance youre just dealing with regular constipation, Dr. Tripathi says. But if this is a recurrent thing for you, definitely mention that to your doctor and ask if it could be a sign of IBS based on other symptoms you may or may not have.

Treatment For Abdominal Pain

Treatment for abdominal pain will depend on the cause. Medications can be prescribed to help alleviate pain and other symptoms, and antibiotics can help to clear up bacterial infections.

Digestive disorders will require medications as well as dietary and lifestyle changes to minimize acid reflux and intestinal inflammation. When the pain is linked to a heart condition, the underlying condition needs to be addressed. This can involve medications to control blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as dietary changes to promote heart health.

You can prevent abdominal pain by promoting overall heart and digestive health through the following lifestyle changes:

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet Staying hydrated

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Dont put off making an appointment with Excel ENTs Speech-Language Pathologist Amy Schiwitz if you are experiencing swallowing problems. Together with Dr. Christopher Davis, Amy can diagnose your issue and develop a treatment plan in no time. Schedule an appointment online, or call to discuss coming in at a time thats best for you: 205-988-6858.

Who Is The Best Doctor For Spine Surgery

Many years ago, neurosurgeons were primarily responsible for spine surgery, but in the past 20 to 25 years spine surgery has evolved so that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons specialize in spine surgery, and for most of the typical spine operations both types of surgeons are equally well qualified.

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What Causes Hip Pain

Hip pain is extremely common and can be difficult for most people to determine exactly where it is coming from. Sometimes the pain is related to the hip joint itself, but it can also be related to conditions in other parts of your body.

Common causes of this type of hip pain include the following:

• Arthritis including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Injuries including bursitis , tendonitis , dislocations, fractures, and labral tears
• Pinched nerves including sciatica
• Other issues impingement and avascular necrosis

How Do I Know If I Have Sciatica Or Piriformis Syndrome

Both sciatica and piriformis syndrome cause sciatic nerve pain and have similar symptoms, the causes of the conditions are different.

Piriformis syndrome is caused by anatomic changes in the piriformis muscle. The muscle is located across the femur and outer section of the hips and rotates the hip. The syndrome causes buttock pain or spasms and can irritate and compress the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatic pain. Unlike sciatica, the pain begins in the buttocks, not the lower back.

On the other hand, sciatica is not a syndrome or condition. Its a variety of symptomsnamely, the sharp pain radiating down one leg, weak legs, lower back pain, and a tingling sensation in the legs and feetcaused by other medical conditions and affects the lower spinal nerves.

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What Tests Will Help You Reach A Diagnosis

After assessing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will have a better idea of which tests are most likely to lead to a diagnosis. These tests matter because many disorders of the digestive tract have overlapping symptoms and can be misdiagnosed.

Careful testing will help guide your doctor to the correct diagnosis.

Some GI tests are:

• abdominal imaging tests using ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI
• barium swallow, or upper GI series, using X-rays to look at your upper GI tract
• upper GI endoscopy to diagnose and treat problems in your upper GI tract
• barium enema, an imaging test that uses X-rays to look at your lower GI tract
• sigmoidoscopy, a test to check the lower part of your colon
• colonoscopy, a procedure that checks the inside of your entire large intestine
• fecal, urine, and blood analysis
• pancreatic function tests

Further questions to ask about testing:

• Whats the procedure like? Is it invasive? Do I have to do anything to prepare?
• How and when can I expect results?
• Will the results be definitive or is it just to exclude something?

When Is It Time To See A Doctor For Hip Pain

Hip pain is one of the commonest reasons for which patients come to see me. Usually patients with true hip joint pain suffer from pain located in the groin, but they can also have buttock pain, pain on the side of the hip, and pain in the knee below. Pain traveling down the back of the leg from the buttock to below the knee usually indicates a problem in the lower back , and not the hip joint.

When a disease, inflammation, wear and tear, or other issue affects one of these parts, you may experience pain.

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What Is A Hernia

A hernia occurs when an internal organ or other body part protrudes through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally contains it. Most hernias occur within the abdominal cavity, between the chest and the hips.

The most common forms of hernia are:

• Inguinal hernia: In men, the inguinal canal is a passageway for the spermatic cord and blood vessels leading to the testicles. In women, the inguinal canal contains the round ligament that gives support for the womb. In an inguinal hernia, fatty tissue or a part of the intestine pokes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. This is the most common type of hernia, and affects men more often than women.
• Femoral hernia: Fatty tissue or part of the intestine protrudes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. Femoral hernias are much less common than inguinal hernias and mainly affect older women.
• Umbilical hernia: Fatty tissue or part of the intestine pushes through the abdomen near the navel .
• Hiatal hernia: Part of the stomach pushes up into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm .

Other types of hernias include:

Chapter : Consulting A Doctor For Right Groin Pain

Right groin pain can be effectively managed and treated. The correct diagnosis is the key to receiving appropriate groin pain treatment. A general surgeon can best diagnose groin pain on right side and suggest the way forward based on the severity of your condition alongside your body type, dietary factors, and other lifestyle factors. If you face severe groin pain symptoms, you must see a general surgeon right away. At MFine, we enable the patients to live a healthier life with modern medical services.

We ensure that the best groin pain treatment programs are made available to our patients for every stage of the condition. Get in touch with our team of highly-qualified doctors and healthcare professionals for any medical advice or assistance. We, at MFine, provide you with a holistic healthcare treatment program as per your bodily needs and requirements. You can also check our MFine app for a list of the best general surgeons in your city with whom you can chat or video call to get answers for your medical queries!

Get in touch with top general surgeons to get a personalized treatment plan for your groin pain now!

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Understand The Medical Vocabulary In Advance

Sciatica is a lay term that describes a set of symptoms that originate in your lower back and travel down your sciatic nerve. There are specific terms associated with sciatica and learning the vocabulary ahead of time can help you save time and avoid confusion during your consultation.

See What You Need to Know About Sciatica

Commonly used medical terms are:

• Nerve root. Several spinal nerves branch off your spinal cord at different levels. A nerve root is the part of the spinal nerve that leaves the spinal cord, passes through a bony opening, and exits the spinal canal.

Read more about Sciatica Causes

Who Should I Go To For My Sciatica

Sciatica is not a disease or a diagnosis. It is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The term is used to describe nerve pain, tingling, numbness and weakness that travels from the lower back, across the buttocks, down the back of the thighs to the calves and feet.

It occurs when the sciatic nerve the longest in the body gets compacted or aggravated. Common conditions that cause sciatica include herniated lumbar discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis.

Sciatica pain can vary from periodic and mildly inconvenient to constant and incapacitating. Symptoms depend on the location of the nerve impingement or irritation and may include:

• Symptoms intensify during sudden movements or changing positions
• Constant pain in one side of the buttock or leg
• Sharp pain in one leg making it difficult to stand up or walk
• Pain originates in the lower back or buttock and continues along the path of the sciatic nerve
• Pain lessens when lying down or walking but increases when standing or sitting
• Pain is burning, tingling, or searing
• Pain radiates down the leg and possibly into the foot and toes
• Lower back pain is not as severe as leg pain
• A pins-and-needles or prickling sensation, numbness or weakness down the leg

Sciatica is rare among young people. It tends to start appearing in middle age, between the ages of 40 to 50.

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