Persistent abdominal pain can make it difficult to work, eat, sleep, exercise, and enjoy everyday life. While some cases resolve with treatment of an underlying digestive condition, others continue even after surgery, medications, or extensive medical evaluation. At TOPS Institute, our board-certified pain management specialists provide comprehensive evaluations and advanced, minimally invasive treatments for patients experiencing chronic abdominal pain and abdominal nerve pain.
Our team works closely with your primary care physician, gastroenterologist, oncologist, or surgeon to determine whether your pain may benefit from interventional pain management. We focus on identifying the source of your symptoms and developing a personalized treatment plan designed to reduce pain, improve function, and enhance your quality of life.
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What Is Chronic Abdominal Pain?
Chronic abdominal pain is pain that lasts for several weeks or months and may be constant or intermittent. It can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that interferes with daily activities.
Abdominal pain may originate from the digestive organs, abdominal wall, muscles, nerves, or surrounding structures. In some cases, the pain continues even after the original condition has healed due to changes in how the nervous system processes pain signals.
A thorough evaluation is essential to determine whether your symptoms are caused by an underlying medical condition or whether specialized pain management may be appropriate.
Common Causes of Abdominal Pain
Many different conditions can contribute to chronic abdominal pain, including:
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Pancreatic cancer
- Liver disease
- Gallbladder disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Diverticular disease
- Chronic constipation
- Abdominal adhesions after surgery
- Hernias
- Nerve injuries following surgery
- Chronic post-surgical abdominal pain
- Cancer-related abdominal pain
- Visceral nerve pain
- Abdominal wall pain
Our physicians evaluate both common and complex causes of abdominal pain to determine whether interventional treatments may be beneficial.
Symptoms That Should Be Evaluated
Patients experiencing chronic abdominal pain may also notice:
- Burning or aching abdominal pain
- Sharp or stabbing pain
- Upper abdominal pain
- Pain that radiates to the back
- Persistent abdominal tenderness
- Pain after eating
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Pain that has not improved with medications or conservative treatment
Because abdominal pain can sometimes indicate a serious medical condition, patients should first receive appropriate evaluation by their primary care physician, gastroenterologist, or emergency department when necessary.
How We Diagnose Abdominal Pain
At TOPS Institute, every patient receives a comprehensive evaluation before treatment recommendations are made.
Your consultation may include:
- Detailed medical history
- Physical examination
- Review of prior imaging studies
- MRI or CT scan review when available
- Laboratory results
- Previous surgeries and procedures
- Medication review
- Assessment of prior treatments and response
This information helps determine whether your symptoms may benefit from advanced pain management techniques.
Advanced Treatment Options for Abdominal Pain
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your symptoms, previous therapies, and your overall health.
Your personalized care plan may include:
Image-Guided Nerve Blocks
Targeted nerve blocks may help diagnose and reduce pain by temporarily interrupting pain signals traveling from the abdomen.
Medication Management
When appropriate, medications may be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to improve comfort while addressing the underlying pain condition.
Regenerative & Supportive Therapies
Certain patients may benefit from additional supportive treatments as part of a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management.
Multidisciplinary Care
Our physicians frequently coordinate care with gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncologists, primary care physicians, and rehabilitation specialists to ensure comprehensive treatment.
Celiac Plexus Block for Chronic Abdominal Pain
For certain patients experiencing severe upper abdominal pain—particularly pain related to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer—a Celiac Plexus Block may be an effective treatment option.
A celiac plexus block is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that targets a network of nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals from many abdominal organs. By interrupting these pain signals, the procedure may help reduce pain and improve quality of life for carefully selected patients.
Depending on your diagnosis, the procedure may be performed for diagnostic purposes or as part of a long-term pain management strategy.
Learn More About Our Celiac Plexus Block Treatment →
Why Choose TOPS Institute?
Patients throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Southern California choose TOPS Institute because we provide:
- Board-certified pain management specialists
- Concierge-level patient care
- Personalized treatment plans
- Advanced image-guided procedures
- Minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments
- Non-opioid pain management whenever appropriate
- Coordination with your existing medical specialists
- Flexible scheduling and attentive follow-up care
Our goal is to help reduce pain, improve function, and restore your quality of life through evidence-based treatment tailored to your individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a pain management specialist for abdominal pain?
If abdominal pain continues despite treatment, interferes with your daily activities, or persists after surgery or other medical care, you may benefit from an evaluation by an interventional pain management specialist.
Can abdominal nerve pain be treated without surgery?
Yes. Many patients may benefit from minimally invasive treatments such as image-guided nerve blocks, medication management, or other interventional procedures depending on the cause of their symptoms.
What is a celiac plexus block?
A celiac plexus block is an image-guided injection that targets the celiac plexus, a group of nerves that carries pain signals from the upper abdominal organs. It is commonly considered for patients with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or other causes of severe upper abdominal pain.
Will I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Many patients experience improvement through conservative care and minimally invasive pain management procedures. If surgery is appropriate, we coordinate care with the appropriate surgical specialists.
Do you prescribe opioid medications?
Our practice emphasizes identifying and treating the source of pain using minimally invasive procedures and comprehensive pain management strategies. Long-term opioid therapy is generally not the primary focus of our treatment approach.
Schedule an Abdominal Pain Consultation
Living with chronic abdominal pain can affect nearly every aspect of your life, but effective treatment options may be available. At TOPS Institute, we provide personalized evaluations and advanced interventional pain management to help patients find lasting relief.
If you’ve been living with persistent abdominal pain, abdominal nerve pain, or pain related to chronic pancreatitis or other complex conditions, our team is here to help.
Call 310-694-9494 to schedule your consultation or request an appointment online. Our specialists proudly serve patients throughout Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Southern California.