Stomach pain (pet dard): what to do, which doctor, and what the location may mean

The short answer

Thinking of taking a tablet (pet dard ki dawa) straight away? A painkiller or a home remedy can hide a cause that needs care. Check where the pain is and the red flags below first. They decide which doctor fits and how soon.

In Hindi, Punjabi and Hinglish

Where is the pain?

Picture your stomach in a grid: upper, middle and lower; right and left as you feel them. What each area commonly relates to¹²:

Upper or middle pain (pet ke upari hisse me dard). Just below the breastbone, pain points first to indigestion, acidity or reflux, gastritis or an ulcer; around the navel (pet ke bich me dard) it is more often gas, indigestion or a stomach upset.¹²

Lower belly pain (pet ke nichle hisse me dard). Below the navel the usual reasons are constipation, IBS, the bladder (a urine infection) and period pain. Low on the right it can be appendicitis. For anyone who could be pregnant, any lower stomach pain needs urgent care.¹³⁶

Left or right side. Pain on one side (pet ke left ya right side me dard) usually means this:¹²³⁴⁵

• Left: pain high up is most often indigestion, gas or trapped wind; low down it is more often constipation or IBS.
• Right: pain high up can be the gallbladder or liver. Low down it can be appendicitis or a kidney stone; if the pain moved there from the navel, go to a hospital now.
• Side or back: a kidney stone or kidney infection can cause pain in the side or back that may spread to the groin, often with pain on passing urine.

Note too when it comes (before or after food, at night, around a bowel movement), what changes it, and what comes with it. That is what a doctor asks first.

Pain after eating (khana khane ke baad pet me dard). If it sits in the upper middle, think first of indigestion or acidity; a gnawing pain there may need the gastritis and ulcer page. Pain under the right ribs after a heavy or fatty meal points to the gallbladder, and needs a doctor.

Red flags: when not to wait

Go to the emergency department or call for help now if:¹

• the pain is sudden and severe, or rapidly getting worse
• your stomach is hard or very tender to touch
• you vomit blood or material like coffee grounds
• your stool is black and tarry or bloody
• you feel faint, confused or very breathless
• you can't pass stool or wind and are vomiting
• the pain comes with chest pain, sweating, or pain in the arm, jaw or neck

Also urgent:¹³⁶

• pain that started around the navel and has moved to the lower right
• pain with a high fever
• pain in anyone who could be pregnant
• pain with yellow skin or eyes
• a child with severe or constant stomach pain (see a paediatrician or urgent care, and don't give adult remedies)

See a doctor soon if:¹

• pain keeps returning or has lasted more than a few days
• it comes with weight loss you can't explain, trouble swallowing or repeated vomiting
• your bowel habit has changed for weeks

Likely causes, and where each one goes

This table routes; it doesn't diagnose. If two rows fit, or none do, a doctor can help you sort it out.

How long it lasts. Everyday stomach pain usually settles within hours or a few days. ¹ Covering severe or repeated pain with a remedy can delay the right care.

What to note before you see a doctor:

• where the pain is, and whether it moves
• when it started, and how long each episode lasts
• what makes it better or worse: food, passing stool or wind, lying down
• what comes with it: fever, vomiting, loose stools, burning, blood, urine changes
• any medicines you took, including painkillers

For mild pain with no red flags (pet dard ke gharelu upay). If the pain is mild and looks like indigestion, gas, constipation or a stomach upset, rest, sip fluids, eat lightly, and avoid alcohol and very fatty or spicy food. A pharmacist can advise on the likely cause and a suitable treatment.¹ Don't diagnose yourself from the area of pain alone, and see a doctor if it keeps returning or doesn't go away.¹

Children. This page does not give home remedies for a child's stomach pain. A child with severe or constant pain, or pain with vomiting or fever, needs a doctor or urgent care now. Ongoing pain needs a paediatrician, and adult remedies should not be given.¹

Which doctor for stomach pain? It depends on the cause. The last column above names a gastroenterologist for an ulcer with any red flag, a surgeon for gallstones, a urologist for a kidney stone, a gynaecologist or urgent care for pregnancy-related pain, and emergency care for appendicitis or the heart.³⁴⁵⁶ If the cause isn't clear and there are no red flags, start with a general physician, or with Dr. Sharma below.¹

If the pain keeps returning and has no red flags, you can book a consultation with Dr. D.K. Sharma, in person in Ludhiana or by video, for ₹500. Bring the notes above; he will ask where the pain is, when it comes and what changes it. He can then discuss what may be behind it, whether any test is needed, and whether Ayurvedic treatment at Bharat Clinic suits you. Your personalised Dinacharya (daily-routine) guide follows the consultation. For the usual causes, start with acidity, gas and bloating, constipation or loose motions and IBS, or see all digestion concerns.

Sources

Medical content approved by Dr. D.K. Sharma.

This page is educational and does not diagnose or replace an examination.