Emergency Services for Sudden, Severe Pain in Las Vegas, NV

Sudden, severe pain can occur in almost any place in the body and can result from a variety of conditions. In some cases, your pain may indicate a life-threatening situation, and you will need emergency treatment. 

Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican can provide emergency care for sudden, severe pain in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV. For trusted diagnosis and care, call 911 or select your estimated arrival time at one of our emergency rooms by using our online waiting service, InQuicker. For trauma cases, you can be treated at the Level III Trauma Unit at our Siena Campus.

Cause for Severe, Sudden Pain

Depending on its location, sudden, severe pain can be a symptom of many different conditions. When there is trauma to the body, the cause of the sudden pain is apparent. But in cases when the cause is not obvious, explaining where the pain is and what it feels like can help your doctor make a diagnosis. 

Some causes of severe, sudden pain are: 

Abdominal Pain

• Appendicitis, which can be life threatening if the appendix bursts 
• Bleeding stomach ulcer, which can cause you to vomit blood; seek prompt treatment if this happens
• Acute cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder
• Mesenteric artery occlusion, or reduced blood flow to the intestines
• Bowel obstruction

Back Pain

• Kidney stones or infection
• Compression fracture or spinal cord fracture
• Strain or tears in back muscles or ligaments

Pelvic Pain

• Intestinal blockage, which needs prompt treatment to prevent serious complications
• Diverticulitis, an infection in one or more small, bulging pouches in the intestinal lining (called diverticula)
• Ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage

Head Pain

• Thunderclap headache, a severe sudden headache that can be a warning sign of a serious, possibly fatal condition called subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Stroke, which is life threatening and requires emergency treatment; call 911 if you suspect you or someone you are with is having a stroke
• Ruptured brain aneurysm, a medical emergency, call 911 

Diagnosing Sudden, Severe Pain at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican

To help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis, make notes about the exact location of the pain, when it starts, how long it lasts, what it feels like (sharp, burning, stabbing, or throbbing), and any other symptoms you experience at the same time. 

Your doctor may want to do tests to determine the exact cause of your pain. Sometimes, your other symptoms might indicate you need immediate medical treatment. Call a doctor if you experience any pain that seems unusual.

Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican offers emergency services for sudden, severe pain in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.