A patient complaining of abdominal pain will always have abdominal tenderness. Is this statement true?

The statement that a patient complaining of abdominal pain will always have abdominal tenderness is false. While tenderness in the abdomen is a common physical finding associated with abdominal pain, it is not a definitive or universal symptom. There are scenarios where a patient may report significant abdominal pain without demonstrable tenderness during a physical examination.

For example, a patient might experience pain due to conditions like pancreatitis, where tenderness may not always be present initially. Additionally, some patients may have a high pain tolerance or may be in a position where their pain is less likely to cause tenderness, affecting the examination results. Furthermore, certain abdominal conditions can cause referred pain, where the discomfort is felt in the abdomen but does not indicate tenderness at the site of pain.

Thus, pain can exist independently of tenderness, making the statement inaccurate. Recognizing that not all patients will exhibit this symptom helps in formulating a comprehensive clinical assessment and guide further evaluation and treatment.