Ways to Control Ulcerative Colitis Pain

You should also be prepared to talk with your doctor about any negative emotions you might be feeling. This is especially true if you believe you might have depression, which can make existing pain worse, according to MedlinePlus.

How to Manage Ulcerative Colitis Pain

Once you’ve described your pain accurately, your doctor will likely be able to track down its cause and begin treating it. Here are some methods of pain management that have been shown to help people with ulcerative colitis.

1. Medication

Sticking to your prescribed medication regimen is the best way to control ulcerative colitis. There are a number of drugs your doctor can prescribe to treat your specific symptoms; some work by modifying how your immune system functions, while others decrease the inflammation in your gut. If you skip doses or don’t take the medication as prescribed, you will reduce its effectiveness and risk having a flare.

If you’re experiencing mild pain, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol). But you will likely need to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), because they can increase pain and symptoms and even trigger flares. Only take these medications if your doctor advises them.

2. Diet and Nutrition Modifications 

Although food specifically doesn’t cause ulcerative colitis, your diet can play a role in triggering or easing your symptoms. You may find that adopting a diet low in certain sugars or fiber — particularly insoluble fiber, which passes through the GI tract undigested — or free of lactose may help you manage your ulcerative colitis. In particular, the low-FODMAP diet, which is a diet that focuses on specific types of carbohydrates and fiber, can be effective for people with ulcerative colitis.

Also note that caffeine and carbonated beverages might also worsen your symptoms, as could spicy dishes.

Finally, if ulcerative colitis interferes with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, ask your doctor whether you should take a vitamin supplement.

3. Stress Management

Stress functions much like depression in exacerbating the pain and other symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Learning ways to manage stress through practices like meditation, yoga, tai chi, or deep breathing may help relieve stress and, as a result, lessen your ulcerative colitis pain.

You might also consider joining a support group, where you can find helpful advice and comfort in talking with others who have ulcerative colitis. And if you experience consistent stress, seeing a mental health professional could help you learn coping strategies.

While these stress-busting therapies are not a replacement for any ulcerative colitis medication you might be taking, they can be a great complement to the medication regimen and improve overall outcomes.

4. Complementary Therapies 

Adding complementary therapies to your existing treatment plan may help lessen the frequency and intensity of your pain and other symptoms, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

“Therapies like yoga, massage therapy, acupuncture, and hypnotherapy have been shown to help,” Kane says. Discuss complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies with your doctor before starting any, so you’ll be aware of their pros and cons.

Other complementary therapies include relaxation techniques, mindfulness, hypnosis, biofeedback, and acupressure.

5. Surgery

Surgery is a long-term treatment option for ulcerative colitis. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, 23 to 45 percent of people with ulcerative colitis may require surgery at some point, in part because of severe symptoms that no longer respond to medication.

Surgery options include a proctocolectomy (the removal of the rectum and the colon); a colectomy (the removal of all or part of the colon); and an ileostomy (a surgically created hole in the abdomen that allows waste to leave the body). Although complications can occur after the surgery and it can take up to a year to recover, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation notes that in most cases, the procedures are successful.

—Additional reporting by Bernadette Young.