Pain in the intestines: causes and remedies

One condition that can cause intestinal pain is irritable bowel syndrome , also known as irritable bowel syndrome. It specifically affects the large intestine and apart from manifesting itself with abdominal pain that is accompanied by bloating, gas and changes in intestinal transit (constipation, diarrhea or both). Abdominal discomfort tends to go away once you have a bowel movement.

Irritable bowel syndrome is more common in women than in men and the characteristic symptoms are present in 22% of people according to an article from the Gastroenterology Service of the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid published in the Spanish Journal of Digestive Diseases ^[1] .

Among the main symptoms of irritable bowel , are the following:

• Pain in the abdomen
• Abdominal distension.
• Intestinal punctures.
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Mucus in stool
• Rectal tenesmus (not being satisfied after each bowel movement).
• Flatulence or gas.
• Satiety when eating.
• Slow digestion
• Discomfort when urinating
• Muscle pain.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Anxiety.
• Anguish.

Irritable bowel is a direct consequence of alterations in movements and intestinal sensitivity. They can be powerful contractions with increased pain sensitivity when there is abdominal pain, fast contractions causing diarrhea or slow contractions causing constipation.

Unquestionably, symptoms can be triggered after ingesting:

• Copious meals.
• Dairy products.
• Cereals.
• Citrus
• Café.
• Some medications

The presence of this condition is detectable by the doctor and is based on typical symptoms and a complete physical examination, there is no specific test to diagnose it. In the following article you can learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of irritable bowel .

On the other hand, pain in the intestines can be related to inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The Confederación ACCU Crohn y colitis ulcerosa describes that in Spain the most common inflammatory bowel disease is ulcerative colitis, representing 58% compared to 42% representing Crohn’s disease ^[2] .

Crohn’s disease

Crohn ‘s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestinal tract , however it can also affect the overall digestive system from mouth to anus. It is a recurrent disease throughout the life of the person suffering from it, with prolonged periods of remission, that is, without symptoms for a few years until they appear again.

The symptoms are varied depending on the person who suffers from it, ranging from typical abdominal pain to abscesses in the rectum, associating others such as:

1. Crampy abdominal pain.
2. Diarrhea.
3. Fever.
4. Weightloss.
5. Anal pain
6. Rectal abscesses
7. Fissure.
8. Joint pain

Crohn’s disease can be suffered at any age, however, it is most common between 16 and 40 years of age, affecting men and women equally according to the ASCRS American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons ^[3] .

To date, the exact cause is unknown, although it is estimated that it may be related to an immunological or bacterial cause. It is not contagious, but there is a greater predisposition to suffer it in direct relatives.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is also part of the pathologies of inflammatory bowel disease. This causes in addition to lasting inflammation, ulcers in the digestive tract deeply affecting the large intestine, both the colon and the rectum.

Although symptoms appear over time, they vary according to the severity of the inflammation:

1. Diarrhea that may have blood or pus in it.
2. Crampy abdominal pain.
3. Rectal pain and bleeding.
4. Difficulty defecating.
5. Fever.
6. Fatigue.
7. Weightloss.

Ulcerative colitis can also be divided into some subtypes such as proctosigmoiditis, ulcerative proctitis, left colitis, pancolitis, and severe acute ulcerative colitis.

Certainly, ulcerative colitis is not fatal, but it can become serious if it is not diagnosed and treated in time. Today, it is known that the cause of ulcerative colitis is related to diet and stress, a malfunction of the immune system and / or hereditary factors.

Some people refer to intestinal pain on the right side when in reality what they experience is abdominal pain located precisely in the lower part, which could be related to the suffering of appendicitis , which is the inflammation of the appendix , a small projection colon located on the right side of the abdomen.

However, in this case, the pain has very specific characteristics: sudden pain in the lower abdomen on the right side and pain that worsens and intensifies when we cough, walk or make sudden movements.

In addition to pain, other symptoms may appear such as:

• Threw up.
• Abdominal distension.
• Sickness.
• Loss of appetite
• Pain when coughing
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Fever.

Appendicitis is caused by an obstructive process inside this intestinal portion, which leads to an infection. An inflammation of the appendix occurs due to the rapid multiplication of bacteria, it can also fill with pus and if it is not treated urgently and quickly it can even break.

In addition to the physical examination of the patient, the doctor will likely order other tests such as blood tests, urinalysis, tomography, or abdominal ultrasound. No one is exempt from suffering from appendicitis, however, it is more common in people between 10 and 30 years of age. The treatment is purely surgical (appendectomy).

Other causes of pain in the intestines can be:

1. Food poisoning: the pain appears after ingesting a food or drink with germs or toxins that attack the body. The symptoms are variable depending on the type of poisoning, presenting nausea or vomiting, fever, stitches in the belly, pain, gas, diarrhea, etc.
2. Pancreatitis : the pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen, specifically behind the stomach, and when it becomes inflamed, in addition to generating a burning sensation, it can cause pain in the upper abdomen, punctures in the belly that extend to the lumbar part or back, weight loss, rapid heart rate, vomiting, nausea, fever.

In addition to these, conditions such as:

• Diverticulitis.
• Endometriosis.
• Lactose intolerance.
• Ectopic pregnancy.

Making changes in the patient’s lifestyle is essential to relieve intestinal pain, this includes:

1. Avoid large meals.
2. Eat low-fat meals.
3. Eat foods rich in protein.
4. Avoid carbonated drinks.
5. Decrease your intake of caffeine.
6. Increase the consumption of fibers present in fruits, vegetables, wheat, etc.
7. Drink enough water throughout the day at least 2 liters a day.
8. Perform physical exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
9. Eat slowly, chewing your food well.
10. Avoid the consumption of spices, soups, dairy products.
11. Eat frequent and less abundant meals.
12. Avoid flatulent foods like cauliflower, lentils, chickpeas, onions, peas.
13. Avoid stressful situations and, on the contrary, practice meditation therapy.

Some natural remedies can be used to relieve pain in the intestines:

1. Ginger water: it is useful for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Regulates intestinal transit and improves inflammation, this natural remedy is powerful in calming pain and intestinal inflammation. To prepare it, 1 small piece of ginger root, honey and 1 glass of mineral water are required. The ingredients are blended until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, then it must be strained. It is recommended to take it 3 times a day.
2. Water and lemon juice: a favorable natural remedy to eliminate intestinal impurities, regulate intestinal transit and relieve colicky abdominal pain. You need 1 glass of mineral water and the juice of ½ lemon, the water should preferably be warm, both are mixed and should be ingested on an empty stomach.
3. Papaya: effectively relieves inflammation and indigestion thanks to the enzyme found in it, known as papain.
4. Mint tea: 1 cup a day provides relief from any digestive and intestinal discomfort.
5. Chamomile: the intake of chamomile infusion soothes intestinal pain.
6. Licorice tea: it is a natural antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory, relieves heaviness and indigestion.

Whatever the cause of intestinal pain, early treatment is essential to prevent complications associated with any of the conditions described. The best way for this to be possible is a specialized medical evaluation.

In some cases, specific pharmacological treatment will be required depending on the symptoms, such as an intestinal muscle relaxant or spasmolytic, both useful to improve pain in the intestines. If there is diarrhea or constipation, an antidiarrheal or laxative will be used, although everything will depend on the diagnosis and the indications given by the specialist. Finally, in some cases, surgery will be required to directly treat the cause, for example, in the case of appendicitis pain.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Pain in the intestines: causes and how to relieve it , we recommend that you enter our Digestive system category .