Discover where ulcerative colitis pain might strike. From the left abdomen to the rectum, learn about common pain locations and symptoms. Understand how UC pain varies and what it may mean for your health.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It’s characterized byinflammationof the lining of the large intestine, but can cause discomfort and pain in various places that aren’t the bum.
Most UC pain happens in the rectum and left side of the abdomen, and it can be pretty intense depending on the level of inflammation.
Whether you’re managing UC you know about already, or are concerned unexplained gut pains may be ulcerative colitis, here’s all you need to know about UC pain.
Overview Of Ulcerative Colitis
UC is a chronic condition and one of the more common IBDs (other IBDs includeCrohn’s disease, which shares a few symptoms with UC).
While UC can be managed, there’s currently no cure. It’s a complex condition broadly characterized by persistent inflammation of the lower intestine.Small ulcersdevelop due to the inflammation that cause (among other symptoms) significant pain and discomfort. Sometimes the pain is continuous, others it’s mild unless there’s a flare-up.
Estimates are that between600,00 and 900,000 in the US live with Ulcerative Colitis.You’re not born with UC. It normally develops between ages 15-30, but can appear at any point in life. Some people’s UC gradually develops, while others are hit with full force almost overnight.
UC can lead to complications pretty quick, some of which are fatal, so it can’t be left untreated.
Where does ulcerative colitis hurt?
Pain is the main symptom of UC. Folks with UC commonly report experiencing aches,cramps, burning sensations, and other chronic discomforts in key areas. The location and severity of UC pain depend on which part of the large intestine is inflamed and ulcerated.
Left-side pain (aka left side colitis)
Pain in the leftabdominal regionfor peeps with left-sided colitis. This is ulcerative colitis that inflames the length of GI tract, from the rectum all the way up the colon to the bend near the spleen. Since this bit of intestine is on your left side, that’s where the pain is.
Rectal pain (aka ulcerative proctitis)
Ulcerative colitis can cause proctitis – the fancy name for acute and/or chronic rectal inflammation. If the inflammation from UC doesn’t reach the colon the pain can feel acutely concentrated at your rectum, especiallywhen you poop.
The severity depends on the level of inflammation and ulceration though, so it’s not an either/or. The rectal pain can be intense enough to be easily distinguishable from the left-side colon-based discomfort.
Associated pain
Everything in the body is connected, so pain in other non-digestive regions isn’t unheard of with UC.According to researchpains in the hips, lower back, and feet are experienced by some peeps managing UC. General musculoskeletal discomfort is also pretty common.
One risky complication of UC iscerebralvenous thrombosis(CVT), which causes severemigrainesand can be fatal (so if your UC flares come with headaches, speak to your doc ASAP). This extremely rare condition happens because UC creates chronic inflammation in the body, which increases the risk of creating blood clots.
Other ulcerative colitis symptoms
Ulcerative colitis causes rectal and abdominal pain, but it’s not the only condition that does (most IBDs do for starters, as does regular ol’food poisoning). UC pain is chronic, meaning it’s either continuous or flares up repeatedly over time.
Chronic gut pain isn’t the only symptom of UC though, and if you’re experiencing it with the following seek out a medical professional:
What Causes Ulcerative Colitis
Science hasn’t pinpointed a main cause of UC. It’s not a contagious disease, but there are a number of factors that possibly lead to developing it. Some of the known catalysts for UC are:
Ulcerative Colitis Risk factors
Anyone can develop ulcerative colitis. UC onsets are most common between ages 15-30 but can occur any time, andgender doesn’t appearto be a factor in risk level (although IBDs tend to be morecommonplace among female-bodied peeps in the US). Despite UC lacking a target market, there are certain factors that make some lower intestines more at risk from UC than others.
How to treat ulcerative colitis pain
While there isn’t a cure for ulcerative colitis yet, there are ways to treat the inflammation and discomfort. In most UC cases the pain is at its worst during a flare-up, and some peeps are completely pain-free outside of these times. Pain treatment involves a mix of reducing the risk of painful flare-ups and the discomfort experienced during them.
Some treatments are medical interventions, while others are lifestyle and self-management techniques. Here are some effective options:
Chronic pain in the rectum and/or lower left abdomen is the defining symptom of UC, so pain management is integral to treating the condition.
There are a number of ways to treat UC pain. Some OTC meds work, as do lifestyle changes like a UC-friendly diet or stress reduction. In more severe cases your doc may prescribe anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressant medications.
UC has a number of possible causes and there’s sadly no cure. However our understanding increases every year, and recent developments such as framing UC as a deficiency/misbalance of bacteria in the gut could lead to more ways of treating UC pain getting discovered in the near future.
