Intestinal Pain

Intestinal pain can be defined as aching or swelling experienced in the lower part of the abdomen. It should not be confused with abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is a general term and is caused due to the problems in the organs present in the stomach cavity and intestinal pain is the pain caused due to dysfunction or problems of the intestinal organs, that include, the small intestine and the large intestine. The intestinal pain can be acute to chronic, sharp or dull. There are various health conditions that can lead to pain in the intestine and given below is a brief discussion on its various possible causes.

Causes

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS causes severe intestinal pain after eating, and is a very common intestinal disorder. This health ailment affects the large intestine and causes constipation, diarrhea, bloating gas, abdominal pain, etc. IBS is not a fatal disorder and the symptoms can be alleviated with proper diet and medication. Though the exact causes of IBS are not known, certain foods like chocolate, milk and alcohol are considered as triggering factors. Stress and hormonal changes are two other possible causes of IBS.

Colitis: Colitis is swelling or inflammation of the large intestine that can be caused due to IBS, infections or any other inflammatory disorder. Thus, colitis can be defined as any health ailment that causes inflammation of the intestine. CMV colitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ischemic colitis, etc., are some of the types of colitis. Dehydration, diarrhea, bloody stools, chills, abdominal pain and intestinal gas, are some of the signs of colitis.

Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO): This health problem is also referred to as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). The main function of the small intestine is to digest the food and absorb it into the body. The complete gastrointestinal tract contains bacteria that aid in the digestion and the number of bacteria in the small intestine is less as compared to those in the large intestine. Thus SBBO is a condition when the number of bacteria in the small intestine grow in large number. There are many health ailments that can cause SBBO in a person. These include, immune system disorder, short bowel syndrome, diabetes, scleroderma, small bowel diverticulosis and certain surgical procedures. Bloating, fullness, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps are the major symptoms of SBBO.

Diverticulitis: Diverticulitis is infection or inflammation of the diverticulum. Diverticulum is nothing but an abnormal pouch formed in the intestinal region. These diverticula can form anywhere in the digestive tract, which include, the esophagus, small intestine, large intestine and stomach. But they are most commonly formed in the large intestine and are formed due to the abnormal pressure in the intestinal regions. Sharp intestinal pain, change in bowel habits, abdominal tenderness, diarrhea and constipation, are common signs of diverticulitis.

Other causes include the following:

• Lactose intolerance
• Appendicitis
• Intestinal obstruction
• Indigestion
• Colon cancer
• Ischemic bowel disease
• Food poisoning
• Intestinal polyps
• Proctitis
• Intestinal parasites
• Intestinal spasms

Since there are so many possible causes of intestinal pain, performing diagnostic tests is the first step to treatment. Colonoscopy, blood tests, stool tests, CT scan, etc., are some of the tests that are usually performed to diagnose the intestinal problems. The treatment completely depends on the cause. Some intestinal disorders can be treated with medications and surgery, while some can be alleviated by dietary changes. So, if you are experiencing pain in the intestines, make an appointment with your physician, get the cause diagnosed, and get the appropriate treatment required.