If you are living with ulcerative colitis, it is no surprise that one of the main symptoms of the disease is pain. Aches, cramps, burning sensations, and other chronic discomforts are all common symptoms. However, the location and severity of your pain typically depend on which part of the large intestine is inflamed and ulcerated.
Left-side pain (aka left-side colitis)
This type of ulcerative colitis inflames the length of the GI tract, from the rectum all the way up the colon to the bend near the spleen. Because this bit of intestine is on your left side, that's where you will experience pain.
Rectal pain (aka ulcerative proctitis)
Ulcerative colitis can cause proctitis (acute and/or chronic rectal inflammation). If the inflammation from ulcerative colitis doesn’t reach your colon, you may experience pain that is acutely concentrated at your rectum, especially when you poop.
The severity of the pain typically depends on the level of inflammation and ulceration. The rectal pain can be so intense that it's easy to distinguish from the left-side colon-based discomfort.
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Associated pain
Everything in the body is connected, so you may also experience pain in other non-digestive regions. In fact, it's quite normal. According to research some people with ulcerative colitis also experience pain in the hips, lower back, and feet. General musculoskeletal discomfort is also pretty common.
How to treat ulcerative colitis
There isn’t a cure for ulcerative colitis, however, anti-inflammatory medications, such as RINVOQ, which has been proven to be effective in studies, can reduce the pain caused by ulcerative colitis.
RINVOQ is a once-daily pill that treats adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) for those whose TNF blockers did not work well.
RINVOQ works to control the amount of inflammation you have by many different proteins that are found naturally within your body. RINVOQ stops the activity of some of those proteins, known as Janus kinase (JAK), which reduces inflammation and stops the attack on your colon.
To start, steer clear of processed, greasy, fatty, or sugary foods. You should also limit gas-making veggies, caffeine, and alcohol. Keeping a food diary of your symptoms also helps because you can make a note of which foods cause flare-ups.
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What you eat will also play an important role if you are taking RINVOQ. You should avoid food or drink containing grapefruit during treatment with RINVOQ because it can increase your risk of side effects.
Lastly, stress and the digestive system are linked, which means stress can be a flare-up trigger. The good news is, however, that you can take practical steps to manage your stress. Yoga or mindfulness exercises are a great place to start and have a positive impact on pain levels.
Talking to your doctor
Before starting a medication such as RINVOQ, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe. Not sure where to start?
Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. RINVOQ and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects.
Tell your HCP if you take:
- Medicines for fungal or bacterial infections
- Rifampicin or phenytoin
- Medicines that affect your immune system
If you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
Dealing with the chronic pain caused by ulcerative colitis can be challenging and affect your daily life. However, there are a number of ways to treat your pain. Your doctor can help you make the appropriate lifestyle changes and come up with a treatment plan that works best for you.
