managing acute pain

I've been taking my meds, eating right and doing all that I can to keep my body in line on a regular basis. So I find that comforting when the usual pains of crohn's kick in. However, recently I've developed a new symptom. Out of nowhere I get severe, SEVERE pain that is localized in the front intestinal area.

It feels like constipation, but I also have the feeling like I need to "go" but can't. It has been relieved by going to the bathroom, for the most part. So I know I need to think about reincorporating Miralax into my routine. But in the short term, how do you handle those terrible pains, where you're feeling faint and your fingers are tingling and you are sweating like a pig?

I was at work and had to cancel my last appointment of the day because I couldn't sit upright, much less do my job. I went home, went to the bathroom (which helped some but not totally) took two vicodin and passed out for a few hours. I woke up still feeling pain on my right lower abdomen but not the torturous kind. Other than just taking calm breaths and trying not to hyperventilate, and reminding myself that "this too shall pass" have you guys learned any ways to better deal with such incidents? Ideally, I would like to find a way that I won't have to worry about missing work because my body decides to stop cooperating.

I get those too and all I've found that helps is heat and/or robinul, which only sometimes works. That's the only thing my GI would prescribe me, most of the time I just have to grit my teeth and curl up in a ball.

mtgman- what exactly is that plexus block? Sounds interesting and might be worth a look into.

the plexus block is a shot i get at the pain clinic- it blocks the nerve/pain response from the gut. google it- there's a bunch of info- sounds a bit scary but it took all of 3 minutes and did not hurt that bad at all. i was really worried bc my ins did not cover sedation...i guess general protocol is twilight sedation...my doc gave me 1 mg xanax and told me to take two at certain times...but his office girl messed up so i only had one in me plus my normal morning percocet...it was not bad at all. i have my 2nd shot tomorrow. something seems to be working...i think it's worth looking into. the pain doc trats a bunch of crohn's patients so he was really empathetic. GI would not do anything about the pain and i was a mess so i took it upon myself to deal with the pain part.

If you think the pains you are experiencing is from constipation, I take stool softners nightly in order to keep things softer and easier to pass. Maybe that is something for you to think about.

Also, that pain sounds pretty serious, if your GI will not help with pain meds, I would talk to your family doctor or see a pain specialist. Good luck!