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Pain in remission

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/6/2014 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure if I'm in remission, but my doctor thinks I am be based on a calprotectin test. I still experience intermitten pain and discomfort. My stools seem to get a little less form during these periods. No bleeding or urgency.

Does this ring a bell for anyone? Do you think the pain gradually subsides or is it residual nerve damage? Or perhaps I still have some simmering inflammation..?

I know no one will know the answer for me, but I'm wondering if anyone has relatable experiences to this?
Posted 3/6/2014 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi...my gut NEVER feels right, even when not flaring. Cramps and stabbing pains have been constant for me since the beginning. I consider myself "not flaring" when I am not bleeding and have normal-ish bathroom visits.

Not sure if I will ever be free of pain/discomfort.
Posted 3/8/2014 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, sorry to hear that geeker. Are you being treated for this residual pain at all? How do you manage? The off and on pain of this disease (even though I'm fully functioning) makes it tough to stay positive and understand what state my UC is in.

You might find this article interesting. I sure did. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3180862/

 

Posted 3/8/2014 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Honestly, it is my opinion that only a patient can determine if they are in remission or not. If I wasn't totally normal and having some problems and a doctor tried telling me I was in remission I would want to punch his lights out.
Posted 3/8/2014 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
I still seem to get crampy at times even when not flaring. Its not daily but it happens. Could be related to food and then again who the heck knows. It is not something I would need to take a painkiller for so I've learned to ignore it pretty much. However, if I were to start seeing increased bathroom trips, mucous or blood then I know I am in trouble.
Posted 3/8/2014 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Geez, this crap is so individual! I'm not in remission, as per my scope or my symptoms but my pain was one of the first things to go! Go figure.
Posted 3/8/2014 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
When I was in remission I felt no discomfort or UC symptoms whatsoever except when I started my new job I'd get D before each shift before I got more used to my job. My UC symptoms and flares seem to be stress related.
Posted 3/8/2014 6:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the article, Chicago. I keep hoping that, one day, I/we will feel normal...the way we used to...*sigh*
Posted 3/9/2014 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Ive been in remission 8 years and my colon has never been back to pre-UC days, nor do I think it ever will be. My GI's hypothesis is that inflammation damages the nerves in the colon and they are more hyperactive.
Posted 3/9/2014 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Being a UC'er for almost 40 years AND working as a clinical administrator for a 6 doctor interventional pain management practice...this is sort of interesting....!

However, in one of the conclusion paragraphs, the following statement really kid of sums it all up for me:
..............................................
"Perhaps more important, the psychological burden of the disease needs to be recognized and addressed more effectively, as emotional factors significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic pain and other symptoms"
..................................................
We all know what a huge role the psychological portion of our disease plays in our life, and how used to pain we get...no matter how in remission we are, that urgency is always hanging over our head, mostly, because of the fear of not finding a bathroom is tied into it. Our bodies get used to it, plain and simple. Like Pavlov's dog, we get conditioned, and we all rightly fear the worst. Even when we KNOW we are in remission, a slight urge may send a shiver up our spine that we may not make it....

Having back pain is different, you can always lay down or stop what you are doing...no embarrassment. UC pain may quite possibly end in embarrassment when you can't get to a bathroom fast enough...this adds a totally different dimension and fear that say a chronic back pain patient doesn't have. This adds an entirely new aspect to the pain, thus creating a new part of a psychological cycle that can't/won't be broken in our minds.

Adding pain medicine to that will (IMHO) do nothing but REINFORCE our minds to keep that cycle alive in our heads, not to mention expose ourselves to addiction, Tylenol liver stress, and other problems we just don't need.. It has to be broken in our own minds, training ourselves that we are in remission, our bodies need to stop sending those signals to our brains. And pain medicine is not the way to do that.

Just some thoughts.
Posted 3/9/2014 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Scott Z - extremely insightful post. I agree with you 1000%. Yes 1000 :) allowing the fear to run the show definitely plays a role in my body's response to the emotional segment of this disease. And I do believe its physical and emotional. Stress is a trigger food for me. And I believe fear is too.

Chicago - I'm right there with you. I've been in "remission" for 6 months now. And yes I get cramps and weird pains. It sends my mind flying. I get terrified I'm about to slip into another flare. Or that the pain is inflammation related. So far it's only been the odd pains. Nothing has progressed. If I get really worried I up my rectals. But to be honest if I pay the pains no mind (most likely as I did pre-UC but can't remember because I never cared so much about my butt and it's habits lol) I'm actually better off UC and mentally wise.

Post Edited (TotesMagotes) : 3/8/2014 9:25:12 PM (GMT-7)

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