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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/12/2014 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Diagnosed 2 years ago and just wondering what people use for pain management during severe flair ups.
Posted 3/12/2014 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
"Pain management" is a dangerous and slippery slope.

The only thing that you can use is perhaps Bentyl or Imodium (with your doctors approval) or some homeopathic ideas that perhaps some of the other posters here can relate to you.

There are some discussions on here about actual narcotics and pain relievers, but as a rule you will never find a doctor that will prescribe anything specifically for pain ever....too many problems associated with it.

Using your prescribed medicines for UC and other ideas from board members (probiotics, etc.) can help relieve a lot of the discomfort!
Posted 3/12/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm getting to the point of just dealing with the pain, and I don't think that's the answer. The weather pattern changes makes my arthritis very painful. I'm resorting to hot baths, sometimes with Epsom salts, and the heat pad.
Posted 3/12/2014 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've tried the peppermint oil bath or running it straight on my stomach but sometimes the pain is so bad I feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm fairly new to UC and just found out yesterday that my infected areas went from 1 to 5 different spots. I feel a little bit of anxiety knowing that it's getting worse and that if the pain gets worse I don't know what I'll do. I sound like a wimp, I just have never been a sick person so dealing with all of this is new and weird for me.
Posted 3/12/2014 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think you sound like a wimp. When I was first diagnosed and for awhile before I would wake up in the night with the most unreal pain that would be in my abdominal area and it would radiate around and down to me knees. I would tell my hubby what was going, telling him if I pass out or something weird happens get me to the ER! It was horrible, worse than delivering a baby!
Posted 3/12/2014 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
You need to communicate this to your GI doctor. There are a lot of different meds that are used to treat UC that can stop the pain. What are you currently on?
Posted 3/12/2014 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on Canasa and Asacol HD
Posted 3/12/2014 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
well, you shouldn't be in that much pain. By "shouldn't" I mean if it's that bad you need to relay that to your doctor so he can prescribe some Bentyl for cramps, or reassess the meds and prescribe something else (short term steroids, Imuran, etc.)...just as an example.

I'm just saying that a lot of times people are afraid to go to their doctors and tell them how bad the symptoms are...don't be afraid! Tell him/her that you are still in a lot of discomfort and you need help.....don't ever be afraid to ask them for more help!
Posted 3/12/2014 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
if my pain is unmanageable, i go to the ER and am admitted. it means your meds aren't working and you need to change them. you should not be in pain all the time.

my GI does not prescribe pain meds for patients because he says it covers up the real issue.
Posted 3/12/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Exactly banana.......!
Posted 3/12/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
That makes sense. I guess I'm still wishing for some magic pill that would take it all away. Thanks everyone!
Posted 3/13/2014 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
When I was diagnosed I was put on asacol HD and it helped me with most symptoms and problems.
I went to my doc a lot! I was worried at first that I was overdoing it, but it always helped for me to see him. Each visit was a step in the right direction.

Edit: The disease isn't going away, but hopefully there is something to help you.
Posted 3/13/2014 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
The pain sucks! I find a heating pad and pressure to be the best for my guts.
It doesnt cure it... but it lessens it enough that I can distract myself from the pain.

Right now I have heating pad on guts. Heavy pillow on heating pad on guts. And laptop on top of it all. The pressure and heat is nice. Sometimes the heat makes me gassy. So I also try to use ice packs.

And napping. I nap a lot. If I'm in pain... I try to sleep. Hot baths. And distractions.

I did go to the ER a couple weeks ago because of the pain. I was given IV pain meds. I felt like Heaven for the night. But back to reality the next day.

Also.. found out the pain was because of c.diff. A c.diff infection can be very very painful. Especially compared to my UC pain. So if you havent been checked already, talk to your Dr about c.diff. If your doc hears how much pain you are in, they should try to figure something out to help.
Posted 3/13/2014 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
My friend with UC has narcotics prescribed for pain. Im going to ask for some at my next appointment. I was in so much crampy pain today I cried in the work bathroom for an hour.
Posted 3/13/2014 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
My pain Rx is not for UC directly, but I suspect it was a course of Prednisone that caused me to need it. My PCP is way more militant about not taking NSAIDs than my IBD specialist. When I told her I was taking Ibuprofen and Aleve, she wrote the Vicodin prescription immediately. (I have not taken one in a long time. Being off of steroids really does seem to have resolved the issue.)
Posted 3/13/2014 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
Apart from medications, it is definitely worthwhile to look into "mind" type practices such as 'mindfulness'. Pain consists not just of the physical component (sensation), but also the mental component that kicks in and makes things much worse.
Posted 3/13/2014 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
The best pain med I've found that does not cause me constipation is marijuana, of course I don't drive when using it but I don't think you're suppose to drive on those heavy duty pain meds either.
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