Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It FeelsCausesTreatmentWhen to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Feels
Causes
Treatment
When to Get Help
Symptoms of colon pain might include cramping, sharp or dull abdominal pain, bloating, or changes in bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea.The causes of these symptoms range from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and infections likegastroenteritisto more serious conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) andcolorectal cancer.
Relief from colon pain could involve dietary changes like avoidinghard-to-digest foods, or medications that target the underlying cause. Because there are so many possibilities, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. See a provider right away if you have concerning symptoms like unexplained weight loss orbloody stool.
Verywell / Katie Kerpel
What Does Colon Pain Feel Like?
Colon pain can show up in different ways depending on what’s causing it. How the pain feels and where it’s felt might provide some clues about the cause.
That said, symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions often overlap, which can make it tricky to know what’s going on without the help of a healthcare provider.
Since many of these symptoms can arise from issues with other abdominal organs (such as the liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, and uterus), it’s important to discuss your pain and symptoms with a healthcare provider.
It can also be helpful to keep track of your symptoms in a notebook. Use the list of possible symptoms above to guide your notes, writing down as many details about the sensations you feel as you can.
Colon Pain Causes and Symptoms
How to Relieve Colon Pain
The best way to treat a painful, irritated colon is to address the underlying cause. This may include diet and lifestyle changes, medications, surgery, or alternative therapies.
Diet and Lifestyle
Your provider may recommend a change in diet or lifestyle to relief symptoms or manage any underlying gastrointestinal conditions. Your provider may recommend you to:
Certain foods may be particularly helpful for soothing the colon, including:
Some dietary changes, like a low-residue or low-FODMAP diet, can lead to nutritional deficiencies if done improperly. Always be sure to consult a healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your diet.
Medications
Your healthcare provider may recommend or prescribe one of these medications to manage symptoms:
Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat an underlying condition and provide long-term relief from colon pain:
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies are rarely the sole treatment for colon pain or underlying gastrointestinal conditions. But they may help relieve symptoms and improve overall digestive health:
What Relieves an Inflamed Colon?To relieve an inflamed colon, the first step is to find out why it’s inflamed. Work with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment plan, which might include a low-FODMAP diet, anti-inflammatory medications, or probiotic supplements to support gut health.
What Relieves an Inflamed Colon?
To relieve an inflamed colon, the first step is to find out why it’s inflamed. Work with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment plan, which might include a low-FODMAP diet, anti-inflammatory medications, or probiotic supplements to support gut health.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider at once if you experience any of the following:
Summary
The treatment used will depend on the reason for the abdominal pain. In some cases, pain management, diet and lifestyle changes, or surgery might be part of the plan.
33 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).UT Health Houston.Gastrointestinal disease: Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.Sabo C, Grad S, Dumitrascu D.Chronic abdominal pain in general practice.Dig Dis. 2021;39(6):606-614. doi:10.1159/000515433National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15(2):182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Harvard Health Publishing.Hemorrhoids and what to do about them.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease: traditional and evolving paradigms.Gastroenterol Nurs.2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000307.Penn Medicine.Colitis.Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Frontline Gastroenterology.2019;10(4):388. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040.American College of Gastroenterology.Colon ischemia.Mount Sinai.Colorectal polyps.Charo D, Mohammad F, Ghmera M, Saker B, Ghosnah A.Sigmoid and cecum colon volvulus: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2024 Jun;18(1):297. doi:10.1186/s13256-024-04622-zJohns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic megacolon.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.Mount Sinai.Intestinal obstruction.Mount Sinai.Gastrointestinal perforation.Sninsky J, Galanko J, Sandler R, Peery A.Diverticulosis is associated with internal hemorrhoids on colonoscopy: possible clues to etiology.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Apr;21(4):1097-1099. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.020Wang J, Constant B, Morrow R, Funk S, Marden T, Scott F.The practice and perception of low residue diets in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease.IBD. 2024 Jan;30(1):17-18. doi:10.1093/ibd/izae020.041Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Bland or BRAT diet - what it is.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dietary changes for celiac disease.Ge L, Liu S, Li S.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: Psychoneuroimmunological insights in biodirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022 Oct;13(1):1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578UCSF Health.Nutrition tips for inflammatory bowel disease.NYU Langone.Medication for inflammatory bowel disease.Beaugerie L, Kirchgesner J.Balancing benefit vs. risk of immunosuppressive therapy for individual patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Feb;17(3):370-379. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.07.013Brenner D, Lacy B.Antispasmodics for chronic abdominal pain: Analysis of North American treatment options.AJG. 2021 Aug;116(8):1587-1600. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001266Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colectomy.Dale H, Rasmussen S, Asiller Ö, Lied G.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: An Up-to-Date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019 Sep;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017 Jul;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
33 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).UT Health Houston.Gastrointestinal disease: Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.Sabo C, Grad S, Dumitrascu D.Chronic abdominal pain in general practice.Dig Dis. 2021;39(6):606-614. doi:10.1159/000515433National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15(2):182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Harvard Health Publishing.Hemorrhoids and what to do about them.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease: traditional and evolving paradigms.Gastroenterol Nurs.2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000307.Penn Medicine.Colitis.Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Frontline Gastroenterology.2019;10(4):388. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040.American College of Gastroenterology.Colon ischemia.Mount Sinai.Colorectal polyps.Charo D, Mohammad F, Ghmera M, Saker B, Ghosnah A.Sigmoid and cecum colon volvulus: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2024 Jun;18(1):297. doi:10.1186/s13256-024-04622-zJohns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic megacolon.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.Mount Sinai.Intestinal obstruction.Mount Sinai.Gastrointestinal perforation.Sninsky J, Galanko J, Sandler R, Peery A.Diverticulosis is associated with internal hemorrhoids on colonoscopy: possible clues to etiology.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Apr;21(4):1097-1099. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.020Wang J, Constant B, Morrow R, Funk S, Marden T, Scott F.The practice and perception of low residue diets in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease.IBD. 2024 Jan;30(1):17-18. doi:10.1093/ibd/izae020.041Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Bland or BRAT diet - what it is.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dietary changes for celiac disease.Ge L, Liu S, Li S.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: Psychoneuroimmunological insights in biodirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022 Oct;13(1):1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578UCSF Health.Nutrition tips for inflammatory bowel disease.NYU Langone.Medication for inflammatory bowel disease.Beaugerie L, Kirchgesner J.Balancing benefit vs. risk of immunosuppressive therapy for individual patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Feb;17(3):370-379. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.07.013Brenner D, Lacy B.Antispasmodics for chronic abdominal pain: Analysis of North American treatment options.AJG. 2021 Aug;116(8):1587-1600. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001266Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colectomy.Dale H, Rasmussen S, Asiller Ö, Lied G.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: An Up-to-Date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019 Sep;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017 Jul;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).UT Health Houston.Gastrointestinal disease: Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.Sabo C, Grad S, Dumitrascu D.Chronic abdominal pain in general practice.Dig Dis. 2021;39(6):606-614. doi:10.1159/000515433National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15(2):182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Harvard Health Publishing.Hemorrhoids and what to do about them.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease: traditional and evolving paradigms.Gastroenterol Nurs.2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000307.Penn Medicine.Colitis.Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Frontline Gastroenterology.2019;10(4):388. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040.American College of Gastroenterology.Colon ischemia.Mount Sinai.Colorectal polyps.Charo D, Mohammad F, Ghmera M, Saker B, Ghosnah A.Sigmoid and cecum colon volvulus: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2024 Jun;18(1):297. doi:10.1186/s13256-024-04622-zJohns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic megacolon.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.Mount Sinai.Intestinal obstruction.Mount Sinai.Gastrointestinal perforation.Sninsky J, Galanko J, Sandler R, Peery A.Diverticulosis is associated with internal hemorrhoids on colonoscopy: possible clues to etiology.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Apr;21(4):1097-1099. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.020Wang J, Constant B, Morrow R, Funk S, Marden T, Scott F.The practice and perception of low residue diets in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease.IBD. 2024 Jan;30(1):17-18. doi:10.1093/ibd/izae020.041Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Bland or BRAT diet - what it is.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dietary changes for celiac disease.Ge L, Liu S, Li S.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: Psychoneuroimmunological insights in biodirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022 Oct;13(1):1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578UCSF Health.Nutrition tips for inflammatory bowel disease.NYU Langone.Medication for inflammatory bowel disease.Beaugerie L, Kirchgesner J.Balancing benefit vs. risk of immunosuppressive therapy for individual patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Feb;17(3):370-379. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.07.013Brenner D, Lacy B.Antispasmodics for chronic abdominal pain: Analysis of North American treatment options.AJG. 2021 Aug;116(8):1587-1600. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001266Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colectomy.Dale H, Rasmussen S, Asiller Ö, Lied G.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: An Up-to-Date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019 Sep;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017 Jul;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
UT Health Houston.Gastrointestinal disease: Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders.
Sabo C, Grad S, Dumitrascu D.Chronic abdominal pain in general practice.Dig Dis. 2021;39(6):606-614. doi:10.1159/000515433
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.
Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15(2):182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).
Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, Camilleri M.Irritable bowel syndrome.Lancet. 2020;396(10263):1675-1688. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31548-8.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Harvard Health Publishing.Hemorrhoids and what to do about them.
Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease: traditional and evolving paradigms.Gastroenterol Nurs.2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000307.
Penn Medicine.Colitis.
Townsend T, Campbell F, O’Toole P, Probert C.Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management.Frontline Gastroenterology.2019;10(4):388. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040.
American College of Gastroenterology.Colon ischemia.
Mount Sinai.Colorectal polyps.
Charo D, Mohammad F, Ghmera M, Saker B, Ghosnah A.Sigmoid and cecum colon volvulus: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2024 Jun;18(1):297. doi:10.1186/s13256-024-04622-z
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic megacolon.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colon cancer symptoms.
Mount Sinai.Intestinal obstruction.
Mount Sinai.Gastrointestinal perforation.
Sninsky J, Galanko J, Sandler R, Peery A.Diverticulosis is associated with internal hemorrhoids on colonoscopy: possible clues to etiology.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Apr;21(4):1097-1099. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2022.02.020
Wang J, Constant B, Morrow R, Funk S, Marden T, Scott F.The practice and perception of low residue diets in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease.IBD. 2024 Jan;30(1):17-18. doi:10.1093/ibd/izae020.041
Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Bland or BRAT diet - what it is.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dietary changes for celiac disease.
Ge L, Liu S, Li S.Psychological stress in inflammatory bowel disease: Psychoneuroimmunological insights in biodirectional gut-brain communications.Front Immunol. 2022 Oct;13(1):1016578. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1016578
UCSF Health.Nutrition tips for inflammatory bowel disease.
NYU Langone.Medication for inflammatory bowel disease.
Beaugerie L, Kirchgesner J.Balancing benefit vs. risk of immunosuppressive therapy for individual patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Feb;17(3):370-379. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.07.013
Brenner D, Lacy B.Antispasmodics for chronic abdominal pain: Analysis of North American treatment options.AJG. 2021 Aug;116(8):1587-1600. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001266
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colectomy.
Dale H, Rasmussen S, Asiller Ö, Lied G.Probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: An Up-to-Date systematic review.Nutrients. 2019 Sep;11(9):2048. doi:10.3390/nu11092048
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017 Jul;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
